Rotherham Show 2026

We're back at Rotherham Show with Design, Build and Play! Step into a world of adventure where every idea can become something amazing. Inspired by the adventure playground, children are invited to dream up exciting creations using reclaimed materials—starting with small models and mini builds before bringing their ideas to life as dens, bridges, pathways and obstacle courses.

Test your ideas, swap materials, solve tricky building challenges and see where your imagination takes you. Whether you're creating a tiny prototype or a giant den to explore, every session is full of opportunities to make, experiment and play.

No two adventures are ever the same—what will you design, build and discover?

Rotherham Show 2025

Rotherham Show 2025 was extra special! It was the finale spectacle of our 'The Sensational Alazanas' project. This project was born in Maltby out of stories from communities about a famous high-wire walking family, the Alzana's, from Maltby. After a summer of story-telling in Maltby, we brought international high wire walker, Chris Bullzini, to perform alongside at Rotherham Show, alongisde Let's Circus and Bamboo by No Fit State. This year was important as it was Children's Capital of Culture, we were happy to bring a spectacle!

Rotherham Show 2024

The festival village returned in 2024.

Rotherham Show 2023

For the first time ever, Flux Rotherham brought festivalgoers an entire festival village! Filled with free workshops and performances all inspired by and from areas across the Rotherham Borough.

Performances

Rotherham Drummers United opened the festival village with a rousing set of drum beats and rhythms. Followed by regular intervals of The Bewonderment Machine, a magical cycle-powered ride-on carousel and miniature theatrical flight of the imagination from A Bird In The Hand Theatre. Shahina provided an energetic zumba set, encouraging audience members to join in the activity.

Ray Hearne created beautiful poems for Rotherham, inspired by the sights and sounds taking place at the show. He captured festivalgoers’ words, thoughts and memories and weaved them into a special love letter to Rotherham Show!

Sunrit Culture Group performed a colourful celebration of traditional Indian dances alongside beautiful storytelling, paying homage to spaces around Clifton Park itself.

Performing traditional dances, Wath Morris Minors, a new Morris Dancing group specifically for children, brought sticks and handkerchiefs to dance to tunes of traditional English folk songs. The Tamil Group, who have regularly performed at Ferham Festival, took to the performance area to dazzle the audiences on the bright afternoon.

Workshops

Community Connects CIC brought two different workshops for each day of the show! On Saturday, they make nature inspired monograph prints with artists Rachel and Teresa. On Sunday they worked with sculptor Jason to help visitors make their own aluminium embossed medals.

Artist Mandy Keating brought the fun of a photobooth to the show. Festivalgoers created their own wonderful props to colour in and design themselves and then pose using the frames.

Artist/designer Ellie Way helped visitors create their own personal travel poster featuring a favourite place in the borough. They made wonderful, personalised bowls and clay creations with ceramicist Emma Wilson.

Artist Hazel, helped festivalgoers create flower and leaf prints by using a mallet to bash plants that are sandwiched between paper and acetate. The result created beautiful natural patterns.

Provided by Artful Make it Happen visitors helped artists Evelyn and Sally bring a climate hero for Rotherham to life. Young creatives were able to get imaginative with clay to help us take action for climate and nature recovery.

Rotherham Show & Diversity Festival 2022

The 2022 Rotherham Show was run by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and took place over the weekend of 3^rd September. The show was also supported by Arts Council England, Without Walls, Flux Rotherham, Rotherham Diversity Festival & Children's Capital of Culture.

With a full programme of family-friendly activities throughout the weekend, Rotherham Show brought a mix of spectacular indoor and outdoor performances including Timeless by Joli Vyann, The Hidden Music of The Trees by Jason Singh, Vegetable Nannies by Plunge Boom and Rascally Diner by LAStheatre. All supported by Outdoor Arts Consortium, Without Walls.

The Children and Families’ Area was packed with activities perfect for kids of all ages, including the wondrous Fish Mobile created by Kaleider and Rotherham’s Young Producers, The Not So Grimm Twins by Wrongsemble, an interactive Godzillatown maze by Whalley Range All Stars and fantastic activities from Grimm and Co, Clifton Park Museum Team and Library Hub.

Sunday saw the re-launch of Rotherham Creative Network with an hour of music, poetry and conversation. It was great to hear local creatives speak so passionately about their own work, opportunities, challenges and why they do what they do.

To get involved in the Creative Network, please visit http://www.artfulonline.org/rotherham-creative-network/

Diversity Festival   

As part of Rotherham Show 2022, Flux was able to support the long-running Diversity Festival, a celebration of diverse communities, groups, cultures and experiences. The festival is community led with key infrastructure support from Rotherham Ethnic Minorities Alliance and vital support from SENSE.

The festival, which took place in the Made in Rotherham area, welcomed a range of artists, demonstrations, stall holders and performers.

Some of the Groups that attended were: Rotherham Interfaith Group, Friends of Palestine, BME Parent and Carers Group, SENSE, The Rainbow Project, Apna Haq, Nayi Zindagi, and new for this year Rotherham Sudanese Group, Rotherham Spanish Church and Ukraine Together.

Diversity Festival worked with young BAME people to design activities that they wanted to see as part of the show - these were delivered in partnership with Saif’s Boxing gym and Unity Boxing gym with pop up demos and a special visit from boxing champion Kash Ali, European Heavyweight. Sahara brought their Bhangra beats back to the Rockingham Stage and pulled a huge crowd in for the Saturday headline slot.

Other elements included a Tai Chi performance, Hoop and Zumba classes.

The Asian Bazaar was also a central part of Made in Rotherham with opportunities to buy delicious food, sumptuous fabrics, jewellery and clothing.

A huge thank you to all involved who volunteer tirelessly to ensure the festival happens and support the Diversity Festival each year.