Activities over Easter will have children hopping for joy
This Easter the holidays are going to be jam-packed full of activities for children in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse.
There’s something for everyone whether your child loves being outdoors, is interested in theatre or likes to get stuck into a bit of craft. South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils’ Active Communities teams have a range of free and low-cost activities for children and their families to enjoy.
The popular orienteering Xplorer activity, where children and their families follow a map to hunt for different themed markers around a park, returns at the following locations:
Cholsey: Monday 3 April at the Recreation Ground
Faringdon: Monday 3 April at the Folly Sports Park
Kingston Bagpuize: Tuesday 4 April at Millennium Green -the morning will also include multisport activities.
Chinnor: Tuesday 4 April at Whites Field
Harcourt Arboretum: Wednesday 5 April at 10.30am-12.30pm, anyone attending will need to book online before they arrive.
Henley: Tuesday 11 April, Makins Recreation Ground
Unless otherwise stated all Xplorer activities take place from 10am-midday, and children under the age of 16 need to be accompanied by an adult. Families can turn up on the day or book via the online booking form.
Sporty kids will love multi-sports in Sonning Common from 3-13 April in partnership with Active Leaders. Children aged 7-12 years old can play a variety of sports including netball, cricket and rounders.
Booking is limited to 3 sessions per child. To book a place please email amanda@activeleaders.co.uk.
In the Vale you can join a free family spring walk in Grove and spot the different signs of nature. It takes place on Thursday 6 April from 10am-midday and will be led by our YouMove activators Kayleigh and Marc. No bookings needed, just meet at Liberator Lane in Grove on the day.
There’s also the chance to book a place on our free beginners skateboarding and scooting sessions on the 11 April in Cholsey and Sutton Courtenay with Team Rubicon, and families can take part in family Yoga in Didcot on Friday 14 April at Fleet Meadow Community Hall, YouMove card holders can book using their membership details.
There’s more information about times, dates, booking details and other activities on the South Oxfordshire school activities webpage and the Vale of White Horse District Council holiday activities webpage.
The council’s Better Leisure centres will also have a timetable packed with Easter activities. The sessions will vary from centre to centre but include the Kids Swim for a Quid scheme, tennis camps, toddler world, inflatable pool sessions and toddler world.
There are more details about these activities and others available for children and families at the Better UK centres, on their website.
For those into the theatre and crafts the districts arts centres, The Beacon in Wantage and Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot have a great line up too.
The Beacon
For children who love science the Easter holidays start with a great show the whole family can enjoy on Saturday 1 April, with Morgan & West: Unbelievable Science.
Morgan and West are magicians, time travellers who also have a secret past, they are also qualified scientists! Expect captivating chemistry, phenomenal physics, and bonkers biology in this fun for all the family science extravaganza! Tickets are £12 and £10 those under 16.
Tickets can be booked through The Beacon’s Box Office or via The Beacon website
Cornerstone Arts Centre
Cinderella is reimagined as a magical new ballet for the whole family with the Let’s All Dance Company on Wednesday 5 April. There are two performances combining stunning dancing, storytelling, and beautiful costumes designed to enchant and dazzle young and old. Prices are £11.50, £10.35 concessions and £44 for a family ticket of four.
On Thursday 6 April book your tickets to see Bossy – a hip hop children’s show celebrating both black and deaf culture. The Multi-award-winning Zoo Co presents this show to a Caribbean soundtrack, and it’s performed both in BSL and English so both hearing and deaf audiences can enjoy. Tickets are £9.50 and £8.55 concessions.
Youngsters can get their craft on with “Decorate Your Own Flowerpot” on Wednesday 12 April. A one-off workshop for school years 1 to 6. Children will get a chance to design and paint their own hanging flowerpots in time for spring! All materials are provided for this simple arty session to let your inner gardener grow. Price for this session is £10.
And to end the Easter Holiday activities The Munch Mission comes to Cornerstone on Saturday 15 April. A quirky family comedy from the award-winning theatre company Brave Bold Drama. Help Agents Kahli and Dali find the missing piece of art as they decipher clues and interrogate suspects in this interactive mystery show. Tickets are £12.50, £11.25 concessions.
More details about these shows and workshops including booking information can be found on the Cornerstone website.