Family days out in Birmingham this summer

Jul 18 2009

Birmingham City Council has put families to the front of the queue this summer with a vast array of value for money fun days and many free to ensure every child is kept active over the summer holiday.

Whatever the age there is a wealth of free and inexpensive options available to stimulate and amuse the kids this summer.

A main feature for the summer will be Monarch Beach at Chamberlain Square, where they’ll be buckets and spades and sand between the toes with lots of live entertainment and other beach paraphernalia. Playday will also be back at Chamberlain square where a host of traditional games and activities for children aged 5 – 13 will be available for all to enjoy.

For the creative types, Colour Splash at the Waterhall gallery is showing children the importance colour plays in art. If you’re after a more energetic experience, Birmingham’s Carnival, August 2, at Perry Park will offer a completely different show of colour, with a procession of live music and dancing.

Councillor Martin Mullaney, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture, said: “I'm confident that the events we’re offering to the Birmingham community will ensure that no diary is left untouched. There's a great and wide variety of activities on offer with many of them free. It’s the perfect chance to get out and about this summer at one of our parks, leisure centres, museums and libraries.”

There will also be a host of other special events to make the most of within Birmingham. Families can get out and about with a bike ride at any of the parks, or visit the ocelot or baby ring-tailed lemur at the Nature Centre. www.birmingham.gov.uk/parks is a great starting point.

Throughout the summer holidays, city council pools are offering half-price crash courses to learn to swim: five half-hour lessons over five days will cost less than £10. In addition, Strokes swimming lessons are also available for a small charge and all children aged 16 and under can swim for free in council indoor swimming pools as often as they like.

There’s also the Quest Seekers challenge at all of the council’s local libraries. To find out what’s on contact your local library or visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/libraries.

In addition to Colour Splash, many of the museums, galleries and historic sites will have even more to offer. Matthew Boulton is another exhibition running right through the summer and there’s the reopening of Aston Hall on July 18. See www.bmag.org.uk for more details.