Blackburn and Darwen Council is offering plenty of free holiday activities to keep children entertained this summer.

Taking place across the borough, there is something on almost every day of the summer break. 

There are live interactive dance sessions, puppet shows, and theatre productions all supported by the British Arts Council, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Blackburn and Darwen Markets.

Working in collaboration with Cultrapedia and Spot Lancashire they hope to bring a wide array of arts and crafts activities.

This week both venues welcome Arcade mini, an interactive dance performance as well as a performance of Beyond The Rooftops - a ten-minute puppet show performed from a vintage travelling trunk.

Readings of childhood classics like The Tiger Who Came for Tea and The Giant Who Slept for Ten Thousand years will be read at Blackburn Market as well as Shadsworth Family Hub.

On August 10 Blackburn hosts a lino print workshop where young people will be encouraged to make beautiful postcards to send to loved ones through the post.

There are also multiple musical options including Ukulele Apothecary which will be performed at both the Blackburn and Darwen market.

Working in collaboration with Cultrapedia and Spot Lancashire they hope to bring a wide array of arts and crafts activities.

There are plenty of fun and educational activities are available at Blackburn and Darwen libraries including K’Nex, Lego and a pop-up scene creation based on Allan Ahlberg’s classic children’s stories.   

Next week Darwen and Roman Road Library will host several arts and crafts sessions including Play Dough, Lego and Paint your own wooden flowers.

On the August 6 Zoolab is coming to both Blackburn and Darwen library. This is the only paid event but has been subsidised to ensure that as many children can see the display of exotic animals.

Tickets will cost £1 for children and £3 for adults.

Darwen Museum will also play host to a multitude holiday workshops which will run alongside the historical collections of manufacturing, industry, social and natural history.

This includes a ceramics session, printing, painting and a focus into the museum’s artifacts throughout August.

Family hubs throughout the local authority will be hosting activities for families ages 0-8 to enjoy over the summer break. Free lunches will also be available at the Hubs and Hancock Street Children’s centre.

Full list of activities

Darwen Library:

Funny Bones (age 5- 12) – 24th July 10:30am to 11:30am

K’Nex – 25th July 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Play Dough & Paint (age 3+) – 31st July 10:30am to 11:30am

Lego (age 5+) – 1st August 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Zoolab age (4-11) – 6th August 1:30pm to 2:30pm – tickets £3 adults, £1 children

Shadow Puppets (age 5-12)- 7th August 10:30am to 11:30am

Meccano (age 5+) – 8th August 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Musical Instrument Making (age 3+) – 12th August 10:30am to 11:30am

Library Olympics (age 5+) – 15th August 10:30am to 11:30am

T-Shirt Studio (age 7-14) – 21st August 10:30am to 11:30am

Pre-School Play – 22nd August 10:30am to 11: 30am

Sensory Sculpture (age 3+) – 28th August 10:30am to 11:30am

Board Games – 29th August 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Blackburn Library:

K’Nex – 25th July 10:30am to 11:30am

Play Dough & Paint (age 3+) – 29th July 10:30am to 11:30am

Lego- (age 5+) – 1st August 10:30am to 11:30am

Shadow Puppets (age 5-12) – 5th August 10:30am to 11:30am

Zoolab (age 4-11) – 6th August 11am to 12pm- tickets £3 adults, £1 children

Scrumptious (Family Fun) – 8th August (time to be confirmed)

Musical Instrument Making (age 3+) – 12th August 10:30am to 11:30am

Library Olympics (age 5+) – 15th August 2:30pm to 3:30pm

T-Shirt Studio (age 7-14) – 19th August 10:30am to 11:30am

Pre-School Play – 22nd August 2:30pm to 3: 30pm

Sensory Sculpture (age 3+) – 29th August 10:30am to 11:30am

Mill Hill Community Centre:

Funny Bones (age 5- 12) – 26th July 10:30am to 11:30am

Play Dough & Paint (age 3+) – 2nd August 10:30am to 11:30am

Shadow Puppets age (5-12) – 9th August 10:30am to 11:30am

Musical Instrument Making (age 3+) – 16th August 10:30am to 11:30am

T-Shirt Studio (age 7-14) – 23rd August 10:30am to 11:30am

Sensory Sculpture (age 3+)- 30th August 210:30am to 11:30am

Cherry Tree Library:

Funny Bones (age 5- 12) – 26th July 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Play Dough & Paint (age 3+) – 2nd August 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Shadow Puppets age (5-12) – 9th August 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Musical Instrument Making (age 3+) – 16th August 2:30pm to 3:30pm

T-Shirt Studio (age 7-14) – 23rd August 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Sensory Sculpture (age 3+) – 30th August 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Roman Road Library:

Play Dough & Paint (age 3+) – 30th July 10:30am to 11:30am

Shadow Puppets age (5-12) – 6th August 10:30am to 11:30am

Musical Instrument Making (age 3+) – 13th August 10:30am to 11:30am

T-Shirt Studio (age 7-14) – 20th August 10:30am to 11:30am

Sensory Sculpture (age 3+) – 27th August 10:30am to 11:30am

Markets:

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is once again working in partnership with local companies Culturapedia and Spot Lancashire bringing you an array of activities for all the family over the break.

