THEME PARKS

Pirates Plummet, Crealy — Credit: Crealy

Crealy is going all-out for its biggest summer yet, with 60+ rides and attractions, splash-tastic water rides, brand-new live shows, Sooty, Sweep and Soo, and the South West’s only inverted ride, ROTOR, opening on 31 July. Even better, book a visit between 24 July – 31 Aug and you’ll get a free return visit within seven days, so you can double the fun without doubling the cost.

Bubble & Bop at Pennywell Farm Buckfastleigh

Muddy Award winning Pennywell Farm are forever blowing bubbles with their Bubble & Bop, where kids can meet their Pippa Pig mascot, have a bop in the Orchard, pose for photo opps, cuddle the miniature pigs and bunnies, and the grown-ups can have a glass of bubbles from the Horsebox Bar (on weekends) – all surrounded by bubbles.

There’s a whole summer of fun waiting at Woodlands Theme Park with thrilling rides, water rides, indoor and outdoor play, animals at the Zoo Farm and special events throughout the holidays. This summer’s highlights include Titan the Robot, Fizzpop Science and a special Raptor Day on 12 August – so there’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained, whatever the weather.

For rainy day – and retro-space themed – thrills, Bideford’s Milky Way Adventure Park has plenty of indoor options, including the dodgems or just go with the downpours and send them on the Cosmic Typhoon coaster. Alternatively, pack the cozzies and head over to Paignton’s seafront to sluice them down the slides at Splashdown Quaywest. Here you’ll find 11 water rides, including the Devil’s Drop – the highest, fastest flume in the UK and a giant aqua play arena for under 12s.

House of Marbles High Tea — Credit: House of Marbles

Bovey Tracey’s House of Marbles ticks many boxes with one of the UK’s biggest marble runs, a games garden, live glassmaking, a free-to-enter Design a Friend competition and a brand-new children’s high tea for little visitors. There’s even a summer mosaic exhibition and plenty of sweet treats to keep everyone happy – basically, a rainy-day plan that’s anything but boring.

Not been to the new Hobbledown Bay attraction at Watermouth Castle yet? Here has vintage appeal, with lots lots of water rides, a maze and crazy golf, plus their new Mining Village – ideal for would-be archaeologists and fascinating exhibits to explore indoors too.

THEATRE & SHOWS

Bin Rat!!!, Exeter Phoenix

Get ready to rummage through the rubbish with BIN RAT!!!, a fun, feral family comedy coming to Rougemont Gardens (Sun 9 Aug). Expect puppetry, live music, physical comedy, disco dancing and plenty of silliness as Bin Rat explores what happens to all our litter – while getting little ones thinking about what happens when we throw things ‘away’. Fun for 4–11 year olds and adults,

Swim From The Wild Shore, Jacob’s Ladder Beach

Swim from the Wild Shore at Sidmouth’s Jacob’s Ladder Beach (Sat 1 – Mon 3 Aug) is a magical seaside adventure for brave swimmers and lovers of a good story. Take to the waves for a 100m swim to retrieve the sea runes, then help tell a fantastical tale to keep the sea monster, storms and ocean spirits at bay for another year. With trained lifesavers and a safety boat on hand, it’s a wonderfully wild summer experience for adventurous families and older kids.

The Dinosaur That Pooped: A Rock Show, Queens Theatre

Got a little dinosaur fan at home? The Dinosaur That Pooped: A Rock Show is stomping into Barnstaple this summer with a brand-new story, new songs from Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter, plenty of laughs and, of course, a whole lot of poo. Join Danny and Dino as they embark on a rock ’n’ roll quest to get the last two tickets to their favourite band’s final concert. A guaranteed hit for little rockers aged 3+.

CAMPS & OUTDOORS

Brick Explorers, RHS Rosemoor, Great Torrington

Lego fans, this one’s for you! Follow the Brick Explorers Trail around RHS Garden Rosemoor this summer, then head along to the Brick Weekend (15 – 16 Aug) for a celebration of all things LEGO, with incredible brick-built creations, activities and plenty of inspiration for budding builders. A brilliant day out for creative kids (and grown-ups who secretly love LEGO too).

And if bricks aren’t your thing, step into the enchanting world of The Wind in the Willows with a fun, interactive family trail around RHS Rosemoor. Follow in the footsteps of Mr Toad, Mole, Ratty and Badger as you discover activities, games and beautiful illustrations inspired by Kenneth Grahame’s classic tale and E. H. Shepard’s beloved illustrations (until Dec 26).

