Hello! A quieter weekend by summer holiday standards, but if you find yourselves at a loose end there's still a decent spread, with a free dog show at Westpoint that the kids and your family pup can actually enter, a whole free children's festival starting up in Sidmouth, and a final chance to catch a flying car at the Northcott.
This Weekend's Pick
Paignton Dog Show, Westpoint (FREE)
One of the South West's biggest dog shows lands at Westpoint this weekend, and it's free to get in. Fair warning that this one is mostly for the dog-lovers, but there's a surprising amount to watch, with championship judging, agility, flyball and trade stands running Friday to Sunday, 7am to 6pm.
The bit that makes it for families is Saturday's Companion Dog Show, an enter-on-the-day fun class that's open to anyone, so if the kids have ever wanted to show off the family dog, this is their moment (it's all in aid of Parson Russell Terrier Rescue). Sunday adds flyball demonstrations and a have-a-go session.
| When: | Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August, 7am to 6pm. Companion Dog Show on Saturday. |
| Where: | Westpoint, Clyst St Mary, EX5 1DJ (about 15 minutes from Exeter) |
| Cost: | Free entry. Parking £10 per car, paid on the day. |
More Good Stuff
Princess Play, Princesshay (FREE)
Princesshay's main square has been turned into a free all-age playground for the summer, with grass, seating and play features right in the middle of town. There's no booking and no cost, so it works best as a pit-stop if you're in the city anyway, and the summer independent makers' market starts alongside it this Saturday.
| When: | Saturday 9:30am to 6pm, Sunday 10:30am to 4:30pm |
| Where: | Princesshay main square, Exeter EX1 1GE |
| Cost: | Free |
Sidmouth Folk Festival Children's Festival (worth the drive)
The folk festival takes over Sidmouth from Friday, and tucked inside it is a free children's festival running all week on Peacock Lawn. The daytime programme costs nothing and is mostly drop-in, with giant bubbles, a circus skills show and juggling workshops on Saturday, then a flea circus, Punch and Judy and maypole dancing on Sunday.
Evening family shows are ticketed at £14 for adults with under-11s free, but the daytime programme is the real winner. It's about 40 minutes' drive, and grabbing a free Children's Season Ticket online gets you priority at the busier sessions.
| When: | Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August, daytime (festival runs to 7 August) |
| Where: | Peacock Lawn, Blackmore Drive, Sidmouth EX10 8LQ (about 40 minutes from Exeter) |
| Cost: | Daytime activities free. Evening family shows £14 adult, £7 child, under-11s free. |
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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Exeter Northcott
Chitty finishes its run at the Northcott on Saturday, with shows at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, and in all honesty it nearly didn't make the list on price alone: £34.50 for adults and £31.50 for under-16s is a lot for an afternoon out.
But it's the last chance to see the flying car, it's a full-scale family musical, and the 2:30pm matinee is the one to aim for with younger ones. Book ahead.
| When: | Saturday 1 August, 2:30pm and 7:30pm (final performances) |
| Where: | Exeter Northcott Theatre, Stocker Road, EX4 4QB |
| Cost: | £34.50 adults, £31.50 under-16s |
One free thing
Festival of Archaeology Open Day, St Nicholas Priory (FREE)
St Nicholas Priory, the oldest building in Exeter and tucked away off Fore Street, is holding a free Festival of Archaeology open day on Saturday, 11am to 4pm. There are hands-on activities for kids alongside guided tours and displays on what's been dug up around the city, with local archaeology groups there to chat to.
Free entry with donations welcome, and Mary Arches car park is a five-minute walk away.
| When: | Saturday 1 August, 11am to 4pm |
| Where: | St Nicholas Priory, Mint Lane, off Fore Street, EX4 3BL |
| Cost: | Free, donations welcome |
That's everything worth knowing about for this weekend. If you go to anything and it's either brilliant or a disaster, hit reply and say so. It comes straight to the inbox. Have a good one.
Details change. Check each venue's website before setting off, especially for timed entry or one-off events.
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