Beats and Blooms Family Rave with Big Fish Little Fish

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The original family rave Big Fish Little Fish is ten years old. Dance in the Horniman Gardens with your family and join the celebration!

Join us for a proper South London knees up to wish happy tenth birthday to the brilliant Big Fish Little Fish. Witness music history with the incomparable Benga behind the decks once more – come throw some shapes in the garden of dance this July.

Programme

Line up

Line up times will be confirmed closer to the day.

Atlanta Allure & Mark Force  

Mark Force is one of Broken Beat supergroup Bugz in the Attic and has been producing and DJing for over 35 years. He plays everything from Hip Hop, Electro, House, Hardcore, Jungle/DnB, Broken, Jazz, Soul, Boogie, and Disco. Atlanta hails from South London, as a raver at legendary old skool parties such as Labrynth, Raindance and AWOL, Atlanta started her journey in the mid-90s on pirate radio playing Acid House, UK Garage and Jungle/DnB.

Mark XTC 

Jungle pioneer, Hacienda regular DJ and Kool London DJ Mark has played some of the most acclaimed sets at BFLF over the last 10 years. This time he brings his enormously popular Classic History Set taking us though old skool and jungle. This’ll get you reaching for the sky!

And playing live for the first time in a long time…

Benga

Dubstep pioneer and producer of seminal tracks both as Benga and part of the Magnetic Man collective (with Skream and Artwork) we are honoured that Benga will be gracing our decks after a long break from live performance, joined by his young family to bring the Bass to our afternoon.

There won’t just be music and dancing, there’s food, bars, blooming lovely floral crafting activities, author readings/signings, bubbles, balloons and foam!

Timings and locations within the Gardens for all activities will be signposted on the day.

Craft Activities

Nifty Natty Crafts will be making colourful, flowered, feathered rave crowns plus giant colouring in murals and playdough tables.

Book signing

Author Uju Asika will be reading and signing copies of her acclaimed books: ‘Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World’ and her new book for pre-and-just-schoolers ‘A World For Me and You’. Also with her brand new book ‘Raising Boys Who Do Better: A Hopeful Guide for a New Generation’.

Park Quizzes

Bring Your Baby will be running Park Quizzes, to get your minds moving.

  • General knowledge for all the family (that includes little ones too)
  • A quiz with a twist aimed at school-aged children
  • The London themed quiz where you might even recognise some local landmarks!

Skipping Sikh

Have some fun with the Skipping Sikh sessions.

Butterfly House and golf

We also have our Butterfly House open for ravers at a discounted price during the event: £2.50 per person and tickets can be purchased from the Butterfly House on the day.

Plus UrbanCrazy golf will be open for the whole family to enjoy!

Face Painting

Have your face painted by fabulous Doxa Faces. Children must be over 2 to be painted and there is an additional cost for face painting: £7 per child / £10 per adult.

Info about the day

  • Please note this event is outside so come along, embrace the festival atmosphere and dress appropriately for the weather on the day.
  • The Gardens and Animal Walk will be accessible to ticket holders only. Reduced cost tickets for the Butterfly House will also be available on the day for event attendees.
  • The event will take place whatever the weather and refunds will not be offered in the case of bad weather.
  • Tickets must be purchased online ahead of the event, tickets will not be available on the door.
Reliably excellent
The Guardian
Credible music...magical
Time Out
The best thing we do together as a family
BFLF Regular
The best day of my life!
BFLF 6-year-old attendee

Accessibility

If you have access requirements, please call 020 8699 1872 or email venuehire@horniman.ac.uk

If you are a Blue Badge holder and would like to park onsite, please see our Access page for more details.

Crowds and Seating

There will not be a dedicated quiet area at the Family Rave event. For a quieter space please try the South Downs part of the Gardens.

The South Downs has a few benches and is a grassy area with limited concrete paths. This area of the Gardens also has a sloping ground and during wet weather it may not be suitable for wheelchair users or anyone who is unstable on their feet.

Please see the Terms and Conditions section below for more information.

How do I get into the rave on the day?

The rave will take place in the Gardens by the Bandstand. Please enter the site via the main entrance on London Road – walk up the Avenue and you will find the ticket gate directly ahead of you. This will be the only access point for ticket holders

Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?

All ages welcome but the activities are designed for families to enjoy together. Music is played at safe levels for everyone.

Please be aware that BFLF is designed to provide a family friendly, authentic dance music/festival experience and is not a traditional children’s party or disco. Music is proper club music from acid house onwards, there is no kids music, nor DJ shout outs. The effect is to give families unity on the dancefloor – dancing together.

How loud will it be?

BFLF sets and monitors the volume using World Health Organisation guidelines. That it is at a safe level for everyone, even the youngest of babies, over the four hour duration of the event.

Though quieter than at adult events, it is still loud enough to feel like you are at a club. Most parents do not use ear defenders on their children but if yours are particularly sensitive to noise or if you want them to nap then you might want to consider it.

Terms and Conditions

  • Parents remain responsible for their children at all times. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
  • For families with younger children (8s and under) though all ages are welcome.
  • Adult only groups are not admitted. A max of 3 children per adult in a family. If attending as a large party please ensure one adult to two children minimum.
  • If there are more than 4 adults per child in your group please email info@bigfishlittlefishevents.co.uk for pre-approval before buying tickets.
  • Tickets are non-refundable. Tickets cannot be exchanged for other Horniman activities.
  • Each member of your group must have a ticket. Pre-walking infants go free (but must also have a ticket).
  • The event will be busy with hundreds of people attending. The dance floor is for adults and children to dance together.
  • Please be aware that events are standing / dancing with limited seating, although of course you can sit on the ground. Please give those with access needs priority to seating.
  • Each event is stewarded and risk assessed in advance.
  • As the event is outdoors buggies are allowed, however there is no buggy park. We suggest you leave your buggies at home where possible.
  • A licensed bar will be open during the event but no glass is permitted.
  • Please do not bring your own alcoholic drinks with you as these will be confiscated at the entrance gate. We will be running bags checks. You are welcome to bring baby food with you.
  • We may photograph or film small parts of the event and by entering you are giving your permission for these to be used for BFLF or Horniman promotion purposes.
  • This event is outside so dress appropriately for the weather on the day. The event will take place whatever the weather and refunds will not be offered in the case of bad weather.
  • DJ lineups may be subject to unavoidable change.