With the school holidays almost at an end and parents breathing a collective sigh of relief, here’s our pick of the best summer kids events and activations this year.
Sony Pictures’ record emoji event
To promote the worldwide release of The Emoji Movie, Sony Pictures set the first Guinness World Records title for the largest number of people dressed as emoji faces around the world.
The global record was simultaneously set by people dressed as the yellow emoji characters from the movie in London, Sao Paulo, Dublin, Moscow and Dubai.
UK participants in stunt gathered outside St. Thomas’ Hospital in Westminster where they formed one large emoji face with the Houses of Parliament as a backdrop. The gathering included young patients and staff from Evelina London Children’s Hospital and Vyvyan Evans, the UK’s leading Emoji ‘expert’, plus ten official Emoji Movie characters including Gene, Hi-5, Poop Daddy, Pizza and Heart, who were on hand to meet the children.
Virgin Media’s giant trampoline bed
Virgin Media’s youngest viewers can now stream their favourite shows via an ad-free app. The telecoms company took over London’s King’s Cross Square with an ingenious stunt where kids were invited to test their jumping skills on a giant trampoline disguised as a bed.
Designed specifically for three- to six-year-olds, the app allows users to stream shows, play games and read books in a safe environment free of ads and in-app purchases.
Credit: CampaignLiveTV
Lego Mini Missions event
Earlier this summer, Lego launched a pop-up featuring clues and puzzles for children.
The Lego Mini Missions: Ninjas in the City event is the first time the brand has brought together reality and fantasy, in a kids event designed to drive brand engagement among five- to nine-year-olds.
They joined Lego City Police detective Chase McCain, alongside the Lego Ninjago ninjas, to form a crime fighting team. Participants undertook missions, found clues and solved puzzles as they made their way towards a final stand-off against the evil Lord Garmadon.
On arrival at “Mission Base” – in The Queen’s Walk in Lambeth, London – visitors were given a mission briefing and received mission packs. They were then trained in the art of ‘Spinjitsu’, the martial art featured in the world of Ninjago. Families had to solve as many Lego Mini Missions as they could against the clock.
Sky Kids Café
Sketch worked with Fever PR on the launch of a new Sky Kids App. The Sky Kids Cafe was a 4-day event, including a celebrity launch, to introduce the app to children and their families during the week of summer half term.
The Sky Kids Cafe featured 3 cartoon worlds including Scooby Doo, Ben & Holly and SpongeBob SquarePants. Each area was specially designed and created complete with familiar houses, scenery and characters. Sketch worked with a child’s play expert to create tailor-made play experiences in each world.
The cafe featured a menu designed by Lisa Faulkner, children could choose from Scooby Doo, Ben & Holly or Spongebob SquarePants menus. Sketch’s kitchen team covered 300 guests per day.
Over the 4 days the event saw over 1000 visitors through the doors. Sketch designed and created the Sky Kids Cafe in its entirety including the reception area, cafe and the 3 cartoon themed rooms.
My Little Pony goes on tour
Toy company Hasbro brought the world of My Little Pony to life for the first time earlier this year with a roadshow kids event across Britain.
The My Little Pony Friendship Tour invited visitors aboard a pink double-decker bus, where they could explore Equestria, the magical world of ponies, and celebrate the “positive power” of the children’s brand.
Kids could play with the latest toys, watch episodes of the TV show and enjoy a series of unique My Little Pony experiences, from makeovers to Pony selfies. Visitors were also given a Friendship Points code to use online at the My Little Pony Friendship Club.
The tour kicked off at the St David’s shopping centre in Cardiff before appearing throughout the summer at various locations, including the Geronimo Festival and the Bristol Balloon Fiesta.
