The summer holidays are here and with the cost of living crisis raging on; the budget for days out, trips and activities can soon get out of control. However, there’s no need to break the bank this summer as there’s a whole host of free events for families in Nottingham. We’ve gathered our top five and there’s something for everyone here with activities from charities, galleries and local organisations. So if you’re in the thick of it with the long summer holidays, check out these family friendly events – all free!
Monster Fun
Where: Djanogly Gallery, Lakeside Arts
When: Thu 1 Aug – Sun 8 Sep
The monsters are taking over at Lakeside this summer in a free family friendly exhibition. Children of all ages will delight in making friends with The Hooboos, Egg Cat and Mega Bunny. These colourful creatures have been brought to life in inflatable form by Nottingham artist Bruce Asbestos who draws inspiration from Japanese Culture and Blue Zones in his work and asks visitors to reflect on the power of friendship. As well as enjoying this immersive art experience, visitors will also be able to get hands on with clay workshops to bring their own idea to life.
Highfields Park is the perfect outing to complement a visit to Lakeside Arts, boasting 120 acres of parkland to explore. There is a play park for kids and excellent woodland areas to investigate and inspire your imagination. You might even spot some of the artwork hiding around the park. How many Hooboos can you find?
Read our interview with Bruce Asbestos in the August edition of LeftLion!
When: Wednesday 7 August
Where: Various parks across Nottingham inc. Bridgford Park, West Bridgford
Playday is the national day for play and takes place annually on the first Wednesday in August. Local councils across Nottinghamshire support this day by offering free play based events in local parks. This year, there are free events taking place in Broxtowe, Ashfield and Rushcliffe parks over the first two weeks of August so no one needs to miss out!
These events are free entry and you can expect to find plenty of free activities including shows, crafts and sports activities. Community groups and charities are also there to showcase their family offerings plus local businesses join the fun with food, face painting, handmade goods and more. Inflatables and fairground rides also feature at these events (these do usually incur an additional charge).
When: Throughout August
Where: Across Nottingham city centre
Are you ready for an adventure? An exciting free new trail is taking place in the city centre this August with the one and only Nottingham legend Robin Hood taking centre stage. Follow the map and help Robin find his Merry Friends hiding at venues all over Nottingham. Stay wary and don’t get caught out by Robin’s enemies on the hunt! It is completely free to take part and, once you've completed this (not so!) perilous quest, you'll receive a special badge!
The trail can be started from any location and maps can be found at participating venues or downloaded online. This is the perfect opportunity to spend a day exploring the city and rediscovering the famous sights with your little ones! Don’t forget to check out Nottingham Beach while you are in the city and there are also a variety of special offers for kids taking place in restaurants in the city so why not make a full day of it?
Summer Family Activities: Cattywampus!
When: 30 July – 22 Aug (Tuesdays -Thursdays)
Where: Nottingham Contemporary
Families take over the ground floor area 'The Space' in the school holidays at the Nottingham Contemporary. This year these free, play based workshops will be themed around sound and families are invited to join in with “fun sensory soundscapes” and “explore analogue and digital techniques to find the beat and create the rhythm”. The massive room is a blank canvas waiting to be filled with whatever your imagination can create and collaboration is encouraged!
These sessions are open ended and children of all ages are welcome. Baby friendly sensory items and books can be found in quieter corners. A variety of recycled materials and found objects are available to unleash some creativity this summer. There’s no fixed outcome to these workshops – let your imagination rule! These sessions are normally popular so booking is advised to guarantee entry but there are some drop in places available.
When: Saturday 31 August
Where: Stonebridge City Farm
Stonebridge City Farm is always on the list for a summer holiday visit. It’s free entry all year round with lots of cute and cuddly animals to see and pet, plus children’s trails and activities too. It also features a brilliant children’s play area and an affordable café on site.
Stonebridge are running a full timetable of events across the summer with a different themed day of activities each week. The series culminates on the 31 August with an exciting new event; the Stonebridge Arts Festival! This is touted as a “Celebration of Creativity, Culture and Community” and will feature plenty of free entertainment for the whole family.
Working in collaboration with some amazing Nottingham based charities and community groups; expect to find live music and performances, art, dance and craft workshops plus lots more. This is a free event not to miss and the perfect way to end the summer holidays!
Don't forget to head to our What's On page to see a full list of events!
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