Afterglow!

Chester Zoo 2025

The Brief

Chester Zoo’s Afterglow Festival is a family-friendly summer event that invites visitors to explore the zoo in a whole new way, with themed zones, entertainment, animals and interactive experiences across multiple summer evenings. In 2025 it was to run over 15 special evenings, transforming the zoo into a lively, immersive festival setting with activities, roaming performances and a mix of playful attractions throughout the site. Could we animate  Okolina – the giant inflatable octopus puppet – to entertain audiences as they arrive at the event.

What We Did

Our team of experienced puppeteers brought Okolina to life across the festival site, creating a roaming spectacle that surprised and delighted visitors throughout the opening period. The character’s scale, movement and interactivity made her a highly visible and engaging presence for families enjoying the zoo in a fresh, playful festival atmosphere.

The Result

Okolina became a standout part of the Afterglow experience, offering visitors a joyful daytime encounter and showing how existing characters familiar from other zoo events can be successfully adapted into new festival contexts.