Top 10 Engaging Activity Ideas For Children At Fun Day Events

As we get further into 2026, outdoor spring and summer events are just around the corner, a time when companies are organising fun-filled days for teams, or visitor attractions are planning ways to engage their audiences.

Planning a fun day involves a lot of moving parts to make it a success – one key area being the activities and entertainment you incorporate into the event.

In this area, it’s essential to consider the needs of the whole family – especially children!

Why Engaging Children at a Fun Day is Important

Incorporating child-friendly entertainment at fun day events is crucial for creating an inclusive and enjoyable atmosphere for all guests and visitors.

From immersive creative zones to captivating children’s shows, let’s get into ten exciting children’s activities that will take your corporate or public fun day to the next level.

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1. Interactive Animal Petting Experiences

One of our favourite activities to bring to fun day events is our interactive petting farm.

Choosing this activity creates an interactive experience for children that also serves as a learning experience.

Children (and adults) love animals, whether it’s rabbits, friendly goats, or exotic creatures. An animal encounter creates a hands-on learning experience that keeps young guests entertained.

Interactive and Educational

Run by friendly and knowledgeable animal handlers, participants will be guided on how to handle the animals, what they eat, how long they sleep for and how to look after them. This is truly one of our most interactive and educational kids’ activities for events.

We’ve booked our petting zoo for all types of events, including corporate fun days and community festivals, and they always prove to be an enjoyable experience for all.

Discover More: Mobile Petting Zoos and Animal Zones

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2. Captivating Children’s Shows

Next on our list is our children’s shows, which range from magic shows to theatrical performances.

Live performances are a captivating way to engage a younger audience. Whether it’s energetic puppet shows, dazzling magic acts, or enchanting fairy tale performances, children’s shows bring a sense of wonder and excitement to any family fun day.

Children’s shows include:

Magic Shows

• Featuring mind-blowing tricks and interactive elements.
• Magicians can perform jaw-dropping tricks, sleight-of-hand illusions and interactive mind-reading acts that leave children in awe.
• These shows incorporate audience participation, ensuring that kids feel part of the experience.
• They also break up your event, giving your corporate fun day a varied and engaging agenda.

Discover More: Magic Shows

Puppet Theatre

• With a range of characters and storylines, these create a storytelling delight for younger audiences.
• Puppeteers bring colourful characters to life through engaging storytelling and movement.
• These shows often feature classic fairy tales and interactive elements that allow children to be a part of the plot.
• Puppet theatre is an imaginative experience that fully engulfs a sense of imagination, perfect for sparking young imaginations.

Clown Acts

• These bring a sense of laughter and joy with comedic and engaging performances.
• They can include stunt performances, circus-style shows and more to create an engaging experience.
• These shows can incorporate interactive aspects such as balloon modelling, making the audience part of the experience.
• Whether it’s a solo clown act or a stage show, clowns create an upbeat and lighthearted atmosphere that keeps kids entertained.

Discover More: Clown Acts

With so many children’s shows on our roster, just get in touch with a member of our team who can help you choose the perfect entertainment for your event and age range.

Or take a closer look at our range of children’s shows right here.

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3. Animatronic Animal Shows

For an unforgettable experience, life-size, realistic animatronic animals and roaming creatures add a unique element to fun days and outdoor spaces, making excellent child-friendly events.

Animatronic animal shows blend education and entertainment, providing children with a thrilling, immersive experience at your family-friendly event.

From animatronic tortoises to roaming dinosaurs, these unique characters add an element of excitement and adventure, immersing children in a prehistoric world.

The Animatronic Tortoise

One of our favourite animatronic animal shows to incorporate into child-friendly events is our animatronic tortoise.

With realistic movements, blinking eyes and a gentle nature, this slow-moving character captivates children, encouraging them to engage with its personality.

Children can learn fascinating facts about tortoises, their habitats and their behaviours through engaging handlers who bring the experience to life.

Discover More: Animatronic Tortoise

Walkabout Dinosaurs

Children love dinosaurs; imagine the excitement this can bring as they come face-to-face with a towering T. rex or baby raptor! These interactive dinosaur shows are one of our most popular child-friendly activities for outdoor events.

That’s because walkabout dinosaurs create a sense of wonder and discovery, and unlike static displays, these interactive experiences fully immerse children in a fantasy world where they can touch, hear and engage with the creatures.

