Entertainment Swindon

The annual Festival of Tomorrow sponsored by the Swindon McArthur Glen Designer Outlet Village is coming back to Swindon once again, bringing back a wave of exciting, educational activities to the Outlet Village. From the 15th to 22nd February, the Designer Outlet will transform into a hub of creativity, exploration that is free for all the family. This exciting event offers a diverse range of interactive experiences for all ages, focusing on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM).

As part of the event, local dance company Neon Dance have teamed up with arts & technology experts to create Swindon’s first Sonic Body Lab, incorporating a mix of music, dance, art and technology.

Visitors to the Designer Outlet will get the opportunity to try out and even change the design of interactive wearable sound sculptures.

Organisers say the Sonic Body Lab “might just be the perfect half-term activity for both kids and adults”. Get ready to experience a fascinating collision of music, dance, art and technology with interactive sound sculptures, wearable artworks that can be played like instruments and much more to check out. Explore how they move, learn how they were made, or even design your own!

The event is FREE and most suited to ages 4-11years and their families.

This years event will be asking ‘What will music, look like, sound like in the future?’ The Sonic Body Lab, part of Swindon’s Festival of Tomorrow presented by Neon Dance as The Sonic Body Lab is presented by Neon Dance as part of Swindon’s Festival of Tomorrow 2025 at Unit 94 of the Swindon Designer Outlet, next to the Body Shop, open between 10am and 4pm from Saturday 15th February to Saturday 22nd February, with free entry.

The project grew out of an ongoing international collaboration between Neon and Dr Ana Rajcevic, an artist and research scientist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston.

It follows on from last year’s Festival of Tomorrow lab, which showcased live performance robots developed in partnership with Bristol Robotics Lab.

Ideas generated in the lab will feed into future Neon Dance performances, and visitors who help design of the prototype wearables will be able to see the real things up-close when they return for the 2026 festival next February.

The Sonic Body Lab is presented by Neon Dance as part of Swindon’s FoT 2025 at Unit 94 of the Swindon Designer Outlet, next to the Body Shop, open between 10am and 4pm from Saturday 15th February, to Saturday 22nd February, with free entry.

Those interested in delving further into the topic of immersive sonic experiences can join a talk at The Deanery CE Academy (or tune in online) on February 22nd at 2.15pm – booking ahead is advised – via Neon Dance’s website neondance.org/events/talk-immersive-worlds-festival-of-tomorrow.

Dates for the calendar:

• Sonic Body Lab (February 15th – 23rd): Experience a unique sound installation activated by movement of your body, blending music, dance, art, and technology. Visitors can interact with sound sculptures, learning how they are made and even designing their own tunes.

• Incredible Oceans (February 15th – 20th): Hosted in the Ocean dome located at the Heart of the centre dive into the wonders of the ocean with the Ocean Artefacts Museum, featuring an orca skull, shark jaws, and dolphin leg bones. A daily “Drawing from the Deep” workshop (2-3pm) offers a unique opportunity to sketch an orca skull replica while learning about its anatomy and behaviour.

• Sea-Creature Superpowers Trail (February 15th – 23rd): Embark on a self-guided trail around the centre and discover the amazing superpowers of sea creatures. Collect your activity sheet at Guest Services and be in with a chance to win some fantastic prizes!

• Noisy Toys Science Busking (February 19th – 21st): Get ready for some seriously fun science! Noisy Toys will be roaming the centre with interactive demos and up-cycled instruments – guaranteed to make some noise!

• Dance Roots Africa (February 22nd): Get your groove on with a vibrant dance performance fusing traditional African dance with modern hip-hop.

• Prime Theatre Young Street Theatre Science Buskers (Dates TBC): Watch as talented young scientists bring science to life with engaging street performances.

• Animal Behaviour Society (February 15th, The Heart): Get hands-on with mask-making and chat with real researchers about the fascinating world of animal behaviour.