Autumn Antics at the ArcelorMittal Orbit

There’s fun for all the family this half-term at the UK’s tallest sculpture, the ArcelorMittal Orbit. From Diwali lantern making and Halloween pumpkin carving to ghoulish mask-making and a fancy dress family disco, a fantastic programme of daily activities will run every day between Saturday 25 October and Saturday 1 November 2014.

The festivities will kick off at London’s newest visitor attraction with a celebration of the Hindu festival of Diwali. Children who visit the sculpture on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October can take part in intricate Mehndi body art sessions and learn to make traditional Diwali lanterns that signify the festival’s victory of light over darkness, a concept that is similar to the ArcelorMittal Orbit’s journey of darkness into light as visitors ascend the sculpture.

Activities will then take a more ghoulish turn from Monday 27 October to Saturday 1 November, with fun mask-making and fearsome pumpkin carving for Halloween. A spooky family disco and fancy dress competition will take place on Saturday 1 November from 5.30pm – 7pm – with games, music and treats galore.

On top of this, families will love the stunning panoramic views across London from the top of the 114.5m high sculpture. Innovative screens allow visitors to learn about key sights across the capital from The Shard and St Paul’s to Canary Wharf and the world-famous sporting venues of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. There’s also two incredible mirrors created by one of the sculpture’s creators Sir Anish Kapoor which flip and twist the horizon, as well as a soundscape of local London life which can be heard as visitors descend the 455 steps of the external spiral staircase.

At the base of the sculpture, families can stop by EastTwenty Bar & Kitchen for a warming hot chocolate or tempting sweet treat before exploring the rest of the Park. Dancing water fountains, action packed adventure playgrounds, four themed walking trails, art installations, beautifully landscaped parklands (by same landscape architect as the High Line in New York) and tranquil waterways all come together with the ArcelorMittal Orbit to create the perfect recipe for a fun-filled Autumn day out.