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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, we encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment.  See below for details of our next programme of holiday activities and how to book. Booking is required to be able to attend our activities.

What’s on, where and when:

Summer holidays

The Active Communities team have lots of free and low-cost activities running and are attending some events over the summer holidays.  

For most activities bookings must be made in advance and tickets can be purchased online on the day if there is still space available. We are unable to take cash payments on the day and unless stated tickets must be purchased in advance to take part.

Some events are taking place outdoors and may have to be changed or cancelled due to inclement weather. Indoor activities may also be cancelled in extreme heat.

Please see each activity for the direct booking link. You can find the full list of bookable activities here.

All Stars and Dynamos Cricket – 6 weeks of fun cricket sessions Age 5-11

All Stars Cricket provides non-stop fun for all children aged 5-8 years old. The activity and game based programme is suitable for all skill levels, providing your child with the foundations to begin a lifelong love of physical activity and cricket, while making friends in a safe and enjoyable environment.

Dynamos Cricket provides boys and girls from 8-11 years old with non-stop fun. Each week there will be a focus on a different cricket skill to build their confidence and ability, before they take part in a 60-ball countdown cricket match.

Week 1

Wednesday 22 July

  • 10am-midday – Mini Fun Day; The Junction, Broad Street Abingdon, OX14 3LZ.
    • 11-11:45am Multisports activity sessions for 5-7 years, come and play lots of fun games and improve you balance, agility and more.  £2 per person or £1 with YouMove card. Book your space for Multisports age 5-7
  • Midday-5pm – Free Didcot Youth Festival, Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE. Free activities for ages 12-20, booking is not required but you can find more information here.  This event is being run by Didcot Train and has been funded by local housing association SOHA, and by Sovereign Network Group (SNG) through the #iwill fund, via the National Lottery Community Fund.

Thursday 23 July

  • 10am-1pm – What a Racquet; White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre, Abingdon. Three hourly sessions to try a range of racquet sports within the hour!  Book your slot to try tennis, badminton and pickleball!  Only £2 per family.

Friday 24 July

  • Midday – 5pm – Fun at Basildon Park. Basildon Park, Lower Basildon, Reading RG8 9NR. Join us for Boccia, fun games and more at Basildon Park included in your entry. YouMove families can get free entry by showing your cards on the day.

Week 2

Monday 27 July

  • 10-11.30am – Free Family Group session at Wallingford Family Centre; 96a Wilding Rd, Wallingford OX10 8AJ. Book your free space here.
  • 10am-Midday – Free Explorer Walk, Abingdon Abbey Meadow, Free Scavenger Hunt with chalks etc. Meeting at 10:00am for a 10:15 start by and finishing in the park. Find out more and book your space for Explorer Walk Abingdon.
  • 10am-1pm – Free Summer of Skate, Cholsey Skate Park. Free event turn up on the day to join in the fun. Equipment is available to borrow. All ages welcome from early years to teens and adults.
  • Midday-2pm – Free Picnic & Play in the Park; Chalgrove Recreation Ground, The Grn, Chalgrove, Oxford OX44 7SU. Free event book your space here.   
  • 1-5pm – Free Summer of Skate, GWP Didcot. Free event turn up on the day to join in the fun. Equipment is available to borrow. All ages welcome from early years to teens and adults.

Tuesday 28 July

Wednesday 29 July

  • 10am-midday – Free Xplorer, Memorial Park Wantage. Free event, book your free space in advance or turn up on the day. Aimed at children age 2-11.
  • 1.30-4pm – Mini Fun Day, Southern Community Centre, 2 Sorrel Crescent, OX11 6HQ. More information and booking coming soon.

Thursday 30 July

  • 11am-3pm – Free OPA Play Day Henley, Makins Recreation Ground, Greys Rd, Henley, RG9 1TE. This is a free to attend family event, no booking required. All ages welcome from early years – teens and adults.

Friday 31 July

  • 11am-3pm – Free OPA Play Day Faringdon Town FC, Tucker Park, Park Rd, Faringdon SN7 7BP. This is a free to attend family event, no booking required. All ages welcome from early years – teens and adults.

Week 3

Monday 3 August

Tuesday 4 August

  • 11am-3pm – Free OPA Play Day Berinsfield; Berinsfield Recreation ground, Lay Avenue, OX10 7NF. This is a free to attend family event, no booking required. All ages welcome from early years to teens and adults.
  • 10-11am – Mindful Me – Beacon, Wantage. New Mental Health workshop, giving children the opportunity to learn new tools to tackle Anxiety and Depression through being active. £1 per child. Book a space for Mindful Me.
  • 11.15am-Midday – Make & Move – Beacon, Wantage. More information and booking coming soon.

Wednesday 5 August

  • 10am-midday – Free Xplorer, Ladgygrove Park. Free event, book your space in advance or turn up on the day.
  • 10.30-1.30pm – Summer treasure hunt event, Fun@TheFolly with The Place.
  • 10am-1pm – Free Summer of Skate, Thame Skate Park. Free event turn up on the day to join in the fun. Equipment is available to borrow. All ages welcome from early years to teens and adults.
  • 1.30-4 pm – Mini Family Fun Day; GWP District Community Centre, Didcot, OX11 6GR. More information and booking coming soon.
  • 2pm-5pm – Free Summer of Skate, Henley Skate Park. Free event turn up on the day to join in the fun. Equipment is available to borrow. All ages welcome from early years to teens and adults.

