Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Out of school ideas in Devon - September and October 2022
We know our families/readers are fully involved in the 'Back To School' busyness but here are some great ideas to get involved with between now and half term in and near Devon!
Don't forget to also visit our frequently updated family friendly event listings here!
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READ BOOKS AND WIN PRIZES WITH THE SECRET BOOK QUEST
Join in the adventure with this FREE reading challenge for children aged 5+ for children in the Devon and Torbay Libraries areas.
Read 50 books to get a certificate and special prize, plus entry into a free prize draw!The next prizes will be drawn in October, where you could win a Fire tablet, a robot, board games or Waterstones vouchers.
Sign up at your local library to get started with your very own Secret Book Quest booklet. Read books, collect stickers, and decipher the code! For information visit librariesunlimited.org.uk/secret-book-quest
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Peep peep! Join Thomas & Friends for a day of family fun at the South Devon Railway when he visits from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th September. Take a train ride with Thomas, meet Sir Topham Hatt and join Sodor Station Sweepers Rusty & Dusty for a trainload of excitement.
Plus, there’s lots more to enjoy including Thomas mini shows and re-enactments, a Magic Show and Imagination Station with balloon modelling and Thomas colouring fun.
The South Devon Railway is at Buckfastleigh station, TQ11 0DZ, just off the A38 midway between Plymouth and Exeter.
Book your tickets online at www.dayoutwiththomas.co.uk.
SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE FROM LIFE CHANCE CARE
Seeing your child not coping at school can leave you feeling anxious and overwhelmed. Life Chance Care offers support for young people aged 5 – 25 who are struggling because of social, emotional and mental health needs, unaddressed learning needs or special educational needs.
Increased pressures on NHS and Mental Health Services can mean long waiting times for assessments and support - in the meantime, children continue to struggle in school because of unmet needs. Life Chance’s therapeutic experts can provide families and schools with a detailed assessment of young person’s difficulties in context, recognising strengths and providing solution-focused strategies to implement at home and school. Each young person is individual, but assessments can usually be arranged within 1-4 weeks of an initial enquiry.
Life Chance Group is an award-winning organisation bringing together professional staff and therapeutic disciplines to offer holistic support for young people, families and the wider community.
Discover more at www.lifechance.org.uk
COLOUR BOMB – SUMMER EDITION - 10th & 11th September
Due to popular demand the Colour Bomb is back at The Bear Trail for the second and final time this year. On Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September, the event will return bigger, brighter and better than ever before, closing the Summer with a bright blast
They are running a full weekend of colour explosions with over 1000lbs of powder paint ready to shower their visitors in! During each session Boston the Bear will be greeting the crowd, we have compere extraordinaire, Joe Fisher back on the mic and live music from local superstar Katt Davies Young.
With more paint than ever before, live music, 30 unique obstacles, free parking and unlimited mud, this will be a rainbow explosion you will not want to miss. As visitors make their way around the course, they will be covered from head to toe in an array of coloured powder! It’s a great day out for friends and family, and definitely one that won’t be forgotten in a hurry! This year visitors will also benefit from the amazing new amenity block, complete with warm indoor showers and private changing rooms. Now there is truly no excuse not to get fully involved! Colour Bomb tickets are just £16.95 per person and include a pair of neon sunglasses. This event is suitable for all ages and abilities and well behaved dogs on leads are very welcome.
Visit WWW.THEBEARTRAIL.CO.UK to book.
BEAR TOWN IS OPEN EVERYDAY AND SUITABLE WHATEVER THE WEATHER
Bear Town is a unique role play experience for children set in an immersive town setting, unlike anything else on offer in the South West.
Bear Town is a role play centre where young children can try a host of “grown up” jobs, from vets and mechanics to firefighters and hairdressers.
Visitors get exclusive use of the café during their visit where they can enjoy a selection of hot and cold drinks including freshly ground coffee, fresh cakes, snacks and delicious locally sourced meals.
To ensure a safe and secure environment for their youngest explorers they limit the age of our child visitors to a maximum of 7 years old.
Find out more at www.beartown.co.uk
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Join World of Country Life on 11th September for their Vintage Classic Vehicle Rally 2022!
There will be Lots of classic and vintage vehicles visiting the park for the day, and of course, our resident Hall of Transport featuring vehicles that have appeared in Downton Abbey, Mr Selfridge & Parade’s End as well as the Reg Imray Motorcycle Collection and Steam Shed packed full of vintage tractors & steam engines make this a vehicle lovers’ dream day out!
Not forgetting the children’s indoor & outdoor play areas, the popular Harry the Harvester, the Deer Train Safari and all our regular daily activities – goat walking, animal bottle-feeding, small animal handling and the Hawkridge Birds of Prey Flying Display – this really is a memory-making day out for the whole family – see you there!
Find out more at www.worldofcountrylife.co.uk or If you would like to exhibit your car on the day, please visit www.exetereastdevon.rscownersclub.co.uk
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Sidmouth Science Festival – 7th to 16th October
Over a week of events in and around Sidmouth and at the Norman Lockyer Observatory the Science Festival offers serious talks, fun events and exciting hands-on activities for all ages and abilities, which include music and art as well as all the STEM subjects, and mostly free. Gaze down microscopes and telescopes, learn about our Jurassic Coast, make a kite, get ideas for helping the environment, get close up to owls, watch the tin can telephone record breaking event and follow a large robot around town. And so much more.
