Looking to generate new footfall and encourage your visitors to visit new areas of your shopping complex or town centre? A Themed Trail is the perfect solution. Themed Trails encourage longer dwell time, draw visitors into different areas they may be unfamiliar with, keep visitors engaged and entertained, and can generate social media buzz!
We provide a selection of high-quality 3D Themed Props, which can also provide fantastic photo opportunities! Props are situated throughout the area in key target areas increasing dwell time. Your guests can collect a print brochure with a map of the Themed Trail route, or clues indicating which Props need to be located and discovered! Each Prop contains a clue or detail for your visitor to record in the brochure. Props could spell out a word with individual letters completing an anagram. When all the Trail Props have been found, the brochure is posted complete. After that, a winner can be chosen!
We have a fantastic range of themes such as Around the World, Egyptian, and Under the Sea. We have Themed Trails available for seasonal events such as Christmas, Easter, Spring, and Spooky! Our cool wintry themes include Gingerbread, Nutcracker, and Snowman. We also offer a roarsome Dinosaur Themed Trail! Our Themed Trails are customisable and incredibly versatile. You can be certain that we will create the perfect bespoke Themed Trail for you!
A Giant Easter Egg Hunt
Our popular Easter Themed Trail brings an Easter Egg Hunt to life in BIG way. This Giant Easter Egg Trail consists of ten multicoloured Easter Egg Props with a riddle to solve. This is an egg-citing way to increase dwell time and invite customers to explore a shopping centre complex! Our clients for 2022 chose to spell out the word ‘Easter’.
Dinosaurs in the City Centre
We were approached by Leeds BID to support their ‘Jurassic Trail’ in the city centre. Leeds BID wanted to position animatronic dinosaurs across the city, guiding visitors into areas they may not usually see and encouraging footfall. They wanted the Dinosaur Themed Trail to include exciting theatrical elements, with special effects and immersive jungle theming across the city! For the Themed Trail, we installed 14 large animatronic dinosaurs and provided multiple exciting dinosaur themed activities every Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer holidays. The Jurassic Trail was a resounding success! It increased footfall to the city centre throughout the summer holidays and had massive social media interaction!
Witchcraft and Wizardry
In October 2021, Big Foot Events were ‘up to no good’ at Grand Arcade shopping centre creating a spellbinding Witchcraft and Wizardry Themed Trail. We created a magical experience at Grand Arcade with Sorcery themed performers and installations! Alongside our fantastic performers, shoppers were invited to take part in a Themed Trail. The trail map could be completed in order to gain the title of ‘Master of Witchcraft and Wizardry’ and receive a free chocolate treat. Shoppers could collect themed stickers such as ‘Snowy Owl’, ‘Magic Wand’, ‘Potions’, ‘Broomstick’, and ‘Spell Book’ from corresponding colour-coded shops around Grand Arcade. This encouraged participants to visit different locations around the shopping centre and was a constructive collaboration with shops.
In April 2022, during Easter half term, Big Foot Events had the pleasure of providing an Easter entertainment programme for our client.
The Brief
Affinity Staffordshire wanted to create a fun Easter atmosphere for families during half term. They aimed to encourage repeat footfall throughout half term with a range of Easter entertainment. With our help, egg-citing ideas, and range of Easter themed activities, Affinity Staffordshire wanted to create a cracking half term events programme!
The Challenges
One of the main challenges we faced was the needs of the outlet shopping complex’s tenants. We needed to be cautious of shop visibility and accessibility. When decorating the area and locating our Easter entertainment, we needed to ensure we did not block access or restrict shop visuals. Our events programme needed to accommodate all ages and cater to a range of families. The activities needed to be fun, interactive, and accessible to all. One of our fantastic Easter activities involved having live animals indoors, so we needed to ensure the animals were cared for and protected, and intervals were arranged for their well-being.
The Solutions
To encourage repeat footfall and generate the most revenue, we needed to design a varied Easter entertainment programme. We chose to run a varied week of activities to encourage visitors to return for new activities. Included in our event package was customisable entertainment to cater to a range of ages. We considered the needs of the surrounding outlets and asked for their input during our programme design. Our performers helped promote the nearby shops.
The Results
We designed an egg-ceptional Easter entertainment programme for Affinity Staffordshire! We delivered a varied events programme during half term.
On Monday, 11th April, shoppers were able to Meet and Greet Beatrix Potter inspired characters: Mr Rabbit, Puddle Duck, and Miss Potter. On Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th, visitors could interact with Easter animals at our Mini Farm installation. For the last day, Thursday 14th, shoppers were invited to participate in an Easter Egg Hunt with our very own Easter Bunny!
We also offered a Pot Your Own Plant workshop; children learnt fun facts about gardening and walked with their very own seed ready to watch it grow at home.
