Saturday 14 May – Sunday 5 June A Children’s Festival event will be happening near you – see inside.
Reading Children’s Festival celebrating 200 years of biscuit making at Huntley & Palmers 0118 937 2771 or 0118 937 2395 events@reading.gov.uk facebook.com/ReadingCFest https://twitter.com/ReadingCFest
www.reading.gov.uk/childrensfest
CELEBRATING 33 YEARS OF FUN! Reading Children’s Festival celebrating 200 years of biscuit making at Huntley & Palmers Every effort was made to ensure that the details in this publication were correct at the time of going to print. However, Reading Borough Council cannot accept responsibility for any changes, amendments or cancellations of events or activities listed, nor any inaccuracies that may have been printed in error. Adverse weather conditions may cause some events to be cancelled, relocated or rescheduled. If in doubt, you are strongly advised to confirm details with venues before leaving home. For enquiries relating to this publication, call 0118 937 2771.
This year’s festival celebrates its 33rd anniversary with three fun packed weeks of events and activities for children all over the borough. The festival gets off to an action packed start with Forbury Fiesta on Saturday 14 May, where there will be something for everyone to get involved with on the day. Reading’s Children’s Festival promises to bring plenty of fun, mayhem and madness. From sport and music workshops to fun days with art and craft sessions, take your pick from the many exciting events taking place at venues across Reading. This year’s festival is celebrating everything biscuit related as we celebrate 200 years of Huntley and Palmers. So expect a biscuity programme of events and activities! Use this diary as your guide to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the fun and remember many of these activities are free!
FORBURY
FIESTA
READING CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL 14 May, 11am-4pm LAUNCH EVENT Saturday Forbury Gardens
11:00
Meet the biscuit charmer Mr Palmer
11:30
A Curious Wonderland – The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
12:10
Small Strings
12:45
Mela dancing
1:00
Diddi Dance (20 mins)
1:30
A Curious Wonderland Queen of Hearts
2:00
Meet the biscuit charmer Mr Palmer!
2:30
Theatretrain
2:45
Dance Reality
3:00
Biscuit Parade
3:15
Meet the biscuit charmer Mr Palmer!
3:45
Bengali Cultural Association Bubble Show
We return to the Forbury Gardens for the launch of this year’s Reading Children’s Festival. To help celebrate 200 years of Huntley and Palmer’s biscuits we’ll be turning the Forbury into a giant tea party for the day. Come along and make your own biscuit hat, take part in the biscuit parade and try and spot our very own Queen of Hearts.
Attractions on the day will include children’s entertainment and workshops, charity and information stalls, tombolas, refreshments, face painting, arts and crafts, balloon modelling and that’s not all.
Join Alice and her friends for a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party followed by croquet with the Queen of Hearts. As part of the biscuit related fun prepare to be entertained by Curious Wonderland who will turn the Forbury Gardens into a ‘Wonderland’ by presenting scenes adapted from the book by Lewis Carroll. The shows are interactive, walkabout theatre that we’d love you to get involved in, giving you the experience of being on your own adventure in Wonderland. Join in the fun at the ‘Larger than Life’ Circus workshop running throughout the day. Try your hand at juggling, unicycling, hand-held stilts, diabolos, spinning plates and even walking the tightwire. Waterstones will be presenting storytime in the bandstand between 12noon 2.30pm. Come and join Holly and the team in the bandstand for some biscuit related stories and tales! ‘Meet the biscuit charmer, Mr Palmer!’ Step back in time to 1840, take the air at Forbury Gardens and meet Mr George Palmer of Huntley and Palmers Biscuits! Hear how he and Mr Huntley have grown their business and how other like-minded Victorian pioneers are putting Reading on the map with their “3 Bs”.