Bushcraft, Bovey Castle, North Bovey

kids Bushcraft sessions at Bovey Castle Devon — Bovey Castle Hotel Eden Collection Dartmoor

Unleash your child’s inner adventurer and join the Bovey Junior Rangers for a hands-on bushcraft skills and outdoor pursuits session, all set within the enchanting, historic grounds of Bovey Castle. Suitable for kids aged 5 -12, the 90-minute sesh includes den making, animal idents and fire-building with the reward of marshmallow-toasting over an open fire. Kids don’t need to be accompanied. £30pp

FESTIVALS & SHOWS

British Firework Championships, Plymouth

It’s all eyes on the skies above Plymouth Sound as six top pyrotechnic companies showcase their very best work and battle to be crowned the champion. This year it’s the return of the ‘Champion of Champions’ where six previous winners will be invited back to compete to be crowned top (12 – 13th Aug).

Sidmouth Folk Festival, Sidmouth

Sidmouth Folk Festival (31 July – 7 Aug) brings a week-long music session to the coastal town, including a Kids’ Zone around Peacock Lawn with free craft workshops, story time, sensory play and dance performances.

The Big Sheep, Bideford

If you’re after a summer soundtrack, The Big Sheep has a couple of big music festivals to put in the diary. There’s a boot-stomping Country vs Country Festival on 1 August, followed by a huge August Bank Holiday weekend of live music, with a Morgan Wallen tribute and country music on Friday 28 August, then Chris Moyles’ 90s Hangover on Saturday 29 August. Yee-haw meets cheesy 90s bangers? We’re in.

After a free festival? Discover the Jurassic Coast in a whole new way at the Natural Seaton Festival (Sat 25 July), celebrating the incredible coastline, wildlife and landscapes around Seaton. Expect a fun dog show, tips on how to look after bees, face painting, puppet shows to heckle and a go at axe throwing. Basically, a gloriously bonkers day out for all the family.

MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

Perfect for curious kids, The Box in Plymouth runs free, no-booking-needed drop-in story-telling sessions for under-5s every Friday morning (24 Jul – 28 Aug) plus regular crafting workshops – and not forgetting the chance to look at the pickled sea creatures and life-size replica of Mildred the woolly mammoth!

Get ready for a summer bursting with colour at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter, where Summer of Colour brings a vibrant programme of family-friendly activities and creative fun to the museum. Expect hands-on making, colourful discoveries and plenty of inspiration for little artists and curious minds – a brilliant rainy-day option when you fancy a bit of culture with your creativity.

Over in Torquay, Kents Cavern Age of the Dinosaurs Exhibition is a roaring hit. Step back millions of years as you explore prehistoric creatures, ancient fossils and the work of local paleo artist Alex Pritchard. Running until 30 October and included with general admission.

CIRCUS & FAIRS

For traditional acts, Paolo’s Circus is back at Darts Farm, Topsham, (23 July – 9 Aug) with its characterful mix of aerial trapeze, comedy and stunts (from £9pp).

Kids love their wheels? Take a trip to the Torbay Steam Fair (1 – 2 Aug), near Brixham, where in addition to steam and engines, vintage and military vehicles, they can let off some steam themselves on the fairground rides.

Alternatively, head to National Trust Greenway, where the garden is hosting a whole summer of play, including circus skills and live shows from Circus Berzercus on selected dates in August. Little ones can have a go at juggling and other circus tricks, before settling in to watch the professionals perform – all included with normal admission

SUMMER REGATTAS

salcombe aerial — Credit: Salcombe Town Regatta

Prefer to be by the seaside? Devon is awash with watery fun during our regatta season, but some are more family-friendly than others. Dartmouth Royal Regatta kicks off with a Family Fun Weekend (22 – 24 Aug), when Royal Avenue Gardens comes alive with family-friendly entertainment, live music, stalls, competitions and plenty of activities for all ages. There’s even an Environmental Day on Monday, with interactive activities from local marine and coastal groups – a lovely way to dip your toe into the Dartmouth Royal Regatta celebrations.

Salcombe Town Regatta (25 July – 1 Aug) and Sidmouth Regatta (28 – 31 Aug) also bring funfair rides, kids’ races, harbour swims and fireworks. And stop press! Just confirmed for Sidmouth – the Red Arrows will be whooshing overhead on 28 Aug, joined for the first time by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Douglas C-47 Dakota – a historic transport aircraft that carried out paradropping operations on the eve of D-Day.

JUST MISSED

If you’re looking for free fun, then you can’t beat Exmouth Festival‘s weekend long mix of curated family-friendly music, craft workshops, parades and – shake your booty! – dancing workshops. From 9 -12 July, the seaside town is full-to-bursting with activities the whole tribe can get stuck into. Find out more in our Muddy guide.

Or let your hair in Nature at Goren Festival (3 – 5 Jul) where you camp out in the meadows, enjoy the live bands and get your fill of yoga, circus skills, forest school, and bug and butterfly spotting in the Nature Zone.

Dunsford Summer Show on Dartmoor (4 Jul) for mountain bike trails, stilt walkers, salsa music from Street Heat, a samba parade and dog and duck (cute!) sheepdog herding.

Want more mazes, castles, adventure play parks and other brilliant boredom busters? Check out our cracking Kids Guide around Devon.

No more ‘I’m bored!’: Your ultimate Devon summer holiday guide

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