The school holidays are here and Bristol’s Colston Hall has two weeks of fun lined up for children and families to enjoy.

The city is famous for its summer festivals and Hoo-Ha! Festival, in partnership with Pukka Herbs, will turn Colston Hall into a real mecca for families from Tuesday 16th to Saturday 20th August.

The much-loved story ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ has become a favourite book for children and as part of Hoo-Ha! it comes to the stage in musical form, narrated by TV presenter Andy Day and brought to life by the British Sinfonietta.

On Thursday 18th August audiences will be taken on a melodic journey at Colston Hall in search of the big furry bear in We’re going on a Bear Hunt, learning about each instrument along the way. There’s even the chance to play percussion on stage with the orchestra.

Bristol’s Bakehouse Factory takes over the main hall for two days on 16th – 17th August, with their specially written interactive show Wild Things, where kids will need to operate a life-sized puppet elephant to save the rainforest and its inhabitants.

In The Lantern, Babyhead’s little Tom and DJ Cheeba take the audience on a Lo-Fi Funky Space Quest to save the planet from the mysterious Flatscreenzombierobot virus, and Lilliput Concerts host two of their popular baby-friendly classical music performances.

There will be also be plenty of chances to get your young ones active, whatever the weather, with the BUMP Family Rollerdisco, the Junior Jungle Rave and the Ready Sheddy Disgo Disco Shed featuring in the programme.

As well as ticketed events there will be plenty of free foyer shows and activities, including musical puppet show Much Ado about Puffin, Aardman film screenings with Cinemama, Sir Charlie Stinky Socks – live, and kid-friendly jazz show Molly & The Owl.

Festival-goers can also help build a cardboard city, recreating Bristol’s famous landmarks using cardboard, glue and lots of imagination. The festival also features the Explorer Dome Inflatable Planetarium, Green poet Martin Kiszko performing eco-poetry, a breakdancing workshop for kids, the Mi-pac photobooth, lots of craft activities, face painting, and lots more.

Colston Hall welcomes Pukka Herbs as major partners of Hoo-Ha! Festival 2016, who along with their organic and ethically traded herbal teas bring moments of mindfulness to this year’s festival. The Pukka Teapee will be a haven for busy bees to relax, with games, colouring and complimentary tea for adults and children alike.

The following week, a classic tale gets a musical makeover in Stiles and Drewe’s The 3 Little Pigs; running from Wednesday 24th to Sunday 28th August.

Packed with catchy songs, jokes and fun that parents will enjoy as much as their children, it’s the story of the Big Bad Wolf and the three little piglets he is trying to get the best of. Will our hammy heroes survive as he huffs and puffs?

George Stiles and Anthony Drewe have spent the last three decades writing musicals, including working on the songs and vocals for the global sensation Cameron Mackintosh/Disney production of Mary Poppins, and the international smash-hit, Honk!. They are currently busy with the Julian Fellowes’ production of the Wind In the Willows as it gets ready for a West End run.

For a full line-up of all the Hoo-Ha! shows and more information visit the Colston Hall website at www.colstonhall.org.