February half-term is just around the corner, meaning many parents will be racking their brains for ideas to keep their children entertained for a week. Luckily, there are many options around the Harrogate district to help – keeping both your children and your bank balance happy.
Whether you fancy some fresh air, culture or just harmless fun, we’ve pulled together seven ideas for all the family.
Birchfield Farm: Spring on The Farm
A rural and inexpensive option, Birchfield Farm in Summerbridge will be open 7 days a week for the duration of the school holidays.
Spring on The Farm invites visitors to see pregnant sheep settling in the barns before birth. Some people may even be lucky enough to witness a baby lamb being born. Visitors are also able to bottle feed the lambs from 11am-2pm on a first come, first served basis.
Children can also enjoy seeing piglets, goats, ponies, donkeys and even pet the guinea pigs.
If that isn’t enough, children can also burn off steam on the bouncy castle, play in the mini construction play area and in the outdoor play area. Go-Karts, pedal tractors, swings and a giant outdoor sandpit can also be enjoyed.
The farm also has a café serving hot and cold food & drinks.
All activities are included in the entrance prices – with adults & children’s prices set at £5.95 and under 2s going free.
No booking is required. No dogs are permitted, except for guide dogs or service dogs.
For more information, click here.
Harrogate Indoor Funfair
If your child requires a little (or a lot) more tiring out over half-term, Harrogate Indoor Funfair could be a great option for you. The Funfair will run from 11-19 February, with a quieter session being held on 12 February from 10am-1pm.
With rides, traditional funfair snacks and inflatables, Harrogate Indoor Funfair offers all the joy of a regular funfair in an indoor, climate-controlled space. A nice way to shelter from the inevitable half-term rain.
Harrogate Indoor Funfair will take place at Yorkshire Event Centre, at the Yorkshire Showground. There is free parking at Yorkshire Events Centre and priority parking for Blue Badge holders.
The number 7 and X70 buses stop at Sainsbury’s on Wetherby Road, just one mile from the Funfair entrance.
Prices range from: £12.99 online and £14.99 on the door. Babies in arms go free.
Keep an eye on their website for the upcoming ride list.
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Half-Term Kids Yoga Workshop
If your child has ever asked what you get up to whilst they’re at school, this half-term activity may give them an idea.
Harrogate Yoga and Pilates studio, Ebru Evrim, is hosting a one and a half hour kids yoga workshop this half-term.
The workshop will be brought to life with specially designed music linked to the theme and stories behind the session and lead the children to ultimate relaxation.
The workshop is set to improve concentration and focus, as well as aiding the children to deal with their emotions and self-regulation of moods.
Who knows, your child may even go to bed without any protest that night.
The workshop host, Jenny White, holds a DBS, is fully insured and is also paediatric first aid trained.
Children can expect a day of yoga, arts, dance, mindfulness and, most importantly, lots of fun.
The session is suitable for ages 6-11 years and will cost £12.
Find more information here.
Ebru Evrim is hosting a kids yoga session.
The Little Gym Holiday Camps: School’s Out, Fun’s In
For those children that may require a little more bounce in their half-term break, The Little Gym Holiday Camps may be a good solution.
Running from Monday 13-Sunday 19 February, The Little Gym in Harrogate is offering gymnastics camps that run from 8.30am-5pm – including a Breakfast Club to help those parents working over the holiday. The camps vary from as little as 3 hours to 7.5 hours a day and children will learn new skills that they can practise and perfect throughout the session.
The sessions vary each week to stimulate children both physically and mentally, all under the care of qualified and dedicated instructors.
The camps, classes and session suitability ranges from 3-8 & 5-12 years.
Half-day prices begin at £35.
Click here for more information.
Ripon Ghost Walk: Children’s Half-Term Special
The Ripon Ghost Walk half-term special is a spookily inexpensive option to feed your child’s fear-factor!
The half-term special Ghost Walk promises the discovery of ancient burial sites, bone finds and maybe even the presence of deceased Ripon residents.
The half-term Ghost Walk begins much earlier than usual at 16.15pm in the Market Square, meaning it will be dark enough for the ghosts to come out, but early enough to ensure your children are still in bed on time.
Prices start from £4 for under 16s and £6 for adults.
Find more information on their website.
Beyond Imagination Emporium Princess Academy: Valentine’s Special
Calling all Prince and Princesses! Beyond Imagination Emporium in Harrogate is re-opening their Princess Academy this February half-term with a Valentine’s special.
The one-hour Princess Academy sessions take place on select dates during school holidays.
There are two Princess Academy sessions taking place on Saturday 11 February. At 11am, children will be joined by Frozen’s Anna and Kristoff, while the 2pm session will be hosted by Beauty and The Beast’s Prince Adam & Belle.