Testimonial
‘The Easter event was absolutely fantastic. Families loved it and even people who were passing commented on how great it was for the kids. The team were brilliant, and the Easter Bunny was sooo cute! Footfall and sales over the four days were up by 8.6% v. 2019, which is terrific! Our most popular day was Wednesday, which saw a 13% increase in footfall and 15.1% increase on sales v. 2019’ – Affinity Staffordshire
‘Another wonderful event from Affinity. Other venues should really take note. My little boy loved meeting the Easter Bunny. Thank you for making such a lovely effort!’ – Karen B
On December 10th & 11th 2022, Big Foot Events were delighted to work with Falmouth Town Team on their spectacular Festive Weekend! We have worked with our client at their previous Festive Weekend events, so we were thrilled to return and create an even more magical weekend! Read more about our 2021 event here.
The Brief
Our client approached us hoping to transform Falmouth town centre into a winter wonderland for their 2022 Festive Weekend! They wanted to increase footfall during the Christmas period and draw in new shoppers and visitors. The Festive Weekend needed to bring a special festive boost to the town centre. The event needed to be even more magical than previous years, improving upon the expectations of previous attendees!
The Challenges
We needed to build upon the successes of previous Festive Weekends, and make this year even more magical. In order to generate footfall and increase dwell time across the town centre, we needed to provide a range of entertainment throughout the area. Our entertainment needed to appeal to a range of ages, and encourage many families to visit the Festive Weekend! To create the impression of a snowy day, we needed to determine the most effective use of our Snow Effects. Covering the town centre in a blanket of snow would require the use of multiple Snow Machines and precise site planning.
The Solutions
Following the success of our previous Festive Weekends working together with our client, Falmouth Town Team were confident in our ability to deliver a magical event! To optimise space and maximise footfall, we located our entertainment throughout the town centre. We provided a variety of entertainment options at the Festive Weekend. All of our activities were festive, fun, and catered to visitors of all ages! We placed our Snow Machines across the area to provide a breadth of coverage. After experiencing first-hand how to deliver town-wide snow coverage at 2021’s Festive Weekend, we were able to make the most effective choices to provide the most authentic impression of a snowy day.
The Results
We brought Christmas cheer and snow to Falmouth’s Festive Weekend! We provided a variety of magical Christmas themed entertainment for the Festive Weekend. This included our stunning Giant Snow Globe and high-tech Snow Machines. We also provided a synthetic Ice Rink and Curling Lane! Many families enjoyed participating in snowball fights and taking snowy selfies in our Giant Snow Globe. Our Snow Globe, complete with imitation snow and themed props, provided a christmassy photo opportunity for visitors. Visitors to Church Street were greeted by magical snowfall! Our state-of-the-art Snow Machines created an authentic snowy scene across the town. The Festive Weekend felt like a true White Christmas. We also provided a fun break from Christmas shopping! Our synthetic Ice Rink drew in skaters of all ages (and abilities!), and our Curling Lane was a great challenge among families.
Our client was thrilled with the results: ‘Everything went really well! The Curling Lane was so busy this year – possibly even more so than last year! The Snow Globe was also really popular! Everything was great. Your teams on site were so helpful, so please pass on our thanks.’
‘We were absolutely delighted with the Festive Weekend and the overwhelming feedback from the thousands of people who came into Falmouth over the two days has been hugely positive! The town was buzzing, the atmosphere terrific, and we look forward to doing it all again next year!’
In June 2022, Big Foot Events had the pleasure of designing events and entertainment to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee!
The Brief
We were approached by many of our wonderful clients to create events over the Jubilee weekend. Our clients had different aims, audiences, and concepts for their celebrations! We were thrilled to have such busy schedules over the Jubilee. It was incredibly exciting to design events and entertainment ranging from workshops and dancers, to music and walkabout acts!
The Challenges
We had lots of events to support, and we needed to ensure that every event was exceptional – as always. With a wide range of clients, venues, and events, we needed to select fun entertainment options to appeal to a range of audiences. Our Jubilee entertainment needed to cater to all ages, celebrate the monarch, and showcase the best of British! We aimed to bring generations together over the festivities and create fun for all the family.
The Solutions
To ensure that every Jubilee event was spectacular, we considered the most effective entertainment options for our different clients. We enhanced our selection of Jubilee entertainment with new and exciting ideas! Selecting from Big Foot Events’ abundance of best of British themed entertainment, we were able to choose activities to cater to a range of audiences. We made sure to gain our client’s full confidence that they would have a jubilant Jubilee Weekend!
The Results
We provided entertainment for events up and down the country to celebrate the Jubilee! It was a fantastic bank holiday weekend that brought together generations to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II with some excellent British themed entertainment.
One of our most popular Jubilee activities were our Workshops. Our Workshops encouraged children to participate in the weekend’s celebrations with arts, crafts, and practical activities. We hosted a range of fun, practical Jubilee workshops at different venues. Our ‘Create a Crown’ workshop inspired children to get creative and design their own royal jewels to match the monarch. Another crafts workshop, ‘Make your own Bunting’, allowed children to design and create their own bunting and flags – perfect for a street party! Our ‘Write a Letter to the Queen’ workshop inspired children to reflect on the impact of the Queen, the roles and responsibilities of the monarch, and the reason behind the celebrations. We also provided a fantastic ‘Red, White, and Blue Glitter Tattoo’ workshop and added some sparkle to the weekend!
