As the summer holidays in Wales wind on into August, it can be tough to find fun activities for all the family to enjoy. So Billy Edwards has collated 20 diverse activities, from a fairy festival to theatre shows to bog snorkelling and science talks, to keep young minds entertained while still learning.
BUSY BEES IN THE CASTLE
Busy Bees In The Castle is an educational craft workshop organised by Small World Theatre happening in early August of the summer holidays. those under 18 can produce bee-inspired hats and hand bands to wear; for bee enthusiasts of an older age, instructions on how to make your very own bee puppets will be shared. It’s suitable for all children aged six or older, accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Cardigan Castle, Thurs 3 Aug
Admission: FREE. Info: here
BIG BUILD CHALLENGE
At the Big Build Challenge, budding engineers aged over six can tackle challenges using the construction kit K’Nex each week of the summer holidays in August – build operational windmills, canals and barges to go through them, and a strong golf club and obstacles to test them. To end the month, visitors will become operators of metre-tall rockets with nose cones and fins.
National Waterfront Museum, Swansea, every Thursday in August
Admission: FREE. Info: here
FFOS GLASTO TRIBUTE FEST
All the hits and more for Ffos Glasto Tribute Festival, from The Meat Loaf Experience to The Abbaholics and The Sounds Of Ezra. To round off the night, there’ll be a suitably regal performance by a Queen tribute band. There will also be a Superhero patrol – essentially, people dressed up as caped crusaders.
Ffos Las Racecourse, Trimsaran, Sat 5 Aug
Tickets: £29. Info: here
JURASSIC EARTH
Dinosaurs walk the earth and come to Cardiff’s New Theatre in animatronic form. Jurassic Earth is an interactive show boasting the world’s largest walking T-Rex as well as some unimposing creatures, such as dinosaur egg hatchlings. Attendees in early August of the summer holidays can learn how to become an Official Dinosaur Ranger and survive meeting velociraptors, a triceratops, and a spinosaurus unscathed.
New Theatre, Cardiff, Sat 5 Aug
Tickets: £24. Info: here
JAZZ ON A SUMMER’S DAY
Longrunning festival Brecon Jazz hosts a special marquee-based family day as part of its festivities, with workshops for children to discover a talent for samba dancing, as well as arts and crafts classes. Music-wise, genres such as traditional swing and Latin will be covered, as will a 10-piece funk band.
The Showground, Brecon, Sun 6 Aug
Tickets: £10. Info: here
SPLENDIFEROUS SCIENCE OF ROALD DAHL – WITH JON CHASE
As part of Tŷ Pawb’s Discover Science Festival, BBC Bitesize presenter Jon Chase examines the stories of Roald Dahl for their scientific secrets. It’s suitable for kids with a fascination with English and science and the creative ways they can overlap. What about his Marvellous Medicine makes George a great scientist? And how could you really get a giant peach to fly?
Tŷ Pawb, Wrexham, Sun 6 Aug
Tickets: £9.50. Info: here
MEWN CYMERIAD: OWAIN GLYNDŴR – BLE MAE O?
A Welsh-language comedy production held in an attractive 19th-century mansion/art gallery. Directly satirical, Owain Glyndwr – Ble Mae O? follows a harrowing series of brutal battles of the 15th century, encompassing revelry, despair, and political and personal tensions much like those in our news today – razor-sharp, but suitable for familes.
Oriel Plas Glyn-Y-Weddw, Pwllheli, Wed 9 Aug
Tickets: £12. Info: here
FAMILY LIFE IN THE FORTRESS
It’s a common misconception that Roman fortresses were built solely for the use of soldiers. They also contained the homes of its officers and all their families. Family Life In The Fortress in Wales’ National Roman Legion Museum is a fun session in the mid-August summer holidays where you can even handle some real Roman objects – a keen departure from standard museum behaviour…
National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Fri 11 Aug
Admission: FREE. Info: here
FROGS IN BOGS
Frogs In Bogs is the latest summer holidays original production from Familia De La Noche, a female-led theatre company in Wales, with superhero frog plumbers dancing their way through clogging their villainous duck adversary, Cwac Ty Bach. Its costumes and set are made from at least 70% recycled materials, suitable for its celebration of the natural world.
Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, Fri 11 + Sat 12 Aug
Tickets: £10. Info: here
NIGHT OF THE ANIMAL WALL WORKSHOP
A relaxed opportunity to enjoy a reading of children’s picture book, Night Of The Animal Wall, with the pleasant views of Porthcawl on a summer’s day. Written and illustrated by Jack Skivens, the story follows the stone animals perched on Cardiff Castle’s wall as they come alive at night. A demonstration activity follows.
Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, Sat 12 Aug
Tickets: FREE. Info: here
FAERY FESTIVAL
Venture back to fairyland for the 11th edition of the folklore-tastic Faery Festival. There are plenty of activities to wave a wand at during this summer holidays weekend in north Wales, such as a circus skills workshop, wand-making, a vintage funfair, and live music. Get yourself kitted out in faery regalia in the Pavilion’s Fairy Market, and there’ll even be owls who like having their photo taken!
Llangollen Pavilion, Sat 12 + Sun 13 Aug
Tickets: £8. Info: here
IN THE NIGHT GARDEN LIVE
This show has been on the road for 14 years and seen by over a million audience members. A great choice for a child’s first exposure to the delights of theatre, it’s a faithful translation of the TV programme, featuring characters Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, and Makka Pakka in full-bodied costumes and puppets.
New Theatre, Cardiff, Sat 19 + Sun 20 Aug
Tickets: £20. Info: here
THEATRE WORKSHOP: DRAGON TAMING FOR BEGINNERS
A charming workshop that aims to inform children about anxiety-relieving techniques through dragon fun. Join a Head Of Dragon Taming, their assistant, and a BSL interpreter for an exciting and thoughtful, age-appropriate session on taming our inner dragons and taking care of mental wellbeing. Suitable for children aged five and over, with their younger siblings welcome to take part.
The Welfare, Ystradgynlais, Monday 21 Aug
Tickets: £6. Info: here
THE JABBERWOCKY AND OTHER NONSENSE
A brand-new stage adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s poem The Jabberwocky, it’s a fantastical journey into nonsense-speak as a small hero from Pokeytin and his vorpal sword face the monstrous Jabberwock to save his kingdom. Featuring songs, elaborate costumes, and audience interaction, its giant dragon puppet must be seen to be believed.
Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, Tue 22 Aug
Tickets: £16. Info: here
HEY DUGGEE! THE LIVE THEATRE SHOW
Live debut for the children’s show that parents adore. Duggee and friends will come to life as puppets and transcend CBeebies into Swansea’s Grand Theatre, all with the spirit of fun present in the programme through music, dance, and a bright, multicoloured production of its famed clubhouse.
Grand Theatre, Swansea, Mon 24-Sun 27 Aug
Tickets: £22. Info: here
THE BIG TRIBUTE FESTIVAL
It’s lookalike galore at Wales’ biggest tribute to tribute acts. In Capel Bangor, they will be competing over their realism onstage: Ohasis, for example, have gone to the trouble of sourcing the same equipment. The ‘Other Stage’ will host local bands, and a beer festival will also be present.
Capel Bangor, Aberystwyth, Fri 25-Sun 27 Aug
Tickets: £95. Info: here
FAMILY ADVENTURE WEEKENDS
A busy weekend of family activities on the north Pembrokeshire coast. At the Preseli Venture Eco Lodge on the Coastal Way, pick either a two-day or three-day itinerary, encompassing safe, instructed adventures such as kayaking, surfing, horseback riding, and a boat-trip exploration in which you could meet seals and porpoises.
Abermawr, Haverfordwest, Fri 25-Sun 28 Aug
Price: £325. Info: here
WORLD BOG SNORKELLING CHAMPIONSHIP
After 35 years, this event has evolved from a seen-to-be-believed curio into a family-friendly day out. Contestants from all over the world travel for the chance of the fastest time through a 60-yard peat bog, often in daft costumes. If you don’t fancy a dip, there’s much food and drink, craft stalls, a bouncy castle, and live music.
Waen Rhydd bog, Llanwrtyd Wells, Sun 27 Aug
Tickets: £20. Info: here
THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA
Based on the classic children’s picture book by Judith Kerr, this show is on tour fresh from its popular residency at the West End’s Theatre Royal Haymarket. There are songs, humour, and slapstick shenanigans aplenty as a tea-guzzling tiger causes mayhem for little Sophie and her mum.
Grand Theatre, Swansea, Mon 28-Wed 30 Aug
Tickets: £15. here
CONJURER OF CWRTYCADNO
Half treasure hunt and half theatre production, and another attractive affair for those stirred by stories of fairies in Welsh folklore. Help The Department Of Strange Events get countless Tylwyth Teg – mythological creatures – home before Nos Calan Gaeaf, a pre-winter tradition on the same date as Halloween.
Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Wed 30 Aug
Tickets: £10. Info: here
words BILLY EDWARDS