School’s out for summer! And a whole six weeks of entertaining the kids are ahead of us.
But don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be expensive!
Here’s our list of free and low cost activities for the summer holidays in Calderdale. This blog suggests local activities and attractions, but we’ll share ideas for further afield next week!
Don’t forget our free printable summer activity sheets too – lots of great ideas for days out and fun!
Hardcastle Crags Events – go for a walk and a paddle or try out art, raft building, den building and more!
Children’s Centres – there are some great, free events being run at Calderdale’s children’s centres. Sometimes there is a small cost for face painting (usually 20p) but the other activities are free!
Bankfield Museum – While there are paid-for Sparks activities running throughout the holidays, Bankfield makes a lovely free day out. Take a picnic to eat in the grounds, then spend the day exploring the Sweets, Shoes and other exhibits, browsing at Akroyd Library and playing in the grounds and park outside.
Bikeability Courses – Kids can brush up their cycling skills with full day courses for free!
Free live music at Westgate Arcade – You don’t need to pay to see a concert this summer, just take your dancing feet to Westgate Arcade every Saturday lunch time over the summer holidays.
Board Not Bored! – Board game club at libraries around Calderdale. New, exciting and unusual games to try.
Family Film Club – Free showings of The BFG and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Calderdale Rocks 1st Birthday Big Park Drop Off – Rainbow themed but the sky’s the limit when it comes to your imagination! Sunday, August 19.
Woolshops Beach – Bring your buckets and spades to Woolshops between August 4 and September 1.
Check out the Big Summer Festival event. It’s free with an annual pass!
Don’t forget, you can get discounts on many events and attractions with a Passport to Leisure Card. Read about the eligibility criteria here.
It’s free at every library in Calderdale, and your child will be able to collect stickers for their map with every book they read, followed by a slimy prize at the end! Read our blog about it here.
YMCA Halifax Summer Skating School – £5 per child
Shibden Land Train – £1.50 per go. Explore the gorgeous Shibden Estate with the excitement of a train!
Ravensprings Park Open Day – at only £2 per child (£3 adults) you can ride the miniature locomotives all afternoon. Take a picnic and play on the grass too. Sunday, August 12. Cash only!
Sparks Workshops at Bankfield Museum – £3.50 per child
Climb Wainhouse Tower – (August 27 only) £2.50 per child
Manor Heath workshops – Do a spot of gardening or learn about bugs and bees. There are Gruffalo and Superworm story time events too (£4 per child).
Ogden Water fun – £3.90 per child. There are elves and fairies events using natural materials to craft, and a chance to try a simulated archaeological dig.
Storytots – Library story and craft sessions including The Tiger Who Came to Tea. £3 per child.
Shibden Activities: Pirate Days & Fairies, Elves & Goblins – £4 per child. Plus enjoy the grounds for free afterwards!
Piece Hall Events – £1 to £3.50 per child. These range from trails to an ice cream workshop, dress up and more.
There are plenty of free ways to enjoy the fresh air – if you can resist treating everyone to ice creams!
Jerusalem Farm is gorgeous for picnics and paddling (there is a list of other places to paddle here), Ogden Water is lovely for a stroll, Hardcastle Crags and Judy Woods are favourites too. Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve also has a few free summer events.
Try a new park – there is a list of large ones here – and you can find smaller, council maintained playgrounds ones here.
If you want to go further afield, the Room on the Broom Trail in Anglers Country Park, Wakefield, is excellent, and there are more walks and parks on this list.
If we end up with bad weather or you just fancy a day in, there are plenty of free and cheap ways to entertain the kids, such as:
Kids Eat for free at Brewer’s Fayre until September 2 (The Watermill, Salterhebble Hill). You can get the details here.
Little ones can enjoy a main meal for £1 at the Armytage Arms, Brighouse, if you download the app (Monday to Friday, between 3pm and 7pm, with the purchase of every 1 adult main meal).
Beefeater is offering free breakfasts for kids (when one adult purchases a full Premier Inn Breakfast)
Kids eat for £1 at Frankie & Benny’s, Broadstreet Plaza, all summer. Get the voucher here.
Don’t forget to keep checking our Summer Holidays page for updates, and visit our Calderdale Mumbler News Page on Facebook for regular information about what’s happening locally.
Have a great Summer Holiday!