Mad Hatter’s Biscuit Party workshop and parade: Join Jelly to make hats inspired by biscuits and Huntley and Palmers for a Mad Hatter’s biscuit parade around Forbury Gardens. Workshop runs 11am to 2pm. Parade starts at 3pm. Meet at the Jelly stand. FREE WORKSHOP For inspiration on how you can create your very own biscuit hat visit https://www.jelly.org.uk/biscuitparade
Flag Making Workshop Join Jelly to make silk flags inspired by our waterways using block printing techniques. The flags will be collected and displayed for Water Fest and Jubilee celebrations along the Kennet. FREE WORKSHOP To find out more about Jelly go to: www.jelly.org.uk or @TheJellyReading on Instagram and Twitter.
Join Theatretrain in the main arena at 2:30pm performing some dance highlights from their 2022 show. This will be followed by a dance masterclass that everyone can join in! Theatretrain will also be running taster sessions from their marquee throughout the day. Why not come along and try something new?
FREE THEATRETRAIN WORKSHOPS DANCE ACT SING
with Theatretrain Reading.
Simply sign up and join in with as many 20 min workshops as you wish! Receive a certificate and gift for every workshop you complete! 11am-11:20am - MATILDA, The Musical Enjoy becoming REVOLTING children for a West End inspired musical theatre dance workshop 11:30-11:50 - ENCANTO A huge musical hit, Everyone’s talking about Bruno, are you? Join us for a fun musical theatre workshop 12:00-12:20 - MATILDA, The Musical Enjoy becoming REVOLTING children for a West End inspired musical theatre dance workshop 12:30-12:50 - MARY POPPINS ‘Step in time’ with us as we have fun together in this dance workshop
1:00-1:20 - ENCANTO A huge musical hit, Everyone’s talking about Bruno, are you? Join us for a fun musical theatre workshop 1:40-2:00 - MATILDA, The Musical Enjoy becoming REVOLTING children for a West End inspired musical theatre dance workshop 2:30-2:40pm - THEATRETRAIN PERFORMANCE ON MAIN STAGE 3-3:20pm - ENCANTO A huge musical hit, Everyone’s talking about Bruno, are you? Join us for a fun musical theatre workshop.
Join author Marva Carty at the bandstand at 3pm to hear her read her book “Mari Loves Mangoes”. Mari Loves Mangoes is the funny and heartwarming story of lively 7 year old Mari, who is obsessed with mangoes. Inspired by the author’s childhood in the Caribbean island of Trinidad, the book is full of colourful images reflective of a tropical home full of love and laughter.
Join Reading Museum and the MERL at Forbury Fiesta with their Museums on Wheels stall, where you can see and handle some exciting real museum objects. Get creative and make some fun Jubilee and Huntley and Palmers themed paper crafts, and you might even get the chance to meet some characters of the Abbey Quarter too! MF Dance will be performing in the Bandstand at 3.30pm. MF Dance formed to provide dance lessons to children aged from 3 through to 11 years. The classes aim to improve confidence, technique, performance, the ability to count choreography in beats, learn set routines and then be graded. All dance classes are run with Pop and RNB-style songs. Why not find the Pop up Village marquee where you can have a go at a whole host of children’s role play
scenarios – these include a construction site, art studio and lots more. Join Avanti Cycle who will be providing free Dr Bike checks and repairs and find out more about Cycle Training and family rides in the area. Also joining in the fun on the day will be: Alder Bridge Steiner Waldorf School, Brighter Futures for Children, Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality, Explore Learning, Dingley’s Promise, and a whole host more. And as if that’s not enough, there will also be refreshments, children’s funfair rides, free face painting and free balloon modelling all day long.
So why not pack up a picnic and make a day of it? We look forward to seeing you there!
FORBURY
FIESTA
0118 937 2771 www.reading.gov.uk/childrensfest Follow us facebook.com/ReadingCFest or
FREE EVENT https://twitter.comReadingCFest
Saturday 14 May – Sunday 5 June Across Reading
The Jubilee Beacon Trail
As part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations you can take part in our specially created, augmented reality trail in Reading. Located around Reading are seven magical characters on a day trip from Buckingham Palace. Join Sir Barnaby Beacon on the trail as he visits his friends, you’ll be able to see them augmented reality, decide what happens next in the story and even win a free digital fun pack at the end. Once you have collected all 7 stamps you’ll be rewarded with the conclusion to the adventure and be able to take selfies with digital prize badges ‘pinned’ to them, to share with your friends! To learn more or start the trail, go to www.jubileebeacontrail.com
READING LIBRARIES
17 May, 10am – 11am
14, 17, 19 and 20 May, 12.45pm – 4.45pm
School Lane, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire, RG31 5AS
Battle Library, 420 Oxford Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG30 1EE.
