Activities
We have a whole host of exciting activities for you to choose from in 2020, and they're all FREE! As always we charge NOTHING for any activity once you are in. We believe festivals should be about having fun and saying YES to your children. More 2020 activities announcing soon!Comedy
If you like to laugh, you’re in the right place…. we’ve got some of the freshest comedy talent around appearing at Meraki. Comedy line-up is out in May!
Dance Tent
Aurora Avenue was such a hit last year, we’re bringing back the DJs, but bigger and better! We’ll have a lineup of killer DJs dropping dancefloor anthems, classic beats and fresh new mixes in the House of Neon – pack your dancing shoes, you’re gonna need em!
Fairground
As always we will have two major fairground rides and yes before you ask, they are free!! The kids can go on again & again & again
Free Slime Making Workshops
Running all day every day. Let the little ones come and get slimy :)
Free Festival Glitter
Look fabulous the whole day with as much free festival glitter as you can fit on your face! Our makeup artists will turn you into a walking work of (summer festival) art.
Free Laser Tag
READY, AIM, FUN! Join a real-life video game in the middle of our festival! For kids and adults alike, run through our Laser Tag arena and do your best to stay in the game. Make sure to bring friends with great communication and leadership skills, you’ll need these to stand a chance of winning!
Magic
Keep your eyes open and your wits about you…. strange things are going on at Meraki this summer. Professional magicians will be passing through the crowds, performing feats to dazzle and confound you at the drop of a (rabbit-filled) hat.
Main Stage
The Main Stage is where it’s at! Live music is at the heart of any festival and our Main Stage will be filled with incredible acts, from Pop to Rock, Folk to Soul, we’ll have a lineup of artists and bands that will make for blissful Summer days and epic Summer nights.
Movie House
PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS, OUR FEATURE PRESENTATION IS ABOUT TO BEGIN…. from comedy gems to feel-good family flicks, silver screen classics to cult favourites – our weekend of movies will have something for everyone! Grab your popcorn, settle into your seat and get ready to enjoy…
Blue Moon Acoustic Tent
From chill out kids sessions to movies, talent shows and silent discos. The Blue Moon Tent is the place to be!
Rockaoke
On Saturday, you’ll have the chance to take to the stage and perform with the legendary Rockaoke! Grab the mic and show us what you’ve got!
Free Climbing Wall
Check out the festival from way up high. Meraki climbing wall is free to use and offers some great views of the site :)
Silent Disco
Fancy shutting off and dancing to your own beat? Jump into our LED silent disco space and dance the night away. With everyone dancing to a different beat, the best part is when you remove your headphones and hear everyone singing out loud!
Free Caving Fun
Our little mobile caving unit means you can see what it feels like to get lost on the tunnels of Meraki!
Free Little Swimming Pools
Is there any better way for the kids to cool off on a warm summer day than relaxing in a swimming pool? Whether you’re jumping in with friends or making a splash with the little ones, make sure to visit our summer swimming spot. These are kids pools so not designed for adults.
Free Theatre
From dramatic performances to street performers, magic or acrobatic displays, Meraki is filled with storytelling and adventure. Keep your eyes peeled, as you never know who’s around the corner!
Arts, Crafts & Pay-Doh
In the Kids Field, we’ll have a complimentary Arts & Crafts Tent with creative activities for all age groups, led by the incredible Creation Station. You can do: A Play-Doh Cookie Creations workshop, 3D Maze modelling, activity sheets & crafts!
Baby Facilities
If you’re bringing really little ones to Meraki, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered! We’re all about a family-friendly festival experience, so we’ll have clean, well-lit baby changing facilities onsite, with private spaces for changing & feeding.
Lego Workshops
Yes we understand what the kids want! So grab a Pimms and let the kids play for a while in one of our Lego Workshops running throughout each day.
Free Circus Training
Every morning you can try out of circus training in the Big Top Dance tent, with our circus troop!
Powder Paint Parties
Every day from 19:30 we have power paint parties. You had better be ready to get colourful ?
