What's On
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We took every care in preparing these entries but sometimes events are cancelled or times change. Please double check with the organiser to avoid disappointment.
ONGOING
Gnome Roam at Newmillerdam Country Park
This simple walking trail encourages children to use signs and clues to spot carved statues of gnomes and wildlife. You may even spot a gigantic bear.
Story and Rhyme at Leeds Libraries
A fun session of sharing stories and rhymes in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. At various times at 32 local libraries on weekdays. FREE.
Tuesdays and Thursdays
Storytime for Under 5s at Truman Books in Farsley Take your little ones for a session of stories and songs in kids’ corner. Suitable for under-fives. Tuesdays at 9.30am, Thursdays at 10.30am. FREE.
Fridays, Tiny Tigers at Leeds City Museum
Creative, messy sessions for under 5s and their carers. Babies, toddlers and preschoolers welcome. FREE, drop in. 10-11.45am.
Rory’s Saturday Club at Leeds City Museum
Looking for something creative to do with kids in the city? Head to Leeds City Museum for Rory’s Saturday Club craft sessions for families with children of all ages. FREE, drop in. 11am-12.15pm.
Every Monday and Wednesday
Bounce and Rhyme at Leeds Libraries.
A fun session of sharing songs and rhymes with your baby in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Free. Monday - Central, Holt Park. Wednesday – Headingley. 1.30pm.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (term time only) Storytime at The Little Bookshop, Chapel Allerton. Enjoy a cosy story time featuring delightful books for young children. For ages 2 to 5 years. 11am to 11.25am. FREE.
Toddler Tuesdays at Castleford Museum
A lively session of storytelling, crafts and rhymes, inspired by a different museum object each week. 10am to 11am.
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dungeon Tours at Pontefract Castle
Soak in the atmosphere of this eerie underground space, discover the history of the dungeon and see where Civil War prisoners left to languish scratched their names into the rock. 10.45am to 11.30am.
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Castle Explorer Tour at Pontefract Castle
Discover who built and lived in the castle and listen to stories of unfaithful Queens, imprisoned Kings as well the castle’s role in the English Civil Wars. Suitable for all ages. 12pm to 12.45pm.
Saturdays and Sundays Garden Play at The Hepworth Stack, build, experiment, draw and imagine with your family in the open air. No need to book, just turn up and play. 11am to 4pm. FREE.
September 6 to 15
Heritage Open Days
An annual celebration of England's history and culture that allows visitors free access to heritage sites and community events that are either not usually open to the public. To find out what’s going on near you, visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk
September 7
Open Day at Skelton Grange Environment Centre
A fun-filled family day - squeeze the last drops of sunshine out of the summer. Entry is free, refreshments available to buy in the cafe, donations support the charitable work of conservation volunteers at the centre.
September 17 to 22
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at The Alhambra Theatre
The most fantasmagorical musical of all time flies into the Alhambra Theatre in a brandnew production of this family favourite.
September 18 to 20
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory at Victoria Theatre
Halifax
Escape to a world of pure imagination with Roald Dahl’s Charlie and The Chocolate Factory – The Musical. Staged by HAOS Productions, a local
charity dedicated to bringing high quality shows to the people of Halifax.
September 23
Frozen Kids at Carriageworks Theatre
TBL Productions presents this adapted version of the hit musical Frozen, featuring all your favourite songs from the by an amateur junior academy cast.
September 26 to 28
Annie at Carriageworks Theatre
TBL presents this amateur production of the hit musical Annie!
September 27
Dinky Disco at Lawrence Batley Theatre
Gather up your mini movers and shakers for a daytime dance party for little ravers and their sleep deprived chaperones.
September 29
Fireman Sam: The Great Camping Adventure at Carriageworks Theatre
Norman wants to go on an adventure to impress his friends, but Fireman Sam ends up having to save the day! Ages 2 plus.
October 5 to 31
Pumpkin Patch Trailer Tours at Lotherton
Get in the Halloween spirit with pumpkin picking and a thrilling tractor ride!
October 12 and 13
The Smartest Giant In Town at Victoria Theatre Halifax
Based on the bestselling book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, this heart-warming tale about friendship and helping those in need is brought to life in a musical, puppet-filled adventure.
