This year’s Reading Children’s Festival celebrates its 35th anniversary with three fun packed weeks of events and activities for children all over the borough.
The festival got off to an exciting start with Forbury Fiesta on Saturday 11th May, where there was something for everyone to get involved with on the day. Reading Children’s Festival promises to bring plenty of fun, mayhem and madness.
From sport and music workshops to fun days with art and craft sessions, take your pick from the many exciting events taking place at venues across Reading.
This year’s festival is celebrating everything sporty as we get ready for this year’s Olympics and Euros with a vibrant mix of sport themed events across the borough.
There was something for everyone to get involved with including sport and music workshops and arts and craft sessions.
- Going for Gold was an Olympic-inspired workshop and make a medal
- Sport in Mind were offering badminton and archery taster sessions throughout the day
- BETTER were running a timed obstacle course whilst wearing swimming hats and goggles
- Avanti Cycling CIC featured free Dr Bike safety checks as well as a bicycle obstacle and mini cycle course
Wimbledon came to Forbury Fiesta with a showing of Anyone For Tennis? an interactive show in front of the main stage. And Theatre train was in the main arena performing dance highlights followed by a dance masterclass. There was also tombola’s, food and drink stalls, face painting and lots more.
Forbury Fiesta will be followed by three weeks of exciting low cost family events taking place at venues across Reading, including many with a sporty theme; from Green Park 3K and Mini Mile, free Thames river cruises for under 14s, kayak taster sessions, learn calligraphy with Reading Chinese School, fun and creative sessions at all of the council’s libraries from paper plane making to biscuit decorating and lots more plus karaoke at Reading Biscuit Factory.
Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Leisure and Culture said: “I’m delighted our fantastic Children’s Festival is returning for its 35th year, ahead of a summer of sport with the Paris Olympics and Euros.”
“Our Children’s Festival is always maximum full-on fun for children and parents alike, do pop along and try something new during the three weeks of fun free and affordable events across the borough.”
Reading Borough Council’s 2024 Children’s Festival is sponsored by Station Hill. Find out about all of the Children’s Festival events here www.reading.gov.uk/cfest24
Photos by Paul King
