June saw the MLB World Tour return to the London Stadium, which also meant that Henry VIII, Winston Churchill, a King’s Guardsman, and Freddie Mercury took part in the ‘British’ mascot race once again, with Freddie coming out on top!  Also in the world of sport, Albärt, the official sports mascot for the UEFA Euro 2024 football tournament, has be spotted mingling with fans in Germany.

PAW Patrol’s Rubble has been visiting Smyths Toy Stores across the country to promote the launch the new Rubble and Crew toy range.  He has been meeting fans in-store and giving away Rubble and Crew branded caps.

Festival season has also started, as CBeebies favourites Bluey, Hey Duggee and Supertato appeared at We Invented the Weekend, Glastonbury welcomed the Minions Glastonbury and Bluey & Bingo joined the line-up at Gloworm Warrington.

Now that the summer has finally arrived, let’s take a look at the events that will be brightening up your July (*events can be subject to change)…

6^th July: Peppa Pig Meet & Greet – Gwili Railway, Carmarthen

6^th July: Bluey and Bingo Narration – Edinburgh Zoo

6^th July: The Gruffalo Meet & Greet – Moors Valley Country Park, Ringwood

6^th July: Bing Meet & Greet – Pettitt’s Animal Adventure Park, Norfolk

6^th & 7^th July: Hey Duggee Narration – Yorkshire Wildlife Park

6^th & 7^th July: Peter Rabbit Meet & Greet – Bluebell Railway, Sussex

6^th & 7^th July: Hey Duggee Meet & Greet – Barleylands Farm Park, Billericay

7^th July: PAW Patrol’s Chase and Skye Narration – Market Rasen Racecourse

7^th July: Bluey and Bingo Activation – Old MacDonald’s Farm, Brentwood

13^th July: SpongeBob SquarePants Meet & Greet – Primark Manchester

13^th July: PAW Patrol’s Chase Meet & Greet, Hey Duggee Activation, and Bluey Activation – Eden Shopping Centre, High Wycombe

13^th July: Paddington™ Narration – Fife Leisure Park, Scotland

13^th July: The Gruffalo Meet & Greet – Alice Holt, Hampshire

14^th July: Bluey & Bingo Activation – Stadium of Light, Sunderland

14^th July: SpongeBob SquarePants Meet & Greet – Primark Birmingham

14^th July: The Gruffalo Meet & Greet – Woburn Safari Park

20^th July: Bluey Meet & Greet – Brooklands Museum, Weybridge

20^th July: PAW Patrol’s Chase Meet & Greet – Matlock Farm Park, Derbyshire

20^th July: Hey Duggee Activation – Touchwood Shopping Centre, Solihull

20^th July: Bingo (from Bluey) Meet & Greet – Woburn Safari Park

20^th July: Squishmallow’s Cam the Cat and Patty the Cow Meet & Greet – Glenarm Castle, Northern Ireland

21^st July: Paddington™ Narration, Peppa Pig and George Narration, and The Gruffalo Meet & Greet – Margam Country Park, Port Talbot

21^st July: PAW Patrol’s Marshall and Rubble Meet & Greet – Pettitt’s Anival Adventure Park, Norfolk

24^th July: Bluey Meet & Greet – The Forum Shopping Centre, Sittingbourne

24^th July: Fireman Sam Meet & Greet – The Broadway Shopping Centre, Bradford

25^th July: CoComelon’s JJ Meet & Greet – Seal Bay Holiday Park, Selsey

25^th July: Bluey Meet & Greet – Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre, Dublin

26^th & 27^th July: The Gruffalo Meet & Greet – Salcey Forest, Northampton

26^th & 27^th July: Mr Monopoly Meet & Greet – Leeds City Centre

27^th July: PAW Patrol’s Marshall Meet & Greet – Bressingham Steam & Gardens

27^th July: Hey Duggee Activation – Cottam Hall Playing Fields, Lancashire

27^th July: Bluey Meet & Greet – John Lewis, Welwyn Garden City

27^th July: PAW Patrol’s Rubble Meet & Greet – Hamley’s, Regent Street

27^th & 28^th July: PAW Patrol’s Chase Pup Pup Boogie – Birdworld, Farnham

28^th July: Fireman Sam Meet & Greet - Bressingham Steam & Gardens

28^th July: The Gruffalo Meet & Greet – Wyre Forest, Worcestershire

28^th July: PAW Patrol’s Rubble Meet & Greet – Hamley’s, Westfield Londn

29^th July: The Gruffalo Meet & Greet – Beechenhurst, Colefield

29^th July: Peppa Pig Meet & Greet – Boston Park Farm

30^th July: Paddington™ Meet & Greet – Beverley Racecourse, East Yorkshire

31^st July: The Wombles’ Orinoco and Great Uncle Bulgaria Meet & Greet – Beaulieu National Motor Museum

31^st July: Peppa Pig and George Narration – Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm, Sailsbury

Last month, a number of characters attended events in celebration of World Book Day including the Gruffalo at John Lewis Oxford Street & Liverpool, Zog at John Lewis Cambridge and Paddington™ at Broadstreet Mall in Reading.  This was followed by our first ever attendance at the London Book Fair where the Gruffalo, Elmer and Mula walked the aisles posing for photos with visitors.

