What’s on

listings for all the family

events, active adventures, environmental initiatives, heritage and education programmes. As part of this year’s reimagined festival, there will be an exciting new Totally Thames online hub with a rich programme of river and cultural content. https://thamesfestivaltrust.org/ From 1 Sep – Potato Shindig! (AL4) Get your dungarees on and head along to Willows Activity Farm! It’s time to dig up your FREE bag of potatoes at Willows Growing Patch. Plus fun-tattie-tastic potato arts and crafts! https://www.willowsactivityfarm.com/potato-shindig-atwillows/ Until 15 Sep - Virtual Spitfire Family Run (various) Organised by the RAF Museum, the popular Spitfire Family Run is back this year, but in a slightly different format. To ensure the health and wellbeing of all those involved, the Family Run is going virtual! This 1K run is perfect for the younger ones but can also be completed by the whole family. The virtual race allows you and your family to tailor the racing experience to fit your schedule - you will be sent everything in advance so you can complete when it suits you. https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/virtual-events/virtualspitfire-family-run.aspx Until 30 Sep - The Stars are Bright (EC2A) Jump back into art with your kids this summer holiday in this free exhibition of exotic Zimbabwean art. All the artworks were created by young boys and teenagers, some of whom went on to become the precursors to Zimbabwean modern art. The designated kids’ trail leads little art fans around the exhibition tour to help them enjoy it in a safe and responsible way, whilst spotting the colourful plants and exotic animals that fill the artworks. At The Theatre Courtyard Green Rooms in Shoreditch from 11am-3pm, Tue-Sun. https://www.thestarsarebright.com/ Until 31 Oct - The King’s Man Experience (SW3) Immerse yourself in the world of ‘The King’s Man’ at the National Army Museum, and explore the history, legends, politics and people depicted in Disney’s new cinematic release. The King’s Man Experience is an immersive exhibition featuring costumes, props and behindthe-scenes material from ‘The King’s Man’, an explosive new movie uncovering the origins of the fictional Kingsman organisation. http://www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/kings-man-experience Wed 9 Sep - Drive in Film Club at Alexandra Palace (N22) A new drive in cinema has come to Ally Pally. Drive in Film Club, the brainchild of Rooftop Film Club, is taking place in the grounds of Ally Pally. Bringing back the nostalgia of the drive-in cinema, the kings

Compiled by Anna Blackshaw To promote your local event, coffee morning, nearly new sale, parenting courses or community group in the next What’s On listing. Email Listings@FamiliesNWLondon.co.uk.

Listings in this section are FREE for most non-commercial ventures. Please check details of the events before setting off in case anything has changed since going to print.

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Many activities and events require advance booking. Please check the website in the listing to confirm terms and conditions for attending before heading out.

SEPTEMBER Throughout Sep – Totally Thames 2020 (various) Celebrating the River Thames with arts

it's updated every day! distanced open-air cinema experience. All ticket booking of outdoor cinema aim to provide relief through the power of film to Londoners during this difficult time. https://www.alexandrapalace.com/whats-on/drive-in-film-club/

Wed 9 Sep onwards – Cutty Sark Toddler Time Online (various) Every Wednesday 10.30 - 11am. Take your little sailors along for songs, stories and playtime as the ever popular toddler time comes to your home. Fun will be had by parents and children, so join in as we board the imaginary Cutty Sark! https://www.rmg.co.uk/see-do/exhibitions-events/toddlerHoard: A Bronze Age Mystery (E14) Unearth the mystery of the largest ever Bronze Age hoard discovered in London in a major exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands. It’s your chance to share in the mystery of the hoard and discover what life was like during the Bronze Age, when the land where London now exists was a very different place. Entry is free with timed entry ticket to the museum. https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-londondocklands/whats-on/exhibitions/havering-hoard-bronzeage-mystery Sun 13 & Sun 20 Sep - Story Time with Sita Thomas hosted by Artsdepot (online) Join Channel 5’s Milkshake! presenter Sita Thomas for Story Time. She’ll read some well-loved children’s books and show you how to make your very own mini-theatre at home. Ages 3–7 years. This show is

time-online

Thu 10 - Tue 15 Sep - Zippo’s Circus 2020 ’REBOUND’ Hampstead (NW3) Zippo’s Circus is back with a new show titled REBOUND! Set up to comply with all COVID-19 health and safety measures including social distancing seating within household/party join the conservation and learning teams behind the scenes

‘bubbles’ in the Big Top, enhanced ventilation, Covid-trained staff and deep cleaning. http://www.zippos.co.uk/

Fri 11 Sep - Queens Park Lates (NW6) Following on from the success of the Sunday Queens Park Farmers Market; London Farmers Markets are launching their Friday evening market soirees. Salusbury Primary School is the new place to be every Friday. With a carefully curated selection of food stalls you won’t be going home hungry, and the bars will be serving up a host of thirst quenching children ages 3-12 years learn practical communication skills

drinks with craft beers, farmhouse Cider, English wines and sensational cocktails. 6pm-10pm. Free entry. https://www.facebook.com/queensparklates/