Children spend time learning royal dances, princess etiquette, arts and crafts and fairy-tale play. The session includes sweet treats for the children, as well as refreshments for the parents.
Children can also make a Valentine’s Day card to give to someone special to them.
The sessions cost £13.95 and are ideal for ages 3 – 9 years.
Find more information here.
Children can meet their favourite Prince and Princesses.
Fountains Abbey: Mindful Family Crafts
If you’re looking to join your children in their half-term fun, Fountains Abbey in Ripon is hosting a Mindful Family Crafts event.
The crafting will take place in Swanley Grange, located in the grounds of the Abbey. The event will be running from 11 – 19 February (excluding 12 February), starting at 11am.
Children and parents can get their creative juices flowing using sustainable and natural materials.
The event is suitable for all ages and abilities. Those that may prefer to craft quietly can attend the “crafting quiet hour” from 2pm – 3pm.
The event itself is free, but regular admissions prices apply. Admission for one adult and three children starts from £27.
Click here for more information.
Lib Dems ‘angry about loss of Harrogate funfair and Christmas market’The leader of the Liberal Democrats on Harrogate Borough Council has expressed anger at the loss of the Harrogate Christmas Market and the annual funfair on the Stray.
In a statement sent to the Stray Ferret, Cllr Pat Marsh asked why the council couldn’t have been more supportive of the events and pro-active in making them happen.
She also said there was a danger of the Harrogate district acquiring a “reputation of not welcoming and not being supportive of special events”.
She said:
“The Lib Dems on Harrogate Borough Council are very angry at the way that annual events are being cancelled.
“First it was the local Christmas market. That meant local artisans won’t be able to sell their products to residents.
“Now we have the annual funfair being cancelled. That is something thousands of young people have enjoyed over many, many years.
“Why has this been allowed to happen? Why couldn’t the council be more supportive?”
Cllr Marsh also said the decision to prevent the events from going ahead was not one made by all councillors. She was not allowed to attend talks between council officers and the former Christmas market organisers. She said:
“We need to ensure that all councillors are kept informed and have a chance to have an input, we are all elected by the residents to act on their behalf.”
We sent Cllr Marsh’s statement to Harrogate Borough Council for a response but did not receive a reply by the time of publication.
Read more:
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- Original Harrogate Christmas Market will not return next year
What happened to the annual Harrogate funfair?
The family that stages the funfair told the Stray Ferret the event would not go ahead because Harrogate Borough Council hiked the charge for using Stray land.
Ruby Wilson, who has taken over organising the fair on behalf of her dad John Jameson, said the council had doubled the price from £5,000 to £10,000.
With additional costs on top, including VAT and a £2,000 deposit in case the Stray is damaged, Ms Wilson said the event was no longer viable. The council disputes the claims.
What happened to Harrogate Christmas Market?
Harrogate Borough Council refused a licence for the Harrogate Christmas Market due to concerns about coronavirus, overcrowding and terrorism.
After three weeks of wrangling with the council, co-organiser Brian Dunsby admitted defeat in his battle to hold the event on Montpellier Hill.
It later emerged the council had been engaged in talks with Manchester-based organisers Market Place Europe in March and has now ramped up those discussions about staging an alternative Christmas market in December.
Historic Harrogate funfair cancelled after ‘council price hike’The annual August Bank Holiday funfair on the Stray in Harrogate, which dates back to 1953, will not take place this weekend following a row over fees.
The family that stages the event told the Stray Ferret the event would not go ahead because Harrogate Borough Council had hiked the charge for using Stray land.
Ruby Wilson, who has taken over organising the fair on behalf of her dad John Jameson, said the council had doubled the price from £5,000 to £10,000.
With additional costs on top, including VAT and a £2,000 deposit in case the Stray is damaged, Ms Wilson said the event was no longer viable.
Read more:
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- Original Harrogate Christmas Market will not return next year
Mr Jameson was at the first fair when the Corrigan family ran it. The Shaw family later took it on before the Jameson family stepped up. He told the Stray Ferret:
“The council did not provide any reason for such a big price hike. We just cannot afford to pay that, the fair does not make that much money.
“Our family has strong connections with Harrogate so it is sad for us to not be able to put the fun fair on. We will try again next year.
“Over the years we have been forced to give up the number of days we use the Stray and now we are facing a big price hike. It just does not feel fair.”
But the council disputed the claims. A spokesman said:
“The council have not had any contact from the organisers concerning the funfair since April this year, meaning it is now too late for them to submit an event plan for the coming weekend.
“If they contact us directly we are more than happy to discuss arrangements for future years”.