Looking for free family activities at Cheltenham Science Festival? Alongside the ticketed talks and shows, there are plenty of fantastic FREE events taking place throughout the festival, including hands-on workshops, interactive performances, science demos and the popular Interactive Zones.

Here's your day-by-day guide to all the FREE family events.

Tuesday 2nd June 2026

Family Physics Singalong

• Time: 10am - 11am

• Venue: Jetstream

• Ages: All ages

Sing, create and learn as music and science collide in this interactive family workshop.

A STEM Musical: The Cambridge First All-Ladies Fire Brigade

• Time: 12:30pm - 1:30pm

• Venue: Jetstream

• Ages: All ages

A lively musical inspired by pioneering women studying science in Victorian England.

Free Interactive Zones

• Schools Session: 10am - 3pm

• Families: 3pm - 6pm

Explore hands-on exhibits, challenges and interactive science experiences.

Wednesday 3rd June 2026

Free Interactive Zones

• Schools Session: 10am - 3pm

Thursday 4th June 2026

Free Interactive Zones

• Schools Session: 10am - 3pm

Friday 5th June 2026

Free Interactive Zones

• Schools Session: 10am - 3pm

• Closed: 3pm - 6pm

• Festival After Hours (18+): 6pm onwards

Saturday 6th June 2026

TikTok Science

• Time: 10am - 11am

• Venue: Main Hall, Town Hall

• Ages: 7+

Separate science fact from fiction and recreate some of social media's most popular science stunts.

Marvelous Mocktails

• Time: 11:30am - 12pm

• Venue: Jetstream

• Ages: All ages

Discover the science behind delicious mocktails with demos, experiments and taste tests.

Things Scientists Don't Know

• Time: 12:30pm - 1:30pm

• Venue: Jetstream

• Ages: 7+

Explore some of science's biggest unanswered questions.

Free Interactive Zones

• Relaxed Session: 10am - 11am

• Open to Everyone: 11am - 5pm

Sunday 7th June 2026

From One Tiny Cell

• Time: 10:30am - 11am

• Venue: Jetstream

• Ages: 7+

Discover how cells grow and develop into a human body through fun drawing challenges and interactive science.

Science Stinks!

• Time: 11:45am - 12:30pm

• Venue: Jetstream

• Ages: All ages

A hilarious and fascinating journey through the science of smell.

Big Bug Show

• Time: 12pm - 1pm

• Venue: Main Hall, Town Hall

• Ages: 5+

Sing, dance and discover the weird and wonderful world of insects.

Free Interactive Zones

• Relaxed Session: 10am - 11am

• Open to Everyone: 11am - 5pm

Free Interactive Zones

One of the highlights of Cheltenham Science Festival, the Interactive Zones offer hands-on science experiences, demonstrations, challenges and exhibits designed to inspire curious minds of all ages.

• Tuesday 2nd June: 3pm - 6pm (Families)

• Wednesday 3rd June: Schools only, 10am - 3pm

• Thursday 4th June: Schools only, 10am - 3pm

• Friday 5th June: Schools only, 10am - 3pm

• Saturday 6th June: 10am - 5pm (Relaxed session 10am - 11am)

• Sunday 7th June: 10am - 5pm (Relaxed session 10am - 11am)

All events listed above are FREE to attend, although some may require advance booking through the Cheltenham Science Festival website.