October 13
Adventures in Science at Carriageworks Theatre
Join The Magical Mr West on an incredible adventure into the world of science. Aided by his corvid companion, Crowbert and a collection of curious contraptions, Mr West
demonstrates the fundamental principles of scientific enquiry and tackles some of the trickiest questions in the history of humanity. Age 6 plus.
October 13
Open Day at Temple Newsam
You can pay as you feel on this special open day. Explore Temple Newsam house and Farm and enjoy activities for all the family.
October 13
Science Museum – The Live Show at Lawrence Batley Theatre
Join London’s world-renowned Science Museum as it brings you this brand-new stage production aimed at igniting your curiosity, fuelling your imagination, and inspiring you in new and exciting ways.
October 24 and 25
Light Nights Leeds
Celebrating the diverse and thriving creativity of Leeds, Light Night Leeds is an annual free multi-arts and light festival that takes over Leeds City Centre for two magical nights.
October 25
Dinky Disco at Lawrence Batley Theatre
Gather up your mini movers and shakers for a daytime dance party for little ravers and their sleep deprived chaperones.
October 25 to 31
Once Upon a Nightmare at Lotherton
As night falls, the atmosphere at Lotherton shifts dramatically for those aged 8 to 15. Once Upon a Nightmare is an immersive scare event where familiar fairytale characters take a dark and sinister turn.
October 25 to November 3
Leeds Festival of Play
A week-long celebration of play across the city, created by local playmakers, communities and businesses passionate about the power of play. To find out more, visit www.lovetoplay.fun.
October 26 and 27
The Chronicles of Atom and Luna at Carriageworks Theatre
In this epic fairytale, Atom and Luna are twins. They never break any rules and never, ever go into the deep dark wood. But these are no ordinary twins. Trouble is, only the birds and the moon know just how special they are. Age 6 plus.
October 26 to November 3
Spooky Skeletons: Scarytales at Lotherton
A daytime event perfect for all ages. As you wind your way through the grounds, gardens and house, come face-to-face with a series of skeletons, making themselves at home and reimagining classic fairytales with a Halloween twist.
October 26 to November 3
Mystery at the Museum at Royal Armouries
A FREE , live-action whodunnit for the half term holidays.
October 29
Wild Play at Skelton Grange
Environment Centre
For 8 to 12-year-olds. Set up camp for a day of wildness in the woods. Activities will vary from session to session depending on the season and the group - but past Wild Play days have included: Wide games, shelter building, fire lighting, campfire cooking, field games, hammock hanging, wild food walks, woodwork crafts, string making, bows and arrows, stalking and tracking, pyrocarving and charcoal making.
October 29
Christopher Nibble at Lawrence Batley Theatre
The guinea pigs of Dandeville love munching dandelion leaves so much that slowly but surely dandelions are disappearing from all over town. Written especially for children aged 2 to 7 (and their big people too) and told with Topsy Turvy Theatre’s own blend of energetic storytelling, this is an uplifting story of one guinea pig’s selfless undertaking to help halt the disappearance of the delicious dandelion forever.
October 29 to 31
LEGO® Build the Change: Rewild our Museum at Leeds Industrial Museum
The museum needs your help to design its new grounds! Get creative using LEGO® bricks to design how to make the space better, both for people and the environment. Drop-in, included with admission.
October 30
The Bubble Show at Carriageworks Theatre
The Bubble Show is a unique blend of magic, storytelling, science and bubble art. Ages 3 to 12.
October 30
Science Museum – The Live Show at St George’s Hall
Join London’s world-renowned Science Museum as it brings
you this brand-new stage production aimed at igniting your curiosity, fuelling your imagination and inspiring you in new and exciting ways.
October 31
Shivers and Shadows at Carriageworks Theatre
Craig, your friendly host, has just inherited a creepy mansion from his Great Uncle Vladimir. Join him as he explores the mansion’s secrets and meets some of its strange and spooky inhabitants. Age 5 plus.
COMING SOON
November 23 to January 5
The Christmas Experience at Lotherton
Once again families are invited to create cherished festive memories at the Edwardian stately home. Tickets go on sale September 11.
Don't forget to say you saw these events in Families Leeds magazine!