Summer holiday activities 2017
We can assure you that we’re hard at work finding the perfect venue for a children’s afternoon tea. It’s a tough job but someone’s gotta do it!
If you know somewhere good get in touch via the report and error tab on this post!
Angels and Butterflies offer a range of kids craft workshops, including sand art. You can also book parties, so why not get a few friends together and book into the studio to spend some quality creative time together.
Get wild and discover the amazing world of wildlife at night. Big Wild Sleepout is an exciting chance to camp out on the reserve with your whole family and join us for a nocturnal adventure.
From bats, moths and minibeasts to late night singers and marvellous mammals.
You can let your imagination run free with exciting daytime activities, then get up close and personal with creatures after dark.
This year is going to be bigger than ever and we are very excited to be joined by the Cbeebies Twirlywoos!
So waggle your wings, puff up your chest and come along to meet the Twirlywoos at regular intervals throughout the afternoon.
Great BigHoo, Toodloo, Chickedy and Chick are four bird-like friends who have sailed from far away on their Big Red Boat to visit our world for lots of silly fun and surprises.
There will be plenty of fun for big kids too, with den building, night-time wildlife walks, moth trapping and late night astronomy.
Gaze up at the stars, roast marshmallows over a camp fire, and immerse yourselves in nature.
Pitch a tent, grab a torch, and get stuck in!
Saturday 29 July, 12 pm Saturday until 12 pm Sunday
Price: Adults £37.50 (members £30); Children £25 (members £20); Under 2’s free
Booking essential
How to book: visit – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/big-wild-sleepout-tickets-34420384296?aff=es2
RSPB Fairburn Ings Newton Lane Castleford
MUMbler has secured a 20% discount for MUMblers at any Diggerland UK park.
Diggerland is the UK’s most unique digger-themed adventure park where children and adults have the chance to ride, drive and operate REAL full-size construction machinery, under the guidance of trained staff – no driving licence required!
It really is the perfect place to take your kids for an action-packed family day out. Experience the variety of rides and drives on offer – whether it’s enjoying the view on Sky Shuttle, hanging tight on Spin Dizzy, going for a bumpy ride in the Groundshuttle or digging dirt with a 6-tonne digger, there is something for all ages!
There are indoor and outdoor play areas, sandpits, coin-operated rides and much more where the younger guests can let off steam whilst parents can relax and just watch the fun… or join in!
With four Diggerland theme parks located in Devon, Durham, Kent and Yorkshire, you can dig until your heart’s content!
Also available at Diggerland for over 17’s only is Dumper Racing, JCB Racing, JCB Experience Days and Monster Digger Experience Days.
Open most weekends and school holidays (closed Nov to early February) openings times vary check the website.
Call: 0871 22 77 007
Regular competitions and discounts on Facebook and Twitter
To return to the Summer Activity Challenge Sheet click here.
I have a strong memory of visiting Hemsworth Water Park as a child with my Auntie. We didn’t live in the area so we had never been before. We had a great time, now that we live nearby I can’t wait to tale mini mumbler here this summer, it looks even better now and has had some investment no doubt.
Charges & Opening Times Easter to the End of September
Playworld
Open from 9:30am to 6:00pm on weekends and school holidays
Open from 11:00am to 6:00pm term time
Please note that Playworld is open in the October holidays from 10am to 3pm.
– Entry into Playworld is £3.00 per child
– Free entry into Playworld for adults and children under 2 years
Marine Craft
11:00am to 6:00pm weekends and school holidays
Pedalo rides – paddle boards, mambo canoes and ocean duo canoes
– £1.00 per person
Beach Shop 9:15am to 6:00pm weekends and school holidays Selling ice-creams, drinks, cakes, confectionery and buckets and spades
Please note that the Lakeside Café is open for a full café style menu from 11:00am to 4:30pm weekends and school holidays and 11:00am to 3:00pm term time all year round
Car Parking 9:00am to 5:00pm weekends and school holidays £3.00 per vehicle
Free parking for Disabled Blue Badge Permit Holders
Fishing
– Available all year round, dawn to dusk
– Adult day permit – £4.50 per peg
– Child’s day permit – £2.50 per peg
Fishing matches can be booked through the administration office on 01977 617617.
