Scarborough's Dads Behaving Madly group to host inaugural Dads Fest at The Crescent Lounge

Dads Fest will take place on Saturday 21 February from 1pm to 1am at The Crescent Lounge to raise funds for a permanent Dads Behaving Madly Hub; entry is free and donations are welcomed.

Dads Behaving Madly will host its inaugural Dads Fest at The Crescent Lounge on Saturday, February 21. The event runs from 1pm to 1am and aims to raise funds for a permanent Dads Behaving Madly Hub. The project seeks to provide a safe, inclusive space for men in caring roles to reduce isolation and support mental wellbeing. What we know: - The festival is free to enter and donations will be accepted to support the Hub fundraising drive. - The Hub vision has been shortlisted as one of 11 projects for the government’s Pride in Place programme in Scarborough. - The programme’s public consultation coincides with the event, and funding is scheduled to begin releasing from April 2026. - The line-up includes live music, DJs, a father-and-son DJ set Dished Out, performers such as Brett McMann and Hannah Velour, and open-mic slots. - Family activities will feature live animal encounters from Lilly's Reptile Rescue and planting sessions from GROW Scarborough. - Wellbeing provisions include a Sensory Pod with Sen-Active Community Glow and a journaling station, and food offerings include wood-fired pizza and crepes served by Lily Porter (SkillsWithLils). Summary: The festival is intended to raise funds and public awareness for the planned Hub while bringing local families together through music, activities and wellbeing services. The Hub’s shortlist status in the Pride in Place programme and the concurrent public consultation are noted, with funding due to begin in April 2026.