We provided live music with musical performances from vocal harmony trios such as The Victory Voices. This all-singing, all-dancing female harmony trio perform hits from the bygone war years to the 1950s – bringing people of all ages together for a dance and a sing! For memory-making, we provided British-and-Jubilee-themed Props and Photo Opportunities. These included a beautifully British Red Telephone Box, a Double-Decker Bus, and Living Statues of figures such as the monarch herself. We also supplied dance performances by British Break-dancers and a Lindy Hop Dance Troupe. Our roaming and walkabout performers included the adorable Paddington Bear, as well as themed Stilt Walkers, alongside Guards and Beefeaters keeping the events (and attendees!) in check!
Testimonials
‘Each time they visit, the Workshop Team always ensures that everything is running smoothly. The Jubilee was yet another crazily busy event for us (Paddington was a massive hit!) and the team were nothing but attentive throughout the operation of the day, and as always, brilliant with the families. Their enthusiasm, friendly personalities, and creative thinking are a nice welcome to families at our venue.’
‘Just a big ‘thank you’ to you and the Big Foot Evets team for helping make Saturday such a success; we have had nothing but good feedback which is amazing. It was so great to see so many families enjoying themselves in the park.’
‘All the events went swimmingly well! We were really impressed with the calibre and the standard of everything. I would love to work with you again!’
We were delighted to work with Perth & Kinross Council to design a big, bright, and bold Christmas Light Switch-on event! We created a magical events programme with an array of musical entertainment and walkabout performers leading up to a sparkling light switch-on and fireworks spectacular!
The Brief
Our client asked us to create a big, bright, and bold festive atmosphere for their switch-on event! This event would be their first light switch-on in two years due to COVID-19. This meant we needed to ensure that it would be a particularly dazzling event! With our help, Perth & Kinross Council wanted to present a glowing line-up of musical entertainment and walkabout performers for families and visitors to enjoy throughout the day. They also planned to host Christmas Weekends before and after the switch-on. Our client wanted to provide an extravaganza of live music for local families! They wanted to encourage visitors to the city centre to stay for the all-important button push!
The Challenges
We have worked with Perth & Kinross for their Christmas Light Switch-on seven years previously – so every year we need to step it up a level! Our team love the challenge of levelling up our entertainment year after year. We needed to ensure that this event was especially brilliant after COVID-19!
The Solutions
One of the most important elements was to consider how to surpass the success of previous years’ Switch-on events. We had to provide a mix of live entertainment, headline acts, memorable experiences, and unique activities! We decided to provide a combination of throwback and current music, with tributes across a range of genres, well-known entertainers, and interactive activities! This created fun for all the family!
The Results
On Saturday 19th November, families were enchanted and entertained as Perth hosted a busy and magical Christmas Light Switch-on! We provided a variety of dazzling entertainment throughout the day preceding the switch-on countdown!
The Winter Festival hosted an array of talented acts and performers! Our musical acts performed among a line-up of local talent including dance troupes: JGN Dance Attic, Inspire, and Julie Young Studios, as well as the local panto cast. The Perth Light Switch-on is not just live music, but a parade of live entertainment and activities around the city centre! We provided musical artists across multiple stages, and walkabout performers throughout the Winter Festival site in the city centre. We brightened up the day with glowing entertainment! Our walkabout performers included our delightful British Bear, Glow Girl LED Stilt Walkers, and Mirror-Suited TV Heads.
The main stage on Tay Street hosted our incredible performers including:
Amy In The House: Caralee performs a fantastic and authentic tribute to Amy Winehouse featuring the style, mannerisms, deep vocals, and all the hits of the late singer.
Princess Showtime: this beautiful sing-along princess show includes well-loved classics, costumes worthy of royalty, and a touch of fairy-tale magic!
The Jersey Beats: an incredible male quartet performing their tribute to Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.
The UK Rock Show: transporting audiences to the heydey of classic rock – combining the feel of a rock festival with the atmosphere of an arena tour!
Also performing were Lorraine Crosby’s Heaven & Hell production, and dance music trio Cascada.
The Christmas light switch-on hosts included Lionel Vinyl: the ultimate entertainer and visual DJ with a groovy 70s disco legend on-stage character! Also presenting were acclaimed entertainer Claire Sweeney and, returning Switch-on host, television personality Stephen Mulhern. Together, they were a groovy force to be reckoned with! Our variety of acts accompanied Provost McDade as he pressed the all-important button!
Testimonials
The Christmas light switch-on event received fantastic feedback and glowing reviews on social media!
‘It was fantastic. The city had a real buzz about it, which hasn’t been felt in Perth for some time. In times where there are financial hardships for many families, this free event just lifted everyone’s spirits!’ – Audrey M
‘It was a brilliant day and night. The entertainment was fabulous and the fireworks were amazing. We really loved it!’ – Patricia C.
‘It was a great event, and well organised. Well done to everyone who worked hard to make this a success!’ – Dawn T
‘What an amazing night and day! There was so much to see and do. Well done to all who organised and brought it together!’ – Sophie N
Now that live music events are back in full force… there are lots of exciting artists embarking on a world and/or UK Tour this year – don’t miss out!