Fri 11 – Sun 20 Sep - Heritage Open Days: Watford (various) Discover Watford’s rich heritage with special free events and openings across the town. Heritage Open Days gives you open access to many of the buildings and structures that have so much local all the more important that people have the opportunity to discover our many hidden gems. https://www.watfordbigevents.co.uk/heritage-open-days Fri 11 – Mon 1 4 Sep – The Luna Cinema at Waddesdon Manor (HP18) Your socially spacious cinema is here with the ultimate socially groups will be assigned a pitch that will have chairs pre-laid out in it to allow for social distancing. The Luna experience this summer will be a fully seated one, so there’s no need to worry about bringing your own. Films include Rocketman, Dirty Dancing, The Greatest Showman and Joker. https://thelunacinema.com/2020

Fri 11 Sep – Sun 18 Apr - Havering

available to book now, and available to watch from 11am on Sun 13 Sep to 10am on Sun 20 Sep. https://www.artsdepot.co.uk/family-digital/story-time-sitathomas

Mon 14 – Sat 19 Sep - Heritage Open Days at Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre (online) This September, at Royal Museums Greenwich’s state-of-the-art collections centre. This year the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre is throwing open its doors online, with virtual events, video tours and digital resources for everyone to enjoy. https://www.rmg.co.uk/see-do/exhibitions-events/heritageopen-days-prince-philip-maritime-collections-centre

Tue 15 Sep – Tue 3 Nov - Effective Parenting: online course (online) This 8 week programme is aimed to help parents and carers of historical significance. As the town changes and grows it is

for everyday life and to develop their abilities to bring up confident, happy and co-operative children. 7-9pm, on-line delivery. Call 020 8863 7319 to register or email info@ hopeharrow.org.uk. http://www.hopeharrow.org.uk/index.html

Sat 19 Sep - Heritage Open Days: Online Quiz (online) As part of this festival of heritage, nature, community and history, the Royal Museums

Greenwich will be hosting a family friendly quiz. So if you want to see how your knowledge of nature and heritage stacks up against the seasoned quizmasters, join the live online quiz and test yourself against the rest of the world. Book your free place online and get ready to join in! Quiz starts at 6.30pm. https://www.rmg.co.uk/see-do/exhibitions-events/heritageopen-days-quiz

Sat 19 – Sun 27 Sep - ENO Drive & Live (N22) English National Opera presents Puccini’s La bohème in a unique drive-in theatre experience at Alexandra Palace. This new, modern 90 minute version of the much-loved La bohème is performed live with members of the award-winning ENO Orchestra and Chorus. The performers will be on a raised and covered stage, with large screens to the side also relaying the performance so that all audience members get a great view. If you don’t have a car you can book an Uber Box, or go on a bicycle. Ages 5+. https://www.alexandrapalace.com/whats-on/eno-drive-live/

Sun 20 Sep – Memory Walk 2020 (various) Unite with the Alzheimer’s Society on Sunday 20 September and join tens of thousands of people up and down the country getting ready to walk for loved ones. Whether you walk 10,000 steps, 10 miles or for 10 minutes, get ready to make it your walk, your way. You can choose to walk on your own, with friends or family or even your four-legged friends. https://www.memorywalk.org.uk/

Sat 26 – Sun 27 Sep – Harvest Festival (HP8) Go along and experience a traditional Harvest Festival in the heart of the Chilterns at Chiltern Open Air Museum. Discover the fascinating traditions of their farming history. This popular annual harvest event provides a unique opportunity to explore the sights, sounds and smells of harvest past, with the Museum’s restored 1947 threshing machine working hard to process the year’s wheat crop – as long as the rain holds off! https://www.coam.org.uk/events/harvest-eventbuckinghamshire/

OCTOBER Thu 1 – Sun 4 Oct – Watford Fringe (various) The Watford Fringe will be back with Music, Drama, Comedy, Improv, Dance, Poetry, Art and Beer. Social distancing and other safety considerations will be incorporated, and there will be added online facilities so that the events can reach an audience that cannot or are reluctant to attend live events in person. https://watfringe.co.uk/

Sat 3 – Sun 4 Oct – Fun Palaces 2020 (various) Fun Palaces are about sharing skills and making local connections. While Fun Palaces usually have anything from 20 to 2000 participants, in response to Covid-19, we are encouraging extra-small, hyper-local Fun Palaces this October. A shared creation made by three neighbours along a wall, a seed swap in your street, a drumming lesson from a balcony window, six people socially-distanced in a park teaching each other a 45-minute dance or yoga or fitness sequence, a neighbourhood co-writing a story in chalk on the pavement. https://funpalaces.co.uk/