PLATINUM JUBILEE BUNTING CREATION!
Tilehurst Library,
MAKE A FINGER BUG!
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Come along and create decorative Platinum Jubilee bunting to display around the library. Free entry 0118 937 5100 www.reading.gov.uk/libraries
Drop in craft session to make a Finger Bug! Free entry 0118 937 5114 www.reading.gov.uk/libraries
21, 24, 26 and 27 May
24 May, 10am – 11am
30 May, 10.30am – 11.30am
Oxford Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG30 1EE.
School Lane, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire, RG31 5AS
Abbey Square, Reading, RG1 3BQ
Battle Library,
CREATE A PLATINUM JUBILEE STAMP!
A week long opportunity to make your own Platinum Jubilee stamp just drop in whenever the library is open. Free entry 0118 937 5114 www.reading.gov.uk/libraries
Tilehurst Library,
MAKE A UNICORN
Fun Unicorn craft making session. Free entry 0118 937 5114 www.reading.gov.uk/libraries
Reading Central Library,
PLATINUM PLANTING!
Come down to the library and enjoy planting flower seeds and decorating your very own pot! Suitable for ages 5 – 11 years Free entry 0118 9375950 www.reading.gov.uk/libraries
31 May, 1pm - 7pm
31 May, 10am – 11am
420 Oxford Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG30 IEE
School Road, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire RG30 5AS.
Battle Library,
ALL DAY PLATINUM JUBILEE CELEBRATION
Tilehurst Library,
31 May, 2pm – 4pm
Southcote Library, Southcote Community Hub,
Coronation Square, Southcote, Reading, RG30 3QP
PLATINUM JUBILEE CRAFTS!! MAKE YOUR OWN PLATINUM Drop in workshop to make some Platinum Jubilee crafts! JUBILEE CROWN! Free entry 0118 937 5114 www.reading.gov.uk/libraries
A day long celebration of the Platinum Jubilee. Come along to make your own Crown and take part in our treasure hunt and Royal themed quiz (small prizes given!)
Make your own enchanting Platinum Jubilee crown!
Free entry
Free entry, booking required
0118 9375100 www.reading.gov.uk/libraries
0118 9375109 www.reading.gov.uk/libraries
31 May, 2.30pm – 3.30pm Palmer Park Library,
St Bartholomews Road, Reading RG1 3QB
COME AND MAKE ROYAL DECORATIONS!
Join us to make some fun right royal decorations for the Platinum Jubilee!
31 May, 2pm – 4.30pm and 4 June, 11am – 2pm
31 May, 10am – 12noon
Church Street, Caversham, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 8AU
Northumberland Avenue, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 7QA.
MAKE A FAIRY PLACE OR A CASTLE OF DOOM!
PLATINUM PLANTING!
Caversham Library,
Whitley Library, South Reading Community Hub,
Come along and enjoy a drop in seed planting session and decorate your pot!
Suitable for ages 4 – 10 years
Free drop-in craft session, suitable for ages 4 – 10 years
Free entry, booking required
Free entry
Free entry
0118 937 5106 www.reading.gov.uk/libraries
0118 9375103 www.reading.gov.uk/libraries
0118 9375115 www.reading.gov.uk/libraries
Children’s Centre events 16 May, 10am – 11am
Southcote Children’s Centre 85 Coronation Square, Reading, RG30 3QP
MESSY PLAY SESSION Come along and enjoy an hour of messy play, your children will be able to explore paints, dough, sand and water. Don’t forget to dress them in old clothes. Suitable for ages 2 to 5 years Free entry, booking required 0118 937 2535
17 May, 10am – 10.45am
Information, advice Ranikhet Children’s Centre, Spey Road, Reading, RG30 4ED
and serv Free entry, booking required 0118 937 5221 Reading’s children and youn 20 and 27 May, 10am – 10.45am with special educational nee Sun Street Children’s Centre, Sun Street, Reading, RG1 3JX disabilities (SEND) Free entry 0118 931 2111
DIDDI DANCE Help your toddler enhance their coordination rhythm. Nurture their natural love of movement in a structured yet relaxed 45 minute class. Suitable for ages 2 to 5 years
18, 25 May and 1 June, 1pm – 2.30pm
Sun Street Children’s Centre Sun Street, Reading, RG1 3JX
BUMPS AND What is the BABES Local Offer?
