NORTHERN IRELAND HOLYWOOD, CO DOWN: ULSTER FOLK AND TRANSPORT MUSEUM Crafted in Ireland summer fair, August 23 (10.30am-6pm) and 24 (12.30-6pm), with live music, craft demonstrations, Punch and Judy, face painting and street games. Tel: 01232 428428.
SCOTLAND EDINBURGH The Fringe for Kids for five to 18s until August 30 comprises dance, opera, puppetry, musicals and drama from homegrown and overseas performers. Shows include: Why the Whales Came, Hiawatha, and Dotty Quaver’s Last Symphony for all ages, The Wizard of Castle Magic for ages five to 11 (with circus workshop), Hans Up! performed by the Fringe First youth company, which integrates young people with special needs, The Tinderbox puppet show, and Fun Song Factory “On Stage” for two to sevens. There are also several workshops and performances in schools. Booklet from tel: 0131 226 52575259.
WALES CARDIFF: WELSH INDUSTRIAL MUSEUM “Wheels through Wales”, Theatre-in-Museum promenade performances with footmen, film stars and men on the street extolling the “horseless carriage”, August 26-30. Tel: 01222 397951.
NORTHERN ENGLAND CARLISLE:TULLIE HOUSE MUSEUM Free drop-in activity day on railways, August 23 (noon-4pm). Create a collage of your dream railway journey anywhere in the world and tour the current railway exhibitions. Under-12s must be accompanied. Plus, August 28 (10am-3pm), ages eight upwards can make earrings, necklaces and brooches. Pounds 10 adults, Pounds 8, Pounds 6 concessions. Tel: 01228 34781.
MANCHESTER: MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY Try out a taste and touch event, teddy launching, drumming and carpet cleaning with a difference, August 25-29, when artists, musicians and inventors involved with the museum’s “Tap, Ruffle and Shave” interactive art installation will be on hand. Tel: 0161 833 0027 DERBY MUSEUMS Free bookable activities at the Museum and Art Gallery linked to Derby artist, Joseph Wright’s, bicentenary include: “Violent volcanoes” for four to sevens, August 26 (10-11.30am), where they will look at paintings of Vesuvius erupting and make their own picture. Ages five to eight can study a picture and make a collage, August 27 (10.30am-12.30pm), and eight to 11s are invited to an 18th-century masked ball (10-11.30am), to make a mask, write an invitation and learn to greet guests (no booking needed). Tel: 01332 716660. Pickford’s House is running sessions for eight to 11s on making sugar craft miniature theatres (10am-noon: 2-4pm), Pounds 1. Booking essential: Tel: 01332 255363.
SOUTHERN ENGLAND CHALFONT ST GILES, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE:CHILTERN OPEN AIR MUSEUM Traditional toy making, brick making, shelter building, pellet making, musical workshop, scarecrow making and other hands-on activities will run alongside entertainments including Punch and Judy, face painting, juggling, clown and mime and horse and cart rides, August 24-25 (11am-6pm). Children under 16 free, adults Pounds 5, concessions Pounds 4. Tel: 01494 872163.
CANTERBURY: WHITSTABLE MUSEUM AND GALLERY “The Firmin Family” exhibition until September 27 brings together original work in ceramics, papier mache, book illustration and puppet making. Members of the family have been giving accompanying talks and workshops. Next up is Katie, who will be hand-painting china on August 23. Tel: 01227 276998 CANTERBURY: ST AUGUSTINE’S ABBEY Marlowe International Youth Theatre and South East Arts are staging an open-air production of Leap of Faith until August 30 (7pm). This specially commissioned play, about a bullied schoolboy who seeks refuge in the abbey and finds a unique means of escape, celebrates the 1,400th anniversary of St Augustine’s arrival in Canterbury. Tickets: Pounds 10, Pounds 8 concessions, Pounds 7 English Heritage members. Tel: Marlowe Theatre box office, 01227 787787.
LONDON NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM, GREENWICH SE10 The Masque of Summer will be performed at the Queen’s House by the Baroque ‘n’ Roll Company for ages seven upwards, August 23-25 (2.30pm, 3.30pm). Visitors can join in the courtly music and dance that entertained Queen Henrietta Maria in the 17th century. Other events (all in the Shipmates Tent) include: Viking storyteller Olaf Olafsson’s tales of exploration and adventure on board the longship “Sea Dragon” for ages seven upwards, August 28-30; talks and demonstrations by 20th-century sailors for ages eight upwards, August 26-27; and a workshop on the dances Nelson’s crew relieved their pre-battle stress with, August 23-25. Tel: 0181 858 or 0181 312 6565.
BRITISH LIBRARY, WC1 Activity workshops for ages six to 14 range from printing and art to storytelling and storymaking, based on the treasures in the Library’s collections, August 26-29. Booking essential. Free treasure trail around the galleries also available. Tel: 0171 412 7797.
LONDON ZOO, NW1 Daily activities include: meet the camels at the Children’s Zoo; see parrots glide, owls swoop, coatis climb and lemurs leap in the amphitheatre; feed the pigs; craft activities (brass rubbings and badge design); fish feeding in the aquarium; elephant’s weigh-in and bathtime; and pet care tips. Rare Sloth bears are back in the redesigned Mappin Terraces after 12 years. Tel: 0171 722 3333.
Valerie Hall
