Welcome to the On Our Doorstep summer holiday guide, the go to guide for events and activities happening in Kirklees.
Page 2- Free and low-cost activity ideas
Page 3- Discover Kirklees’ museums and galleries
Page 4– Fun activities at Kirklees Libraries
Page 5– Explore what’s happening at Cliffe House
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There are plenty more activities and events happening in Kirklees! Visit Creative Kirklees to find out what else is happening near you.
Free and low-cost activity ideas
50 things to do before your 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 one’s today.
Visit Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Make the most of lighter evenings with our £3 after 3pm offer. Pop in after school for a walk to spot art outdoors, play in Little Wild Wood and grab a bite to eat.
Adult entry to YSP just £3 after 3pm. Kids go free and parking is free too! No need to book.
Offer valid daily until 29 September 2024.
Indoor galleries close 16.00. Last entry to the Park 17.00. Grounds open until 18.00.
Discover your local park
Get wrapped up and hop on your bike or scooter for an adventure to one of our fantastic parks! Young people in Kirklees can enjoy improved play spaces thanks to the our Playable Spaces project.
The National Day for Play
Join us for FREE fun activities and food at Sands Recreation Ground and Holmfirth Tech in Holmfirth, HD9 3JL. There will be a smoothie bike, lots of arts and crafts, circus skills, forest school activities, E bikes to try out and with other services such as Kirklees Keep in Mind, the Base too there’s lots to explore and try.
For more information please contact Alison Drake, alison.drake@kirklees.gov.uk. or Fiona Willats, fiona.willats@kirklees.gov.uk.
Date: Wednesday 7 August, 11am-2pm
Location: Holme Valley Playday at the Sands and Holmfirth Tech
Cost: Free
Discover what Kirklees has to offer
There are plenty more activities and events happening in Kirklees! Visit Creative Kirklees to find out what else is happening near you.
Cost of Living Support
Have you signed up to our Cost of Living Support newsletter? Each month you will receive useful information on how to access support to help you manage the increased living costs.
Discover Kirklees’ museums and galleries
Rainforest Exhibition at Bagshaw Museum
Have fun celebrating the stunning wildlife of rainforests with activities for all ages.
Date: 9 July – 31 August, during opening hours.
Location:
Cost: Free
Oakwell Explorers
Grab your Explorer Packs from the Visitor Centre and investigate the great outdoors.
Date: Everyday in August
Location: Oakwell Hall
Cost: £5 (includes backpack, activity sheets, goodies, and discount on events!).
Louise’s Art Workshops
Seashore, nature, and textile themed crafts.
Date and location:
- Tuesday 23 July, 12pm – 4pm, Tolson Museum
- Wednesday 24 July, 12pm – 4pm, Bagshaw Museum
Cost: From £3.50
Bagshaw Museum
A new themed craft every week, including butterflies, ancient Egyptians, and fossils.
Date: Daily during opening hours
Location: Bagshaw Museum
Cost: Free but we welcome donations
Tolson Museum
Prize trails and SCRAPtastic workshop days, with a new theme every fortnight. This summer’s themes are Birds, Romans, and Our Town – check the website for details.
Date: Daily during opening hours. Workshop days: 24 July, 31 July, 21 August & 28 August
Location: Tolson Museum
Cost: Trails £1, Workshops £3.50
Summer story Trail with Kirklees Libraries
Hunt for illustrations around the park to complete the summer story.
Date: Tuesday 27 August
Location: Tolson Museum and Ravensknowle Park
Cost: Free (donations welcome)
Family Friendly at Tolson
For our smallest to oldest Tolson time travellers there are learning activities, dressing up, and lots more!
Date: During opening hours
Location: Tolson Museum
Cost: Free (donations welcome)
Yorkshire Day
Join us to celebrate all things Yorkshire with the best in music, entertainment, and locally made and handcrafted produce.
Date: Sunday 4 August, 11am – 4pm.