Come and join our friendly and welcoming bumps and babes The Local is a service and webs group.Offer It’s a great opportunity to meet (readingsendlocaloffer.org) that prov other expectant information andbabies support for children parents and people, aged 0-25, with special educ under 12 months.
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18, 25 May and 1 June, 1pm – 2pm Whitley Children’s Centre
252 Northumberland Avenue, Reading, RG2 7QA
UNDER 1s MESSY PLAY Come and enjoy sensory activities that are fun and safe for babies under one year. Suitable for children under 1 Free entry 0118 937 3894
19 and 26 May, 1pm – 2pm
26 May, 10am – 12noon
252 Northumberland Avenue, Reading, RG2 7QA
Spey Road, Reading, RG30 4ED
Whitley Children’s Centre
RHYME AND SONG Who doesn’t love a sing song? Come and enjoy nursery rhymes and songs in a friendly group. It’s a fun way to encourage speech and language. Suitable for ages 0-5yrs Free entry 0118 937 3894
Ranikhet Children’s Centre
FARMYARD FUN Come and join in the farmyard fun, groom the donkeys, feed the chickens and join in a story that will help develop your child’s love of books and also give them opportunities to enhance their creative skills. Suitable for ages 18 months to 5 years Free entry, booking required 0118 937 5221
26 May, 1.30pm – 2.30pm
Southcote Children’s Centre, 85 Coronation Square, RG30 3QP
MINI SOFT PLAY SESSION
Come and have fun at our pre bookable Mini Soft Play session. Suitable for under 4’s. Children will have the chance to play with character themed soft play blocks and jump around in the mini ball pools along with large sensory blocks to explore. Suitable for ages Walking to 4yrs. Free entry, booking required 0118 937 2535
CELEBRATE BISCUIT WEEK WITH MUSEUMS PARTNERSHIP READING THIS HALF TERM Saturday 28 May, 1pm or 2.30pm at Reading Museum
Sunday 29 May, 10.00 or 11.30am at The MERL
WORKSHOP: PAINT YOUR OWN BISCUITS From 28 May to September
BISCUIT TOWN FAMILY ACTIVITY PACK Available to purchase at both Reading Museum and The MERL. This pack is full of things to do at both museums and back at home including colouring sheets, gallery trails, crafts and recipes. £3 per pack, suitable for children aged 5+
It’s National Biscuit Day on 29th May! To celebrate in style, join design historian and artist Dr Ella Hawkins for a hands-on introduction to biscuit art. Learn how to paint colourful designs onto iced biscuits, inspired by our Huntley & Palmers original collections, and take your edible art home to enjoy. Prior to the workshop, there will be a chance to look at our special exhibition (The MERL), the Huntley & Palmers gallery (Reading Museum) and some of our handling collections close-up. £5, suitable for adults and children aged 8+ Workshop lasts 1.5 hours including 30 mins to look at collections first Booking essential: readingmuseum.org.uk/whats-on merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on
Explore 200 years of Reading Biscuit Town with activities at Reading Museum and The Museum of English Rural Life (The MERL) Saturday 28 May, 10am-4pm Reading Museum
BY ROYAL APPOINTMENT 30 May, 10am – 4pm
BERTIE’S BRILLIANT Design a HUNTLEY AND PALMERS BISCUIT TIN fit for royalty! BISCUIT DESIGN Help Bertie our biscuit-loving Badger to come up with an amazing new biscuit design, inspired by the imaginative biscuits and biscuit tins in our Huntley & Palmers Gallery. We will showcase our favourites on the framed picture wall in our Welcome Gallery! £1, suitable for all ages Booking not required
Use our template and decorate your biscuit tin to make it fit for a King or Queen. What design will you pick? 1 hour sessions, book your tickets in advance on our website. This session will take place at the museum. Suitable for Families, 5+ Ticket price: £3.00, booking required
HALF TERM FUN AT READING MUSEUM!
