Fill your summer with flying colours as Dragonfly Festival returns
This summer, Dragonfly Festival is back and more colourful than ever.
Try your hand at piloting a dragonfly drone, learn circus skills, or take a Canoe Safari to watch zipping, darting dragonflies weave their colours through the sky. Dragonfly Festival offers families a summer of memory making – at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre from 18 July - 3 September 2026.
What’s on:
Dragonfly Science Shows—Be amazed by exciting science experiments demonstrating the awesome adaptations of dragonflies, from the way they move to the way they see.
Circus Skills Workshops—Balance like a dragonfly... Dragonflies are incredibly agile and are able to catch prey mid-air, fly backwards, and twist in rapid circles. Explore these incredible abilities through fun physical activities and workshops and watch stilt walkers roaming the wetland centre.
Dragonfly Drone Course—see like a dragonfly... Immerse yourself in the world of a darting dragonfly by piloting a mini drone through a specially designed dragonfly habitat assault course.
Silent Disco—Dart, glide, and swoop like a dragonfly on the dance floor. Music, movement and atmosphere come together to celebrate the grace and power of dragonflies in motion.
Dragonfly zipline—fly like a dragonfly on our new zipline in Riverlife play area.
Dragonfly safari—pick up a spotter sheet and set off on foot to discover these insects as you explore the wetlands. Pond dipping, discover the small creatures living below.
Creative craft workshops—get creative this summer and take part in colourful craft activities inspired by dragonflies and insects.
Pond dipping sessions—explore the hidden world beneath the water’s surface and uncover a kaleidoscope of minibeasts.
Dragonfly Canoe Safari—Adventure calls. Grab a canoe and embark on a dragonfly safari
The festival is inspired by the dragonfly—one of nature’s most dazzling creatures. Wetland centres are some of the best places to see these insects in the wild and the WWT protect these habitats that dragonflies, and many other species depend on. Dragonflies emerge in late spring and early summer and can be seen zooming around wetlands in search of food, mates, and the perfect spot to land. With four independent wings they can fly forward, backward, hover in place, and even zip sideways and have been known to fly at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. Their remarkable life cycles begin underwater before they transform into masters of the air. But encounters with wildlife like this do more than inspire wonder.
Evidence shows that connecting with nature makes children feel happier, boosts their self-esteem and improves their behaviour, as well as their physical and mental health. Hands-on outdoor experiences help young people build confidence, curiosity and a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Participation in the WWT Dragonfly Festival at WWT Slimbridge is included with the price of admission and is free to WWT members. An additional cost of £10 applies for Canoe Safari.
