Summer starts here

9:00am - 18 July 2025
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Schools are breaking up for summer so now is the time to discover all the fun events happening across our area over the coming weeks.

Many of these activities are free or low cost so there is no better time to get out and about.

From tomorrow (Saturday) children can travel for free on buses across the region, so hop on board to enjoy our beautiful area, visit friends and family, or get to an event. 

Here’s a snapshot of things to do and places to go…

  • Listen and connect to the sounds, stories and nature of the Mendip Hills during an immersive exhibition. View In is a free exhibition now on show in Unit 31 of the Sovereign (opposite Citizens Advice), from 1pm-5pm until Sunday (20 July). It has been commissioned by Mendip Hills National Landscape as part of Nature Calling, in partnership with Super Culture, Activate Performing Arts, Sound UK and Poetry School. Funded by Arts Council England and Defra.
  • Family arts and crafts sessions are taking place every Monday of the school summer holidays in Grove Park, Weston-super-Mare. Visit the bandstand from 12.30pm to 2.30pm. £1 per child.
  • A free interactive puppetry show which tackles important issues with absurd humour is coming to Clevedon. The Last Baguette’s show Bin Rat uses live music, physical comedy, puppetry, visual storytelling and silliness to take a look into refuse and recycling. Rummage through the rubble with Bin Rat and her friends to discover where all the junk goes. The show, suitable for all ages, can be seen at 11am and 2pm on Sunday 27 July in Queen’s Square, Clevedon.
  • Join children’s entertainer Action Pussycat, with Toons and Bluey, for music, dancing, craft, bubbles, magic and an interactive adventure show. The Action Pussycat Summer Party is at Clevedon Community Centre, from 11am to 1pm on Monday 28 July.
  • A swashbuckling adventure is coming to the Grand Pier in Weston. The Pirate Party is is an immersive pirate-themed, high-energy journey with music, laughter and plenty of pirate mischief, from 11am to 1pm on Saturday 2 August. Tickets £8 each.
  • Pebble painting, cookie decorating, face painting and more is taking place at Marine Lake, in Weston-super-Mare. The Summer Fun afternoon is from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday 3 August, hosted by the new coffee hut there, Perrett Neads a Coffee. Book your places through the Facebook page, or call or text 07725 572 991 to guarantee equipment at a time that suits you, or just turn up and enjoy in the fun. Free activities, although a £3 donation would be gratefully received.
  • Inflatable fun is coming to Portishead in August. The Inflatable Theme Park is open at Portishead Flower Show Field in Clapton Lane, Portishead, from 10am to 5pm, from Saturday 9 August to Monday 1 September, and then again on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 September. Ages two to 14 only.
  • Free ParkPlay sessions utilise the power of play to build happier, healthier communities every Saturday morning. Have fun taking part in a variety of games and activities in a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment. Visit Castle Batch Green Space, Worle, from 9.30am to 11am, and Merlin Park, Portishead, from 10am to 11.30am every Saturday. ParkPlay is looking to expand into different areas. If you’re interested in volunteering, email getactive@n-somerset.gov.uk.
  • Ignite your child’s imagination and creativity during this year’s Summer Reading Challenge. This year’s theme is Story Garden, combining the joy of reading with the benefits of connecting with nature. Craft events and special story times sessions will be held throughout the summer, and children’s author Helen Docherty will be visiting Yatton and Worle libraries on Tuesday 26 August. Children aged 11 and under are invited to earn digital points during this annual challenge, developed by The Reading Agency. For the first year, children under four can also join in and collect stickers. Visit any of our libraries to sign up.

Need more ideas? 

New events are being advertised all the time so visit local town websites for the most up-to-date information, such as: 

 Also look on social media for the latest listings, including Clevedon, Portishead and Weston-super-Mare, as well as Super Culture

Free activities for children on benefits-related free school meals

Does your child receive benefits-related free school meals?

Free sports, crafts, indoor and outdoor activities are available for children between Monday 28 July and Friday 22 August through the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.

Up to 16 days can be booked in total.

Stay safe on the seafront

Stay safe on the seafront this summer with some helpful advice from our seafront rangers.

Our seafront rangers produced a series of safety videos and tips last year, such as water safety featuring a staged rescue of a dummy stuck in the mud to show how quickly things can change. 

Another video highlights the dangers of tombstoning – jumping from a high spot into water – from Knightstone Island

To stay safe at Weston’s seafront, follow these tips: 

  • check the weather forecast and tide times before heading out
  • bring a charged mobile phone with you
  • don’t walk into the mud when the tide is out – you might get stuck
  • know where the exit points are on the beach
  • follow advice on the warning signs
  • if you do get trapped – or see someone else who’s stuck – call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. 

 Find other information about seafront safety, such as parking, warning signs, lost children and first aid, on our website.