South and Vale Holiday Activities

During most school holidays, our Active Communities team offer a range of free and low-cost activities, for young children, teenagers and families to enjoy at locations across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse.

Bookings open around a month before each holiday period – follow our new Active Communities Facebook page, you can join our mailing list to receive regular email updates, or if you have any questions; please email active.communities@southandvale.gov.uk 

The activities are usually very popular so, where required, we would encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment.  See below for details of our next programme of holiday activities and how to book. 

February half term 2025 – free community days!

This February half-term, you can enjoy activities throughout the day at our free community days in Abingdon and Thame.

• Tuesday 18 February – 10am– 3pm – Long Furlong Community Centre, Boulter Drive, Abingdon OX14 1XP
• Wednesday 19 February – 10am– 3pm – Thame Leisure Centre, Oxford Road, Thame, OX9 2BB

Please see below for details of the activities available for each community day.

For sessions with limited numbers booking is recommended to secure your place and avoid disappointment on the day.

Unless stated otherwise, all activities are free and are aimed at preschool and primary aged children to do with their parent/guardians or grandparents.

What’s on, where and when:

Below are the events we have confirmed for the upcoming holiday period.

Under each category, you’ll find when and where the activities take place along with the links you’ll need to make a booking.

Long Furlong Community Day – Tuesday 18 February

10am to 3pm – Long Furlong Community Centre, Boulter Drive, Abingdon, OX14 1XP.

Activities for young children and families

Xplorer

A family-friendly fun navigation challenge that is educational and gives children a sense of adventure as they explore the park to find the markers and identify the pictures.

• 10am–1pm – meet at the information table inside the community centre – Book your space for Xplorer here or just turn up on the day.

The trail can take 30 minutes or more and can be done anytime from 10am. Last registration is 12.30pm.

Born to Move  

In these fun-fuelled classes there’s plenty of opportunity for young children to develop their self-awareness, balance, co-ordination, and concentration skills as they interpret music, explore, and move to a beat. 

For older children featuring the freshest moves and the latest music, these classes get young people fit – fast. Combining cutting edge moves from martial arts, sports conditioning, dance and yoga. Participants leave feeling fitter, more mentally energized and able to take on the world.

• 10-10.30am – From walking-5 years
• 10.45-11.15am – ages 6-10 years

20 spaces available. Book your space for Born to Move here.

Fun Games for ages 2–5 years

Join in a variety of different games all aimed at ages 2 to 5 years, have fun, help develop their co-ordination, balance and more.

• 11.15-11.45am – 20 spaces available – Book your space for fun games here.

Football ages 5-10 years

Join our FA qualified coach for a fun football session, all abilities welcome.

• Midday-1pm – 20 spaces available – Book your space for football here.

Activities for adults

Functional Fitness MOTS – age 55+

Including strength, balance, and flexibility assessments, health and wellbeing advice and activity information

• 10–11am – limited spaces available

To book your functional fitness MOT email move.together@southandvale.gov.uk or call 07717 836750.

Strong and Stable – Seated exercise class 50+

Join our Strong and Stable seated class to improve strength, flexibility and raise your heart rate.  Come along and give it a try.

• 11-11.30am

Activities for all ages

New Age Kurling

Kurling with no Ice! Play with these ball bearing stones to get as close as you can to the target. Sitting or standing options available.

• 1-2pm – Book your space for New Age Kurling here or just turn up on the day.

Community Walk

A gentle 30 minute walk around Long Furlong followed by refreshments at the community centre.

• 2pm – meet outside Long Furlong Community Centre. No need to book just turn up on the day.

Thame Community Day – Wednesday 19 February

10am to 3pm – Thame Leisure Centre, Oxford Road, Thame, OX9 2BB

A day of free activities with the Active Communities and Better Leisure teams. Take part and get information on local programmes, services such as YouMove and Move Together and membership options at the centre.

Activities in the sports hall

Pickleball and Badminton

Open court sessions with all equipment provided. Come along and have a go at Pickleball or badminton. No need to book just turn up and play.

• 10–11am
• Midday–1pm

Football – ages 6 – 10 years

Join our FA qualified coach for a fun football session, all abilities are welcome.