Reading Museum, Blagrave Street, Reading, RG1 1QH 0118 937 3400 www.readingmuseum.gov.uk
31 May, 10am – 4pm
JUBILEE PARTY HATS
1 June, 11.30am – 3.15pm
Reading Abbey Gateway,
Abbot’s Walk, Reading, RG1 3BD
VICTORIAN SCHOOLROOM EXPERIENCE IN THE GATEWAY Meet a Victorian schoolteacher and re-learn the ‘3Rs’. A 45-minute experience for adults and children over 5 in our unique Victorian classroom, now in the brand new setting of the historic Abbey Gateway. Please note that the Gateway has no step free access and there are uneven steps and floors.
Make your own fancy hat to wear to a Jubilee party. Suitable for families, £1 (drop in, book on the day)
Ages 5+, 11.30am, 1.15pm & 2.30pm (meeting at the Abbey Gateway) £1 per person, see our website to book in advance or pay on the day (35 places max per session) Target age: Ages 5+, Families
30 May, 10am–2pm
From Saturday 28 May, 10am-4pm
Museum of English Rural Life,
The MERL
Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX
Reading Museum and The Museum of English Rural Life are thrilled to have recently launched ‘Museums, My Way’, a series of sessions for neurodiverse visitors of all ages. These sessions, developed with Autism Berkshire, provide a safe environment to explore the museums at times when they are usually closed to the public or are less busy. There are facilitated activities on themes inspired by the museums’ collections, and a quiet break-out space. Siblings, families, carers and friends are all welcome. This session will be on the theme of ‘Biscuits and Food’ and will include: reduced volume of gallery interactive sounds sensory backpacks and ear defenders break out spaces themed facilitated hands-on activity themed gallery trail All activities are optional and you can visit at any point within the event times. ‘Museums, My Way’ is part of The MERL and Reading Museum’s Arts Council funded programme, Museums Partnership Reading. Free entry, booking required 0118 378 8660 merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on
Spring-inspired things to do in the MERL galleries, garden and at home Suitable for families with children aged 5+ £4 from the gift shop
13 – 15 May & 19 – 22 May, 26 – 29 May Prospect Park
Liebenrood Road, Reading
Saturday 14 May, 11am – 2pm Central Square, Broad Street Mall
BROAD STREET MALL’S 50th ANNIVERSARY
GUYATTS FAIR DOODLE AND COLLAGE WORKSHOP This popular family Fun Fair returns to Prospect Park with a wide variety of rides and games for all ages.
