Bog snorkelling, jazz, trains – ideas to fill the rest of the summer holidays...
You’ve done three weeks of the school summer holidays and you’ve survived. Well done! But if you’re stuck for ideas on how to keep the little darlings amused until September, we’ve made the job of finding some activities to keep them busy even easier for
1. Let them escape from reality Where: 6-7 St John Street, Cardiff. When: Throughout the holidays. Escape Reality are offering a fantastic way to give the kids a fun and stimulating day out – for free!
Escape Reality is a fully immersive live escape game experience and fun for all ages – children and adults alike. Not only can the kids have a fun filled day, you can also be sure that they’re exercising their creativity, logical thinking skills and puzzle solving capabilities.
With six inventive room ideas to choose from with different difficulties (The Heist,Alcatraz, Fibonacci, Misery, Enigmista and Jungala) there is something for the kids and parents alike.
Book your tickets at www.escapereality.com/cardiffcity/ and use promotional codes 1KIDFREE for one child and an adult, 2KIDSFREE for two children and two adults and 3KIDSFREE for three children and three adults.
2. Become a Ninja for the day Where: Amdani Fitertainment park, Argyle Way, Cardiff, CF5 5NJ. When: Throughout the holidays. This is Wales’ first indoor obstacle course and has put the fun back into fitness with an adrenaline-fuelled playground in the form of an obstacle course – Ninja warrior style!
Activities include pay and play sessions, a full size Ninja wall and over 40 obstacles.
3. See Scouting for Girls at Snowdonia Outdoor Festival Where: Bala, Gwynedd. When: Today until Sunday. A three-day fiesta of live music and outdoor sports where pop rockers Scouting for Girls, the Lightning Seeds and Toploader are set to headline.
The sporting events include a range of legendary trail runs, open water swims on the lake, a mountain bike challenge and an iconic road bike sportive.
Outdoor activities have been designed with families in mind and will include hiking, canoeing, standup paddle boarding, gorge walking, sailing, windsurfing, rafting, swimming, climbing, walking and mountain biking with climbing walls and airbags set up and bushcraft talks and other hands-on activities available.
4. Learn about astronomy at Solarsphere When: Today until Monday. Where: Builth Wells. A new event combining the science of astronomy with the backdrop of a music festival. This small, familyfriendly festival is held in the beautiful Welsh countryside, aiming to educate the curious, the beginner and the more experienced amateur about various aspects of the cosmos via talks and workshops. 5. Listen to some jazz Where: Venues in Brecon. When: Today until Sunday. It’s one of the biggest musical events of the year and the Brecon Jazz festival is a celebration of all things jazz. More information is available at www.breconjazz.club
6. Get in training for the Admiral Swansea Bay 10k Junior Races If the children are particularly active, they could get in training for one of the junior races at the Admiral Swansea Bay 10k this September.
It means they can keep fit and take in some breathtaking scenery – from the city’s parks to the coast.
To guarantee a space in the race, book online at www.swanseabay10k. com/junior-races
7. Dance the night away at Hairspray Where: Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff. When: August 16-26. The international smash-hit musical comedy Hairspray the Musical is coming to the Welsh capital to step back in time to Baltimore 1962, and Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, is on a mission to follow her dreams and dance her way onto national TV.
Featuring the hit songs Welcome To The ’60s, You Can’t Stop The Beat, The Nicest Kids in Town and many more, it’s a show that will keep you smiling for days. Call 029 2063 6464 for tickets.
8. Watch Olly Murs perform in a Welsh Park Where: Singleton Park, Swansea. When: Tomorrow. Cue plenty of screams as the charttopping X Factor star will be heading back to Wales just weeks after his gig at Wrexham Racecourse to entertain his legions of fans at Swansea’s Singleton Park.
9. Watch a classic car rally Where: Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay, CF10 4PZ. When: Sunday. A huge selection of cars from the Glamorgan Classic Car Club will be on display around the perimeter of the Plass, overlooking Cardiff Bay Beach for visitors to view and meet the owners.
Cars on display will include four classic cars from the film Mr Nice, 1970s Chips-style motorbikes, the bug Honda Goldwings and Renault Rally Cars. Entrance is free.
10. Go and meet a secret owl Where: Picton Castle, The Rhos, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA62 4AS. When: Throughout the holidays. Pembrokeshire’s newest attraction is home to Wales’ largest collection of owls. Meet them, watch them fly and fly one yourself. Also find Fudge’s hiding spots and his trail of hoo’s hoo, and learn about the owl’s super-powers.
It is open 10am to 5pm daily and admission includes entrance to Picton Castle. Visit www.secretowlgarden.co.uk or ring 01437 751725 for more details.
11. Take a walk on the wild side Where: Plantasia, Parc Tawe Retail Park. When: Open daily from 10am to 5pm. If the rain decides to make an appearance, you can escape inside Swansea’s tropical hothouse, which is open every day. Plantasia have a special event taking place with Dinosaurs in the Jungle from August 15 to 17.
12. Have a blast at Green Man 2017 Where: Glanusk Estate, Black Mountains. When: August 17-20. Green Man 2017 marks 15 years of the festival and this year’s headliners are PJ Harvey and Ryan Adams.
Joining the two-time Mercury