Summer Events and Festivals 2017
Make the most of the Summer Holidays with these great days out and family festivals, the fun to be had is endless.
Northamptonshire
Outdoor Cinema Saturday 22nd July: 11.00am - 18.30pm. Daventry Family Cinema Day. Grab a picnic and a blanket and settle down to enjoy some free family films on the big screen at Daventry Country Park. Early Screening: 11am - Trolls and 12.50pm - Moana / Later Screening: 15.00pm - Moana and 16.30pm - Trolls. Entry is Free. Daventry Country park, Northern Way, Daventry, NN11 2JB. 01327 871100. https://www.facebook.com/daventrycountrypark/
Balloon Festival Friday 18th - Sunday 20th August: 6.00am - 23.00pm. Northampton Ballonn Festival is returning for the 28th year. Activities and fair during the day. Balloon flight everyday, 6am and 6pm. Meet the pilots at 2pm. At 9pm on a Saturday evening, come and watch the "Balloon Glow". Billing Aquadrome, Crow Lane, Northampton, NN3 9DA. www.thenorthamptonballoonfestival.co.uk. Car: £5. Adult: £5. Child under 16: Free.
Oinkfest Saturday 22nd July - Sunday 3rd September. Adventure into Piggy Palace to meet pampered porkers & perfect piglets. Trot over to Piggy Pant to watch hilarious shows and cheer on your favourite piggy racers in the Ham National. Plus, scamper through the new piggy maize maze! With everything included in entry, it's going to be pigtacular. Mead Open Farm, Stanbridge Road, Billington, Bedfordshire, LU7 9JH. www.meadopenfarm.co.uk. Standard Admission charges apply.
Park Life Family Funday Saturday 19th August: 11.00am - 15.00pm. Join Abington Park Museum to celebrate park life. Take part in park games, have your face painted as a park animal and create park related crafts. Groups who are active in Abington Park will also be running their own activities. Fun for all the family. Abington Park Museum, Park Avenue South, Northampton, NN1 5LW. 01604 838110. https://www.facebook.com/AbingtonMuseum/. Free. Drop-in - no booking required. There will be a small charge for some of the activities.
National Play Day Wednesday 2nd August: 11.00am - 15.00pm. Join in fun and frolics on National Play Day. It will take place near lakeside so lots of sandcastle competitions, paper boats, pond dipping and much much more. Burn off some steam at the huge free play park with slides, climbing frames and much more. Wicksteed Park, Barton Road, Kettering, NN15 6NJ. 01536 512475. www.wicksteedpark.org/events. Car parking charges apply.
Tribal Hearts Festival Friday 11th - Monday 14th August. Tribal Hearts combines elements of natural living with family life, to support parents in raising a healthy, happy tribe! Workshops, well being, live music and camping. Children are immersed in opportunities to explore, learn, express themselves and have fun through creativity and play. Whittlebury Park, NN12 8WP. Info@tribalheartsfestival.co.uk. www.tribalheartsfestival.co.uk. Camping: Adult: £80 and Child: £40. Day Ticket: Adult: £35 and Child: £20. 
Milton Keynes & Buckinghamshire
Emergency Services Day Saturday 22nd July: 10.30am - 17.00pm. Offering a fabulous day out, with free unlimited steam train rides. Come and see the display of up to 50 historic fire engines. Climb aboard a fire engine; speak to the police; examine an ambulance and enjoy steam trains - full size, miniature and model and free tea cup rides! Welcome to bring your own picnic. Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Station Road, Quainton, HP22 4BY. www.bucksrailcentre.org. Entry £5 per person (kids under 5 go free).
Marlow Carnival Saturday 16th September: 11.00am - 17.00pm. The carnival is held in the award winning Higginson Park in Marlow. With the return of the children's parade this year it is sure to be a great day. Local businesses, groups and charities bring top performances, great food, games and all round fun for all the family. Higginson Lane, Pound Lane, Marlow, SL7 2AE. www.marlowcarnival.co.uk.
Rhino Weekend Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th August. Rhino Weekend at Cotswold Wildlife Park is aimed at helping raise awareness and funds for Rhino Conservation work in Africa through lots of fun activities and competitions. Come and support this fund raising weekend. Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens, Bradwell Grove, Burford, Oxfordshire, OX18 4JP. www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk. Standard Admission charges apply.
Musical Sundays Sunday 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th July, 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th August: 14.30pm - 16.30pm. Come and sit on the South Lawn and listen to a whole range of music from the West Wycombe Brass band to the toe tapping guitars of Club Django and mellifluous vocals. Bring the family, a picnic and relax on the lawn. West Wycombe Park, Village and Hill - National Trust, West Wycombe, HP14 3AJ. Normal Admission Prices Apply.