Join Jelly to celebrate Broad St Mall’s 50th Anniversary with a special doodle and collage workshop. In this workshop participants will be invited to draw on, decorate onto, collage and embellish black and white photocopies of historical photographs of the Mall’s past. Reimagine the Mall tropical garden or colour in the clothes from the opening parade. We will also have a doodle table set up with a variety of drawing and collage materials for participants to join Jelly to create drawings of the future. Activity suitable for all ages and abilities. There will also be a giant 50th Birthday party taking place in the Central Square – join us free face painting, Topsy the Mascot, balloon modelling and lots more. www.broadstreetmall.com
www.facebook.com/GuyattsFunFair
17 May, 10am – 2pm
Saturday 21 May, 3pm–4.30pm
LEARN ABOUT THE MAGIC OF READING’S FOSTERING COMMUNITY
READING SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Broad Street (outside Waterstones)
Brighter Futures for Children’s fostering team will be taking over Broad Street with bunting, bubbles and a photo booth! If you’re curious about fostering and would like to learn more, come along to chat with our inspiring foster families. Alongside our fun activities for children, they can tell you what it’s like and how you can start your fostering journey. Come and say hello to Brighter Futures for Children and their foster carers on Tuesday 17 May from 10am-2pm. You’ll find them outside Waterstones on Broad Street. www.readingfostering.co.uk 0118 469 3020 foster@brighterfuturesforchildren.org
Reading Minster Church of St Mary
CHILDREN’S CONCERT
Reading Symphony Orchestra invites you and your little ones to our Children’s Concert on Saturday 21 May 2022 at Reading Minster. We’ll be performing Grieg’s ‘Peer Gynt Suite’, with special narration by David Barrell. You’ll hear tales of Peer Gynt’s fantastical adventures, including him falling in love with a girl he’s not allowed to marry, running away to the mountains only to be caught by trolls, getting into a scrape with the troll king, escaping to far-flung climes and being shipwrecked on his way home to Norway many years later. Grieg’s music draws on the Norwegian folk tunes of his homeland. The music includes a gentle wake up with ‘Morning Mood’ and Peer Gynt tiptoeing to escape the trolls ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King’. We’re very excited to bring you our first Children’s Concert since 2019! All ages, but most suitable for children aged 5+ Entry: £7.50 adults (plus booking fee); Children free. Booking required. www.wegottickets.com/event/545270/ www.rso.org.uk/next-concert
24 and 31 May, 4.30pm – 5.30pm
CultureMix Arts & Music Centre,
7 Queens Walk, Reading, RG1 7QF
RASPO STEEL BAND TASTER WORKSHOPS Our steel pan music workshop taster sessions offer a chance for children to have a go at playing different styles of music on steel pan instruments. Our friendly music tutors welcome you to the CultureMix Arts & Music Centre for an experience guaranteeing lots of fun and enjoyment for all. Equipment provided. Please book in advance as spaces are limited. Tickets on Eventbrite or phone the office on 0118 958 7351. Tuesday 24 and 31 May 2022 4.30-5.30pm. Suitable for ages 8-16 years Free entry, booking required 0118 958 7351 www.culturemixarts.co.uk
27 May – 5 June Palmer Park,
Wokingham Road, Reading
28 May, 10am – 10.45am and 11am – 11.45am Reading Biscuit Factory
1 Queens Walk, Reading RG1 7QE
FAMILY LIFE DRAWING This popular family Fun Fair returns to Palmer Park with a wide variety of rides and games for all ages.
www.facebook.com/beachsfunfair
Kick off half term with Jelly at Reading Biscuit Factory for a family life drawing session inspired by a pretend biscuit tea party. The participants will be the models and will be gently guided by a Jelly artist with tips and techniques to find your own drawing style. This session is recommended for 6 years to 12 years. Younger children are welcome with older siblings but they will need to buy a ticket. Suitable for ages 6-12 years, the parent or carer needs to accompany the child throughout the session Ticket price: £10 for adult and child https://readingbiscuitfactory.co.uk/ whats-on/family-drawing-workshop
Monday 30 May, Tuesday 31 May and Wednesday 1 June
The Hill Primary School
HOLIDAY
PLAYCLUB Holiday Playclubs offer lots of fun activities with prices from as little as £12 per session. This summer Reading Play are running one holiday club at The Hill Primary School for children aged 5 – 12 years (if currently in school). The session times and costs for this are: Full Day - 8:30 – 17:30 £24 per session. Short Day - 8:30 - 15:30 £18 per session. Half Day - 8:30 - 13:30 or 13:30 - 17:30 £12 for each half day session. For more information contact Toni at reading.play@reading.gov.uk to enquire about spaces prior to attending.
