FREE live CBBC Summer Social event at Salford Quays [Saturday 8th and Sunday 9 July]

Excellent freebie for parents with kids of a CBBC age

CBBC HQ stars Hacker T Dog, Karim, Lauren, Katie and Rhys will broadcast live from the event which will feature a CBeebies zone for younger ones

Some of the biggest stars of CBBC will be hosting a live Summer Social event at MediaCity on Salford Quays .

Hacker T Dog and CBBC HQ stars Karim, Lauren, Katie and Rhys will host the main stage and broadcast live on CBBC from the event on the MediaCityUK Piazza this July.

Blue Peter's Barney and Lindsey, Naomi Wilkinson, from Naomi's Nightmares of Nature, and Paddy Wilde and Jorja Douglas from Got What It Takes will also be entertaining the crowds live on stage.

There'll be activities for younger ones too, including a special CBeebies Zone featuring a Go Jetters disco hosted by the coolest DJs in town, Go Jetters’ Ubercorn and Grandmaster Glitch.

The event, across the weekend of Saturday, July 8 and Sunday, 9 July, is free to attend and will bring together top stars, the 'most amazing' games and masterclasses with the teams behind some of CBBC’s biggest shows.

Children will have the chance to try exciting hands-on activities in an arts and crafts zone that teaches both material and digital creativity.

There will be live science experiments hosted by CBBC’s Ultimate Brain and in BBC Learning’s Terrific Scientific Zone.

A Match Of The Day Kickabout will give children the chance to test their footballing skills with demonstrations from CBBC presenter and football freestyler John Farnworth.

Sports fans can also learn more about commentating on a sports match from the BBC 5 live team.

CBBC Controller Cheryl Taylor said: “We hope you'll join us for the fabulous CBBC Summer Social 2017.

"We love meeting our audiences and this is going to be a very special weekend for children and their families to get involved with.

"If you're into sports, science, storytelling and creativity - we've got something just for you. Save the date and look forward to seeing you at Media City in July."

The weekend will also include Shaun The Sheep’s Championsheeps - bringing farmyard games for all the family and the Lawn Tennis Association bringing mini-tennis to the event.

CBBC Summer Social is open from 9am to 5.30pm at the MediaCityUK Piazza on July 8 and 9. No tickets are required and families can simply turn up on the day.

Events are free, though there may be a queuing system in place at busy times.