Reading Children’s Festival to launch on Saturday with fantastic Forbury Fiesta

Three fabulous weeks of fun: that’s Reading Children’s Festival and it launches this Saturday with the annual Forbury Fiesta.

Held in Forbury Gardens, the event features a range of activities, performances, treats and surprises for all ages. They include sporting events and musical workshops, while there will be arts and craft sessions to take part in.

Signature Senior Lifestyle is hosting a mini petting zoo, and a craft station, while Tilehurst Beekeepers will let people explore an interactive virtual hive.

A Circus workshops with juggling, unicycling, hand-held stilts, diabolos, spinning plates and walking the tight wire, while sporting activities include martial arts, fencing, cycling and archery.

The Reading Children’s Festival Forbury Fiesta event is also a chance to see youngsters showcase their skills, and a performance area is set up.

Among those taking part will be Theatretrain, who will perform a musical medley and dance workshops; Universal Voices, performing songs from musicals, traditional music from around the world, pop songs and classical music; and Afro and Hip-Hop workshops offered by Reading Vibes with Aaliyah.

The Forbury Fiesta will also help mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth.

Jane, and her sister Cassandra, attended the Reading Ladies Boarding School from 1785-1786 – what is now the Reading Gateway opposite one of the main entrances to Forbury Gardens. A team from Waterstones will be celebrating by running Jane Austen-themed story times.

Jamie from Prior’s Court will be opening the main stage programme. He is a young adult living at Prior’s Court, a Berkshire-based charity providing care and education for autistic young people with complex needs.

Jamie has a real passion for the performing arts, using it to express himself in a way he otherwise couldn’t.

And children from Katesgrove Primary School have written and will be performing their very own original song for this year’s Children’s Festival around the theme of HOPE.

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The Forbury Fiesta runs from 11am to 4pm on Saturday, May 10, in Forbury Gardens, Reading town centre. Entry is free.

Reading Children’s Festival then continues until Sunday, June 1. Most events are low-cost and all are family friendly.

The programme includes fun exploratory and experimental sessions for children between the ages of seven and 11. at Jelly’s Family Art Space, and a series of new and fun challenges and activities coming to all seven Reading libraries, launching May half-term, and running until the end of the summer.

Other Reading Children’s Festival events include:

• Fourbears Fest on Saturday 17 May and Sunday 18 May
• The Abbey’s Festival of Sport – Saturday 17 May
• Reading Symphony Orchestra Children’s Concert – Saturday 17 May
• The Street-style Doodle Art Wall at Station Hill – Saturday 24 May
• Reading Canoe Club Taster Sessions – Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 May
• Palmer Park Multi-Activity Day – Tuesday 27 May
• Green Park Reading 10k and Family Fun Runs – Sunday 1 June

Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Leisure and Culture said she was delighted the Reading Children’s Festival is returning for its 36th year, promising it would be fantastic.

“The Council’s Children’s Festival is always maximum full-on fun for children and parents alike, do pop along and try something new at Forbury Fiesta and during the three weeks of fun free and affordable events across the borough,” she said.

“Last year more than 10,000 visitors joined in, and this year let’s make it even more.”

For more on Reading Children’s Festival

For more details about Reading Children’s Festival and to find out what events are taking place, log on to: https://www.reading.gov.uk/leisure/things-to-do/events/reading-childrens-festival-2025/