Find out more at www.sidmouthsciencefestival.org
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School might be back in session but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop! Entertain your herd with the sanctuary's 'Who wants to be a Donkey Guardian’ family quiz trail and claim a reward on completion. Plus, with a new play park, daily talks, scenic walks, engaging exhibits, hedge maze and lots of friendly donkeys, there’s so much to explore this September. Open daily from 9am, general admission and parking are free. Dogs welcome on a lead.
Find out more at www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/sidmouth
Pennywell Pumpkin Patch Open Every day In October!
The Pennywell Pumpkin patch is open every day in October for you to pick up your own pumpkin, explore their Fabulously Fun Pumpkin trail and take photos in their Pumpkin Photobooth. Access to the pumpkin patch is included in your ticket price.
All this is on top of a full day of animal activities, farm rides, shows and displays there’s something to keep the whole family happy at Devon’s award-winning farm.Begin your day with some piggy cuddles, milk a goat, feed the lambs, pamper a pony and cheer on your favourite racing pig, and that’s all before midday!
Pennywell is open 7 days a week, tickets must be booked online and in advance at www.pennywellfarm.co.uk
New South Devon MONOPOLY game launched by Rowcroft Hospice
Rowcroft Hospice has teamed up with Winning Moves, a subsidiary of Hasbro, and more than 40 iconic locations, venues and businesses to develop a special MONOPOLY South Devon & Torbay Edition that showcases many of the region’s stunning local tourist attractions. Produced in celebration of Rowcroft’s 40th anniversary and to raise vital funds for the hospice, the bespoke game is a unique twist on the original MONOPOLY, featuring dozens of local attractions, including the Princess Theatre, Newton Abbot Racecourse, Kents Cavern, Woodlands, Pennywell Farm, Paignton Zoo, and taking poll-positions in the Mayfair and Park Lane spots Thurlestone Hotel and Powderham Castle.
Priced at £30, the new MONOPOLY game can be pre-ordered from Rowcroft’s website at www.rowcrofthospice.org.uk/monopoly and it will be available to purchase in Rowcroft’s shops across South Devon from early September. ‘Devon’s Top Attractions’ is supplying two ‘golden tickets’ that will be hidden within two games. Each lucky golden ticket winner will receive a whole year of free days out (worth over £1500) with free entry to over 30 South Devon attractions for up to four people.
Reach for the sky this Autumn at the South West’s largest indoor climbing centre!
The holidays may be over and the nights are drawing in but there’s still plenty to lift you off the ground at The Quay Climbing Centre this Autumn. They promise you great fun in the heart of Exeter, whether you are looking for some weekend fun with the family or want to work off some steam in their after school clubs.
Their Family Climbing Taster Sessions are great for friends and family. Over one hour you will learn the basic techniques required to enjoy plenty of climbing around the wall. Sessions are suitable for anyone aged 7+.
Alternatively why not book a Clip n Climb session? With over 26 of the most exciting climbing challenges you can imagine, there’s no chance anyone will be bored! Clip ‘n Climb is great fun for anyone aged 4 upwards (that includes the grown ups too!).
Junior and Youth Climbing Clubs
If you’ve got the bug for climbing and want to learn more, why not join one of their term time clubs. They’ve got clubs running daily after school and at weekends for children aged 4 to 11 plus Youth Climbing Clubs aimed at high school age children. Give them a call on 01392 426 850 to find out more.
Find out more at www.quayclimbingcentre.co.uk
Volunteer for The Fire Fighters Charity
The Fire Fighters Charity has volunteering opportunities at Harcombe House. Set in 320 acres on the edge of Dartmoor, Harcombe House offers a fabulous environment all, and a huge part of that is its vibrant café area, The Stables. The charity delivers specialist health and wellbeing information and support to enable a healthier and happier UK fire services community for serving and retired fire and rescue service personnel, their dependants and other eligible members.
The Stables, completed in 2020 as part of a £1.8M refurbishment of Harcombe House site, offers a relaxing location to meet and enjoy locally produced food and has scenic views.
The charity is now looking to recruit Café Volunteers, who will be integral members of its wider hospitality team.
For more information, please visit: www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/the-stables
Lots to do at Pecorama
Pecorama is one of Devon’s leading tourist attractions – set high on the hillside above the picturesque fishing village of Beer. Visitors can expect a great day out for all the family, enjoying award-winning gardens, stunning sea views, home-made food and a selection of refreshments and, of course, rides on Britain’s finest 7.25 inch railway, where a fleet of steam locomotives pull passenger-carrying trains on a mile long route through the beautiful grounds. There are also outdoor play areas, a fun crazy golf course, a wildway walk and pond with a bug hotel, and a fantastic interactive model railway exhibition.
Find out more at www.pecorama.co.uk
Court Farm Holidays
Their business was established in 1986 and offers a selection of self-catering accommodation close to the award-winning coastal resort of Bude, Cornwall.
From converted barns, farmhouses, and traditional cottages, we believe we offer something special for everyone.
Facilities include an indoor swimming pool, play area, animal feeding, games room, tennis court, catering service and spa treatments.
You’ll find hot tubs and pets welcome in selected properties too!
Make Court Farm Holidays your Cornish ‘home from home’ and discover the spectacular coastline and countryside They would love to treat their guests as friends and extended family while staying at Court Farm Holidays.
Find out more at www.courtfarm-holidays.co.uk