A number of exciting science-based events have taken over the town as part of this year's Festival of Tomorrow

The Festival of Tomorrow is heading to the Deanery Academy on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 where Swindon locals can enjoy a lineup of explosive shows, spectacular performances, insightful panel debates, and arts activities.

But before that, there are a series of free events around Swindon for families to enjoy starting on Monday and ending on February 19. 

The Festival of Tomorrow’s About Town events include:

Getting up close and personal to the sun. A 3D recreation of the sun has arrived at STEAM Museum for its debut. You will find a range of free activities every day alongside the spectacular installation whilst you take in the view.

An Augmented Reality Space Trail, supported by the UK Space Agency, can also be found this half-term.Twelve different AR, space-themed models, created by Octagon Studio have been hidden around Swindon. Simply find the Swindon Space Trail board and scan the QR code with your phone and see the models come to life.

The first four locations have been announced: Bert’s Books, Swindon Hub, STEAM Museum and Central Library, with more to be announced on the Festival website.

Swindon Hub will also host a Rocking Robots and Rovers workshop with a range of arts and crafts activities for families with visual artist and UK Space ambassador, Helen Schell.

The activities, held at Swindon Hub on February 15-16, will be inspired by plans for missions to the Moon.

Science Sparks, a family workshop where you will learn about the Sun with the use of a plasma ball and ignite your inner scientist, will be held at three different Swindon Libraries.

Science Sparks was at West Swindon Library on February 13 and Central Library on February 14 and it will be at Park Library on February 15.

Tickets are free but make sure to reserve a space: Swindon Libraries Events

Finally, Stories written in Stardust is an immersive art exhibition, using projection mapping, created by local artist, Harrie Dearing. The experience was due to be hosted from February 13-16, inside the atmospheric small pool of the historic Health Hydro on Milton Road.

But this has been postponed and new dates are now being discussed.

All of these events are free as well as entry to the main festival.

Under-18s go free to all shows and events a the main festival, but there are some additional fees for adults for certain shows.

For more information about Festival of Tomorrow: https://www.festivaloftomorrow.com/

To book tickets to the Festival’s headline shows: https://www.festivaloftomorrow.com/tickets