Welcome to the On Our Doorstep summer holiday guide, the go to guide for events and activities happening in Kirklees.
Page 2- Family fun at our libraries
Page 3- Activities at our Museums and Galleries
Page 4– Free and low cost activities you can do at home or out and about
Page 5– Activities at Cliffe House
Page 6- Activities happening in our towns
Get activities straight to your inbox
Subscribe to the On Our Doorstep – Half Term Activities email alert to keep up to date with activities happening in your local area every half-term.
There are plenty more activities and events happening in Kirklees! Visit Creative Kirklees to find out what else is happening near you.
Family fun at libraries
Our libraries have got so much planned for the family this summer, here’s just a taster! Some of the events are available to book now but some will be available to book on to very soon, keep an eye on our TicketSource page so that you don’t miss out!
The Summer Reading Challenge
The Summer Reading Challenge is the UK’s biggest free reading for pleasure programme for children. Taking place annually, the Challenge encourages children aged 4 to 11 to keep reading during the summer holidays. This year, the Challenge begins on Saturday 8 July.
This year’s challenge is all about games and sports. Children will join our fictional team (and their animal mascots!) as they use their skills to weave their way through a summer obstacle course.
Developed in collaboration with the Youth Sport Trust, the 2023 Summer Reading Challenge will celebrate play and participation, encouraging children to engage in games and sports in any way that best suits them. Ready, Set, Read! will showcase how reading can be active and engaged, and can itself involve teamwork and community.
You can join the challenge at your local Kirklees library and take part in person. The library will give you a special collector folder, stickers, and other special incentives, and help you find books to read for your Challenge.
Book Hunters! Summer Challenge
You can start by grabbing your free guide for Book Hunters! from any Kirklees Library branch between July 14 – September 11. You will have to visit the locations in this guide and find the hidden QR codes on site.
When you find the QR code, you must scan it with your phone camera. This will take you to a secret webpage with a fun mission to complete and a list of book suggestions! There are 7 QR codes hidden around Kirklees, how many will you find?
Check out the opening times for all of our 24 branches.
Remember to make a library book your travelling companion, nothing beats relaxing and reading outdoors for fun. Borrow your book companions via any Kirklees branch or download E-Books and Audio Books from our Libby app.
If you’re reading this on your computer or tablet, try scanning the QR code in the picture above with your phone to get started!
Once Upon a Tune Story Trails
Explore the power of music, illustration and storytelling outdoors with our exciting storytrails. This summer’s trails are inspired by the stunningly illustrated book Once Upon a Tune from award-winning artist James Mayhew. Search for the illustrations on our trail, experience the engaging stories that inspired famous tunes including Flight of the Bumblebee and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and create your own musical artwork. Recommended for families with children up to age 8.
When and where: You can drop into any of the below sessions between 12 pm – 4 pm.
- Monday 31 July, Ravensknowle Park
- Tuesday 1 August, Crow Nest Park
- Wednesday 9 August, Greenhead Park
- Thursday 17 August, Wilton (Batley) Park
- Friday 25 August, Beaumont Park
Kane Martial Arts
Rebecca Kane founder of Kane Martial Arts will be teaching some self defence skills, to improve confidence. Rebecca has been involved in Martial Arts and dance for over 30 years. She has won world titles for full contact fighting and forms and was one of the first under 16 females to travel to the Philippines in Asia for the world championships aged 15. Her martial arts school specialises in delivering age specific martial arts programmes. She loves empowering generations to become more active both physically and mentally. This session is for children aged 7-12.
When: Friday 4 August, 10.30am / 2:00pm
Where: Dewsbury Library / Greenwood Centre.
Everybody Loves A Cape: Reading Heroes
Participating children will make and decorate their own reading hero capes! First, we will learn how to make a hem and then you can decorate your reading Hero cape inspired by your favourite book or character – using whatever method you chose sewing, drawing, painting and so many more! (Please note this activity will involve sewing and is aimed at children 8+).
Upcoming summer events at Kirklees Libraries
These events will be available to book on to very soon, keep an eye on our TicketSource page so that you don’t miss out!