Sun 4 Oct - Apple Day 2020 (AL4) A fun and traditional celebration of English Apples at YMCA Gym, Highfield Park Centre from 2-4pm. Go along and listen to a local band whilst indulging in homemade cake with a cup of tea or coffee or run round with the younger members of the family with Apple based games such as apple bobbing, Hunt the Apple and many more. https://www.highfieldparktrust.co.uk/calendar/ Thu 15 Oct – Mon 2 Nov - Happy Halloween at Paultons Park (SO51) Happy Halloween at Paultons Park is the friendliest, most frightful fun fest in the UK, and is back for another year with even more spooky fun to be had! Peppa Pig World will be transformed for this year’s enchanting festivities! Meet Peppa and George in their spooky outfits and enjoy lots of fun Peppa themed Halloween decorations. https://paultonspark.co.uk/attractions/13141/happyhalloween-at-paultons-park

Sat 17 - 18 Oct – Wild About Wool (HP8) Go along to Chiltern Open Air Museum for a special Wild About Wool knitting event and discover different types of wool and help solve your knitting conundrums by talking to friendly experts.This event is suitable for all ages and levels, from beginners to experienced knitters. https://www.coam.org.uk/events/wild-about-wool-knittingevent/

Sat 17 – Sun 18 Oct - RBC Race for the Kids 2020 (various) This year’s RBC Race for the Kids is going virtual! For the first time ever, the global series of RBC Race for the Kids, of which Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity are the UK partner, will come together virtually to run, walk, wheel, skip or scoot their way to raising money for seriously ill children. Register your interest in RBC Race for the kids and help support seriously ill children at GOSH. https://rbcraceforthekids.com/

Credit Ines Stuart-Davidson © RBG Kew

Sat 17 Oct – Sun 1 Nov – Gruffalo Adventures at Kew Gardens (TW9) Gruffalo Adventures plots a specially curated journey through the Kew Gardens Arboretum, where visitors will encounter much-loved characters from author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler’s book, including Fox, Owl and Snake, and of course, The Gruffalo! With map in hand, children can follow the tracks of each animal, leading them to the characters’ hiding spots. https://www.kew.org/

Mon 19 – Sat 31 Oct - Pumpkin Festival (AL4) Have a Pumpkin-tastic time during half term at Willow’s Activity Farm. Pick your pumpkin from Willows Pumpkin Patch and enjoy a full programme of pumpkin fun! https://www.willowsactivityfarm.com/pumpkin-festival/ half-term holiday, where there will be the ever-popular Halloween trail, spooky treats to tickle your tastebuds, and crafty activities for everyone to get involved with. https://waddesdon.org.uk/whats-on/horrible-halloween/

Tue 27 Oct - Terrific Tuesday at Chiltern Open Air Museum (HP8) The final Terrific Tuesday of the season, taking place over October half term. The theme is autumn and there will be lots of autumn themed activities and crafts planned all for the standard admission price! https://www.coam.org.uk/events/october-half-term-event/

Fri 30 Oct - COAM’s Halloween Spectacular (HP8) For one night only, doors will be open for a spooktacular family Halloween event that sees the historic buildings decorated and inhabited by costumed characters. Around the Museum grounds there will be lots of Halloween-themed crafts, activities and games for the whole family to enjoy. 5pm – 9pm. https://www.coam.org.uk/events/halloween-event/

Sat 31 Oct - Regent Street Motor Show (W1B) A showcase of 125 years of motoring including veteran, vintage, classic, and modern-day cars. There will be something for everyone with lots of things to see and do including interactive displays and entertainment throughout the day from 10.30am until 4pm. A family friendly environment with the Street pedestrianised from Piccadilly Circus to Oxford Circus. https://regentstreetmotorshow.com/

Sat 31 Oct - Halloween in the Gardens (N3) Go along to Stephens House and Gardens, visit the Spine Chilling Cellars, join the Spooky Garden Spectre Hunt and marvel at the moves of the Fire Artist. Remember to take your torch and pen for your hunt. Social distancing and queuing in operation in the cellars. http://www.stephenshouseandgardens.com/events

Mon 9 Nov - Motivating Our Teens To Learn: online course (various) A workshop for all parents of teenagers. As a parent it can be exciting and satisfying seeing our children grow into unique individuals and also challenging if we see them struggling or disinterested with school. We will discuss how to support our Teens sustain the joy of learning in the face of any possible struggles and frustrations. 7-9pm. To book a place please call 0208 863 7319 or email: info@hopeharrow.org.uk. http://www.hopeharrow.org.uk/index.html

Tue 10 Nov – Tue 15 Dec - On-Line Parenting Course for Separated Parents (various) This course is recommended for parents who have separated or newly separated and would like to co-parent. Both parents are required to attend. In a safe, non-judgemental arena this 8 week programme uses a parent focussed- child centred approach. Children need two loving parents, consistent, positive discipline and clear communication. You will both be able to develop your skills to bring up confident, happy and co-operative children. 7-9pm. Call on 020 8863 7319 to register or email info@ hopeharrow.org.uk. http://www.hopeharrow.org.uk/index.html

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