30 May, 10am – 4.30pm
30 May – 3 June, 11am – 5pm
252 Northumberland Ave, Reading RG2 7QA
FREE BOAT TRIPS FOR ACCOMPANIED CHILDREN
Whitley Community Development Association
WHITLEY MUSIC DAY Join us at the Community Cafe in Whitley for a day of varied music workshops. Activities include learning how to play the ukulele, music creation using computers and songwriting/composition. You can take part in one workshop or join us for the whole day, it’s up to you. All equipment and materials are provided. Suitable for ages 10-16 years Free entry, booking required www.therockacademyfoundation. org/WhitleyMusicDay2022
Caversham Pier, Thameside Promenade, Caversham RG1 8BD
Thames Rivercruise are offering FREE* boat trips for accompanied children during the Children’s Festival week 30 May - 3 June. (*One child travels for free per full paying adult). Choose from a 45 minute Thames Experience, 60 minute Thames Meander or our most popular 90 minute Thames Explorer. Suitable for ages 0 to 14 years Prices start from £10 per person for an adult ticket. Tickets can be purchased online or when boarding. Pre-booking is advisable. Children must be accompanied by a full fare paying adult. ONE free child per full fare paying adult. www.thamesrivercruise.co.uk bookings@thamesrivercruise.co.uk Facebook: @TRivercruise Instagram: thamesrivercruise
30 May, 31 May and 1 June, 10am, 11.45am and 1.45pm
Art Club at Jelly May Half Term
READING CANOE CLUB KAYAK ON THE RIVER TASTER SESSIONS
Tuesday 31 May - 3pm to 4.30pm
Reading Canoe Club, The Warren, Caversham
Come and try out canoeing with our fun taster sessions. It’s a great sport, whatever the weather, and there are lots of different types to learn.
An art school for younger children, exploring ideas and artists. Join us for a special Art School to celebrate Reading Children’s festival. Broad Street Mall
Unique SOCK PUPPETS and MINI FILMS with Matt Hulse
Session times each day: 10:00am, 11:45am, 1:45pm
In this session we will be creating unique sock puppets and shooting mini-films with simple dialogue or song. Just bring along your own socks and ideas for characters you wish to create! Your sock puppets will be yours to keep.
To book a place, please scan the QR code below or follow the link reading-canoe.org.uk/taster and fill in the form.
Wednesday 1 June - 4pm to 5.30pm
Booking essential (only 10 places per session). Entry: Free, ages 9-16
FLAG MAKING WORKSHOP In this session we will be printing flags using traditional woodblock textile printing techniques. Flags made in the session will go on display along Chestnut Walk during WaterFest and Reading’s Jubilee celebrations. The woodblocks when placed together create scenes from Reading’s waterways. Bring along your own t-shirt and/or fabric and make your own artwork from the woodblocks to take home with you. This is a family art workshops and an adult is required to stay with the child throughout the duration of the class. From £10.
Booking essential via www.thejellyreading.eventbrite.co.uk
Sunday 5 June, 3pm – 4.30pm Forbury Gardens
JUBILEE CHILDREN’S CONCERT Join the Trinity Concert Band in the Forbury Gardens as they provide the musical entertainment for The Big Jubilee Lunch. Since its launch in 2009, The Big Lunch has encouraged communities across the UK to celebrate their connections and get to know each other a little bit better. This year, The Big Jubilee Lunch will take place on Sunday 5 June and forms part of the official celebrations for HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. In Reading, members of the community are being invited to head to their local parks and open spaces to participate in The Big Jubilee Lunch. TCB’s Jubilee Children’s Concert will provide the perfect atmosphere for The Big Jubilee Lunch at Forbury Gardens, with the band performing a concert full of family-friendly music from The Lion King, Despicable Me 2, Brave, The Greatest Showman, and much more! Not only is this fun-packed afternoon the finale of the borough’s Jubilee weekend events, but also the culmination of this year’s Festival. Free event www.trinityband.co.uk/jubilee-childrens-concert-reading
Running every weekend from Saturday 14 May, between 12noon – 4pm Star Lane Wharf
Queens Road Car-Park canal side
Kennet and Avon Canal Trust
BOAT TRIPS ON MATILDA
The Kennet and Avon canal trust are running some special trips on their boat Matilda especially for this year’s Reading Children’s Festival. The trips will run between 12.00 till 4.00pm leaving on the hour from Star Lane Wharf (canal side Queens road Car park). Each weekend starting from the 31 July. The trust will also be running some “i-spy” trips where participants will be provided with some i-spy sheets to spot things while on the trips. These trips will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays through August. All Trips are bookable from:https://tickets.katrust.org.uk/ showtrips.php?boatID=14&sc=
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Sat 16 & Sun 17 July The Hexagon
Four Performances A musical play adapted and directed by DAVID WOOD. Based on the book by JUDITH KERR.
