FIREWORKS and time travel proved an explosively exciting mix – as hundreds descended on the Steam Museum for the second day of Swindon’s new science festival.
Organisers of the Tomorrow festival were expecting more than 2,000 people across the two day event.
Families packed Hawksworth Hall and the Daniel Gooch theatre at the museum as they enjoyed talks on how to make a firework and whether time travel could be possible.
Matthew Tosh, who describes himself as a pyrotechnician, drew gasps as he showed excited families the science behind making fireworks.
He used a blow torch and fuel laced with chemical element barium to light up the room with green flame.
“Green fire,” Mr Tosh yelled. “Just like Harry Potter!”
BOOM! Matthew Tosh's talk drew gasps Pictures: DAVE COX
Rod Hebden, the festival organiser, said 2,000 tickets had been sold for the two day festival – with hundreds more families turning up on the day.
“It’s been amazing. Friday was really, really busy. The exhibitors are exhausted,” he said.
“Families and people of all ages have been getting involved. There are things for everyone to do.
“The point of the whole thing is just to let kids see the cool things you can do in science and technology.
“They learn it at school but we want to show them all the cool things.
“Here they can meet real scientists and engineers and see what it’s all about.”
He said people were already asking about whether or not the festival would return next year. "We're thinking about how we can make it bigger and better."
All the fun of the festival! A selection of Dave Cox's photographs from day two of the event
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