Šantovka Family Day: A Robot at a Family Event and What to Watch for with Children
Written by ROBOTio Team · · 6 min read
Article summary
A look back at Šantovka Family Day on 29 August 2026 in Olomouc: what the humanoid robot did in the Science & Future zone and on stage, and what to consider at events with children.
A humanoid robot works well at a family event for the general public when it has a clear role, two operators present throughout, and a programme tied to the festival schedule. That is exactly how we deployed it at Šantovka Family Day on 29 August 2026 in Smetanovy sady in Olomouc. The robot was there from 10:00 to 19:00, and the organiser described it in its press release as one of the biggest novelties of the year. Below, we summarise what it did and what this means for your own event with children. ## What Šantovka Family Day Looked Like Šantovka Family Day is an all-day festival for families with free admission. It was organised by Galerie Šantovka in cooperation with the agency EVENPRO. The agency was looking for an attraction that would combine entertainment and technology for families. It chose to deploy a single humanoid robot for the whole day. We used the robot in two roles: - **Science & Future zone:** it stood in the technology section of the park next to the mobile planetarium, the Fortress of Knowledge (Pevnost poznání) and the Palacký University stand. Visitors chatted with it and had their photos taken with it. - **Šantovka stage:** several times during the day it performed with prepared lines and a short demonstration of movement. Its appearances were slotted in between the Drumming Soul drum show and the Cascabel jugglers' performance. The organiser placed the robot first in its press release, so it became one of the main topics of the festival's communication. You will find a complete overview in the [Šantovka Family Day 2026 case study](https://robotio.eu/case-study/santovka-family-day-2026-olomouc). ## What the Robot Did During the Day The core of the programme consisted of two things: free interaction with visitors and a few fixed stage slots. ### In the Zone: Conversation and Photos The robot answered questions, waved, shook hands and had its photo taken with visitors. It speaks the language in which a guest addresses it. Children therefore asked it questions in their own way, and adults often followed straight after them. For both the zone and the stage, we prepared 35 lines in advance and agreed them with the organiser. These included separate greetings for children and adults. ### On Stage: Short Appearances We did not plan a long show for the stage. The robot had several short appearances with lines and a demonstration of movement, aligned with the schedule. At a festival with many programmes, organisers value precise timing more than length. ### Behind the Scenes: Batteries and Operators The robot maintained its balance and movement on its own. Direction and gestures were controlled by operators, who were with the robot throughout the event, always two at a time. During the day we planned battery changes and breaks so that the robot was not put under unnecessary strain. ## What to Consider at Events with Children Olomouc and our other deployments have yielded several practical points. They apply to family festivals, [town festivities](https://robotio.eu/robot-hire-by-event-type) and [open days](https://robotio.eu/robot-hire-by-event-type) alike. 1. **Safe distance in a crowd.** Children naturally crowd around the robot. Operators must monitor the distance while leaving room for interaction. Plan for a designated area rather than placing the robot in the middle of the flow of people. 2. **Surface.** The robot works on firm, dry ground. In the park, we worked with paved areas. Wet grass, gravel or uneven terrain should be addressed in advance. 3. **Heat and batteries.** In summer, we monitor the temperature and plan breaks for battery changes. Reserve shade and a support area behind the stand. 4. **Lines for children.** Short, clear sentences that children pick up easily. The persona and lines are approved in advance, so you can control both the tone and the topics. 5. **Clear roles.** The open zone and the stage have a different rhythm. Separate them in the programme and decide in advance when the robot rests. 6. **Queues and photos.** Those who want a photo wait in a queue. Consider where it will form so that it does not block other attractions. If your audience is made up of pupils, please also take a look at our offer of a [robot for primary schools](https://robotio.eu/robot-hire-by-event-type). ## Why It Worked at a Public Festival At the entrance to the technology zone, the robot appealed to both children and parents, because they could talk to it, touch it and have their photo taken with it. It was not merely an exhibit. The stage appearances then reminded everyone that the robot was part of the all-day programme. We applied the same principle at [PX Party 2026](https://robotio.eu/case-study/px-party-2026-tri-humanoidni-roboti), where the robots performed on stage. For [festivals](https://robotio.eu/robot-hire-by-event-type) in general, we recommend combining free interaction with fixed appearances. Olomouc is not where it ends. If you are looking for a robot in the region, see [robot hire in Olomouc](https://robotio.eu/robot-hire-by-event-type). For a smaller space or an indoor venue, the compact [Unitree G1](https://robotio.eu/unitree-g1-basic), standing 135 cm tall, may be enough. The entire Unitree fleet is shown clearly on the [Models](https://robotio.eu/models) page, and you can read about the manufacturer on the [Unitree brand](https://robotio.eu/brands/unitree) page. ## How to Plan a Deployment with an Agency At Šantovka we worked with an agency. This is a common model: the client remains the agency's client, and we supply the robot, operators and programme. For agencies, it is useful to have a clear brief at the outset: - date, venue and time frame of the event (all day, or just a few hours), - type of audience and their age, - stage plan and how it fits with the rest of the programme, - surface, facilities and power supply, - required language of the lines. Then all you need to do is [request a humanoid robot hire quote](https://robotio.eu/robot-rental), and you will have our offer within 24 hours. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can the robot work outdoors in a park? Yes, on firm, dry ground. In hot weather, we monitor the temperature and plan breaks for battery changes. ### Is the robot safe around children? The robot always works with operators, who maintain a safe distance in the crowd. We recommend determining a designated meeting area in advance. ### What can the robot do at a family event? It answers questions, waves, shakes hands, has its photo taken with visitors, and can give short stage appearances with prepared lines and a demonstration of movement. ### How much does a robot at an event cost? We do not publish prices on our website. They depend on the specific event, so we will send one in our offer after you complete the enquiry form. ## Would You Like a Robot at Your Family Event? Send us the date, venue and your idea of the programme. We will reply with a tailor-made offer within 24 hours. [Request a robot for your event, without obligation](https://robotio.eu/robot-rental).Want to see a humanoid at your own event? Find out how to rent a humanoid robot with our own operators.
Category
case-study
Tags
- Šantovka Family Day
- family event
- humanoid robot
- Olomouc
- events with children
- festival
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