Summer Family What’s On

23rd July 2026 Bob Carpenter

It’s summertime and so we’ve curated a list of family events which will be updated for the sunny season…

Kaleidoscope Holiday Activity Camp – animal lunch. Grove Primary School. All week.

Totnes Summer Book Hunt. All week.

Multi-activity holiday camp for 5-12 year-olds. Leisure Centre. All week. 8.15-5.15.

Family Canoe Paddle – free for children. Sharpham. Fri 24 Jul.

Family Canoe Paddle – Explore, learn about and have fun on this precious waterway.
£15 adults, FREE for children

Sirona horses summer open day. School Farm (Dartington). Sat 25 Jul. 11.00-3.00.

Totnes Show. True St (Berry Pomeroy). Sun 26 Jul.

Summer Sundays – free entry. United Free Church. Sun 26 Jul. 10.30-12.00.

See a real steam train speeding through the main station. Totnes Station. Sun 26 Jul. 12.00 & 6.30.

Attention main line steam fans.
The Royal Duchy is due through Totnes on Sunday 26 July. No idea which loco at this time, but if scheduled locos of past years are anything to go by it may be 34028 Eddystone again.
Due through Totnes 12:06 and 18:25
You may be able to check live running details and delays on https://www.ontimetrains.co.uk/

Shear Holiday Soccer Course for 5-14 year-olds starts – free for low-income families. KEVICC. Mon 27 Jul. 10.00-3.00.

Shear Soccer is delighted to be delivering a Free Holiday course during the School Holidays at KEVICC for children aged 5-14, who are eligible for free school meals (FSM).

(There is a daily charge for children who are not eligible for FSM)

Summer Holidays

Monday July 27th -Thursday July 30th (4 days)
Monday August 3rd -Thursday August 6th (4 days)
Monday August 10th-Thursday August 13th (4 days)
Monday August 17th-Thursday August 20th (4 days)

10:00am – 3:00pm at KEVICC School, Totnes, TQ9 5JX

The days will run from 10.00am until 3.00pm and will consist of a variety of different sporting activities and will include some nutritional activities where the children will spend some time learning about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Children who attend the course will be provided with lunch each day however it is recommended that children bring plenty of fluids with them which can be taken outside when participating in the sporting activities.

Numbers are strictly limited and will be offered on a first come first served basis. When booking onto the course you will be able to select which weeks you would like to book your children on to using the drop down menu at the top of the booking form or if you would like to book onto both weeks, this option is also available.

All children who attend the course must have a parent/guardian sign them out after each session, coaches will not let children leave the premises unless a signature has been obtained.

Children will need to bring suitable clothing for the weather including coats if it is raining as the sporting activities are likely to take place outside. All sessions will align the safety measures put in place from the Government and the FA during the Covid 19 period.

Our coaches are CRB/DBS checked, hold a UEFA coaching qualification and have Emergency First Aid Training. If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact me on 07967 124844 or email: info@shearsoccer.co.uk

Wowhaus free art club. Radical Ecology Studio (Dartington). Mon 27 Jul. 3.30-5.30.

Join The Wowhaus, and Radical Ecology, for three creative workshops for children and their grown-up, together. Through playful enquiry, creative expression, and collective collaboration, we’ll explore how perspective shapes our experience of the spaces we co-inhabit, revealing new ways of seeing, understanding, questioning and connecting with the world around us.

About the artist:

Helena is an artist and creative facilitator based in Devon. Originally from Ireland, she spent many years in Cork city and then London building a successful career in illustration and design, working at a senior level within the creative industries.

Alongside her professional practice, Helena developed a passion for sharing creative knowledge and skills, leading her into teaching and mentoring roles within further education. After becoming a parent, her focus expanded to creating inspiring and accessible artistic experiences for children, families, and communities, with a particular passion for the intergenerational experience.

Today, Helena works with local families, schools, the home-educating community, and adults, encouraging creativity through playful, engaging, and exploratory art. She is passionate about making art inclusive and accessible to all and believes creativity has the power to not only positively impact our personal well being, but to build and nurture connection within communities.