Warwickshire
Terrific Teddy Trail Thursday 27th July: 13.30pm - 15.00pm. Bring along your teddies and join in the annual teddy trail. Discover what Benjamin Bear's secret passwordd is. Join the Education Team to make some teddy themed arts and crafts. You might even want to stay and have a picnic after. War Memorial Park Visitor Centre - Education Room, Kenilworth Road, Coventry, CV3 6PT. www.coventry.gov.uk. Cost: £3.50 per child.
Camper Calling Festival Friday 25th - Sunday 27th August. Amazing music from your best loved bands, as well as introducing you to your new favourites! Combine that with family entertainment, adventure, playgrounds, loads of activities including craft workshops lake activities and some seriously tasty food & drink, you'll be as busy - or as chilled out - as you choose! Ragley Hall, Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 5NJ. www.campercalling.com. Visit website for camping and day passes.
Leamington Carnival Saturday 15th July: 11.00am - 17.00pm. Warwickshire's biggest ever parade will be spreading across Leamington town. Walk along or watch the floats. There will be stalls, entertainment, a giant fun fair & more. All to raise funds for charitable organisations. The parade will leave Beauchamp Avenue at approximately 13.00pm. Pump Room Gardens (village green of Leamington Spa), Leamington Spa, CV32 4AA. www.leamingtoncarnival.org.uk.
Canal Fun Weekend Saturday 9th & Sunday 20th September: 10.00am - 17.00pm. This free event has the flavour of a large village fete, with lots of activity happening around the site: live folk music, visiting hostoric boats, model boat display, craft tent, boat trips, children's entertainment, Canal Societies, tombola and raffle, self guided tours and meet the Pygmy goats. Saltisford Canal, Budbrooke Road, Warwick, CV34 5RJ. www.saltisfordcanal.co.uk.
Music On The Lawn Every Saturday and Sunday during August: 13.00pm - 15.00pm. This summer Upton House are celebrating the style of the 1920s, with live music performances on the South Lawn every weekend afternoon in August. Bring the family, a picnic and relax on the lawn. Upton House and Gardens - National Trust near Banbury, Warwickshire, OX15 6HT. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/upton-house-and-gardens. Normal Admission Prices Apply.
Meet The Minibeast Monday 24th July - Friday 1st September. Children and adults can get close to some amazing creatures with 'Meet the Minibeast' handling sessions. Under the supervision of the friendly and informative Education Team, twice a day in the Discovery Zone, visitors will be able to hold such creatures as, Madagascan hissing cockroaches, stick insects, hermit crabs, giant land snails and African millipedes! Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm, Warwickshire, CV37 7LS. www.butterflyfarm.co.uk
Oxfordshire
Sci-Fi Weekend Saturday 12th - Sunday 13th August: 10.00am - 17.00pm. Fairytale Farm is being invaded by TV's most frightening aliens when the farm park holds a special Sci-Fi Weekend in aid of charity, running all weekend. Come and play on the adventure playground and meet the amazing animals. Fairytale Farm, Southcombe, Chipping Norton, OX7 5QH. 01608 238014. www.fairytalefarm.co.uk. Standard Admission Charges Apply.
Baby Boogie Saturday 19th August: 10.30am - 11.30am. Toddlers and grown-ups grab some space on the dance-floor and let the music take you away. Take a break in the chill-out zone with free face painting. Turn up the volume for a disco delight with your toddlers. Age 0-6 year olds (older siblings welcome). The Story Museum, Rochester House, 42 Pembroke Street, Oxford, OX1 1BP. www.storymuseum.org.uk. £5 per person.
The Big Festival Friday 25th - Sunday 27th August. The perfect balance of entertainment and activities for the whole family. Little ones will be well catered for with TV favourites Justin Fletcher, Dick & Dom and Paw Patrol, as well as musical acts like Baby Loves Disco. There's endless fun at the Arts and Crafts station and in the Little Dude's Den, they can even take part in food demonstrations! Alex James' Farm near Kingham, Oxfordshire, OX7 6UJ. www.uk.thebigfestival.com. See website for ticket prices.
Tucker's Feast at Cogges Bank Holiday Monday 28th August: 10.00am - 17.00pm. A fabulous foodie day out with the whole family. Kids foodie crafts and cooking that all ages can take part in, and sample most important of all! Adult demonstrations, have-a-go workshops, and a bevy of local artisans, all set in the beautiful Cogges Manor Farm in Witney. Cogges Manor Farm, Church Lane, Witney, OX28 3LA. www.cogges.org.uk. £6.50 adults, £4.50 kids or under 3s are free.