Celebration Tour
Tickets for Madonna’s 2023 Celebration Tour are on sale now! She is performing a 35-night run across North America and Europe to celebrate 40 years as a recording artist. Didn’t get tickets to the UK Tour? Or want an incredible Madonna show tailored to your venue, guests, and favourite hits instead? We’ve got you covered. Elly Jarmain’s tribute to Madonna, Vogue, recreates the voice, the moves, and the image of Madonna in a spectacular stage show. This uncanny lookalike is a faithful tribute to Madonna’s extensive career, from the early 80s to more recent releases.
Queen of Me Tour
Interested in which other artists are performing UK tours in 2023? The Queen of Country, Shania Twain, is embarking on her 2023 Queen of Me tour. This tour will be the first time fans have seen her perform on tour in nearly five years. Shania Twain will be performing 10 dates in the UK from the 14th to the 28th of September. Nicola Marie’s tribute to Shania Twain is guaranteed to delight with a combination of class and sass! If you love country or pop, Nicola Marie performs all of Shania’s best hits. Nicola Marie is also available as a double tribute to Madonna and Shania.
Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour
Sir Elton John is concluding his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in 2023. The final leg of his UK Tour is headlining the Glastonbury festival. The tour marks Sir Elton John’s retirement from road tours. If you don’t have tickets, there is always the opportunity to see a sensational Elton John show with All About Elton! This is a show like no other, dedicated to not only the music of Sir Elton but celebrating the flamboyance, the outfits, and the glasses. A fantastic tribute to a living legend. All About Elton stars Rob Taylor as Sir Elton John, backed by a sensational live band. Covering a catalogue of Sir Elton’s chart topping hits spanning a jaw dropping 6 decades, this show is guaranteed to have you singing along and dancing in the aisles.
Our planet is wild, wonderful, and incredible! This world Earth Day on 22nd April 2023, hire our incredible animal walkabout acts for fun, educational entertainment! Educate children and families on how to protect the environment with close-up encounters with the planet’s wildlife.
Borneo Again
There’s no time for monkeying around when it comes to looking after the environment. This interactive animal walkabout act is an educational duo, roaming through the crowds! Captain Jon Voyage and his companion Mr Business come straight from the rainforest on a tropical tricycle. The banana-smuggling orangutan, Mr Business, has many tales to share about his former habitat and its ongoing deforestation.
The Whale
The Whale is an impressive replica of a 50ft sperm whale! Invite guests to step inside the belly of this giant inflatable whale. Bold explorers can squeeze into its belly and find themselves in the depths of the bubbling, kelp-swirling ocean. A diver leads sea-wanderers through the life history of an ancient leatherback turtle with puppets, comedy, and music. Adventurers hear the tales of sea creatures and learn how these animals battle to survive in an ocean full of rubbish. The audience help to save the turtle and whale from a deluge of plastic. They leave knowing that everyone can make a difference to the planet.
Inka the Polar Bear
As their sea-ice habitat continues to recede earlier and earlier in spring and form later and later in autumn, Inka the polar bear has been driven south to seek a new home for herself and her cubs. This animal walkabout has a plea for change and for earth inhabitants to go green!
Zelva the Giant Tortoise
Audiences can learn life lessons from the wisest creature on the planet with this interactive animal walkabout! Zelva the Giant Tortoise is an animatronic tortoise accompanied by Sheldon Aristotle Chandler the tortoise handler. In this What the Tortoise Taught Us street theatre act, Zelva and Sheldon teach guests how to care for tortoises and listen to tales about Zelva’s long life.
We know exactly where we’re going to be on Saturday 13th May! We’ll be in front of the TV or dancing the night away in Liverpool! The Eurovision Song Contest only comes round once a year – so it’s an occasion not to be missed! It’s a great excuse for a celebration. We’ve put together some Eurovision party ideas to guarantee a weird and wonderful night! If you’re not lucky enough to bag Eurovision tickets, you can still enjoy the extravagance and party atmosphere. Big Foot Events offer flags and bunting, special effects and live music! Get your singing voice ready and your sparkles on – it’s time to plan the ultimate Eurovision party!
Eurovision Party Food
Take a food tour of Europe (and Australia…). Our Food Carts look great and taste even better! We can provide a range of international cuisines to represent different countries: from pizza and paella to moules-frites and moussaka.
The Ultimate Soundtrack
Make your event a big deal with a room full of live music! This could be Eurovision tribute acts or famous star name appearances! We’ve got Eurovision names to give your event that extra star quality! The Fizz features three original Bucks Fizz members from the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest winning line-up! Expect feel-good pop songs including the skirt-ripping classic ‘Making Your Mind Up’!
We’ve also got an amazing range of tribute acts such as Celine Dion, ABBA, and Cliff Richard that look, sound, and feel like the real thing! If you want to mix it up, we have music from all over the world. Our Eurovision party bands include Oompah Bands, Greek, French, Italian Bands, and much more!