Thursday 6 August

Week 4

Monday 10 August

  • 10am-Midday – Mini Fun Day; Cholsey Pavilion, Station Road, Wallingford OX10 9PT. More information and booking coming soon.
  • 10am-Midday – Free Explorer Walk, Abingdon Abbey Meadow, Free Scavenger Hunt with chalks etc. Meeting at 10:00am for a 10:15 start by and finishing in the park. Book your free Explorer walk space.
  • 10am-1pm – Free Summer of Skate, Botley Skate Park. Free event turn up on the day to join in the fun. Equipment is available to borrow. All ages welcome from early years to teens and adults.
  • Midday – 2pm – Free Picnic & Play; Cholsey Recreation Ground, Station Road Wallingford OX10 9PT. Book your free space for Cholsey Picnic and Play.
  • 2pm-5pm – Free Summer of Skate, Abingdon Skate Park. Free event turn up on the day to join in the fun. Equipment is available to borrow. All ages welcome from early years to teens and adults.

Tuesday 11 August

  • 10am-3pm – Free Henley Fun Day; Henley Leisure Centre, Gillots Lane, Henley, RG9 1PA. More information and booking available soon. This is a joint event with GLL.
  • 10-11.30am – Mindful Me – Beacon, Wantage.  New Mental Health workshop, giving children the opportunity to learn new tools to tackle Anxiety and Depression through being active. £1 per child. Book a space for Mindful Me.
  • 1-3pm – Free Picnic and Play session Shrivenham Pavilion and Recreation ground, Highworth Road, Shrivenham, SN6 8BL. Book your free space for Picnic and Play Shrivenham

Wednesday 12 August

Thursday 13 August

  • 9.30am-midday – Free Sonning Common Fun Morning, Memorial Park & Kidmore End War Memorial Hall, Reade’s Ln, RG4 9SH. More information and booking coming soon.
  • 10am-3pm – Faringdon Fun Day, Faringdon Leisure Centre. More information and booking coming soon.

Week 5

Monday 17 August

  • 10am-12.30pm – Mini Family Fun Day Watlington, Watlington Recreation Ground, Shirburn Rd, Watlington OX49 5BZ. More information and booking coming soon.

Tuesday 18 August

  • 10am-midday – Mini Fun Day; The Junction, Broad Street Abingdon, OX14 3LZ. More information and booking available soon

Wednesday 19 August

  • 10am-midday – Free Xplorer, Benson. Free event. Book your space online in advance or turn up on the day.  
  • 1.30-4pm – Mini Family Fun Day; GWP District Community Centre, Didcot, OX11 6GR. More information and booking coming soon.

Thursday 20 August

  • 9.30am-midday – Free Sonning Common Fun Morning, Memorial Park & Kidmore End War Memorial Hall, Reade’s Ln, RG4 9SH. More information and booking coming soon.
  • 10am-1pm – Free Summer of Skate, Faringdon Skate Park. Free event turn up on the day to join in the fun. Equipment is available to borrow. All ages welcome from early years to teens and adults.
  • 2pm-5pm – Free Summer of Skate, Grove Skate Park. Free event turn up on the day to join in the fun. Equipment is available to borrow. All ages welcome from early years to teens and adults.

Saturday 22 August

  • Midday – 5pm – Fun at Basildon Park. Basildon Park, Lower Basildon, Reading RG8 9NR. Join us for Boccia, fun games and more at Basildon Park included in your entry. YouMove families can get free entry by showing your cards on the day.

Week 6

Monday 23 August

Tuesday 24 August

  • 10am-3pm – Free Fun Day Didcot Leisure Centre, Didcot Leisure Centre, Mereland Road, Didcot, OX11 8AY. More information and booking coming soon.

Wednesday 26 August

  • 10am-1pm – Free Summer of Skate, Berinsfield Skate Park. Free event turn up on the day to join in the fun
  • 1.30-4pm – Mini Fun Day, Southern Community Centre, 2 Sorrel Crescent, Didcot OX11 6HQ. More information and booking coming soon.
  • 2pm-5pm – Free Summer of Skate, Chinnor Skate Park. Free event turn up on the day to join in the fun.

Thursday 27 August

Friday 28 August

  • 10am-midday – Free Mini Fun Day Chinnor; Chinnor Recreation Ground, Whites Field, Rear of Mill Lane School, OX39 4RF. More information and booking coming soon.
  • 1-3pm – Free Mini Fun Day Chalgrove; Baron Hurst Drive, Chalgrove, OX44 7TE. More information and booking coming soon.  

Looking ahead to October half term:

Active Leaders Course – Age 14-18

We will be running an Active Leaders Course in the October half term 26-30 October. 4 days of training to gain the Active Leaders Qualification.

Please email youmove@southandvale.gov.uk to register your interest.

Art Centre’s Half Term Activities

The Beacon, Wantage

Keep an eye on The Beacon’s website for even more activities coming soon.  

Cornerstone Arts Centre

Keep an eye on Cornerstone’s website for even more activities coming soon. 

Term Time Activities

We 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 during term time.

To find out more, visit our Term Time Activities page.

Activities for all residents

We also work across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse to help residents with their physical health and wellbeing, running 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.