Kids Fest is done for another year, and what a weekend it was. On Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th August, we took over Baltic Square in Gateshead for two days of free family entertainment, fairground rides, live stage performances, and character meet and greets. If you missed our Kids Fest preview, here is a look back at how the weekend actually played out. The Gateshead riverside was the perfect setting, the crowds turned out in force, and the feedback has been brilliant.
Here is a look back at how it all came together.
What Dunes Event Group Brought to Baltic Square
For Kids Fest 2026, we provided staging, fairground rides, and a full weekend of free on-stage entertainment for families across the North East. The ride lineup included classic cups and saucers, a helter skelter, and a mini ferris wheel, all arranged around Baltic Square to make the most of the riverside setting.
Food stalls, coffee, and sweet treats were available throughout the weekend for families on the go, keeping the energy on site high from 12 noon right through to close at 4pm each day.
The combination of free entertainment, pay-as-you-go rides, and a brilliant location gave families a proper day out without the price tag that usually comes with it. That is exactly what Kids Fest is designed to do.
The Entertainment Lineup
Each day had its own stage programme, and both delivered something different.
Saturday brought Ms Rachael, Bluey, Stitch, and Superhero and Princess performances to the stage, with meet and greet sessions throughout the day giving younger children the chance to get up close with their favourite characters. For families with little ones, it was a hard day to beat.
Sunday was headlined by the K-Pop Demon Hunters, the high-energy act that has become a firm favourite with Kids Fest crowds. If you were at our Easter Egg-Stravaganza earlier this year, you will know exactly what they bring to a stage. The photos from Sunday's performance say everything that needs to be said.
Throughout both days, the meet and greet opportunities gave families a chance to make the kind of memories that are genuinely hard to recreate at home. Watching a child's face light up when they meet a character they love never gets old, and it is one of the reasons we keep building events like this.
Why Baltic Square Works So Well
There are not many free outdoor event spaces in the North East that come close to Baltic Square for atmosphere and accessibility. With the Millennium Bridge, the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, and the Tyne as its backdrop, the setting does a lot of the heavy lifting before a single ride is switched on.
For families travelling from across Gateshead, Newcastle, and the wider region, it is easy to reach and well connected. The open space gives us room to create a proper event layout, and the riverside setting makes the whole day feel like a genuine occasion rather than a trip to a car park funfair.
This was our second major event at Baltic Square this year, following the Easter Egg-Stravaganza in April. The fact that both drew strong crowds tells us everything we need to know about what families in this region want from a summer day out.
A Busy Summer for Dunes Event Group
Kids Fest was the latest in a summer that has kept us busy across the North East. Bounce Extreme returned to Hardwick Hall Hotel in Sedgefield earlier this month for a sold-out weekend, and due to popular demand we are heading back to Hardwick Hall on Bank Holiday Monday 31st August for one final date. Tickets are £15 per child and sessions are filling up fast.
If you want to see more of what we have delivered this summer, our fairground hire blog from Allendale Mayfair is a good look at how we bring events like this to life in communities across the region.
Thinking About Your Own Event?
If you are looking to bring something like Kids Fest to your venue, community, or organisation, we would love to hear from you. Take a look at our entertainment available to hire to see the full range of what we offer, browse our client portfolio to get a sense of the events we have delivered, or get a free quote from our team directly.