Henry Bateman
What do you love about the place you live? Come along to this musical activity in celebration of the Kirklees Year of Music and learn how to put the words you use to describe where you live to music to create your very own song. Age 6+
Tom Palmer
Join football fiction writer, Tom Palmer, to celebrate reading, sport and the Women’s World Cup. Tom will host his famous Football Reading Game, which includes a quiz, a penalty shoot out and a trophy for the winner. For children aged 7-11.
Sports Quiz Event
A fun sports quiz for children aged 7-11, recommended for teams of 2-4 children. Grown ups are welcome to stay (but no helping!) Categories include: football, cricket, the Olympics, world sports and general sports knowledge.
Pyjama Drama
An interactive performance by Pyjama Drama where the audience will be actively encouraged to get involved: singing, dancing, playing games and taking on different roles. A wonderful show for children aged 3-7 and their families!
Activities at our Museums and Galleries
Tolson Museum Summer Activities
Get involved and get creative with our themed summer activities and trails! Themed trails available throughout the summer in opening hours.
When: All activities run at 11am – 1pm and 2pm – 4pm
Cost: £4 (free activities also available).
Transport
Make your own eco-friendly transport of the future in our Lego workshop.
- Thursday 3 August
Birds
Themed crafts inspired by our Bird Room.
- Thursday 17 August
Music
Celebrate Kirklees Year of Music and make some noise!
- Thursday 31 August
Yorkshire Rose Dog Rescue Annual Show
Whether you’re a dog owner or looking for a fun day out with family and friends, this event
is not to be missed! Featuring agility courses, competitions and prizes, help us to raise vital
funds to care for Yorkshire rescue dogs.
When: Sunday 3 September, 11.00 am – 4.00 pm
Where: Oakwell Hall
Cost: Free entry
August Adventures at Oakwell
Have a go at our month-long challenge to get out and about and discover the nature on your doorstep. Pick up your pack from the gift shop, we’ll have lots of inspiration to help you explore. Collect your badge when you complete your calendar.
When? Daily during August, 10am – 4pm.
Where? Oakwell Hall
Cost? £2
Children’s crafts at Bagshaw Museum
Join us every week through the summer for a new fun, themed craft activity! Drop in anytime from 12.00 pm – 4.30 pm. All activities are pay as you feel.
Peacock collage
Our peacock needs some tail feathers – join us to colour the feathers in and add
to our peacock collage.
- Saturday 22 July – Thursday 27 July
Cartouche Bookmark
Create a Cartouche bookmark using papyrus, writing your name in hieroglyphs.
- Saturday 29 July – Thursday 3 August
Punch and Judy Puppets
It’s showtime! Join us to make assorted Punch and Judy puppets to do a show
for your friends and family.
- Saturday 5 August – Thursday 10 August
Peacock greeting cards
Celebrate our South Asia gallery, creating your own Peacock greetings card.
- Saturday 12 August – Thursday 17 August
Safari Pencil Topper and Mandala Colouring
What’s your favourite African animal? Join us to make a Safari pencil topper and mandala colouring in.
- Saturday 19 August – Thursday 24 August
3D Floral Wreaths
Celebrate our wonderful woodland setting by making a hanging 3D floral wreath.
- Saturday 26 August – Thursday 31 August
Augmented Reality Trails by Love Exploring
Explore our beautiful country park with a new virtual trail every holiday. Just download the free Love Exploring app to play
Where: Oakwell Country Park
Cost: Free
Louise’s Art Workshops
Join Louise for some South Asian themed crafts, including tea light holders, 3D cards and sun-catchers. Suitable for ages 4 upwards. Children must be accompanied by an adult. No need to book, drop in anytime.
- Wednesday 26 July & Tuesday 1 August, 12pm – 3pm – Bagshaw Museum
- Thursday 27 July & Wednesday 2 August, 12pm – 3pm – Tolson Museum
Cost: From £3.50 per activity with free colouring available
Children’s Prize Trails
Have fun with our ever-changing children’s trails around the museum.
Where: Bagshaw Museum
When: Available daily during opening hours
Cost: £1
SCRAPtastic! Workshops
Fairandfunky bring their popular family workshops back to our museums and will host
workshops throughout the morning where children of all ages can create their own
artwork using recycled materials!
