Hello! Father's Day this Sunday, and we've got a featured pick that dads and kids will both love, plus three fun-looking free options to keep the kids entertained without spending a penny.
This Weekend's Pick
BHP Fuel Fest at Westpoint
We know not all dads love fast cars and stunt shows, but if yours does, then this is both an absolute must and a ready-made Father's Day present.
BHP Fuel Fest is a motor and motorbike show - supercars, modified cars, drifting demos, and BMX and motocross displays - but here's what really caught our eye: there's also a kids' chill zone, go-karts and bouncy castles, so plenty to keep younger ones happy whether or not they care about the cars and bikes.
Kids aged 13 and under go free with a paying adult, and parking's free. Adult tickets are £25 in advance, but the advance price closes at 8pm on Thursday - after that it's £30 on the gate - so it's worth grabbing one today if you're tempted.
| When | Sunday 21 June, from 10am |
| Where | Westpoint Arena, Clyst St Mary, EX5 1DJ (about 15 minutes from Exeter) |
| Cost | £25 adults in advance (£30 on the gate), kids 13 and under free with a paying adult, parking free |
More Good Stuff
Sustainable Seas Festival, Exeter Quay
Down on the Quay, the first ever Sustainable Seas Festival runs all day Saturday, and it's free to just turn up.
There are historic boats to clamber aboard, have-a-go sessions on the water, boat-building and craft demos, music, and a farmers' market in the Piazza. It's brand new so it's a bit of an unknown, but it's free and a day at the Quay is always a good shout, so there's not much to lose.
| When | Saturday 20 June, 11am to 5pm |
| Where | East Quay, Exeter Canal Basin, EX2 4AN |
| Cost | Free, drop-in |
The Mushroom Show, Barnfield Theatre
For something a bit different, The Mushroom Show is on at the Barnfield on Saturday morning.
It's a daft, warm-hearted family show about the secret world of fungi from Devon's own Scratchworks Theatre, with puppetry, live music and plenty of silliness. It's aimed at ages 5 and up, and the performance is BSL-interpreted.
| When | Saturday 20 June, 11am (about 80 minutes) |
| Where | Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield Road, EX1 1SN |
| Cost | £10 per ticket |
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Coldharbour Mill Nature Fest, Uffculme
Worth the drive this week: Coldharbour Mill's first ever Community Nature Fest, up the M5 near Uffculme.
It's a free day of nature activities in the mill gardens, run with the local Green Team - a moth-trap opening, a BioBlitz, bug-hotel building, willow craft, seed planting, a reading corner and live music. The festival itself is free; you can pay to go into the working wool museum on top if you fancy it, but you don't need to for the day out.
| When | Saturday 20 June, 10:30am to 4pm |
| Where | Coldharbour Mill, Uffculme, EX15 3EE (about 25-30 minutes, up the M5) |
| Cost | Free (the working wool museum is an optional paid extra) |
One free thing
June Boom: Live Art Weekend at the Guildhall
This week's free pick is the June Boom Live Art Weekend at the Guildhall, part of the city's month-long arts celebration.
Local artist Chloe Farrant, from Meraki Art School, will be creating a big collaborative artwork in Market Square across both days, and anyone can pitch in and add to it. It goes on display in the centre afterwards.
There's also a free drop-in fox-painting workshop for kids from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, and an art treasure hunt with ten fox pictures hidden around the centre to find and colour in.
| When | Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June, 10am to 4pm |
| Where | Market Square, Guildhall Shopping Centre, EX4 3HP |
| Cost | Free, no booking needed |
A quick word before you go: a big welcome to everyone who's joined us recently, we're really glad you're here.
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Have a good weekend, and a happy Father's Day to the dads.
Details change. Check each venue's website before setting off, especially for timed entry or one-off events.
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