- Play Hard
- 8th Jul 2026
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Dragonfly Festival lands at WWT Washington Wetland Centre – expect silent discos, live music and wildlife workshops
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If you’re after a proper day out in the North East this summer, WWT Washington Wetland Centre has just the thing.
The Dragonfly Festival takes over the site from Saturday 18th July – Monday 31st August, and it’s shaping up to be one of the best family days out going.
Think shimmering dragonflies darting over the ponds, meadows buzzing with life, and a festival programme packed with things to see and do, whatever the weather throws at you.
HIGH LIFE NORTH TOP TIP: Book online and you’ll save 10% too, so it’s worth sorting your tickets in advance.
DAILY ACTIVITIES TO KEEP EVERYONE BUSY
Alongside the special events, there’s a full programme of daily activities running throughout the festival. You can clamber your way around the adventure play area, test your skills with the giant outdoor games, or grab a spotter sheet for the Dragonfly Safari and see how many you can track down on foot.
There’s water play for those hot days (or the soggy ones, honestly it doesn’t matter here), and three brand-new additions worth watching out for too: Be the Dragonfly Dome, The Dino Dragonfly Hunt, and the Sonic Pond audio trail. All three are landing on site very soon, so keep an eye on the Washington Wetland Centre website for details on how to get involved.
THE HEADLINE ACTS
It’s not just the daily stuff that makes this festival special. Washington Wetland Centre has lined up a run of one-off events throughout summer that are well worth building a visit around.
Live Music at The Festival Busk Stop
Every day from 18th July – 31st August
Surprise musical moments come to the Events Lawn across the festival. Instruments are up for grabs whenever a busker isn’t performing, so if it’s quiet, step up and make your own soundtrack.
Moth Mornings
18th& 30th July and 1st & 15th August
Early risers should head along, where resident moth man Andrew opens his moth trap to reveal what’s been drawn in overnight.
Pond Dipping
20th, 27th & 29th July and 3rd, 5th, 14th, 17th, 19th, 24th & 26th August
Little explorers will love this one at the Pondzone, where nets and hands-on discovery meet the tiny creatures living beneath the surface.
Dragonfly Safari
21st& 28th July and 4th, 11th & 18th August
The main event itself. This guided walk sets off from the Amphibian Pond, where families can watch dragonflies and damselflies hover, hunt and rest among the reeds.
Mini Beast Hunting
23rd & 31st July and 25th August
Fancy getting properly stuck in? Head to Hollowood to search out woodlice, millipedes and stink bugs with brushes and magnifiers.
Crafting for Creatures
24th July and 12th,13th & 27th August
Creative types should head to the Wetwood Cabin, where you can decorate pebbles for otters Musa and Buster, or make scented bunting and nature garlands for the wetland residents.
Build a Bug House
25th July
Use recycled milk cartons to build a wildlife-friendly habitat to take home with you.
Dragonfly Crafts
6th, 10th & 28th August
Design your own dragonfly from pipe cleaners, card wings and beads at the Discovery Centre.
Den Building
7th August & 21st August
Budding builders can try their hand opposite the flamingo exhibit.
Face Painting
8th August & 16th August
Dragonfly-themed designs hit the Pondzone entrance, perfect for adding a splash of colour before you explore the rest of the festival.
Natural Printmaking
20th August
A calm, creative session in Hollowood, using leaves and petals to make your own nature-inspired artwork.
Silent Disco
22nd – 24th August
The café veranda takes over, with wireless headphones and themed playlists for a proper dance-like-a-dragonfly moment.
Make a Mini Wetland
29th August
Rounding off the festival, the reserve wardens help you build your own mini wetland at the Water Lab, one that’ll go on to support real wildlife on site long after your visit.
With events running most weeks right through to the end of August, there’s always a reason to head back to Washington Wetland Centre this summer. Book online and save 10% on entry.
WWT Washington, Pattinson, Washington, Tyne and Wear NE38 8LE
Rachael Ellis
Head of Content
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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