A strong selection to choose from this weekend, with two free festivals (one Saturday, one Sunday), a car show full of movie machines, and a medieval day in the oldest building in Exeter.
Here are the 5 things to do that are guaranteed to keep your little ones entertained (for a bit, at least).
This Weekend's Pick
Green Phoenix Festival
Exeter Phoenix throws open its doors and courtyard for its yearly sustainability festival. Free, and good fun: live music, hands-on workshops, food stalls and a load of community activities, all in one spot.
It's right in the city centre, a short walk from Exeter Central station, and easy to dip in and out of, which is exactly what you want with the little ones.
| When | Sunday 5 July, from 11am |
| Where | Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, EX4 3LS |
| Cost | Free, no booking needed |
More Good Stuff
Love St Thomas Summer Festival
A free community festival in the Old Churchyard at St Thomas, with live music, DJs and a food market.
Plenty for the kids too: Uncle Tacko's Flea Circus, a bouncy castle, face painting and the Bubble Fairy, plus a Big Fish Little Fish family disco to burn off the fizzy drinks. A chilled and easy Saturday afternoon option.
| When | Saturday 4 July, 12pm to 7pm |
| Where | The Old Churchyard, Cowick Street, EX4 1AP |
| Cost | Free |
Medieval Day at St Nicholas Priory
A full day of medieval music and storytelling inside St Nicholas Priory, which at over 900 years old is the oldest building in Exeter.
The one for families is the 4:30pm Beowulf Puppet Show: Rattlebox Theatre tell the Anglo-Saxon epic with handmade puppets and live music. It's 45 minutes, atmospheric, and best for ages 8 and up.
The rest of the day leans grown-up, a 2pm hurdy-gurdy workshop (£20) and a 7pm medieval music concert (£15), so the puppet show is the one for the kids.
| When | Saturday 4 July, Beowulf at 4:30pm (doors 4pm) |
| Where | St Nicholas Priory, The Mint, EX4 3BL |
| Cost | £10 adult, £8 child. Book ahead. |
| Ages | Best for 8 and up |
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Worth the Drive
Cofton's American Car Show
Over 200 American cars, with a selection of famous faces (maybe more of interest to mum and dad) on show: the Back to the Future DeLorean, the 1989 Batmobile, KITT from Knight Rider and the A-Team van.
For kids there's an inflatable zone, face painting, circus skills and balloon modelling too. Saturday finishes with a 4th of July fireworks display at 10:15pm if you fancy a late one, and Sunday has a bubble show at 1pm and 2:15pm.
| When | Saturday and Sunday 4-5 July |
| Where | Cofton Holidays, Starcross, EX6 8RP (about 20 minutes from Exeter) |
| Cost | £10 adult, £5 child |
One free thing
Christopher Edge at The Bookery
The Bookery in Crediton has bestselling children's author Christopher Edge in for a free, interactive session on his new sci-fi novel, How to Steal the Future.
It's aimed at confident readers aged 10 and up who like adventure and a good puzzle. Free, but you'll need to book a child ticket and these tend to go quickly. Worth the short hop if you've got a bookworm.
| When | Saturday 4 July, 10:30am to 12pm |
| Where | The Bookery, 21 High Street, Crediton, EX17 3AH (about 20 minutes from Exeter) |
| Cost | Free, pre-booking required |
| Ages | Best for 10 and up |
That's your lot for this week. If you make it to any of these, hit reply and let me know how it went, it comes straight to the inbox. Have a good weekend.
Events can change, so it's always worth a quick check with the organiser before you set off, especially for anything ticketed.
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