Big and Bonkers Balloons
Starting with a ridiculous balloon performance, we'll give the crowds a chance to try their own balloon sculpting skills! Everyone takes something away - even if some are only balloon snakes!
Cacophony Orchestra
MAKE. SOME. NOISE! Grab an instrument - shake, hit, blow, shout – do whatever you have to do to get a sound out of in and join in with our madcap orchestra! We’re making the maddest music anyone's ever heard at a festival and everyone’s in the band!
Free Archery
Let's see whether you can hit a bullseye! Our archery space is open all day from 10:30 - 6pm. It's of course free to use so practice makes perfect...
Circus Freestyle
A mix of clowning and circus, giving the morning a large dose of total nonsense! An interactive street style show including volunteers from the crowd and plenty of noise!
Grann Bongo's Megamix Dance-off
We’ll have everyone up with some gypsy beats and Balkan bangers to get everyone ready for an evening of partying and madness! The main challenge is to keep up with us!
Kid's Face Painting
What better way is there to get into the spirit of the festival than with vibrant, exciting shapes, colours and images? As part of our range of fun activities for children, Meraki will provide professional facepainters, with a range of beautiful specially-themed designs for your little ones.
The MIGHTY KIDS Beatbox Comedy Show
Jarred Christmas& The Hobbit
Calling kids aged 5 to 100, join our MIGHTY gang! A sensational interactive show, where the worlds of comedy and beatboxing collide with electrifying results. Pick-up beatboxing tips to impress your friends, make mind-blowing music, win prizes and laugh through your pantaloons!
Kid's Movies
From animated films to family-fun classics of the silver screen, our kid's cinema will bring their favourite characters to life in an amazing big top cinema space!
Kid's Yoga
For children aged between 3 and 11, YogaBeez uses games to promote traditional yoga techniques which encourage and stimulate the imagination, develop self-esteem, acceptance, positive thinking, making healthy choices and most importantly, having lots of fun!
Kids Comedy Corner
Welcome to the coolest comedy club in Chicago, Kid’s Comedy Corner! The stand-up is a kid’s-only domain, and with vintage mic and trilby hat at the ready, kids will be the start of this unique style of stand up. An absolute hit nationwide, Kids Comedy Corner has quickly become a festival must. WARNING: All adults must be accompanied by an irresponsible child!
Festival Hair, Braids & Skirts Making
Come and have some fun with Creation Station making your own festival skirts, or make a hair braid or sit and enjoy having your festival hair done!
Circus Training
On the 24th & 25th of August only we have Circus training all day! Leant the tightrope, hula hoop, juggle, learn to fly high! It is your time to perform ??♂️
Mini Golf
There is always time for a round of Mini Golf...but don't beat Dad, he won't be happy!
Yuckfest Family Comedy Show
Howard Reed is touring a brand new Stand-up show for Kids called Big Howard’s LOL-tastic Yukfest for Kids and Well Trained Adults! It will be a combination of stand-up, songs, animation and other stupid things. Only at Meraki!
Hair Braiding & Glitter
Go to the family tent and get your sparkle on with the glitter and hair braiding girlies! ??♀️
Yoga & Mindfulness: Tillys Dance factory
The local team from Tilly's Dance Factory will be delivering Yoga and Mindfulness sessions throughout Meraki on the 23/24 of August! Stop by and recharge ?♀️
Naomi Czuba Dance
30 min classes each day
??♀️Afro Beats - Afrobeats is a music genre that blends West African music styles with more contemporary tracks. This is a fun class for all levels.
??♀️SupaFresh Hip-Hop - Easy to follow and great for all levels this class is a great cardio workout to old school Hip-Hop tracks you'll love.
??♀️Funky Fresh - A fusion of contemporary & hip-hop dance styles. This class will have you feeling and looking like a diva!
Stay Up To Date!
Keep up to date with all Meraki Festival news
Partners
HOME START * ELECTRIC UMBRELLA * RENNIE GROVE * VERULAMIUM AT PLAY * BEECHWOOD PARK * FEELING OUTDOORSY * HEADLINER * HERTS ADVERTISER * RADIO VERULAM