Free Days Out, Fencing & Fire Pits: How We Found Epic Summer Activities Through Our Local Council
Summer holidays can feel like trying to keep eight squirrels entertained in a caravan—expensive, chaotic, and filled with someone crying over the last ice pop.
But last year, we discovered something incredible: our local council had a whole summer of activities lined up, funded through the main council and shared via their community Facebook page. And we made the absolute most of it.
🧗 What Did We Get Up To?
This wasn’t your standard “glue stick and glitter” situation. We’re talking proper adventures:
- 🧗 Rock climbing and abseiling
- 🐐 Walking with goats
- 🎠 Inflatables and fairground rides
- 🥋 Taekwondo taster sessions
- 🌿 Craft walks through the community garden
- 🔥 Fire pit storytelling and s’mores with a Viking twist
- 🎨 Fimo clay modelling sessions
- 💻 BBC micro:bit coding in the library
- 🥪 Packed or hot meals for the kids included in most events
All of this came from council-funded events, not specifically the Healthy Holidays (HAF) scheme. Most were open to everyone, and we spotted them simply by keeping an eye on our local council’s Facebook page.
Only one community event we attended was also cross-posted under the Healthy Holidays section of the council website—but the rest were separate, inclusive, and absolutely free.
🗺️ How We Found Out About It
Simple. We followed these three steps:
- 👍 Follow your local council’s Facebook page – That’s where we saw 90% of the listings.
- 🔔 Turn on notifications for posts – Events go live quickly and fill fast.
- 💬 Join local parenting or area-based Facebook groups – Parents share and tag one another when new stuff drops.
No complicated sign-ups. Some events used Eventbrite or direct council booking links, but it was mostly first-come, first-served and clearly explained.
🧐 Who Can Join In?
Unlike the Healthy Holidays scheme (which focuses on children receiving free school meals or pupil premium), these council-organised events were:
- 🧒 Open to the wider public
- 🕓 Held across different days and venues
- 🍴 Often included meals/snacks for kids
- ✅ Accessible with no proof of income required
There were occasionally booking limits or priority given to those in need—but we found plenty of spaces by acting fast and checking regularly.
✅ How to Make It Work For You
Want to pull off your own epic, budget-friendly summer like this? Here’s the plan:
- 🔍 Find your local council on Facebook – Like and follow.
- 📅 Bookmark their Events tab – Check every few days during holiday lead-ups.
- 📨 Subscribe to council newsletters – Some email out activity roundups.
- 📢 Talk to your local library, children’s centre or school – They often know what’s happening.
- 🧭 Follow regional funders or initiatives – Some events are funded by regional schemes or external organisations but promoted via the council.
🧠 Final Thoughts from DadinCommand
This summer was an absolute game-changer for us. The kids made memories, tried new things, and we didn’t have to remortgage the toaster to make it happen.
So if you’re a parent with one kid, eight kids, or somewhere in between—don’t sleep on your council’s offerings. The funding is there, the fun is real, and all it takes is a bit of tactical scrolling.
Keep your eye on the feed. The next adventure could be one post away.
🎯 Pro tip: Want a shortcut? Search “[Your Town] Council Facebook” and filter for posts tagged with “events”, “free”, or “holiday clubs”.
🪖 Over and out,
— DadinCommand