Half-term activities: What's on during Manchester Science Festival at the Museum of Science and Industry

But we’ve got the lowdown on the exciting family-friendly events happening at Manchester Science Festival this holiday. Running at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) and across the city from October 18-27, the festival is jam-packed with immersive, entertaining and educational activities for all ages to enjoy.

Visitors will need to book a free admission ticket in order to enter the museum.

State of mind installation

This impressive audio-visual installation is an enriching experience for the whole family. Its impressive light and sound displays explore the impact of phones, apps and media on our minds and bodies. Access to the instillation is included in a museum entrance ticket. 

Activity zones

MOSI’s iconic 200-year-old warehouse building will be home to a variety of ‘activity zones’ throughout the festival period, helping visitors get hands on with fun and educational workshops, all with a science or technology theme. Families can drop-in to these activity zones throughout their visit and they are included in the museum admissions ticket.

Extreme space activity zone

At the Extreme Space activity zone, visitors can see what life is like as an astronaut as they embark on a virtual reality space expedition. Aspiring astronauts are tasked with landing a lunar lander on the moon and collecting rock samples with a rover. This immersive experience runs throughout the festival at 10am-5pm each day and is provided by The University of Manchester and CRADLE Robotics.

Extreme gaming activity zone

Here, visitors are invited to play video games designed specifically to show the positive impact humans can have on the planet. Players can use their creativity and imagination to help a community stop fast fashion from impacting their water supplies, restore mangrove trees on an island in the Philippines, and save the planet Nimbylon using renewable energy. This activity runs from October 18-27.

Drumming for health activity zone

This activity aims to demonstrate the physical and mental health benefits of drumming and invites visitors to get creative on a Roland drum kit, while getting tips from experienced drum tutors. Visitors can also make their own music with specially created drum pads. This activity runs throughout the duration of the festival. 

Sensing volcanoes activity zone

The Curating Crises team have created an immersive experience to demonstrate what it’s like to be in a volcano. Visitors can experience a volcano in vivid detail, down to what it smells like, and learn how to survive a volcanic eruption with a game of ‘The Floor is Magma’. Visitors also have the opportunity to learn how scientists predict volcanic eruptions. This activity zone runs from October 18-22.

BBC CBeebies bedtime stories: Live at the museum

The youngest budding scientists are invited to lie down and star gaze as they hear a science-themed bed-time story. Stories will be read by CBeebies house presenters and special guests, including Dodge T. Dog, who will be heading down to MOSI on 24 October. Storytime sessions will take place between 21 and 27 October at 11am, 12pm, 2pm, and 3pm. Sessions are free but there is limited availability. Visitors can book a ticket here.

Accessible events

Between 9am and 11am, and 5.30pm and 6.30pm on 22 October, visitors can attend a self-led ‘relaxed session’ in the activity zones. Light and sound levels will be altered during these quieter times to make for a more sensory friendly environment. A BSL interpreter will also be on hand in the activity zones. For more details about the festival visit the website here.