Hello Kitty attended the launch of the new themed Hello Kitty Café at Primark Birmingham & Manchester, which ties in with their new clothing & accessories range, while Peppa Pig appeared at several Trotters stores to highlight the launch of their Trotters X Peppa Pig collection.  Plus Po has been spotted around the country promoting his new movie, Kung Fu Panda 4.

And there’s more lined up for the Easter holidays, so here’s a sneak peek of where you can see your favourite characters this April, (*events can be subject to change)…

1^st April: Gruffalo Meet & Greet – National Botanic Garden of Wales

1^st April: PJ Masks’ Catboy & Owlette Meet & Greet – The Square Shopping Centre, Dublin

1^st April: Bluey and Bingo Narration, Sonic the Hedgehog™ & Peter Rabbit™ Meet & Greet – Margam Country Park, Port Talbot

1^st April: Shaun the Sheep Meet & Greet – Tatton Park, Knutsford

2^nd April: Peter Rabbit™ Meet & Greet – Brunel Shopping Centre, Swindon

2^nd April: Peppa Pig Meet & Greet – Hamleys, Regent Street

3^rd April: Bluey and Bingo Meet & Greet – The Lanes Shopping Centre, Carlisle

3^rd April: Sonic the Hedgehog™ Meet & Greet – Wheelgate Park, Newark

4^th April: Hey Duggee Meet & Greet – Twinlakes, Melton Mowbray

4^th April: Bluey and Bingo Activation – Peak Wildlife Park, Leek

6^th April: PAW Patrol’s Marshall Meet & Greet – Daniel of Windsor Department Store, Windsor

6^th April: Peter Rabbit™ Meet & Greet – Putney Exchange Shopping Centre, Putney

6^th April: Bluey Meet & Greet – White Post Farm, Nottingham

6^th & 7^th April: Gruffalo Meet & Greet – Sterling Mills Outlet, Scotland

7^th April: Peppa Pig & George Pig Meet & Greet – North Weald Station, Essex

7^th April: PAW Patrol’s Chase & Skye Meet & Greet – Woburn Safari Park, Milton Keynes

7^th April: Peter Rabbit™ Meet & Greet – Peak Rail, Matlock

7^th April: CoComelon’s JJ Meet & Greet – Pettitt’s Animal Adventure Park, Norfolk

10^th April: Peter Rabbit™ Narration – The Friary Shopping Centre, Guildford

11^th April: PAW Patrol’s Chase Meet & Greet – Midsummer Place, Milton Keynes

13^th April: Bluey Meet & Greet – Tanfield Railway, Gateshead

13^th April: Hello Kitty Meet & Greet – Primark, Edinburgh

14^th April: Hello Kitty Meet & Greet – Primark, Braehead

14^th April: Paddington™ Meet & Greet – Pettitt’s Animal Adventure Park, Norfolk

20^th April: PAW Patrol’s Marshall Meet & Greet and Trail – Banham Zoo, Norwich

20^th & 21^st April: Hey Duggee Meet & Greet – Gulliver’s Land Theme Park, Milton Keynes

20^{th &} 21^st April: Bluey and Bingo Meet & Greet – Gulliver’s Theme Park, Rother Valley

21^st April: PAW Patrol’s Marshall Meet & Greet and Trail – Africa Alive, Lowesoft

27^th April: Bluey & Bingo Activation – Old MacDonald’s Farm, Brentwood

27^th April: Paddington™ – Woburn Safari Park, Milton Keynes

28^th April: Bluey Meet & Greet – Gwili Railway, Carmarthen

27^th & 28^thApril: Po (Kung Fu Panda) – Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Talking about the support they provided to Rainbow Productions, their relationship manager at Allica Bank, Martin Parker, said, “Allica Bank is thrilled to partner with such an exciting, growing business like Rainbow Productions. Simon and his team have vast experience, which they combine with immense creative talent, and have a clear vision for the firm that made them the perfect business for Allica to support. It is also wonderful to work with a business that exists to make people smile!

“Allica Bank is committed to serving established businesses like Rainbow, who are such a core part of our local communities. As their relationship manager, I am looking forward to working closely with them to see how else we can help them grow. Maybe we’ll even see an Allica Bank mascot enter the scene!”