Direct from the West End, the Olivier Award nominated smash hit show, The Tiger Who Came to Tea returns on tour. The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a big, stripy tiger! Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show; packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos. Don’t miss this stunning stage adaptation of the classic tale of teatime mayhem... expect to be surprised! Suitable for children aged 3+. Box Office 0118 960 6060 whatsonreading.com
24 July, from 12.30pm
Prospect Park, Liebenrood Road, Reading
Raver Tots is coming to Reading for the biggest and best family friendly outdoor festival yet. Featuring: Fun fair, rides and play areas & inflatables Big top tent with full Raver Tots production Licensed Bar Hot and cold food stalls, juices and ice-creams Raver Tots merchandise stall UK’s biggest DJs Face painting & glitter artists Raver Tots dancers and performers Huge confetti cannons, bubbles, giant balloons Giant parachutes games Music at safe levels for little ears www.ravertots.co.uk
29 July – 2 August
Prospect Park, Liebenrood Road
Prospect Park Playcentre Our new £500k new multi-use hub and activity centre at Prospect Park is nearing completion, with accessible outdoor family adventure 9-hole minigolf and lots more coming soon.
Circus Zyair is proud to present a colourful and action packed hour and a half show with high energy acts from all over the world. The 2022 tour is a dazzling combination of circus, music and laughter. With a heated big top, comfy seating and an electric atmosphere from start to finish Circus Zyair promises to be a truly magical experience for the whole family. https://circus-zyair.co.uk/
Fantastic new facilities opening this summer include an indoor ‘Sky Tykes’ low ropes course for younger children; a café facility with indoor and outdoor seating; new toilet facilities (including an accessible changing places facility) and a multi-function room for parties, meeting and teaching. There will also be an outdoor education area that will support our educational outreach work, including using play as a tool to improve particularly vulnerable young people’s social skills and wellbeing. A new play area opening late summer sees a major investment of £530,000 and will relocate the existing playground closer to the activity centre. It is designed to allow much better access to and around the play area and will be as inclusive as possible – aiming to challenge, excite and inspire children of all abilities to play together. Find out more at www.reading.gov.uk/playtransformation
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Teachers are wonderful, taking great care of the children and making learning so much fun
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Join our Pre-Reception Class From the academic year your child turns 4
Book a private visit or attend an open morning www.sjcr.org.uk /admissions
Modern facilities with an excellent range of indoor and outdoor activities
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Information, advice and services for Reading’s children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
What is the Local Offer? The Local Offer is a service and website (readingsendlocaloffer.org) that provides lots of information and support for children and young people, aged 0-25, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It enables children and young people, their families and carers to access the support which best matches their own needs. It’s also a useful resource for professionals and service providers.
What information is available? • • • • • • • • •
Details of early years childcare and education settings, schools and colleges Local health services and provision for social care Local special needs support Guidance and services to assist in preparing children and young people for adulthood, including pathways to employment Carers advice and support Special needs activities and Short Breaks Transport options A calendar of activities, events and local groups Plus, lots of advice and guidance on a whole range of topics.
Contact 0118 937 3777 (option 2) localoffer@reading.gov.uk www.readingsendlocaloffer.org @ReadingLocalOffer © Brighter Futures for Children V1 2020
Reading Children’s Festival celebrating 200 years of biscuit making at Huntley & Palmers
0118 937 2771 or 0118 937 2395 events@reading.gov.uk facebook.com/ReadingCFest https://twitter.com/ReadingCFest
www.reading.gov.uk/childrensfest