This entertainment choice is perfect for families looking for something truly unique and unforgettable, and we have a wide range of walkabout dinosaurs to choose from, including:

T-Rex

• A life-sized animatronic T. rex with realistic roars and movements, along with a playful personality.
• Trained performers control the dinosaur, allowing it to react dynamically to children’s excitement, making for fantastic photo opportunities.

Baby Raptors

• For a more timid display and for younger children who may find larger dinosaurs intimidating, baby raptors offer a more approachable experience.
• Carried by handlers, these raptors can interact closely with kids, making for an immersive experience.

Herbivore Encounters

• You can choose friendly herbivores to create a more relaxed and educational experience.
• These creatures engage children with fun facts about prehistoric life, making for an experience that provides entertainment and an educational aspect.

Whether you book them as a roaming act or a fully-fledged interactive show, this entertainment brings prehistoric creatures to life in an awe-inspiring way, ideal for inspiring kids’ activities for events.

Discover More: All Dinosaur Shows

Walkabout Animal Themed Performers

• As well as dinosaurs and animatronics, child-friendly events can include walkabout animal-themed acts.
• These often include a handler and an animal, a comedy animal performance or farm-themed acts.

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4. Bubble Artists

From giant floating bubbles to interactive bubble zones where children can create their own, this entertainment option is a hit with kids of all ages.

Bubble artists bring a touch of magic to your child-friendly event space – the reactions these shows get are a great addition to your event, captivating children with stunning bubble tricks!

Giant Bubble Displays

• For a visual spectacle, our giant bubble displays are a great option.
• These artists craft huge bubbles that change shape and reflect colours as they float.

Interactive Bubble Shows

• For something more interactive, bubble shows can incorporate storytelling, music and interactive elements into their performances.
• Kids are invited to participate by helping to create bubbles, popping them mid-air, or even stepping inside a giant bubble for a great photo opportunity.

Roaming bubble Performers

• If you want bubble performers to roam your event, spreading joy amongst attendees, you can also do this with our roaming bubble performers.
• This is more of a relaxed performance where the entertainers interact with guests around your event, rather than for a dedicated sit-down performance.

Discover More: Bubble Shows

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5. Classic Funfair Rides & Attractions

A must-have for large-scale child-friendly event days are funfair rides and attractions.

Funfair rides and attractions such as mini carousels, bouncy castles and teacup rides give children fun activities throughout your event space.

Different attractions suit children of all ages, and you can incorporate a range to ensure there is something for everyone.

Classic attractions create a nostalgic, carnival-themed atmosphere perfect for a family fun day. There’s a range to choose from, including:

Traditional Carousel

• A staple corporate fun day activity, carousels are a fun and exciting experience for children, and parents can get involved too, joining them for the ride.

Ferris Wheels

• Another iconic family fun day activity, Ferris wheels provide a relaxing ride where attendees can take in the views of your event.
• They’re suitable for all ages too – parents can join in, too or view from below.

Outdoor Adventure Activities

• Add a spark of adventure to proceedings at your child-friendly events with active adventure activities such as climbing walls and mobile high ropes.
• Designed as fun children’s activities for large outdoor spaces to attract crowds from afar.

Fairground Rides

• For more of an exhilarating experience, fairground rides provide the perfect balance of thrill and excitement.
• Designed specifically for younger riders, these rides don’t create an overwhelming experience.

Discover More: Fairground Rides

Bumper Cars

• For more of a competitive experience, bumper cars allow kids to experience the joy of driving in a fun and safe environment.
• The playful collisions and lighthearted chaos make this attraction entertaining for all involved – for children and adults.

Inflatables and Bouncy Castles

• Inflatables such as giant slides, bouncy castles and even assault courses offer endless fun for kids.
• Providing more of an active experience, these inflatables give children a place to have fun.

Discover More: Inflatable Hire

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6. Art and Face Painting Zones

For more of a creative activity, art and face painting zones are a great option.

These zones are a great way of keeping children engaged, giving them a space where they can paint, draw and craft.

Arts and Crafts Stations

• Arts and crafts zones encourage children to explore their creativity with hands-on projects.
• From creating their own painting to making friendship bracelets, these stations provide a variety of artistic activities suited to different age groups.
• Kids can also take home their handmade crafts, giving them something to remember the event by.

Face Painting

• Face painting is always a hit at family fun days, where children can enjoy the event as their favourite animals, superheroes, or mythical creatures
• This also provides fantastic photo opportunities for families.