Eurovision Party Decor
You could pick a specific country to support, or go all out with a range of European themed decor! Give your venue a true Eurovision party feel with our impressive range of themed decor and props! Use one of our European city backdrops alongside special lighting effects and transform any space into the perfect vote announcement photo opportunity! Get involved in the action with musical props and instruments, or wave around a flag to support your favourite entry! We’ve got flags, LED dance floors, drapes, and many other themed props to add to your event for a spectacular Eurovision party theme!
The Eurovision Song Contest isn’t just one show – it’s actually nine shows across the Eurovision week! Tickets will be available for the Live TV Shows, Family Shows, and Jury shows from Tuesday 9th to the Grand Final on Saturday 13th May!
Throw a sparkling New Year’s Eve party with our incredible live music and live entertainment counting you down to midnight!
It’s always our New Year’s resolution to provide even more extraordinary entertainment for incredible events! Create the perfect party atmosphere with our amazing entertainment options, live music, and immersive theming!
The Roaring Twenties
‘Can’t repeat the past? Why, of course you can!’
Partying came to a close at the start of the decade, but that doesn’t mean we can’t party like its the 20s in 2023! A Roaring Twenties or The Great Gatsby themed event is the perfect New Year’s party choice for hosts who want to throw an opulent party and bring all the glitz, glamour, and pizzazz of the 1920s to 2020s!
Begin with immersing your guests into the decade with our stunning, luxury venue theming options! Our high-quality range of props, decor, and dressing will add a touch of decadence to your new year’s party. Serve drinks at a glittering Mirrored Bar, decorate tables with Tiffany lamps and luxurious gold draping, and transform your venue with Art Deco starburst motifs!
Provide musical entertainment with a jazz musician or a jazz band performing classic arrangements such as Hetty & The Jazzato Band! Add a unique twist to your musical entertainment with a postmodern jukebox style band – The Black Sheikhs. The Black Sheikhs deliver current chart hits in a roaring twenties style! They perform using authentic 1920s instruments and musicianship combined with the melodies and lyrics of the present.
Entertain your guests with The Gatsby Girls and Guys! These talented themed performers can provide a high-energy Charleston performance, feathers, flapper dresses, and all! They can even teach your guests a few moves and provide meet and greet opportunities.
Bubbles and Fizz
Raise a glass and toast to the new year with a night of sparkling celebrations! Start the new year with a BANG! Whether that’s a champagne cork or fireworks…
Welcome your guests to your new year’s party with a beautiful Champagne Dress Hostess! This glamorous meet and greet entertainer can be customised with different alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and tailored to the theme of your event with a range of styles! Either as Meet & Greet or as a focal point of your event, a Giant Martini Glass gives the opportunity to make a real impact when filled with one of our hostesses, showgirls, or burlesque performers! Our interactive performers really make the most of this eye-catching prop.
Cheers to the new year with our Flair Bartenders! These magic mixologists are a fantastic way of offering alternative entertainment whilst serving everyone’s favourite drinks. They can even provide cocktail making workshops. Flair bartenders will impress your guests with incredible flair and skill, performing choreographed routines using bottles, cocktail shakers, glasses, and other equipment to mix cocktails with real style!
Complete the spectacle with a Glitter Cannon bursting when the clock strikes 12! The perfect finale – or midway point – to your new year’s party!
Through The Decades
Step into the new year with a journey to the past! For this New Year’s party theme, simply pick your favourite decade (or ask your guests to choose an era of their own!) and bring history to life.
Don’t forget to create the perfect new year’s party soundtrack! We’ve got you covered with our incredible range of acts performing in musical styles from across the decades: 20s & 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s & 00s, 10s & up to the present day! For a multi-era new year’s party, consider one of our incredibly talented Party Bands!
The fantastic Popwork Party Band perform live music that spans from the 60s to the present day! They are the perfect encouragement for your guests to get down (or up) and boogie! They are also able to perform curated 70s and 80s party sets! For a 90s twist, Sweet Sensation features a highly gifted and charismatic front man who can hold any audience on command and will defy anyone to sit still with his infectious enthusiasm and stunning vocal ability! The band present an evening of unforgettable songs performed to perfection, and are available as 90s Sensation or 80s Sensation!
If you’re mixing your eras, the brilliant Mixtape invite you to create your own ‘Mixtape’ of music from their vast repertoire spanning from the 60s through to current charts! Their experience, talent, and contagious energy will make any event one you and your guests won’t forget.
Immerse your guests in the decade of your choice with our full event theming! We LOVE to put a twist on Themed Events to make them fully bespoke to you! Themed Events are our passion – let our obsession become your reality!
Big Foot Events had the pleasure of working with Falmouth Town Team for their Festive Weekend event!
The Brief
Falmouth Town Team approached us with a particularly festive brief! They wanted to transform the town into a snowy spectacular for their Festive Weekend celebrations. Our client aimed to increase footfall during the Christmas shopping period and draw in new shoppers to the high street. Following the success of previous Festive Weekends, our client wanted to make their 2021 event even more magical!
The Challenges
To encourage new shoppers to visit Falmouth town centre, the event needed to provide plenty of unique festive fun! Our client wanted to generate footfall across the town centre, not just on the high street. We needed to provide multiple exciting entertainment options to create a fun and festive experience across the town! Our entertainment and activities needed to encourage shoppers to visit different shops and areas, increasing overall dwell time.