All opening times are subject to weather. During periods of changeable weather please ring 01977 617617 to confirm availability.
Concessions for local residents
Residents of Hemsworth, Fitzwilliam or Kinsley are entitled to a permit for a reduction in the cost of some of the facilities that are available at the Water Park. To obtain a permit you should visit the Community Centre with a document showing your name and address. For £2.00 per household each person will be given their own permit which entitles the holder to unlimited free entry into Playworld and reduced price day and annual fishing tickets. You will also be issued with a pass for free parking at the Water Park. Residents aged thirteen or under can obtain a Water Park permit free of charge.
Join us every school holiday for activities, 5 days a week. We’ve a different thing to do each day, following the themes described below.
Mucky Mondays
Bring your wellies and prepare to get messy on these hands-on days in the gardens. You could be making scarecrows, planting seeds to take home or making mud pies – the one guarantee is you’re going to get mucky!
50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ Tuesdays
Bring along your scrapbook of 50 Things to do before you’re 11 ¾ as these days are jam-packed with activities you can tick off the list. Get stuck in and learn a new skill with led activities such as den building, geocaching and making wild art. Whilst you’re here, see how many others you can tick off – find a hill to roll down and go on a really long walk through the parkland and gardens.
Active Wednesdays
Burn off some energy in the big outdoors with these active days. You can play cricket and volleyball on the vista and if you enjoy fun on two wheels, join us for a led bike ride from 1pm, starting off in front of the house.
Crafty Thursdays
Sticky fingers at the ready for a day of creative crafts! You’ll make seasonal creations to take home from Easter decorations to Christmas crackers.
Pot Luck Fridays
From indoor crafts and story-telling to outdoor games and activities, anything could happen on Pot Luck Friday! Bring along your imagination and sense of adventure for this day of surprises.
Click here to return to the Summer Activity Challenge sheet
Every year the reading challenge has a new theme. This year’s Summer Reading Challenge is Animal Agents, illustrated by the UK’s best-selling children’s illustrator Tony Ross.
Read The Books and Catch The Crooks!
Children aged 4-11 years (or above and below) can join this year’s Summer Reading Challenge at Wakefield Libraries from Saturday 15th July.
You can sign up at your local library and read six library books of your choice to complete the challenge. There are exclusive rewards to collect along the way, lots of exciting events and activities. And it’s FREE to take part! Last year over three quarters of a million children took part.
As children read library books on the Summer Reading Challenge, they will receive a host of stickers. By collecting the stickers on their collector folder, young readers will help the Animal Agents find out what’s really been going on behind the scenes!
Watch the attached Summer Reading Challenge Trailer from The Reading Agency to find out more about this years challenge.
How does the Summer Reading Challenge work?
You can use the Summer Reading Challenge website to keep track of the books you read and write book reviews, enter competitions and much more!
Summer Reading Challenge Website
* Information courtesy of Leeds Library team and Reading Agency
Tower Street, Hull, HU1 4DP (Sat Nav HU9 1TU). 01482 381000. Open daily 10am – 6pm (last entry 5pm).
Come in from the cold this December and enjoy a jolly day out for the whole family. With over 5,000 animals to explore it’s a cracker of a time to head on down! Take part in the festive fishmas trail and create your very own winter wonderland – follow the clues around the attraction as you go. Make a sand art calendar for just £2 in the Learning Centre (weekends in December plus every day from 26 December to 6 January); the perfect gift for your loved ones and finish off with a delicious festive treat in Castaways Café. Plus, we are offering a FREE mince pie with every hot drink between 1st and 23rd December.
Please note The Deep will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
The Deep offers FREE return visits for 12 months with the Day Plus Pass. Simply complete your details at reception and retain your tickets to make use of this offer. Full terms and conditions can be found on The Deep’s website.
Step inside Howard Hodgkin’s colourful world to explore, experiment and create your own vivid artwork.
Drop in for FREE from 11am-4pm (last admission in 3:30pm, closed for lunch)
30 July 2017
08 August 2017
09 August 2017
10 August 2017
20 August 2017
29 August 2017
30 August 2017
31 August 2017
08 October 2017
Pick up a sensory kit and drawing materials to discover Hodgkin’s vibrant paintings in the galleries. Back in the learning studio make your own colourful artwork using a variety of materials, textures and bright paints.