• 11am-midday – 20 spaces available – Book your space for football here.

Multisport – ages 6 – 10 years

Join in a variety of different activities including ball, tag, parachute games and more.

• 1–2pm – 30 spaces available – Book your space for multisport here.

Activities in the small hall

Born to Move

In these fun-fuelled classes there’s plenty of opportunity for young children to develop their self-awareness, balance, co-ordination, and concentration skills as they interpret music, explore, and move to a beat. 

For older children and teens featuring the freshest moves and the latest music, these classes get young people fit – fast. Combining cutting edge moves from martial arts, sports conditioning, dance, and yoga. Participants leave feeling fitter, more mentally energized, and able to take on the world.

• Walking-5 years, 10am-10.30am
• Ages 6–10 years, 10.45-11.15am
• Ages 11–16 years, 1-1.30pm

20 spaces available – Book your space for Born to Move here.

Boxercise – ages 11 – 16 years

Sessions typically involve hitting focus pads, but no class involves hitting an opponent. This session will give you a taster of Boxercise as a puncher and a pad holder, working with a partner. It is a fun, challenging and safe workout, no experience necessary.

• 11:30am-12:15pm – 14 spaces available. Book your space for Boxercise here.

Seated Exercise Class 50+

Join our Strong and Stable seated class to improve strength, flexibility and raise your heart rate.  Come along and give it a try.

• Midday-12.30pm

 Dance – ages 6 – 10 years

Come along and learn new moves like the cross steps, led switches and kick ball change. At the end show off what you learnt in a short routine. The class with have a street commercial base with elements from ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary.

• 2–3pm – 20 spaces available – Book your space for Dance here.

Activities in the studio

Senior Table Tennis – 60+:

• 11am-1pm – no booking required just turn up and play.

Family Table Tennis

Come and have a try at table tennis. This is an open session with equipment available for you to have a go at this fast-paced sport.

• 1–2pm

Leisure Centre Activities

All activities are free but please ensure that you come along with appropriate sportswear and footwear.

Limited numbers – please book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Swimming:

• ‘Swim for all’ sessions – 10am–2pm in the small pool and 10am to 1pm in the main pool
• Midday-1.30pm – Family Fun swim

To book for swimming please visit the Better website or use the Better Leisure app.

Swimming lesson tasters:

• 11-11.30am
• 11.30am-midday

Swimming lesson tasters will be for Foundation lessons which are designed for school-aged kids who are beginners or completely new to swimming. Email your child’s name, age and any additional information to thame@gll.org.

Gym sessions:

• Adult gym – 10am–2pm
• Junior gym (11+) – Midday–2pm

To book a gym session please visit the Better website or use the Better Leisure app.

Cornerstone Arts Centre

James Phelan: The Dreamer

Star of The Greatest Magician™, and the BBC’s most broadcast magician of the last decade – the award-winning James Phelan – debuts this breath-taking new magic show The Dreamer, at Cornerstone on Saturday 15 February at 7.30pm

More details about the show can be found on the Cornerstone website.

The Beacon Wantage

The Eras Experience: Taylor Swift Tribute by Xenna

Step into the unparalleled world of Taylor Swift in this electrifying show featuring the incredible: Xenna. A celebration of the iconic pop sensation’s music, style, and unrivalled stage presence.

Whether you’re a die-hard Swiftie or simply love great music, this is the ultimate homage to one of the biggest stars in the world. Get ready to relive Taylor Swift’s greatest hits in a show that’s as close to the real thing as it gets!

Friday 21 February 7pm

More details can be found on The Beacon website.

Cornerstone Arts Centre

Decorate your own photo frame

Join the creative Cornerstone Team on their half term craft workshop on Wednesday 19 February from 11am-Midday and choose from their rainbow of art materials to decorate your own photo frames!

Add your favourite materials in whatever colours and textures you choose and create a special piece of wall art to add your favourite photos to.

Book your space on the Cornerstone website .

Activities for all residents

Our Active Communities Team work across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse to help residents with their physical health and wellbeing. They run a variety of weekly activities for all ages and abilities.

To find out more and to see what activities are available near you, visit our pages on Active Communities in South Oxfordshire and Active Communities in the Vale of White Horse.