To give the impression of an authentic snowy day, we needed to consider the most effective use of our snow effects. We wanted to provide a dusting of snow across the entire town! Covering such a large space, whilst maintaining a realistic effect, would be a big challenge – but one we were excited to take on!
The Solution
To make the Festive Weekend even more magical than before, we considered adding new options from our selection of festive entertainment. Within Big Foot Events’ abundance of winter and Christmas themed entertainment, we needed to choose activities that would cater to a range of ages, were interactive, provided fantastic photo opportunities, and were thoroughly festive! To optimise the space, and maximise footfall, we situated out installations and activities across multiple locations in the town centre.
For the most effective snow coverage, we placed ten of our Snow Machines throughout the area. This maximised reach and created the most authentic snowfall effect! To ensure that we were able to target key areas across the course of the Festive Weekend, our snow machines were fully mobile and could be rearranged during the event based upon footfall figures.
The Results
Using our state-of-the-art snow machines to create magical snowfall, Falmouth Town Team were able to bring all the joy of Christmas to the town for shoppers to enjoy! With realistic falling snow and festive activities, it was a Christmassy success. The town was full of Christmas Spirit, and we loved every moment of it.
A beautiful dusting of snow covered the town centre, providing a brr-illiant photo opportunity and adding a magical feel to Christmas shopping!
We encouraged shoppers to get their skates on and enjoy some fun and games! We provided a synthetic Ice Rink with a skate rack and skating aids. Shoppers of all ages and abilities could participate in this wintry installation! We also provided a Curling Lane installation, challenging shoppers to compete on the rink.
New for 2021 was the final touch: our impressive Giant Snow Globe! Our Giant Snow Globe, complete with imitation snow, themed props, and decor was a fantastic interactive installation! Shoppers could even have snowball fights or make snow angels. It provided an amazing photo opportunity for guests to stand inside the snow globe and become part of the scene!
Big Foot Events are excited to join Falmouth Town Team for another Christmas extravaganza at 2022’s Festive Weekend on the 10th and 11th of December.
We were approached by Leeds BID to support their third ‘Jurassic Trail’ in Leeds city centre during the 2022 summer holidays.
The Brief
Our client’s initial enquiry was to create a Dinosaur Trail across the city centre from the 30th of July to the 4th of September 2022. Leeds BID wanted to position animatronic dinosaurs across the city, guiding visitors into areas they may not usually see and encouraging footfall. They wanted the Dinosaur Themed Trail to include exciting theatrical elements, with special effects and immersive jungle theming across the city! They aimed to increase shoppers’ knowledge of different areas of the city and encourage new visitors to Leeds city centre.
We had many exciting conversations with the client about our numerous dinosaur themed entertainment options! They were enthusiastic about building upon the initial Dinosaur Trail enquiry. We discussed the possibility of including different dinosaur themed activities throughout the summer holidays to encourage repeat visits. We considered different entertainment options such as our Pop-Up Cinema, Mobile Dinosaur Cave and VR Dinosaur Dome, a Hop-on Hop-off Train, a themed Merry-go-Round, and educational Dinosaur and Fossil Handling Workshops.
The Challenges
We needed to consider the size of the area to incorporate into the trail. We also needed to guage how effective the different activities would be in different areas. Due to Health and Safety regulations, there were restrictions on the installation of the Trail animatronics. Our installation team needed to install 14 large animatronic dinosaurs and create a jungle themed canopy across the Briggate shopping area. One of the animatronic installations, a huge Spinosaurus dinosaur, needed to be installed within a canal. This required draining the water from the canal, donning waders, and successfully replenishing the canal following installation. We also needed to choose entertainment that would appeal to a range of age groups, encourage repeat visits, and result in social media activity.
The Solutions
We conducted multiple site visits and zoom meetings to establish clear direction. We could then create method statements, risk assessments, and detailed schedules for the event. Our dedicated installation crew worked during the night in the run-up to the event, adhering to Health and Safety regulations. We wanted to create a T-rexcellent event, and encourage repeat visits throughout the Trail period. We ensured that we chose multiple exciting entertainment options and alternated Dinosaur performances and activities each weekend.
The Results
The Jurassic Trail was a resounding success! It increased footfall to the city centre throughout the summer holidays and had massive social media interaction!
Alongside the animatronic Dinosaur Trail, we provided multiple exciting dinosaur themed activities every Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer holidays – including August Bank Holiday Monday. We used teams of professional puppeteers, operators, early learning specialists, and actors who were briefed and rehearsed on every aspect of the event. We performed huge Arena Shows in the city centre featuring a range of Dinosaurs, alternated on different days and weekends. These shows included Zeus – Europe’s largest T-Rex, Emily Brontosaurus, Tank Triceratops, Richie Raptor, Spence Spinosaurus, Rex Junior, and our adorable Baby Dinosaurs – with a Pterodactyl, Ankylosaurus, and Parasaurolophus to name a few!
