What’s On

Things to do, places to go and fun to be had for kids of all ages in Oxfordshire

Children and Military Lives Exhibition

WHERE: Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock WHEN: Until 24th November Exhibition exploring the experience of children of serving military personnel and also children affected by conflict, historically and contemporarily. Combines objects, personal stories, oral histories, art and photography. www.raf-ff.org.

uk/children-and-military-livesexhibition

Michaelmas Daisy Season

WHERE: Waterperry Gardens WHEN: 1st – 30th September, 10.00 – 17.30 See the famous herbaceous border in all its late summer glory as it bursts back into life with Michaelmas Daisies (Asters). There will be a huge range of Waterperry grown varieties on sale in the plant centre and experts will be on hand to give advice about these wonderful plants. Adults £9.50,

children under 16 free www.waterperrygardens.co.uk 01844 339254

Chilli Fest

WHERE: Waddesdon WHEN: 2nd – 4th September, 10.00 – 17.00 Chilli Fest is the perfect way to round off the summer holidays with plenty of family fun and children’s activities to enjoy with face painting, crafty activities and the chance to make music with the ever-popular Junk Yard Orchestra.

From £3.00 www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Waterperry House Open Weekend

WHERE: Waterperry Gardens

WHEN: 3rd and 4th September, 10.00 – 17.30 A chance to meet the owners of Waterperry Estate: the School of Philosophy and Economic Science. There will be a varied selection of lectures, talks and tours throughout the weekend with entry to the house included with your garden entry. Adults £9.50,

children under 16 free. www.waterperrygardens.co.uk 01844 339254

Agatha Christie Weekend

WHERE: Wallingford Museum WHEN: 9th – 11th September Events include a ‘Who Dunnit’ challenge at the Museum on Friday night, guided walks along the Agatha Christie Trail and a Murder Mystery Dinner at Cholsey Great Hall on the Saturday evening.

www.wallingfordmuseum.org.uk

Heritage Open Days

WHERE: Oxfordshire WHEN: 9th – 18th September England’s largest festival of history and culture, gives you the chance to discover local, hidden gems. Churches, museums, railways, gardens: lots of venues open their doors to the public.

Free. Booking recommended. www.heritageopendays.org.uk

Young Rangers – Didcot

WHERE: Sutton Courtenay WHEN: 10th September and 1st October, 13.30 – 15.30 A wildlife club for 8 - 12 year olds who love nature and wildlife. Sessions are packed full of fun games and activities to teach you all about the fantastic natural world that surrounds you. £7.00

per child www.bbowt.org.uk/ events/

Free parent & toddler activity sessions

WHERE: Headington, Oxford WHEN 12 September – 5 December 10:00-11:00am Free parent & toddler activity sessions for families with a connection to autism or ADHD. Chat and play in a supportive, inclusive atmosphere. Places are limited and registration is essential: email start@psy.ox.ac.

uk, call 073108 76421 or visit www.startproject.info to find out more. FREE

Oxford Canal Festival

WHEN: 17th September 12.00-18.00 Enjoy great music, the spoken word tent, arts and crafts tent, film tent and guided walks to learn about the canal and its history, delicious food from across the world, and the return of the popular dog show!

www.oxfordcanalheritage.org/ oxford-canal-festival-2022 or www.kilsbytheatreboat.com

Please mention Families Oxfordshire Magazine

WHERE: Sutton Courtenay WHEN: 21st - 23rd, September and 19th – 21st October, 9.30 – 11.00 Environmental Education Centre Join friendly Nature Tots staff and volunteers to explore the nature reserves and enjoy wildlife themed activities suitable for children aged 18 months to 4 years. £7.00 (90 minutes)

www.bbowt.org.uk/events/

Thame Food Festival

WHERE: The Thame Showground WHEN: 24th and 25th September Demonstrations on the Big Cookery Stage, artisan and street food, the Humble Country shopping marquee, live music, FestivAles’ pop up pub, children’s activity area, circus skills tent, dog show and much more!

Adult from £12.00 (children under 16 free) thamefoodfestival.co.uk

Family Night Safari

WHERE: Sutton Courtenay WHEN: 30th September, 20.30 – 22.30 Environmental Education Centre Learn to use bat detectors to hear bats hunting overhead and lamps to spot newts and frogs in the ponds, help our nature reserve team check the small mammal traps and have a look at the moth trap to find out how we monitor and survey these amazing insects!

