Half term fun at Norwich Science Festival

Wondering how to spend February half term in Norwich?

Whether you're looking for a full day of adventure or low-cost activities to keep the kids entertained, Norwich Science Festival has you covered!

From Saturday 14–Saturday 21 February 2026, we'll be bringing science to life with a jam-packed week of family-friendly events taking place across the city. Tickets are selling fast, but there's still a huge amount to get involved with - and a fun way to learn something new, too.

Take a look below for our top half term event recommendations!

Events for the whole family

Take a trip into space, or discover the surprising science behind your favourite sweet treat, with our exciting family programme.

Kick start your Festival visit with the Moon to Mars show (Sat 14 Feb, 10am). The whole family will be inspired as we explore the fascinating future of space exploration through live demos, explosive experiments and jaw-dropping visuals.

Later, Scott Marley returns to the stage with Zap! (Sat 14 Feb, 12.30pm), an electrifying showcase of all the amazing ways electricity powers our world.

Got little ones who love animals? Join two wildlife enthusiasts and their cheeky puppet friends in the beautifully inspiring, The Zoo that Comes to You (Sun 15 Feb, 11am and 2pm).

How many cool science tricks can you do with just one piece of paper? Take a trip to The Paper Lab (Sun 15 Feb, 12pm) to find out! Dr Jo will be exploring the surprising science hidden in everyday paper – from chromatography and capillary action to optical illusions and puzzles.

Fresh from his flame-packed outdoor show at last year's Festival, Dr Nikhil Mistry returns with more explosive fun in Do Try This at Home! (Sun 15 Feb, 2pm). Taking the stage at Epic Studios this time, make sure you keep your leftover cola and mints handy, he might just have an idea for them!

Have you ever wondered which beetle has a blaster on its bottom? (yes, really!) Join poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko for a family show full of poems, raps and songs all about your favourite little critters in The Great Big Bug Show (Tue 17 Feb, 12pm and 2pm).

Come and celebrate Pancake Day with chemist and Great British Bake Off finalist Josh Smalley! There'll be plenty of pancake flipping, live cooking and tasty experiments as Dr Josh serves up science in From Batter to Bubbles! (Tue 17 Feb, 2pm).

Dinosaur fans, get ready! Dino Duel: A Prehistoric Face-Off (Thu 19 Feb, 11am and 2pm) brings the ultimate dino showdown to the Festival. Watch Dinomania Ranger Chris and Festival Patron Professor Ben Garrod go head-to-head in a fun-packed knowledge duel, featuring jaw-dropping dinosaur animatronics!

Events for older children

Journey into the Universe's hidden mysteries with UEA academic, Dr Robert Ferdman. Free to book, Gravitational Waves from the Early Universe (Mon 16 Feb, 2pm) explores how new discoveries are changing our understanding of the cosmos and its beginnings.

Are your teens considering a future in engineering? Our panel event, Building the Aircraft of Tomorrow (Tue 17 Feb, 3pm) offers an unique look at aeronautics, aviation design and the future of flight.

Discover how biology and engineering combine in the interactive show Biomimicry: How Nature Inspires Engineering (Sat 21 Feb, 10am). Suitable for ages 11+, you'll have the chance to meet snakes, lizards, tarantulas and cockroaches as you learn how these incredible creatures inspire cutting-edge technologies.

Dream big with STEMM! Our free STEMM Careers events, for ages 12 and up, give you the chance to hear from scientists at the cutting edge of their fields and world-leading institutions - and discover how a career in STEMM can take you to places you’d never expect.

Just for the kids!

There are plenty of opportunities for little explorers to get hands-on with science at the Festival this half term.

We’re back at Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form, transforming the space into The Lab - home to our brilliant, immersive workshops for kids aged 5–10. Step into a world of colour in Making Rainbows, build electric circuits in Light up the City! or help solve the muddy mystery in Farm Detectives: The Potato Plot! (Mon 16-Sat 21 Feb, times vary).

For younger children aged 2–4, don’t miss WonderTots (Mon 16 Feb–Sat 21 Feb, times vary) at Sir Isaac Newton too! Designed by former biochemist and STEM Ambassador, Dr Lucy Catto, we'll make science child’s play, with lots of playful activities for little ones.

Calling all nature detectives! We’ve added a second date to our sold-out children’s workshop, Plant Galls Detectives (Fri 20 Feb, 12.30pm) where you can help uncover the secrets of these strange plant parasites. It’s free to book, but be quick!

Free family experiences

Brand new for 2026, watch amazing science experiments and free performances every day of the Festival at The Atom Stage! (Sat 14 Feb–Sat 21 Feb, 10.15am, 12pm and 3.45pm). Wrap up warm and get ready to see science in action, with outdoor family-friendly shows from Margate’s one and only Crab Museum (Mon 16 Feb), Bubble Wizard (Thu 19 Feb–Fri 20 Feb) The Science Dude (Sat 21 Feb) and more!

Inside The Forum, enjoy an action-packed family day at The Explorium! (Sat 14–Sat 21 Feb, 10am–4pm). The heart of the Festival, it invites visitors of all ages to explore hands-on science, with free activities and a changing line-up of exhibitors every day.

Plus, Quiet Hour in The Explorium is back (Sat 14–Sat 21 Feb, 9.30am–10.30am), offering a controlled, lower-capacity experience for those who may benefit from a calmer start to the day. Spaces are limited, so free tickets must be pre-booked.

Microscopic adventures await with a trip to the Microbe Zoo (Sat 14–Sat 21 Feb, 10.30am–4pm). Presented by the Centre for Microbial Interactions and The SAW Trust, you’ll get to enjoy interactive games, hands-on activities, soundscapes and videos as you explore a previously unseen microbial world.

And finally, don’t miss The Great Science Time Tour (Sat 14–Sat 21 Feb, 1pm and 3pm). Showing twice daily, this family-friendly performance takes you on a fun, time-twisting adventure to meet the inspirational scientists who changed the world.