We hosted a Ranger Training workshop activity where children were able to join a team of Dinosaur Rangers and enlist as a trainee at Ranger Base Camp. They participated in a series of activities to gain skills on how to control a Dinosaur and become a fully-fledged Dinosaur Ranger! Our fantastic Dinosaur Ranger performers also hosted Ranger Tours, guiding families around the Dinosaur Trail.
At The Hatchery, families joined the eccentric Doctor Bones! They could meet adorable, sleepy Dinosaur hatchlings and learn how to care for Dinosaur Eggs. Children could view dinosaur cages to watch the Baby Dinosaurs breathing, sleeping, blinking, and even snoring! Doctor Bones guided children around the Dinosaur cages and insulated eggs, teaching them how to care for dinosaur eggs and babies. We also provided a Baby Dinosaur Story-time activity. Families could get comfortable on beanbags and cushions inside a large department store and listen to a Dinosaur Ranger telling exciting Jurassic stories! Children then had the opportunity to meet a Baby Dinosaur.
All of our dinosaur themed activities ran alongside shop tie-ins, completely bringing the theme, and the city centre, to life!
Leeds BID reported that the Jurassic Trail created record-breaking footfall figures of 509,000 visitors, up 200,000 year-on-year. The average group size was 4, an increase on the previous average of 3: 97% of surveyed visitors said the event was ‘excellent’ or ‘good’. The event had an economic impact of £3.35m and a GVA economic impact of £3.35m.
Leeds BID also chose to keep the Spinosaurus inhabiting Granary Wharf as a monument to the success of the event!
Testimonials
‘Thank you once again for the weekend arena shows and other activities which continue to bring huge success and impact as part of the Leeds Jurassic Trail. It’s all been a massive success so far and Leeds is loving it!
‘The arena shows are proving hugely popular with big crowds and lots of great feedback from our businesses, so well done to the team. I have told the team leader directly as he led a superb bunch of people, and they did a top job! The Big Foot animation is working superbly well, very popular with the crowds. Overall, the whole trail and all its parts are proving a huge success.
‘Thank you again for all your team’s amazing work; we are indebted to both your enthusiasm and ability!
‘The arena shows were another big win for us! The Leeds Jurassic Trail continues to be a big smash!’ – Martin Dickson
‘All good things must come to an end eventually! The Jurassic Trail has been a huge success and we still have one final push this weekend. Thanks again for your help and support in the build up to, and throughout, the trail.’ – James Wilson
Reviewers: Mark Ritchie | UK Cabaret Magazine | Industry Clients
Pulling out all the stops in terms of the venue, hospitality, and the peripheral mix and mingle and walkabout artistes is nothing new to this company. This was, in my view, quite simply the best presented of all the many showcases producer Erica Crompton (Big Foot’s Director) has kindly invited me along to over the years.
Chosen to present the showcase was Award-winning Host and DJ Tom Finkill; this handsome chappie made a great job of the introductions.
Enter a glamorous redhead, a blonde, and a brunette, all resplendent in matching Roaring 20s flapper-style gowns. Known collectively as The Bluebirds, these ladies gave us a great display of the postmodern jukebox withthe aid of toothpaste-ad smiles, nifty choreography and, above all, some tight vocal harmony work.
The Skiband gave us a fun interlude of walkabout musical entertainment. Wading through the audience, complete with brass, drums, and dressed inexplicably, but hilariously, as chefs, this five-handed combo created many smiles and much laughter whilst playing some crazy tunes. Fiercely entertaining and refreshingly irreverent, they cater to many different themes: Christmas, Summer, Chefs, LED, and bring fun and frolics to every person they meet.
The high standards continued with The Voxens, a three-girl vocal act who gave us a selection of ‘big songs’ whilst harmonising and sharing the vocal responsibility by virtue of some cleverly arranged segues. Superbly presented and colour coordinated, all of which indicates that these tuneful ladies are no strangers to entertaining in the corporate market and on cruise ships.
I have to begin by stating that Sweet Sensation are a terrific four-piece band; although having said that alone is not enough. The lead vocalist has a truly great voice and I would suggest this is a higher end function band par excellence. Also available as 80s Sensation and Flameproof 90s.
Rouge La La! is the name of a dance troupe who appeared in sexy costumes and displayed smooth and well-rehearsed routines from ‘Moulin Rouge!’. The troupe promise bespoke shows for clients and I would imagine they do a great job in any chosen format.
Actor and singer Tom Lister enjoys a certain celebrity status having appeared in the rural soap ‘Emmerdale’ for many years. Tom is best known for his award-winning role as Carl King in ‘Emmerdale’, his starring role in West End’s ’42nd Street’, and as Wild Bill Hitchcock in ‘Calamity Jane’. Like so many characters in this tragically dramatic, fictitious Yorkshire Dales village, Mr Lister’s character met his doom amongst the sheep and the dry-stone walls some ten years ago. Now a fully-fledged West End star, this lovely singer gave us a segment from his cabaret act, which was all very nice.
Killers Kollective are a band, fronted by a cracking Brandon Flowers soundalike, who gave us a few of the hits from The Killers seminal ‘Hot Fuss’ album. Their electrifying energy, killer vocals range and radiant personality all come together in this accurate tribute.
