Trafford Centre to host FREE family science weekend with robots, dinosaurs, experiments, and more

A new science festival is coming to Manchester next month, and little ones can meet robots, dinosaurs, and more.

Families are invited to enjoy a free fun-filled weekend full of different interactive and hands-on science activities, as FunLab takes over the Trafford Centre early next month to mark the launch of British Science Week – which runs from Friday 6 through to Sunday 15 March.

The weekend-long celebration is hosted by the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Manchester.

You can expect robots, dinosaurs, experiments, and interactive activities to be brought to life for visitors of all ages, and for completely free of charge.

In the dedicated dinosaur zone, you can step back in time with spectacular displays and meet real-life palaeontologists who will reveal fascinating secrets of the prehistoric world, as well as get the chance to handle genuine fossils, find out how scientists understand ancient life, and take as many selfies as possible.

Over in the robot zone, this is where you’ll get to discover smart robots that move, react, and perform crowd‑pleasing tricks, while young engineers test their skills, control mini‑bots, and learn how robotics keeps people safe.

There’ll also be a flight simulator – suitable for children aged seven and above – where you can soar into the science of flight and take the controls in an exciting experience, before exploring how aircraft design, weather, and environments affect flight.

Families can also enjoy a wide mix of creative, sensory, and scientific fun in the dedicated experiments zone too.

“We’re thrilled to welcome FunLab to the centre and provide families with an unforgettable experience,” commented Simon Layton, who is the Centre Director at the Trafford Centre. “From robot dogs to giant dinosaurs, there’s something to amaze everyone.”

A spokesperson for The University of Manchester added: “We are proud to showcase our world‑leading researchers directly to the community.

“Our scientists, engineers and students are passionate about sharing their work, and events like FunLab we want to show young people and their families that that science is exciting, creative and truly for everyone.”

Read more:

• Manchester’s ‘super duper’ family festival full of FREE activities is back this weekend
• Adults-only ‘after hours’ event returns to Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum
• Science and Industry Museum announces new major exhibition taking visitors on an ‘epic space adventure’

FunLab takes over the Trafford Centre on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 March, and you can find out more information here.

Featured Image – Mikhail Nilov (via Pexels)