Top Family activities to do during May Half-Term

May Half Term Activities

Wed 25 Apr 2018

Families can look forward to a fun-filled, action-packed week in Derby this May half term at our leisure centres, parks, libraries and venues.

Queen’s Leisure Centre has plenty on for those looking to get in the water. Family Splash sessions will be running on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1-3pm, on Saturday from 2-4pm and on Sunday from 9am-2:30pm. These sessions offer you the chance to enjoy the pool through a fun and easy going session with floats and pool toys. Take advantage of the Family Swim Offer paying just £9 for a family of 4 to swim, saving £5.90 for each session!

The kids can have great fun at the pool party on Saturday from 2:30pm-3.30pm, Tuesday 1pm-3pm and Thursday 1pm-3pm. There’ll be music, floats and inflatables, and the chance to have fun with family and friends! If you just want to swim, there will be daily public swim sessions, our This Girl Can sessions on Mondays and Thursdays held for women and girls, and our new men only sessions on Mondays.

For other ways to keep kids active during half-term Springwood Leisure Centre has a full programme of fun activities. On Wednesday kids aged 4 to 10 years can take part in a Giant Games Session, with games such as Connect Four, Tumblr Tower, Parachute, Twister, Race the Mat and more. For the younger kids Springwood has Bouncy Castle and Soft Play sessions on Thursdays, from age crawling to 6 years kids.

Any children looking for something a bit different to do this half-term will love Springwood’s Ninja Warrior style circuit session. On Friday children will have the chance to complete the fun and challenging obstacle course, trying time trials on their own and as part of a team. It’ll cost just £5 for you to give your kids the chance to be mini ninjas. Throughout the whole week Springwood is also offering drop in table tennis, just call in any time between 9am and 4pm to play in these open sessions for just £2.

Derby County Community Trust are offering the opportunity to attend multi-sport activity camps at Derby Arena, from Tuesday to Thursday, which is promised to be fun, educational and all within a safe environment. Ages from reception to year six children can grow and try new sports such as football, cricket and rounders in Derby Arena indoor courts. 

Derby Arena is offering racket sports for half price throughout half-term, families can book table tennis, badminton or pickleball courts for half the usual price.

Movement gym sessions will be available for young people aged 12-16 at Derby Arena, Queen’s Leisure Centre and Springwood Leisure Centre. These sessions give young people the opportunity to use gym facilities for just £1.20.

If you're a keen cyclists, or just getting on a bike, you won’t be short of activities this half term. Derby Arena will be running Youth Beginner Cycling sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Friday for young people aged 9 to 15 years to try out track cycling for the first time. Family Track Cycling sessions will also be running on these days for those aged 9 and over, for a chance for the whole family to get on the track.

There’s plenty for families to do in the sunny weather across Derby Parks this half term. At Markeaton Park Mundy Play Centre will provide kids with the opportunity to play in the park from 10:30am to 4:30pm. Kids can enjoy the paddling pool and the large play area, including the Adventure Galley ship, for free, and can pay and play activities such as the bouncy castle and car and bike track.

Kids can keep active in Derby Parks this half term with golf at Markeaton Park, from the 18 hole crazy golf circuit for all ages to Pitch and Putt and Footgolf  for something new and different! With Derby Active’s pitches teams can play on Artificial Turf Pitches for just £15 at Moorways Stadium and Springwood Leisure Centre. If the weather is looking beautiful then Markeaton Tennis Courts are the ideal place to spend the afternoon, tennis courts must be booked online here with some free slots available.

You can look forward to a fun day for all to enjoy on Sunday 3 June  as The Big 1 returns to Chaddesden Park, from 11am to 5pm. Fun is guaranteed with a fair with everything from children’s to scary rides, plus the side stalls to tempt ride-goers. There will be exhibitions, stalls, dance and live entertainment as well as everybody’s favourite, the food arena! The inflatable and funfair operators will provide everything from children’s inflatables, such as a giant slide, to scary rides and side stalls. 

The Guildhall Theatre is the place for families to be this May half-term with shows for kids of all ages. Harry Potter fans are in for a treat with Celebrating the Harry Potter books with Fleurble Laffalot, during which you will discover fun facts about the books, take part in some of the key elements of life at Hogwarts and so much more. This funny, silly event is perfect for any kids that want to explore the magical world of Harry Potter books. 

All the family will enjoy seeing There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly  on Sunday 3 June. This magical show was written especially for grown-ups to enjoy with their children, so the you can expect to relive the delights of this most charming tale complete with a feast of sing along songs, colourful animal characters and heart-warming family fun. The songs in the show including If You're Happy and You Know It, Incy Wincy Spider and many more are available to sing along to on The People's Theatre Company's website  so  you can have a listen and join in when you visit the theatre! 

Book lovers can enjoy the half term in one of the many libraries across Derby. On Saturday 2 June families can attend a free Family Lego club at Alvaston Library, from 10:30am-12 noon. Babies and toddlers up to 3 years can also enjoy free half hour sessions of music and rhymes at Rhymetime in libraries across Derby. Information on dates and times for each library can be found here.

Find out more about all of our holiday activities here.