Pencil-slim singer Amy G appeared as Dua Lipa and was accompanied by her dancers. There are a lot of Dua Lipa tributes out there and where there is demand, there has to be supply! Amy G is one of the best, known for her powerful vocals and heart-warming personality, with the ability to capture audiences wherever she goes. Amy is also available to perform her tribute to Ariana Grande, plus her incredible Diva show.
Boomin are a long-established three-piece live party band with a name which goes before them, and no doubt shed-loads of return business in the diary. Boomin will get any party started and they simply must be the market leaders. I loved their ‘singing oven-glove sketch’. With mash-ups and mega-mixes plus on-stage antics, Boomin have proved beyond a doubt that they are the Gods of rock, pop, and party!
Kevin & Perry Superstar DJs is a new show from industry name Dean Taylor and his partner-in-laughter Lea Jenkins. Anyone who managed to sit through the Ibiza-based film ‘Kevin & Perry Go Large’ will have witnessed the horrors of the dance song ‘All I Wanna Do Is Do It – Do It’. Great fun, now with a DJ element, which is sure to add more depth to many private functions and events.
Closing out the first half and time for a bit of fame with Dario G. Dario G hit records have stuck in the ear of club dance fans, football fans, and environmentalists since they were first launched during the nineties. Hailed as one of the World’s finest DJs, Dario G is best known for his 1997 hit ‘Sunchyme’ which reached number two in the charts and is a 90s dance anthem to this day. His follow-up single ‘Carnaval De Paris’ reached Number 5 in the 1998 UK Charts and related to the FIFA World Cup in France; it is still played at sporting events worldwide. Available as a DJ Set or Live PA. His theatre show ‘Better Than The 90s’ is currently touring the UK.
During the interval, the peripherals were there to be enjoyed and a myriad of walkabout, mix and mingle people were mixing and mingling in splendid abandon. There were simply too many Superheroes to mention, and very much in-vogue Paddington Bear also popped in amongst illuminated LED Stilt Walkers, Disco Head Dancers, Flower-clad girls, Globots, etcetera.
A fight between three species of Dinosaur then broke out near the bar as things turned prehistoric, whilst a stunt actor attempted to bring them under control. Utterly captivating. Big Foot Events are known for their ‘Jurassic Earth’ stage and walkabout shows, which are both family friendly and completely immersive.
Rather more gentle entertainment continued with an appearance from four elegantly gowned singers, who are collectively known as The Princess Party. The little ones in holiday parks will lap these pretty party princesses up, and private family functions will be the place for this quartet to arrive and make magic happen.
The Kaiser Monkey Killers were a huge hit on the night with their rip-roaring indie rock covers set. The PA quality is top-drawer, edgy, and reassuringly full. The response from the knowledgeable showcase crowd spoke volumes.
Kurtis Ray White was up next with his Craig David tribute show, which I haven’t seen the likes of before. Complete with computerised turntables and high-standard soundalike vocals, there is sure to be business galore for this impressive performer.
I loved Fleeting Rumours, which unsurprisingly are a completely live, six-piece Fleetwood Mac tribute band. These people are what I call ‘proper musos’ and I loved the sound of their own ‘Stevie Nicks’. A great segued showcase set revealed the many strengths of this top-class band.
Taking us on a trip back to 1960s Detroit was A Night To Remember. The velvet vocals from a stellar cast of performers, fronted by ‘The Voice UK’ finalist Bizzi Dixon, authentically recreated the sound responsible for lifting an entire generation to its feet. Energetic live entertainment, great choreography, and dazzling costumes.
I loved All About Elton, especially Elton himself, played here by Rob Taylor. Three musicians completed the live band pitch of this Elton, which included included the reassuring and authentic sight of a drummer reading from ‘dots’. Mr Taylor has the Elton tone, the Elton showmanship, and the implausible Elton Hairdo!
Amy In The House is a tribute to the much-missed Ms Winehouse by a singer called Caralee, featuring the style, mannerisms, vocals, and all the hits, including ‘Back To Black’, ‘Valerie’, ‘Rehab’, and more.
Celebrating Dolly was singer Carla Palmer and exactly as described! Cannot fault her as a Dolly Parton Tribute Act. All the classics delivered with all the mannerisms! Even if you’re not a fan of Dolly Parton, it’s hard not to warm to her personality.
Closing out a memorable evening was the seventeen members of The Sea Shanty Band. Various band mates clambered aboard this musical vessel and even traversed the room while playing an array of nautical ditties. All seventeen musical mariners were dressed as old salts, gnarled trawler men, and other assorted seafarers. Sea Shanties are in-vogue right now and this extraordinary ensemble is perfect for an epic ocean-themed night of entertainment!
This writer has had surreal moments previously, however I don’t remember any experience exceeding a pair of oven gloves serenading each other, a dinosaur’s tail bashing me about the head as the creature swished his tail behind, and a hostess resplendent in a dress complete with slots in which glasses of welcoming champagne were offered.
The next time anyone tries to convince you that variety is dead, refer them to this review! One thing is for sure, Big Foot Events know just how to provide and promote just about anything.
