We’re getting into the third week of the summer holidays now. The kids are bored of their bikes (ok, X-boxes), you’ve taken them to see Harry Potter 4 times and they’re threatening to make you go and see Ice Age for the 6th time. Luckily, you live in Greenwich, so there are plenty of things happening to keep the younger folk entertained this week.
Blackheath Halls are running some rather imaginative workshops every morning aimed at bringing out your children’s creative sides. Activities include making an enchanted garden, learning to dance salsa and having a go at taiko drumming (I’m not quite sure what that is either but I imagine that’s the point!) There’s even a class teaching Maypole dancing; 4 months out of date, maybe, but at least they’ll know for next year and it is marginally healthier than X-box.
For the very little ones, the Old Royal Naval College are also getting creative on Friday afternoon with their back-to-back ‘Animaltastic’ and ‘Tactile Tales’. The former is a finger-puppet making session and the latter tells the story of kings and queens through a multi-sensory rug. Greenwich Theatre is also showing a musical adaptation of The Gruffalo from Thursday to Saturday, which if you’re anything like me will probably be as much of a treat for the adults as it is for the children.
If your kids are now old enough to not really be kids anymore, but lucky enough to still have summer holidays, they may wish to check out The Albany’s Summer Arts Season, a series of courses for budding film-makers, actors and scriptwriters that starts this week. Most of the courses run for 3 weeks but there are some 1 week courses available too, all from as little as £10 / week. Throughout August under 16s also get in free to the British Music Experience at the o2, who are hosting their own Summer Kids’ Festival, with master classes in hip-hop, drumming and other ‘cool’ stuff, beginning this week.
Finally, in the ‘Fun for All the Family’ category, this weekend Greenwich Park will be hosting the Thai Festival at the bandstand area. There’ll be live music, dancing, Thai massage and craft stalls, but, like Thailand, it’s really all about the food. Our city’s best Thai restaurateurs will be out in force and if you’re feeling brave you can even have a go at making green curry yourself in one of the cookery classes.
Is there anything else happening in Greenwich this week? Add details of your own events in the comments section of this post.