Suitable for families with children aged 2 – 12 yrs.
learning@hepworthwakefield.org
Parent and Toddler sessions
You and your toddlers have the full use of the park without older kids so they have more space and can play as they learn, building confidence at their own pace. There are other toddlers around too so it’s good to mix.
Toddlers must be over 18 months but under 5 years and accompanied by an adult. One adult can accompany up to two toddlers
TERM TIMES EVERY: Mon & Wed 10:00 | Tue & Fri 13:00 | Sat 09:00
HOLIDAY TIMES EVERY: Sat 09:00
P&T THEMED SPECIALS: last Friday of every month 10:00 & 13:00 – TERM & HOLIDAYS
A Drop in FREE Studio Space for families
30 & 31 July, 1 Aug, 6–8 Aug, 13–15 Aug, 20–22 Aug, 27–29 Aug, and 3–5 Sept 2017
Drop by to our welcoming family studio situated in YSP Learning anytime between 11.00am–4.00pm. Last entry at 3:30pm.
Create, make, explore and connect with ideas from our exhibitions. As a family you can make a collage, test out your drawing skills and have a go at making your own unique sculpture. You can also pop by to make your very own badge for just £1.00.
FREE Drop in 11am-4pm
01 August 2017
03 August 2017
22 August 2017
23 August 2017
Come and play! Join in colourful creative outdoor activities inspired by Howard Hodgkin’s paintings.
Explore Hodgkin’s colourful paintings with fun creative gallery activities then head outside to play, draw and contribute to a large sculptural artwork.
Suitable for families with children aged 2 – 12 yrs.
Dungeon Tours Every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Additional Tours in school Holidays (Adults £3, Children £1.50)
School Holiday Activities and workshops, check out our events calendar for details
Castle Entrance is FREE
The Hepworth Gallery always has activities on for children during term-time and weekends but also during school holidays.
You’ll find their art camps listed on our school holiday and fun clubs page, all other events at the Hepworth are on our events calendar.
Many events are free although some incur a charge.
Explore the new Masterpieces by Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore collection displays and try out collographic printing.
Drop in 11am-4pm
13 August 2017
15 August 2017
16 August 2017
17 August 2017
10 September 2017
22 October 2017
Explore the galleries with fun creative activities then return to the learning studio to design and make your own print to take home.
This workshop is suitable for children aged 2-12 who must be accompanied by an adult.
Saturday 5th August 12pm – 4pm
Street Dance Workshops
Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th August
We’re celebrating Seaside in Wakefield with free balloon modelling in our middle mall events space from 11am -3pm.
Saturday 19th August
Meet and greet Peppa Pig at The Ridings and join her for a story time session, led by a narrator, at intervals between 11am and 4pm.
The Theatre Royal has a number of Family shows planned for 2018. Check our events calendar for more details.
Grandad’s Island
Sarah and Duck’s Big Top Birthday
The Boy Who Climbed into the Moon
Thumbelina
Christopher Nibble
Panto: Cinderella
Superheroes wanted!
We need boys and girls to join our FREE hero training academy on Superhero Sundays where our dynamic duo will show you how to be a superhero.
Meet our cosplay Spiderman, who will run three sessions every Sunday in the summer holidays featuring games and activities including superhero training and dancing, superhero sticker for all joiners in and passers-by and also sweet prizes.
Sessions run 11am to 12pm, 12.30pm to 1.30pm and 2pm to 3pm. Parking just 50p all day Sundays.
All free, no booking required, fancy dress encouraged – but fear not, our Asda Living, Sainsbury’s, The Entertainer and Argos all sell superhero costumes for boys and girls.
Heroes assemble!
*please do not leave your kids unattended during sessions, parents must remain. Events subject to change/cancellation without notice. All characters mascots/cosplay and not official. Should a session become full, we’ll do our best to get you onto the next available one.
There’s so much going on across all the Wakefield Museums over the Summer Holidays!
View their downloadable What’s on? guide below
