Wall Games Returns to Northampton This August Bank Holiday

If you love it when Northampton town centre gets a proper injection of colour, this is one for the diary.

Wall Games is back this August Bank Holiday weekend, running Saturday 29th to Monday 31st August, and it’s transforming Northampton town centre into a giant open-air gallery with over 330 street artists painting live — plus battles, workshops, live music and a family trail, all completely free to attend.

Wall Games has grown into one of Europe’s largest live street art events, and it all happens right here in Northampton. Artists travel from across the UK and beyond to paint large-scale murals on walls and buildings around the town centre, and you can wander round and watch it all take shape over the weekend.

When and where

• Dates: Saturday 29 – Monday 31 August
• Time: 10am – 6pm each day
• Location: Northampton town centre
• Cost: Free to attend

What’s on for families

This isn’t just something to peek at while you’re passing through — there’s a proper weekend of activity built around it. Here’s what to expect:

• Over 330 artists painting live across the town centre
• Live street art battles and competitions
• Interactive games and hands-on workshops
• Live DJs and music throughout the weekend
• Family-friendly activities suitable for all ages
• Chances to meet artists and watch the creative process up close

The bit I’d actually plan around: the Codebreaker challenge

On Monday 31st August, there’s a free family treasure hunt called the Codebreaker challenge. QR codes are hidden across the Wall Games painting locations, and when you find and scan them on your phone, they reveal clues. Collect them all and you solve the mystery. It starts from 10am and it’s the kind of thing that turns “let’s go and look at some murals” into an actual mission for the kids — genuinely one of the easiest ways to keep them engaged for a good chunk of the day.

Northampton BID are also providing an app with a map and location details for where each artist is painting, so you’re not just wandering around hoping to bump into something good.

Good to know

There’s an artist showcase at The Smokepit on Saturday 29th August if you want to see finished pieces up close, and an official after-party at the Roadmender on Sunday 30th August (7pm–11pm, tickets from £15) — that one’s very much an evening-out-without-the-kids situation rather than a family event, but worth knowing about if you fancy a night out afterwards.

Founder James Thompson said: “Wall Games is about bringing people together through creativity.” It really does feel like that when you’re there — the whole town centre has a buzz to it that you don’t often get on a normal Saturday.

If you’re after more free things to do with the kids in Northamptonshire, or you just want a wider list of ideas for the summer, my guide to things to do in Northamptonshire for families is a good place to start. And if you’d rather have events like this land straight in your inbox instead of hunting them down yourself, sign up to my weekly what’s on newsletter — that’s exactly what it’s there for.

Event details:
Wall Games
Saturday 29 – Monday 31 August, 10am – 6pm
Northampton town centre
Free
More info: www.wallgames.co.uk