Location: Oakwell Hall and Country Park
Cost: Free with a £5 parking charge per car
Beauty and the Beast – Chapterhouse Theatre
Date: Thursday 25 July, 6pm
Location: Oakwell Hall
Cost: Book via http://www.chapterhouse.org or in the Oakwell Visitor Centre. £20 adults / £12 children.
Fun activities at Kirklees Libraries
Library Adventures
Your quest is to journey through your Library Adventures pack with six fantastic themes to explore. The Adventurer pack is full of fun crafts, reading suggestions, facts, and creative activities. You can collect stickers, bookmarks, certificates and more throughout the year.
There are separate versions of the Library Adventures pack for older and younger children. Just pick the pack which best suits your Library Adventurer when you arrive at the library.
All you need to join the Library Adventures journey, is a Kirklees library card. A library card is free and can be obtained online or in person at any Kirklees Library. No ID required.
Request a free library card from our How to join page. A year-round reading for pleasure programme for children aged 4-11.
Location: Kirklees Libraries
Cost: Free
Hear this! Free creative recording workshop
Interested in learning how to record and be creative with sound? This fun, friendly workshop introduces you to field recording – that’s recording sounds you can hear around you – and using music software to put together a piece that paints a unique sonic picture of Dewsbury!
Date:
- Sat 20. Jul 2024 at 11:00 – 13:00
- Sat 27. Jul 2024 at 11:00 – 13:00
Location: Dewsbury Library
Cost: Free
Storytime at Kirklees Libraries
A friendly and fun session with stories and crafts. A great interactive way to develop children’s language and social skills while meeting with other parents and carers. Suitable for babies and children under 5.
Date: Various dates and times available
Location: Various Kirklees Libraries
Cost: Free
Lego club
Get creative and build exciting things with Lego at this fun and free family drop-in session. Boxes of Lego provided. Children of all ages welcome.
Date: Saturdays, various times available
Location: Various Kirklees Libraries
Cost: Free
Visit your local library
Our libraries are now open for the little ones to have fun, to learn and discover new things and we’re so excited to welcome you in!
Explore what’s happening at Cliffe House
Archery
Join our activity instructors in learning how to draw the arrow, balance the bow & fire at a distance target – Challenge your family members as to who can score the greatest points. All under cover so no need to worry about damp conditions.
Date: Monday, 5 August at 10:00 to Thursday, 29 August at 15:00
Location: Cliffe House
Cost: £7.00 (+ Booking Fee)
Family nature trail
Get outdoors and enjoy our fun family nature 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 return to the food kiosk to collect your prize (1 prize per paid trail sheet)
Date: Monday, 22 July at 10:00 to Friday, 30 August at 10:00
Location: Cliffe House
Cost: £2.50 (+ Booking Fee)
Pond dipping
Enjoy exploring the ponds in the grounds of Cliffe House, looking out for minibeasts, bugs, and all kinds of pond life, all while learning about the environment.
Date: Tuesday, 6 August at 10:00 to Tuesday, 27 August at 15:00
Location: Cliffe House
Cost: £5.00 (+ Booking Fee)
Bushcraft
Book on for our fantastic instructor led Bushcraft activity. This is the perfect family activity for all to sit around a campfire toasting marshmallows, making & cooking your own garlic bread twist, all washed down with a warming hot chocolate. Please advise us of any special dietary requirements. No need to worry about the damp conditions – this session is based under cover within our woodland.
Date: Wednesday, 7 August at 10:00 to Wednesday, 28 August at 14:00
Location: Cliffe House
Cost: £10.00 (+Booking Fee)
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
Date: Fri 9, 16, 23 & 30 August, 10am – 4pm
Location: Cliffe House
Cost: £5 for 4 climbs
Adventure playground
Let your young ones loose on our woodland adventure playground with ropes, swings, slides and a tree house!
No booking required.
Date: Mon 22 Jul – Fri 30 Aug (closed 26 Aug), 10am – 4pm
Location: Cliffe House
Cost: Free
