Another jam-packed events guide with our pick of fun things to do with kids and families in London this weekend.
London Orchard Festival, Oliver Jeffers Up & Down, Drawings by Dogs, The Guardian’s Cartoon and Art Family Day, Jazz for Babies, Your Park, Your Big Draw, Conker Championship, Beatrix Potter Family Festival…
Plus highlights for next week!
Fri-Sun: Ga Ga Theatre Presents: Oliver Jeffers’ Up & Down at Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare St, E8 (Hackney Central overground)
As the weather turns nippier, take your kids on a journey of the imagination with this production of Up & Down by brand new kids theatre company Ga Ga Theatre. Oliver Jeffers’ popular story about the adventures of one boy and his penguin pal combines live performance with big screen projections based on the illustrations from the book. Ages 0-7. 10.30am (Fri), 10.15am & 11.30am (Sun), 10.30am (Tue); £12/under 2s FREE. NB: Show is touring venues around London until Nov 3. (Oct 11-15)
Fri-Sun: Drawings by Dogs at The Gallery on the Corner, 155 Battersea Park Rd, SW8 (Vauxhall/Sloane Square tube)
Well doggone it! Our first of two canine events this week sees furry Picassos and Van Goghs put their stamp on modern art. Drawings are made as dogs eat and push their bowls around the. You can even bring your own pup along to have a go! A1 Drawings cost £20 and sales proceeds go to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. 12-7pm, FREE (Oct 11-20)
Sat: The Guardian’s Cartoon and Art Family Day in Hall One at Kings Place, York Way, N1 (King’s Cross Tube)
A special day held in association with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Kings Place Music Foundation. Design your own cartoons and comic strips, take part in workshops, crafts and collage activities, be inspired to draw by music and hear talks from pros. 10.15am-12-15pm & 1.30-3.30pm, FREE but all sessions must be booked in advance. (Oct 12)
Sat: Jazz for Babies: Album Launch at Kings Place, York Way, N1 (King’s Cross tube)
A lovely event for babies, toddlers and under 5s being held as part of the Whirlwind Jazz Festival. To celebrate the launch of the first 5 Jazz for Babies albums by Whirlwind Recordings, parents and kids are invited to hear live lullaby renditions of classic songs from the albums. This will be an interactive, educational session led by Whirlwind boss and bassist Michael Janisch, alongside guitarist Romain Pilon and trumpeter Jay Phelps. 11am, NB: TICKETS NOW SOLD OUT, but returns possible on the door. (Oct 12)
Sat: Dog Day Afternoon at Cabbages & Frocks Market, St Marylebone Parish Church Grounds, Marylebone High St, W1 (Baker St tube)
Bring your pooch or go dog-spotting at this popular annual event, featuring Good Boy Dog School Demos, and competitions to find the best ‘bit of Ruff’ (mixed breeds), Handsomest Male, Prettiest Lady, toy breeds/miniatures, Matching Pairs, Best Puppy and Best in Show. 11am-5pm, FREE (Oct 12)
Sat: Your Park, Your Big Draw at Timber Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford E15 (Stratford tube/overground)
Get involved in the nation-wide Big Draw celebration at this special event for all ages. Invent futuristic buildings, gardens and spaces, help a giant caterpillar out of its cocoon, join artists in wacky workshops and take part in a song and dance performance. 11am-5pm, FREE (Oct 12)
Sat: Beatrix Potter Family Festival at St Mary Abbots Church, Kensington W8 (High Street Kensington tube)
Celebrate the 100 year wedding anniversary of beloved children’s author Beatrix Potter at the church where she was married. Come along to hear about the life of Beatrix Potter, take part in activities including planting seeds in Mr McGregor’s garden to take home with you. 10am-4pm, £3/under 5s £1.50 (Oct 12)
Sun: Hampstead Heath Heritage Festival and Conker Championships on Parliament Hill Bandstand, Hampstead Heath, NW3 (Hampstead tube/Hampstead Heath overground)
Come along for this traditional fete with welly wanging, spinning demonstrations, Victorian games, storytelling, felt-making workshops, hedgerow remedies, bee-keeping and wood-turning demonstrations, Morris dancing and more. The highlight is the annual Conker Championships where participants battle it out with their horse chestnut seeds on strings.11-3pm (festival), 3-4pm (championship), FREE (Oct 13)
Sun: Make & Do at Camden Arts Centre, Arkwright Rd, NW3 (Finchley Rd & Frognal overground/Finchley or Hampstead tube)
Join Jay Bernard, Evan Ifekoya and Raju Sachi Singh in one of the centre’s regular family workshops, this one exploring themes and techniques inspired by current exhibition by Kara Walker. Make puppets, masks and silhouettes that can be used to act out stories in front of projected scenes. Ask big questions and make big statements about the world we live in. 2-4.30pm, drop-in, FREE (Oct 13)
LOCAL PICK
Sun: London Orchard Festival at Camley Street Natural Park, NW1 (King’s Cross tube)
We had a fab time at the London Orchard Festival last year and this season’s programme looks just as fun. There’s pond dipping, apple bobbing, fruit folklore and storytelling, chutney championship (bring your own), the world famous longest peel competition, forest school, fruit juicing and delicious London cider. 12-7pm, FREE (Oct 13)
We also like
The first ever Wood Green Literary Festival launches (Fri-Sun); take your toddler along for Rug Rhymes for under 5s at Southbank Centre’s Poetry library and also at the Southbank, the whole family can enjoy the make Classic Car Boot Sale (Sat) with vintage cars selling food and other treasures; superhero capes or help create a giant artwork of future London in a Big Draw event, both at Somerset House (Sat & Sun); watch the brilliant Despicable Me 2 at Vue Cinemas Kids AM club for pocket money prices (Sat-Sun); Wimbledon Bookfest winds up (until Sun)
WHAT’S HOT NEXT WEEK
Mon: Mummy Mondays at Beaufort House Chelsea, SW3 — fab new interactive classes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers in the lovely club, with lunch on offer too! Ages 0-5. (every Monday)
Tue-Sun: Bloomsbury Festival, celebrating local arts and culture with loads of events and activities for families around Bloomsbury, WC2. All ages. (Oct 15-20)
Wed-Sun: Gorilla at Polka Theatre in Wimbledon, SW19
Puppetry, music and a sprinkling of magic to celebrate the 30th anniversary of picture book classic about a gorilla and his girl chum. For ages 3-5. (Oct 16-Feb 15)
Don’t forget to check our Black History Month for Families guide and our October Guide plus look out for Autumn holiday editions coming soon!
