By Kate Hodges
28th June 2018
EVENT Giant Games
June is well and truly flaming; we’re making our own outdoor games, which work for back garden fun, parties, or school summer fete ideas. These cheery monsters are hungry for beanbags and very easy to make. Jenga is even more fun on a giant scale, outside in the sun, and this DIY obstacle course in the woods is truly inspirational! It’s every kid’s dream to get inside a bubble – make that wish come true with a hula hoop and paddling pool!
RECIPE Long and Cool
Slake your family’s thirst this summer with fragrant, fruity botanical mocktails. Blushing Ginger Rose Fizz has a gorgeous colour and flavour, while Cucumber and Mint Limeade is clean and refreshing. We’ve spotted heeyuuuge watermelons on our greengrocer’s shelves – use them to make a sophisticated jug of Watermelon Basil Lime Iced Tea, or snag some in-season cherries and rustle up this fresh and fruity Cherry Mint Spritzer. Don’t forget to put your floral ice-cubes in the freezer a day ahead!
MAKE and LEARN Frida I’m In Love
The new Frida Kahlo exhibition at the V&A presents the personal artefacts, clothing, work and photos of the Mexican artist. Frida is a great springboard for learning and creativity – find out about her life here and here. There are some ideas for lesson plans from an older exhibition at Tate here – we like the idea of making a living and growing group portrait. There are also some inspiring ideas here – Frida’s ‘selfie’ paintings can inspire your children’s own personal paintings, while older children can explore the idea of the personal versus the political in art. Find more colourful Frida-inspired arts and crafts here (we love the floral headband, head vases and shadow boxes!
EVENT Waiter Waiter!
Find a village fete in the heart of London – Soho! Celebrating the quirky rather than the commercial, you can join a rock school, take part in a spaghetti eating contest, race snails, sweat and strain in a tug of war (or just cheer your favourite team on) or play on a real-life fruit machine. The highlight is the infamous waiters race – see servers from across the neighbourhood caper around the streets of Soho while raising funds for charity. Stick around for the fabulous drag act finale!
EVENT History in Action
Every year, around 100,000 people come to County Durham this summer to experience ‘Kynren - an epic tale of England’, Bishop Auckland’s live action extravaganza, the mesmerising show that takes you on a whistlestop tour of 2,000 years of history, myth and legend. A huge, open-air stage, with a lake at the centre is the setting for 29 scenes, a cast of 1000 and dazzling special effects, to tell stories from the Roman occupation to World War II. From Saturday until September 15.
