Love Basingstoke Presents is back this summer with free family Fri-YAY fun during the school holidays across the Top of the Town and War Memorial Park.

From 11am to 3pm every Friday in August you’ll find activities designed for children aged 3 to 16 giving them the chance to have a go at a new sporting activity, take part in arts and crafts or try something totally different! All activities are free, most activities you will be able to just turn up to enjoy, but some may require waiting to take part or pre-booking.

Friday 4 August

The first week, Friday 4 August you can have a go at the skittle alley, bottle ring toss, coconut shy and more, with prizes to be won on traditional games. They’ll be located on Cross Street from 11am to 3pm. Travel up to London Street and you’ll find a fun nine-hole mini golf course set up. Head over to War Memorial Park for some sporty activities at the Village Hotel takeover.  Local company PFT Academy will be in Market Place with parkour and free running workshops and demonstrations. Demonstrations will be at 11am and 1pm with four workshops running between 11am and 3pm. Places on workshops are limited and you will need to book a place in advance (minimum age 6 years).

11.15am parkour workshop - FULLY BOOKED

12noon parkour workshop - FULLY BOOKED

1:15pm parkour workshop - FULLY BOOKED

2:10pm parkour workshop - FULLY BOOKED

Friday 11 August

Climb aboard a playground swing and put on a VR headset and take flight in an award-winning virtual flying machine with some Virtual Reality Swings set up in Market Place on Friday 11 August from 11am to 3pm. Fusion Extreme’s world class professional riders return to perform breath-taking stunt shows in War Memorial Park at 11am and 1pm. After the show the team will teach you how to do your own stunts so don’t forget your bike and your safety gear! Drop into the Basingstoke Rugby Club pop-up in War Memorial Park between 11am and 3pm for some rugby fun.

Friday 18 August

Join Philippa and Frannie on their mission to encourage the new generation off the tinterweb and out having fun with a sports day you’ll never forget. You’ll find them in Eastlands Building 1 at 11am, 12noon and 2pm on Friday 18 August. Mini golf will move indoors to Indoors at Eastlands 1 building. Football lovers will enjoy learning some freestyle football skills from professional freestyler and multiple Guinness World Record holder Rebaz Mohammed. Workshops will run at 11am, 12noon, 1pm and 2pm.

Book on the 11am freestyle football workshop - FULLY BOOKED

Book on the 12noon freestyle football workshop - FULLY BOOKED

Book on the 1pm freestyle football workshop - FULLY BOOKED

Book on the 2pm free style football workshop - FULLY BOOKED

Friday 25 August

Bringing Fri-YAY to a close on 25 August, you’ll find a caving experience in Market Square. Wearing a helmet and head torch explorers can make their way through a tunnel system that spans across two levels. Junk Jodie will be on Cross Street for some sport-themed arts and crafts and you’ll also find arts workshops with local artists Rachel Davis and Jacky Purtill. The BVA Gnome trail will be in War Memorial Park again in case you missed it. The Village Basingstoke will be hosting some games with prizes to be won! You can also create seed cards and do some colouring with the Green Team.

On top of all of that, every Friday you’ll find free face painting! On 4, 11 and 18 August facepainting will be on Cross Street, outside Willows Coffee Shop and on the 25 August it will be on London Street.

We can’t wait to see you all there.

For full details of events, including locations and times take a look at our summer booklet. If you are looking for other ideas to keep your little ones or not so little ones entertained these summer holidays then see our Summer Fun blog.

Fri-YAY is organised by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. Booking will be required for workshops where spaces are limited and these spaces can be reserved via a third party website, Eventbrite. Clicking the links to book will take you to the Eventbrite website. Please familiarise yourself with its Privacy Policy. If you have any queries or would prefer not to use Eventbrite please get in touch via hello@lovebasingstoke.co.uk. Workshop places are free of charge.

July 2023