The Summer holidays are nearly upon us so here is a blog post packed full of events and activities in Bristol especially for kids on weekdays during the Summer to keep them entertained!
As well as the ideas in this post, The Bristol Mum What’s On page will have lots of family-friendly events and activities to do over the Summer, plus I will be posting ideas of things to do in Bristol every day during the Summer holidays on the Bristol Mum Facebook page, so keep an eye out for these, too.
The ideas below are in no particular order. Click on the link in the title of each to find out more and have a great Summer!
1) Free Summer Holiday Activities at Lawrence Weston Community Farm
Over the Summer holidays there are 11 free activity sessions for kids at this lovely farm, including learning about wind turbines, bike decorating, storytelling, campfire cooking and much more!
- Wednesday 27th July, 2 – 4pm: Water Fun
- Thursday 28th July, 2 – 4pm: Kids’ Bike Workshops
- Wednesday 3rd August, 1 – 4pm: Free Family Fun Day and pizza
- Wednesday 10th August, 10am – 4pm: Have a Go – Turbines
- Thursday 11th August, 2 – 4pm: Kids’ Bike Workshop
- Thursday 11th August, 10am – 4pm: Have a Go – Severn Crossings
- Saturday 13th August, 10am, – 4pm: Storytelling
- Wednesday 17th August, 2 – 4pm: Campfire Cooking & Sing Along
- Thursday 18th August, 2 – 4pm: Kids’ Bike Workshop
- Thursday 25th August, 2 – 4pm: Decorate Your Bike and Pizza Afternoon
- Thursday 1st September, 2 – 4pm: Kids’ Bike Workshop
2) Summer holiday activity sessions with The Outdoors Project
If you have kids aged between 5 – 12 who have lots of energy then they will enjoy these brilliant Summer holiday sessions. Sessions include a BFG Special, Nerf gun battle, forest school, bush craft survival, climbing, stream walks and much more. All sessions will be held at St Andrew’s Park apart from the Stream Walk and the climbing.
3) The Summer Reading Challenge – free for kids to take on!
Every year The Reading Agency holds a Summer Reading Challenge for all children aged between 4 – 11 across England to read (or have read to) 6 or more books during the holidays.
The Summer Reading Challenge is free for children of all reading abilities and this Summer there is a very special theme, celebrating Roald Dahl! To sign your kids up simply take them to a library in Bristol during the Summer holidays to sign your children up. There are rewards and incentives along the way!
4) Free Holiday Family Fun Days at Bristol Museum, M Shed and Blaise Castle House Museum
This Summer there are LOADS of free Family Holiday Fun Days at Bristol Museum, M Shed and Blaise Castle House Museum. These sessions are ideal for children aged 3 – 10 however children of all ages are welcome and give children and families the opportunity to explore the museums’ exhibits through creative, hands-on activities.
5) Art and Craft Workshops with Colourful Minds
This Summer there are some colourful arts and crafts workshops for children with Colourful Minds. The arts and crafts include making colourful shadow puppets, laminated stained glass windows, woven wool flowers, funny felt badges and much more!
Workshops will be held at both The Southville Centre (BS3) and Craftisan (BS3) and are aimed at children aged between 4 – 8 years, however all ages are welcome!
6) Sodbury Summer Search – a free furry woodland animal trail!
In Chipping Sodbury this Summer there is a free trail to find of 30 squirrels and other furry woodland animals in windows. Children of all ages can take part in the trail. Simply pick up a trail map from one of the local libraries, the Chipping Sodbury Tourist Information Centre, under the clock tower or from any of the participating businesses.
Children handing in completed maps will receive a certificate and be entered into a draw to win one of the 30 furry animals!
7) Introduce your kids to the world of theatre at The Redgrave Theatre
There are three great shows especially for children and families at The Redgrave Theatre in Clifton this Summer.
Bad Guys: On Monday 1st August, Bad Guys will be performed at the Redgrave Theatre in Clifton and is aimed at families with children aged 5 – 11.
LazyTown: Go, go, go, get up LazyTown – a non-stop, highly-interactive and energetic treat, jam-packed with singing, dancing, spectacular acrobatics, music and fun, LazyTown will be at Redgrave Theatre on Wednesday 3rd August.
Marty MacDonald’s Toy Machine: This show will be most suitable for children aged between 2 – 7 and is on Sunday 14th August. Children and families can join Marty MacDonald and his farmyard friends in a fun, musical, interactive adventure to repair the Toy Machine, save the day and give the world back its toys!
8) Free Family Fun Day at Millennium Square
On Thursday 25th August, 12 – 5pm there will be a free Family Fun Day in Millennium Square in aid of Children in Need. There will be face painting, balloon modelling, a bouncy castle, games, rides, plus visit from Pudsey the Bear and Elsa and Anna from Frozen!
9) Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Park: St Bart’s Church Hall, St Andrew’s
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Park is a creative music summer school taking place from Monday 25th – Friday 29th July which is for young people who play an instrument aged between 8 – 14. Young people will bring their instruments along and all compose a brand new piece of music which will be performed in concert for parents and friends at Colston Hall on Friday 29th July.
10) Free Kids’ APE Project sessions in St Anne’s Park
On Monday 25th July, Monday 1st August and Monday 8th August from 12 – 3pm there will be free kids’ APE Project sessions in St Anne’s park. No need to book, just turn up with your kids and bring a picnic!
11) The Story of Children’s Television From 1946 to Today: M Shed
An exhibition tracing the fascinating history of children’s television, bringing together 70 years of iconic objects, memorabilia, merchandise, clips and images. From puppetry to CGI and live shows to dramas and fantasy, it looks at how the magical programmes of our childhood have created memories and nostalgia in adults and children alike.
Enjoy a wander down memory lane in a celebration of children’s television past and present.
- Tickets: Adults £5, Conc. £4, children under 16 free
- Free days on 13th July and 7th September
- More details
12) Summer activities at Children’s Scrapstore
This Summer there are lots of arty crafty activity sessions for kids of all ages at Children’s Scrapstore in St Werburgh’s!
13) Magic and mayhem at the Marky Jay Magic Show at Zion Community Art Space
A ‘Monkey Magic Show’ for kids on Wednesday 27th July with Marky Jay and Professor Steve Chimpington. With his monkey assistant, Marky Jay embarks on a mission to impress and amaze every child in the room with magic tricks and juggling, with hilarious results! This show is £2 per child and ideal for kids aged 4 – 8 but all ages are welcome.
14) Summer Holiday Sports courses with Thompsons Sports Academy
If you have a child aged between 5 – 13 and are looking for some sports activities for them to do over the Summer holidays, Thompsons Sports Academy run quality sports coaching courses during holiday time in cricket, hockey and netball for both boys and girls.
15) The Gromits are back in Bristol!
That’s right, The Grand Appeal is bringing some of the most popular sculptures from its ‘Gromit Unleashed’ trail back to Bristol for a special exhibition this summer!
Eighteen of the original trail sculptures will be on show at The Grand Appeal’s shop at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway for six weeks from 25th July.
Enjoy!
Bristol Mum 