Blackburn Market-

Space chickens – 24th July 11am and 2pm

Arcade mini – 26th July 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2:30pm

This tree belongs to me – 27th July 11am, 1pm and 2:30pm

Beyond the rooftops – 31st July: 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

The giant who slept for ten thousand years – 2nd August 11am and 1:30pm

Ukulele Apothecary – 3rd August 11:30am, 1pm and 2:30pm

Puppet petting farm – 9th August 11:30am, 1pm and 2:30pm

Lino print workshop – 10th August 11am to 3pm

Air drying clay workshop – 17th August 11am to 3pm

Placards of kindness – 23rd August 11am to 3pm

The old green time machine – 24th August 11:30am and 1:30pm

Circus skills workshop – 30th August 11am to 3pm

Splat! – 31st August 11:30am and 1:30pm

Darwen Market –

Paint your own wooden flowers – 31st July 11am to 3pm

Print your own tote bag – 20th July 11am to 3pm

Beyond the rooftops – 24th July 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Space chickens – 24th July 11am and 2pm

Arcade mini – 27th July 11am, 12pm and 2:30pm

Ukulele Apothecary – 2nd August 11am, 1pm and 2:30pm

The giant who slept for ten thousand years – 3rd August 11am and 1:30pm

Puppet petting farm – 10th August 11:30am, 1pm and 2:30pm

Placards of kindness – 9th August 11am to 3pm

Air drying clay workshop -16th August 11am to 3pm

The old green time machine – 23rd August 11:30am and 1:30pm

Lino print workshop – 24th August 11am to 3pm

Splat! – 30th August 11:30am and 1:30pm

Circus skills workshop – 31st August 11am to 3pm

Blackburn Museum:

Blackburn Museum which is home to some fascinating collections including manufacturing and industry, coins, social and natural history, will be hosting free summer holiday workshops from 12pm to 3pm. 

Get crafty and Museum activities (Every Saturday)

M.R x Museum – 30th, 31st July and 1st August 12pm to 3pm

Ceramics – 6th, 7th and 8th August 12pm to 3pm

Printing – 13th, 14th and 15th August 12pm to 3pm

Painting – 20th, 21st and 22nd August 12pm to 3pm

Museum Week – 27th, 28th and 29th August 12pm to 3pm

Family Hubs and Children’s centres

Our Family Hubs and Children’s centres are also hosting activities for families ages 0-8 year old to enjoy over the summer break. Free lunches are also available at the Hubs and Hancock street childrens centre. Ring 01254 585000 to register. Take a look at the full rundown of activities:

Livesey Family Hub:

Breastfeeding Support group – 30th July 1pm to 2pm

Messy Play- 1st August 1pm to 2:30pm

Gingerbread Man – 2nd August 1pm to 2:30pm

Breastfeeding Support group- 6th, 9th & 20th August 1pm to 2pm

Making play dough- 8th August 1pm to 2:30pm

Commotion in the ocean – 9th August 10am – 11:30am

The tiger who came for tea – 15th August 1pm to 2:30pm

Teddy bears picnic – 16th August 10am- 11:30am (please bring a teddy bear)

Splish and splash – 22nd August 1pm to 2:30pm (please bring a spare change of clothes)

Rhyme time – 23rd August 10am to 11:30am

Little Harwood Family Hub:

Teddy bears picnic – 30th July 1pm- 2:30pm (please bring a teddy bear)

Breastfeeding Support group- 1st, 8th, 15th & 22nd August 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Handa’s surprise – 2nd August 1pm to 2:30pm

We’re going on a bear hunt – 6th August 12:30pm to 2:30pm

Splish and Splash – 9th August 12:30pm to 1:30pm (Please bring a change of clothes)

Messy Play – 13th August 1pm to 2:30pm

Making play dough – 16th August 1pm to 2:30pm

Rhyme Time – 20th August 1pm to 2:30pm

Commotion in the ocean – 23rd August 1pm to 2:30pm

Shadsworth Family Hub:

Making play dough – 31st July 10am to 11:30am

Breastfeeding support group- 31st July, 7th, 14th and 21st August 1pm to 2pm

The tiger who came for tea – 1st August 10:30am to 12pm

Teddy bear picnics – 7th August 10am to 11:30am (please bring a teddy bear with you)

Rhyme time – 8th August 10:30am to 12pm

Splish and splash – 14th August 10am to 11:30am (please bring a spare change of clothes)

Commotion in the ocean – 15th August 10:30am to 12pm

Old McDonald had a farm – 21st August 10am to 11:30am

Messy Play – 22nd August 10:30am to 12pm

Darwen Family Hub:

Splish and splash- 29th July 1pm to 2:30pm

Rhyme time – 30th July 10am to 11:30am

Breastfeeding support group – 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rdAugust 10am to 11am

Goldilocks and the Three bears – 5th August 1pm to 2:30pm

Making play dough – 6th August 10am to 11:30am

Messy play – 12th August 1pm to 2:30pm

Farmer duck – 13th August 10am to 11:30am

Colour monster – 19th August 1pm to 2:30pm

Teddy bears picnic – 20th August 10am to 11:30am (please bring a teddy bear with you)

Wensley Fold Children’s Centre:

Breastfeeding support group – 29th July, 5th,12th and 19th August

Higher Croft Children’s Centre:

Were going on a bear hunt – 29th July 1pm to 2:30pm

Making play dough – 5th August 1pm to 2:30pm

Splish and Splash – 12th August 1pm to 2:30pm (please bring a spare change of clothes)

Messy Play – 19th August 1pm to 2:30pm