The summer holidays are here! Your kids are off for six weeks and will want entertaining throughout the whole summer, it’s no easy task! To give you parents a helping hand, we’ve made a list of some amazing things to do with kids this summer, many of which will keep you big kids happy too.

Jimmy’s Sausage & Beer Festival

Jimmy’s Farm Sausage and Beer Festival combines the best of music and food in equal parts! As finalists in the 2014 UK Festival Awards for Best Small Festival and Best Grass Roots Festival, it’s great value for money and an experience for every age and stage. Did we mention there is sausage and beer?

Saturday 25th July 11 am – Sunday 26th July 11 pm
Wherstead, Ipswich
Family Festival Ticket: £50 (2 adults, 2 kids)

Standon Calling Festival

The event that started as a birthday BBQ with a couple of DJs and a handful of friends has become the perfect summer escape for festival-goers. Within an hour of London, its loyal audience returns to Standon for upcoming acts; interactive art installations; immersive theatre plus the silly stuff including a fancy dress parade and the annual dog show.

Friday 31st July 12 pm – Monday 3rd August 2 pm
Standon, Hertfordshire
Teen Family Bundle  £99.80 (2 adults + 3 teens)

Chilled in a Field Festival

Chilled in a Field Festival is a feel-good modern family-friendly festival. Having kids doesn’t mean you have to miss out on amazing live music and DJs until late into the night, ensuring the childfree will love it too. There will be activities & workshops suitable for all, a mini beer festival courtesy of CAMRA & delectable food from local vendors.

Friday 31st July 12 pm – Sunday 2nd August 11:30 pm
Halland, East Sussex
£1-£75

Learn to Haka

Come and learn about the haka with Maori performing arts company, Manaia. Discover what the haka means, and learn all the words and the actions too, as your kids will find out it’s more than just sticking your tongue out. Your little ones will learn all about Maori culture and get their own Maori tattoo, don’t worry they’re temporary!

Museum of Classical Archaeology, Cambridge
Monday 3rd August 2:50 pm – 4 pm
FREE

Jedi Academy Training

A day camp for wannabe Jedis aged 5 to 10 years: all ‘padawans’ will get to make their own lightsaber; shoot a storm trooper and battle a Sith Lord amongst other antics. The force is strong with this event in entertaining the kids and immersing them in to the Star Wars universe. This event is available on the 3rd, 4th & 7th August.

Tittensor, Staffordshire
Monday 3rd August
£35

Bugsy Malone Outdoor Film Screening

The University of Edinburgh’s Old College quadrangle will transform into an open air cinema during the Fringe for a series of film screenings. Festival-goers can bring a picnic and watch classic films under the stars on the quad lawn. This screening of Bugsy Malone should keep the kids entertained, but be warned, they may be asking for a spurge gun this Christmas!

Old College, Quadrangle, Edinburgh
Saturday 15th August 1 pm – 2:35 pm
£6.50

Boredom Busters Nature Day

Join the Rangers to hunt for mini-beasts in Tatton’s ponds and woodlands and take a trailer ride to get a closer look at the deer. This nature day is suitable for children aged 5 or above, accompanied by an adult, and is sure to entertain and educate both kids and big kids a like.

Tatton Park, Cheshire
Tuesday 18th August 1o am – 1 pm
Adult £8  Child (5+) £4

Asylum SteamPunk Festival

Photo Credit Martin SoulStealer: Flickr

Weekend at the Asylum is the longest running and largest steampunk festival in the world. Thousands of steampunks from around the globe will take over the historic quarter of Lincoln to enjoy entertainments, features and fun in venues including Lincoln Castle. If your kids loving dressing up and love gadgets, this is the event for them!

Bailgate, Lincolnshire
Friday 28th August 4:30 pm – Monday 31st August 11:30 pm
£6.50-£35

Towersey Festival

Towersey Festival is one of the UK’s longest running independent music festivals. Their 51st edition this summer will an eclectic music lineup plus gourmet street food; real ale and cider; an extensive workshop programme; circus, theatre and a host of family-friendly activities.

Thame, Oxfordshire
Friday 28th August 9 am – Monday 31st August 9 pm
£5 – £160

SPARK Brighton

Spark is a one-day festival of ideas, sparking new ways for children to learn digital skills. Families and school groups will be able to try out 3D printing; coding and making robots; plus build apps, websites and games; turn everyday objects into musical instruments and make flashing art with electric paint.

Claredon Centre, Brighton
Tuesday 1st September 10:30am – 4:30 pm
FREE