When and where:
- Wednesday 2 August & Wednesday 23 August, 11am – 1pm – Bagshaw Museum
- Wednesday 9 August & Wednesday 30 August, 11am – 1pm – Tolson Museum
Cost: £3.50 (cash only). No need to book – just turn up on the day and bring your friends!
Year of Music Trail
Come along, make some noise and celebrate the Kirklees Year of Music with our free trail.
Where: Bagshaw Museum
When: Available daily during opening hours
Cost: Free
Visit your local museum
Entry to all our museums and galleries is free! Donations are welcome.
Bagshaw museum
Join us on a trip around the world and explore Batley and beyond.
Where: Bagshaw Museum, Woodlands Road, Wilton Park, Batley, WF17 0AS
Opening hours:
- Saturday & Sunday 12pm – 5pm
- Tuesday to Thursday 11am – 5pm (until 5 September)
- August Bank Holiday Monday 11am – 5pm
Oakwell hall and country park
History comes to life in our Elizabethan Manor House set-in award-winning parks and gardens with gift shop and cafés.
Where: Oakwell hall and country park, Nutter Lane, Birstall WF17 9LF
Opening hours:
- Saturday & Sunday 12pm – 4pm
- Kirklees school holidays: Tuesday to Thursday 12pm- 4pm.
- August Bank Holiday Monday 12pm- 4pm
- Visitor Centre 10am – 5pm daily
Tolson museum
From pre-history to the present day, amazing objects tell the story of Huddersfield.
Where: Tolson Museum, Ravensknowle Park, Huddersfield HD5 8DJ
Opening hours:
- Saturday & Sunday 12pm – 5pm
- Tuesday to Thursday 11am – 5pm (until 5 September)
- August Bank Holiday Monday 11am – 5pm
- Other Mondays 11am – 3pm
Huddersfield art gallery: unit 7
Visit Huddersfield Art Gallery’s new temporary home and exhibition space for ground-breaking contemporary art
exhibitions.
Where: Unit 7, The Piazza Huddersfield HD1 2RS
Opening hours: Wedneday to Saturday 11am – 4pm
Free and low cost activities you can do at home or out and about
50 things to do before you’re 5
Why not tick off 50 fantastic things for you and your child to experience together?
From woodland wandering to making music, there is something you can do with the little ones today.
Make a tasty meal
Why not get the children involved with making some tasty food for all the family?
Children love to help with cooking and baking! They can chop and mix the ingredients while you chat about what you are doing.
Spread Kindness during the half-term
Let the little ones spread some kindness this half-term. Go on a hunt to find a rock or stone and either paint or decorate it with a positive message and when you next go out for a walk, hide it for someone else to find!
Gardening
You don’t need to be green-fingered to have a grow! Gardening and growing your own ingredients is a great way to get kids to try new foods or enjoy the delicious taste of home-grown goodness. A packet of seeds, some empty plastic pots, a little compost and a sunny windowsill is all you need! Pick up some seeds from the nearest garden centre or supermarket and let your kids choose what they’d like to grow. Have fun planting up and encourage them to water daily, you could even keep a growth diary.
Scavenger Hunt
A treasure hunt is a perfect way to get the kids active. We’ve put together a list of things to discover but you could make your own list of things to spot whilst you’re out and about.
- Leaf
- Feather
- Spider web
- Tree
- Bird
Arts and crafts using everyday items
5,4,3,2,1 blast off! Your child’s imagination can be fired by using large and smaller boxes to create a car, a fire engine, a house, or a ship! A box large enough for your child to climb into might need nothing more than imagination to be anything in the world.
Activities at Cliffe House
Family Nature Trail
Get outdoors and enjoy our fun family trail around the grounds of Cliffe House. The trail is family and buggy
friendly, something the whole family can enjoy. When you have collected all the clues don’t forget to return to the food
kiosk to collect your prize! (1 prize per paid trail sheet). No booking required.