Dancing Together – free dance movement workshop for 7-9 year-olds & their carers. Dartington Village Hall. Wed 29 Jul. 10.30-12.00.

Dartington Youth Club for 8-16 year-olds. Dartington Village Hall. Wed 29 Jul. 6.30-8.00.

Dartington Youth Club is at the Dartington Village Hall. 6.30 – 8.00 with some friends and great youth workers.

Come and have free snacks, and drinks

Look at how to keep your mind healthy with fun activities and games.

We are looking forward to seeing you there. Your Traye team

Coming up

An animal journey at St Mary’s. We are excited about our new Children’s activity this Summer. Two of our Heritage Volunteers have helped research and devise a new Family/ Children’s tour – An Animal Journey at St. Mary’s ! These tours are happening weekly over the Summer holidays on a Friday morning at 11.15 and will last 30 minutes. During the tour our guide will take you on a journey around the church where we can look for the animals hidden inside and outside the church together – learning a little about the history along the way! Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. These fun tours are free and no need to book – just turn up!

Odd Object Competition. Spot the odd objects in the shop windows. Free entry forms will be available from Country Cheeses in Ticklemore Street in mid-August and the competition runs from 17-31 August.

Some other ideas

Bridgetown Safari. See the animal sculptures in Bridgetown. If you want help finding your way around, you can download a map from Totnes Pulse at https://www.totnespulse.co.uk/?s=bridgetown+safari or take a photo of the big maps in the bus shelters at Coronation Road opposite the Seven Stars or Stafford Court in Higher Westonfields. Explore on foot or if you get tired, jump on Bob the Bus (Bridgetown route) and see what you can spot from the bus.

Totnes Museum. Lots to see in the museum. Open Tuesdays and Fridays 10.30am to 4pm. Free (donations welcome).

Historic Guildhall. Behind the church is the old guildhall. Lots to see and still in use. Open Monday to Friday 11am to 3pm. Free.

Totnes Castle. There are a lot of steps to the remains but some great views of the town. Open daily. Admission charges vary (English Heritage free).

Totnes Riverside steam railway station. Signposted from the regular train station. Free to look around, full of old adverts, carriages and books, and if you are lucky, a steam train huffing and puffing at the platform. If you fancy a ride, South Devon Railway run trains to Buckfastleigh.

Totnes Cinema and Barn Cinema. Full listings of what’s on in Totnes Pulse.

Rare Breeds Farm. Adjacent to the steam train station. Not free but lots of fun. Free admission to the little tearoom overlooking the steam trains.

Leechwell Gardens. Peaceful and child-friendly. To get there, walk all the way through the Market Square and out the other side. Go through the Heath Garden in front of you and follow the path alongside a car park. Cross the road and go down the path opposite and you’ll spot the gate.

Vire Island. Entrance on the old bridge at the bottom of town. An easy stroll with picnic tables, squirrels and space for children to play.

Longmarsh riverside walk. If you’d like a longer walk, cross the bridge, follow the road round to the right back to the river. Then follow the riverside path for about ½ mile to the end. You can make it a circular walk by following the newish boardwalk back through the nature reserve to the car park.

Dartington Estate. 2-mile easy level path from the railway station to the Cider Press shops and cafes. Up the hill is Dartington Hall with beautiful architecture and historic gardens (admission charge). Free entry to the courtyard. Three cafes (Green Table, Garden Cafe and Montreal Bagels), White Hart pub and Barn Cinema are all on the same site. Alternatively you can take a direct but infrequent bus (Country Bus 165) from the Royal Seven Stars Hotel in Totnes to Dartington Hall. Check timetable.

Borough Park. Tennis courts and skate park. Pavilion Leisure Centre has swimming pool. Temporary membership available. Cashless payment only. 01803 862992.

Delphini’s Gelato. Our very own Italian-style gelateria. All delicious flavours are hand-made on the premises.