Doodle Walls

• New in our interactive drawing walls, where children and adults can colour in the fun designs.
• Designs can be made bespoke to your event, and work as a great timepiece for attracting crowds.

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7. Sports Zones and Games

Another activity that has a competitive aspect is our sports zones and games.

Whether it’s football shootouts or basketball challenges, these activities give children a fun and active experience.

For active and energetic children, sports zones and games provide the perfect way to burn off energy whilst having fun, the perfect kids’ activities for events.

Mini Football and Penalty Shootout Challenges

• Kids can take part in penalty shootout challenges or quick matches, allowing them to develop their skills whilst having fun.
• Inflatable goalposts and soft footballs ensure safety without hindering the experience.

Discover More: Football Entertainment Ideas

Our football entertainment is proving super popular, but sometimes it’s difficult to know which activity is best to please all ages. Get in touch with a member of our team who can help you decide.

Basketball Shootout Stations

• A basketball shootout station offers a fun and interactive challenge for kids who love sports.
• They can compete against friends or test their personal best in solo challenges.
• Hoops can be adjusted to cater to different age groups.

Mini Golf

• For more of a relaxed experience, mini golf is a great option – with colourful obstacles and creative holes, kids can test their putting skills in a fun, relaxed environment.
• The whole family can get involved, too, making for an activity that can be enjoyed by all.

Discover More: Sports Entertainment

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8. Storytelling and Puppet Shows

For a calmer experience, storytelling and puppet shows led by professional performers can bring stories to life, immersing children in the worlds of the stories.

Interactive storytelling, where kids can participate in the narrative, makes the experience even more engaging.

Interactive Storytelling Shows

• Professional storytellers bring tales to life with animated voices, costumes and props to immerse viewers in the experience.
• These sessions can be themed to suit the event, from fairy tales and pirate adventures to space explorations and mythical quests.
• Children can also become a part of the story, interacting with the storytellers and even making appearances in the shows.

Puppet Shows

• Whether it’s traditional hand puppets or something a bit different like a shadow puppet show, these performances involve playful puppet characters, unique plots and humour to create an engaging show for children.

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9. Children’s Science Shows

For more of an educational activity, science and discovery zones featuring hands-on experiments and demonstrations are a great option.

Interactive discovery experiences allow kids to explore these topics through play and experimentation, making for an educational and entertaining experience.

Live science shows engage children with exciting demonstrations and fun experiments – whether it’s in the demonstrations or interactive, where children can perform the experiments under guidance – these shows make science feel like magic.

These shows can incorporate experiment stations that give children the opportunity to become mini scientists for the day, performing experiments, engage kids with science in a fun, tangible way.

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10. Themed Character Meet & Greets

Whether it’s princesses, superheroes or animated characters brought to life, themed character meet and greet performers bring joy and excitement to your corporate fun day.

They also pair up as a great photo opportunity for kids to take a snapshot with their favourite characters, making for a memorable experience.

These characters can also provide interactive storytelling and create impromptu performances, making them an unforgettable highlight of the day.

Fairy Tale Characters

• Bring well-known fairy tale characters, from princesses and knights to talking animals and wizards.
• These costumed performers engage with children through storytelling, themed games and photo opportunities.
• These characters immerse kids into the worlds of their favourite storybooks.

Superheroes

• Meeting superheroes is a dream come true for children.
• These characters bring high-energy performances and interactions, posing for photos and performing impromptu shows, making for a memorable experience.
• They add an element of excitement and encourage imaginative play for children.

Fantasy and Mythical Characters

• Adding a touch of fantasy, mythical creatures such as dragons, unicorns, or talking animals can roam the event, engaging with children in an interactive way.
• Some performers incorporate puppetry and animatronics to create lifelike interactions, creating an immersive experience.

Discover More: Child-Friendly Walkabout Entertainment

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Creating a Child-Friendly Event With Julia Charles Event Management

Incorporating these child-friendly activities into your fun day event makes for a memorable experience for all, helping you achieve your event objectives.

Whether you require fun children’s activities for large-scale outdoor events, visitor attractions, or venue destinations, or need a line-up of acts for a company fun day or community festival, we are on hand.

Whether you require individual shows and performers for your event, or you want the entire experience delivered from start to finish, our team can bring your vision to life.

Related Services:

• Family Fun Days
• Family Fun Day Entertainment
• Children’s Shows
• Event Management

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