When: Monday 24 July- Friday 1 September. (Closed 28 August)
- 10 am – 4pm. (Closes 12.00 pm on 11 August & 1 September)
Where: Cliffe House
Cost: £2.50 per person
Pond dipping
Enjoy this fun session exploring the ponds at Cliffe House, looking out for minibeasts, bugs, and all kinds of pond life, all while learning about the environment. Online booking recommended
When: Tuesday 1, 8, 15 and 22 August.
- 10 am – 11 am
- 11.15 am – 12.15 pm
- 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
- 1.45 pm – 2.45 pm
- 3 pm – 4 pm
Where: Cliffe House
Cost: £4 per person
Bushcraft
Enjoy the great outdoors whilst roasting marshmallows and making garlic bread twists over an open fire. All
washed down with hot chocolate (please advise us of any special dietary requirements). Open to children
age 6+ and adults. 90 minute instructor led session, all equipment provided. Online booking recommended.
When: Wednesday 2, 9, 16, 23 August
- 10.00 am – 11. 30 am
- 12.00 pm – 1.30 pm
- 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm
Where: Cliffe House
Cost: £8 per person
Archery
Learn the basics of archery in our one hour instructor led sessions, with 12 spaces per session. Open to children age 6+ and adults. All equipment provided. Online booking recommended
When:
Monday 31 July, and 7, 14 and 21 August
Thursday 3, 10, 17 and 24 August
- 10.00 am – 11.00 am
- 11.15 am – 12.15 pm
- 12.30 pm – 1.30 pm
- 1.45 pm – 2.45 pm
- 3.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Where: Cliffe House
Cost: £6 per person
Climbing wall
Test your skill and strength on our climbing wall. Suitable for children age 6+. Fully qualified instructor
led session. All equipment provided. No advance booking required.
When: Friday 4, 11, 18 and 25 August
- 10.00 am – 4.00 pm (10.00 am – 12.00 pm on Friday 11 August)
Where: Cliffe House
Cost: £4 for 4 climbs
Adventure playground
Let your young ones explore our woodland adventure playground with ropes, swings, slides and a tree house! No
booking required.
When: Monday 24 July – Friday 1 Sept (closed 28 August)
10.00 am – 4.00 pm (Closes 12pm 11 August & 1 September)
Where: Cliffe House
Cost: Free to enter
Activities happening in our towns
Yeah! Days Out
Yeah! Days Out is home to some of the most exciting family attractions and provides entertainment for all the family. From splashparks to footgolf there is so much you can do this summer!
Discover your local park
Why not go on an adventure with the little ones to one of our fantastic parks! Young people in Kirklees can enjoy improved play spaces thanks to the our Playable Spaces project.
Huddersfield Lego Trail
Huddersfield BID are bringing back the Huddersfield Lego Trail for it’s third year in a row. They’re building more than 10 giant lego models to form their 2023 lego trail. The models will be different from last year, so get ready to see some stunning pieces of lego art.
The trail will run on our LoyalFree app, which participants can use to find the lego locations in Huddersfield. When you find each model, you can scan a QR code at the location. Once you’ve found each lego model and scanned it’s QR code through Loyal Free,you will be entered into our prize draw to win a big lego prize! Please be aware of shop opening times when participating.
When: Throughout August
Where: Huddersfield
Dinosaur hunt at Beaumont Park
Did you know that there are dinosaurs right on our doorstep in Beaumont Park!?
Get on your walking boots and download the Love Exploring app to start your adventure today.
School’s Out!
A wide range of activities will be on offer for Kirklees children and young people throughout the summer holidays.
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme will help children to stay active and healthy, boosting their mental and physical wellbeing.
HAF activities are for children and young people who receive free school meals, while paid-for places are also available for non-eligible families.
Apnar Bazzar -Night Market
Kirklees Markets are establishing Huddersfield’s first ever Apna Bazaar on Friday 25th August 2023 at the Huddersfield Open Market. The bazaar will consist of many different products this includes, Asian Clothing, Jewellery, Haberdashery & Other goods. Enjoy tasty fresh authentic middle eastern and Asian foods. This will be an event like no other with Dhol performances. We welcome people from all ethnic backgrounds to spend a evening at our culturally diverse event.
When: Friday 25 August from 4pm
Where: Huddersfield Open Market