£7.00 www.bbowt.org.uk/ events/

Cogges Manor Farm

WHERE: Witney WHEN: September & October, 9.30 – 16.30 Cogges is a unique historic farm in the heart of Witney, Oxfordshire with a beautiful Manor House, enchanting walled garden, orchard, adventure play and friendly animal residents. They have 17 acres of open space for you to enjoy, and they welcome well-behaved dogs on a short lead too! From £6.00

www.cogges.org.uk 01993 772602

Fairytale Farm,

WHERE: Chipping Norton WHEN: September and October: 10.00 – 17.00 Mixing classic fairy tales, animals and adventure play, children will love Fairytale Farm - the UK’s first visitor attraction that is open to all. A truly inclusive experience, where everything is accessible and everybody is welcome. From £7.75

www.fairytalefarm.co.uk 01608 238014

AUTUMN FEST

WHERE: Blenheim Palace WHEN: 1st and 2nd October, 9.30 – 19.30 A host of super fun games, local music, entertainment and activities for all ages including the Michaelmas Market with 50 independent traders from across the county and artisan food stalls. From £10.50 www.blenheimpalace.com

WHERE: Venues around Oxford WHEN: 30th September – 2nd October The first ever early years arts festival in Oxford celebrating 0 – 6 year olds and the creativity they bring to the world!

tinyideasoxford.com

Two Beano Eds & a Million and One Stories

WHERE: The Story Museum WHEN: 8th October, 14.30 An interactive session from the brains behind Beano. Craig Graham and Mike Stirling share the secrets of the world’s longest running comic and their new Beano Boomics. Ages 6-12

£8.00 www.storymuseum.org. uk/whats-on 01865 790050

Apple Weekend

WHERE: Waterperry Gardens WHEN: 8th and 9th October, 10.00 – 17.30 A great family day out where you can sample and buy different types of apples, take a tour of the orchards & fruit sheds and take the children around the apple anagram game in the gardens.

Adults £9.50, children under 16 free. 01844 339254 www.waterperrygardens.co.uk

Something Rhymes with Purple

WHERE: Oxford Playhouse WHEN: 9th October, 14.30 Uncover the hidden origins of language, understand how and why we use the words we use, enhance your vocabulary, and test your knowledge with two of the wittiest and finest wordsmiths, Gyles Brandreth and Susie Dent. Suitable for ages 7+ £29.50

www.oxfordplayhouse.com/ whats-on 01865 305 305

Halloween Hunt in the Gardens

WHERE: Waterperry Gardens WHEN:15th – 30th October, 10.00 – 17.30 Take part in the Waterperry Halloween Hunt throughout the October half term.

£2.50 per child including prize (adult garden entrance fee applies) www. waterperrygardens.co.uk 01844 339254

WHERE: Blenheim Palace WHEN: 21st – 31st October As Halloween creeps closer and the days shorten, a mysterious mist falls across the gardens at Blenheim Palace. Join with family and friends to wander from dusk into darkness between one ghostly space to another. From £12.00

www.blenheimpalace.com

Half Term at The Story Museum

WHERE: The Story Museum WHEN: 24th – 29th October A fabulous week of events including The World of Manga with Sonia Leong (age 8+), The Time Thief with author Patience Agbabi (age 8+), Jack and the Beanstalk production by the Lyngo Theatre (age 3+) and a Halloween Special Silent Story Disco where you can dress as your favourite spooky character (age 3+). From £8.00

www.storymuseum.org.uk/ whats-on 01865 790050

LEGO® Workshop -Spooktacular Fairground Foray Magical Merlin

WHERE: The Fortune Theatre, Covent Garden WHEN: 24th – 30th October This October half-term, take your children on a trip back in time as they discover a world of witches, wizards, magic and mystery. With a spellbinding mix of magic, songs and dancing, and uplifting themes of friendship and self-belief, Magical Merlin is a spectacular mini-musical sure to enchant the whole family. Suitable for 4-10 year olds.

From £17.50 atgtickets.com

Whizz Kidz

WHEN & WHERE: 24th to 26th October Sonning Common Village Hall & The Heights Primary, Caversham 24th, The Story Museum 25th & Badgemore Primary, Henley on Thames 26th Do you love building with Lego® bricks? If you’re a budding designer, engineer or inventor then Master Builders Club needs you! Creative brick building workshops for children age 5+ with 3 different exciting themes. Just remember to bring your imagination!

www.masterbuildersclub.co.uk

WHERE: Thame WHEN: September and October Why not head to Whizz Kidz for a fun hour or two, or more should you little one not yet be tired. Large indoor soft play / entertainment centre which has everything your little one could want. Prices from £2.00

www.whizzkidz-thame.co.uk/ 01844 217555

Pigs Might Fly

WHERE: Oxford Playhouse WHEN: 24th – 29th October This bold and energetic new musical follows the air-raising adventures of Pintsize, the youngest and most daring piglet on Mudpuddle Farm and tells the story about the joy of unlikely friendships. Features catchy songs, puppetry and slapstick humour to bring the farmyard to life. Suitable for ages 3+ £14.50

www.oxfordplayhouse.com/whats-on 01865 305 305