PLAYTIME Carnival
This summer PLAYTIME has a joyful carnival theme, there’s something for all the family.
Drop in Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, throughout August, 1pm-4pm, free
Plus a weekend PLAYTIME Carnival, on Saturday 17 August, 1pm-4pm
This summer the carnival comes to the Whitworth!
Music and colour will fill our spaces both indoors and out. Inspired by our current exhibition John Lyons: Carnivalesques, explore a range of curious and fantastical carnival-themed activities that will bring the paintings and poems to life. From babies and toddlers through to teens and grandparents, there’s something for all the family.
Dress up and become part of a painting, play with poetry, create a prop to use in the Carnival Parade and make some noise with Pentagon Play musical instruments.
Join a daily Carnival Parade led by our PLAYTIME team at 3.30pm.
Carnival Baby
Available during gallery opening hours
A Carnival-themed sensory play space for babies, toddlers and their grown-ups to explore and spend quality time together.
Whitworth Minecraft
Available during gallery opening hours
Play our two specially designed Whitworth Minecraft arcade machines in Everyday Art School.
National PLAY Day
Wednesday 7 August 1pm-4pm
A day packed with Carnival-themed play that takes over the gallery both indoors and out. Join our Carnival Parade led by the PLAYTIME team at 3.30pm, and meet in the Art Garden.
Quiet Mornings
Wednesday 7 August 10.30am-12.30pm and Wednesday 28 August 10.30am-12.30pm
Multi-sensory, open-ended play for families with additional needs.
Saturday PLAYTIME Carnival
Saturday 17 August 1pm-4pm, Free, drop-in
Carnival-themed play throughout the afternoon!
Image: John Lyons, Schools competition, winning artwork by, Siuyi Sasha Au, Age 7, St John's CofE Primary School.
More information
*All the resources as part of this year’s PLAYTIME have been kindly donated by our partners Pentagon Play, the UK’s No.1 School Playground Provider.
All activities are FREE and drop-in unless otherwise stated.
Visit the Everday Art School on the Mezzanine level of the gallery, for ideas to help bring art into your everyday life. Open everyday during gallery opening times.
Gallery opening times
Open: 10am-5pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and until 9pm on Thursdays. The gallery is CLOSED on all Mondays.
PLAYTIME drop-in sessions run on Wednesdays 1pm-4pm, Thursdays 1pm-4pm, Fridays 1pm-4pm, throughout August.
Follow the gallery's social media channels for PLAYTIME updates, and check out Instagram @whitworthfamilies
#WhitworthPlaytime
For a flash back to PLAYTIME fun last year, visit the YouTube link below.
Read our blogs
Whitworth x Pentagon Play – Gathering of Strangers Written by our Families Producer, Lucy Turner, find out more about our partnership with Pentagon Play for this year's Playtime activities.
Gathering of Strangers What's on during the August families break.
