Holiday activities for children and families
Join the free 2025 Summer Reading Challenge: Story Garden at your library for lots of fun
All children aged 4 to 11 are invited to take part. Children read any books they enjoy over the summer to collect stickers and rewards including a medal and certificate.
Join the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge: Story Garden at a South Gloucestershire library during staffed hours from Saturday 5 July finishing by Saturday 13 September and pick up your free activity bag.
The Summer Reading Challenge is taking place at all South Gloucestershire libraries except Marshfield Community Library and Stoke Gifford Community Library
There are also lots of fabulous free activities:
Tales & Snails – Marvellous makes to bring your stories to life. Free drop in activity most suitable for children aged 4+.
Story Gardeners – Join us for blooming good crafts. Free drop in activity most suitable for children aged 4+.
Junk Box Challenge – Transform junk into something amazing! What will you build? Free drop in activity most suitable for children aged 4+.
‘Buzz & Scuttle’ Insect Collage Workshops with illustrator Marian Hill – Collage your own insect illustration and discover lots of cool insect facts! Marian is an artist who is passionate about illustrating and nurturing UK insects. Her project Buzz & Scuttle has featured on BBC Springwatch.
Children attending must be 6+ and accompanied by an adult. Places are limited for this activity. Book your tickets at sglibraries.eventbrite.com – tickets available from 1 July 2025.
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Bradley Stoke Library
Buzz & Scuttle
Monday 28 July, 10.30am to midday
Places are limited for this activity. Book your tickets at sglibraries.eventbrite.com. Available from1 July 2025. Children attending must be 6+ and accompanied by an adult.
Tales & Snails
Tuesday 5 August, 10.30am to 11.30am
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Story Gardeners
Tuesday 12 August, 10.30am to 11.30am
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Junk Box Challenge
Friday 22 August, 10.30am to 11.30am
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Cadbury Heath Library
Tales & Snails
Friday 25 July, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Buzz & Scuttle
Friday 8 August, 2.30pm to 4pm
Places are limited for this activity. Book your tickets at sglibraries.eventbrite.com. Available from1 July 2025. Children attending must be 6+ and accompanied by an adult.
Junk Box Challenge
Friday 15 August, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Story Gardeners
Friday 22 August, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Chipping Sodbury Community Library
Buzz & Scuttle
Tuesday 29 July, 2pm to 3.30pm
Places are limited for this activity. Book your tickets at sglibraries.eventbrite.com. Available from 1 July 2025.
Children attending must be 6+ and accompanied by an adult.
Downend Library
Buzz & Scuttle
Monday 28 July, 2pm to 3.30pm
Places are limited for this activity. Book your tickets at sglibraries.eventbrite.com. Available from 1 July 2025. Children attending must be 6+ and accompanied by an adult.
Tales & Snails
Monday 4 August, 2pm to 3.30pm
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Story Gardeners
Monday 11 August, 2pm to 3.30pm
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Junk Box Challenge
Monday 18 August, 2pm to 3.30pm
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Emersons Green Library
Buzz & Scuttle
Thursday 31 July, 2pm to 3.30pm
Places are limited for this activity. Book your tickets at sglibraries.eventbrite.com. Available from 1 July 2025. Children attending must be 6+ and accompanied by an adult.
Tales & Snails
Tuesday 12 August, 2pm to 3pm
Saturday 16 August, 10.30am to 11.30am
Free drop ins most suitable for children aged 4+
Story Gardeners
Tuesday 19 August, 2pm to 3pm
Saturday 23 August, 10.30am to 11.30am
Free drop ins most suitable for children aged 4+
Junk Box Challenge
Thursday 28 August, 2pm to 3pm
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Filton Library
Tales & Snails
Thursday 24 July, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Buzz & Scuttle
Wednesday 30 July, 10.30am to midday
Places are limited for this activity. Book your tickets at sglibraries.eventbrite.com. Available from 1 July 2025. Children attending must be 6+ and accompanied by an adult.
Story Gardeners
Wednesday 6 August, 10.30am to 11.30am
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Junk Box Challenge
Thursday 14 August, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Hanham Library
Tales & Snails
Thursday 24 July, 10.30am to 11.30am
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Buzz & Scuttle
Thursday 31 July, 10.30am to midday
Places are limited for this activity. Book your tickets at sglibraries.eventbrite.com. Available from 1 July 2025. Children attending must be 6+ and accompanied by an adult.
Story Gardeners
Thursday 21 August, 10.30am to 11.30am
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Junk Box Challenge
Thursday 14 August, 10.30am to 11.30am
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Kingswood Library
Tales & Snails
Wednesday 23 July, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Buzz & Scuttle
Wednesday 30 July, 2.30pm to 4pm
Places are limited for this activity. Book your tickets at sglibraries.eventbrite.com. Available from 1 July 2025. Children attending must be 6+ and accompanied by an adult.
Junk Box Challenge
Wednesday 13 August, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Story Gardeners
Wednesday 20 August, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Patchway Library
Tales & Snails
Wednesday 30 July, 10.30am to 11.30am
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Buzz & Scuttle
Tuesday 5 August, 10.30am to midday
Places are limited for this activity. Book your tickets at sglibraries.eventbrite.com. Available from 1 July 2025. Children attending must be 6+ and accompanied by an adult.
Story Gardeners
Friday 15 August, 10.30am to 11.30am
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Junk Box Challenge
Wednesday, 27 August, 10.30am to 11.30am
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Scholars Chase Community Library
Tales & Snails
Thursday 31 July, 10.30am to 11.30am
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Buzz & Scuttle
Thursday 7 August, 10.30am to midday
Places are limited for this activity. Book your tickets at sglibraries.eventbrite.com. Available from 1 July 2025. Children attending must be 6+ and accompanied by an adult.
Story Gardeners
Thursday 14 August, 10.30am to 11.30am
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Staple Hill Library
Buzz & Scuttle
Tuesday 29 July, 10.30am to midday
Places are limited for this activity. Book your tickets at sglibraries.eventbrite.com. Available from 1 July 2025. Children attending must be 6+ and accompanied by an adult.
Tales & Snails
Tuesday 5 August, 10.30am to 11.30am
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Story Gardeners
Tuesday 12 August, 10.30am to 11.30am
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Junk Box Challenge
Tuesday 19 August, 10.30am to 11.30am
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Thornbury Library
Tales & Snails
Wednesday 30 July, 10.30am to midday
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Buzz & Scuttle
Thursday 7 August, 2pm to 3.30pm
Places are limited for this activity. Book your tickets at sglibraries.eventbrite.com. Available from 1 July 2025. Children attending must be 6+ and accompanied by an adult.
Story Gardeners
Wednesday 13 August, 10.30am to midday
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Junk Box Challenge
Wednesday 20 August, 10.30am to midday
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Winterbourne Library
Nature Crafts
Friday 25 July, 10.30am to midday
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Tales & Snails
Friday 1 August, 10.30am to midday
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Buzz & Scuttle
Friday 8 August, 10.30am to midday
Places are limited for this activity. Book your tickets at sglibraries.eventbrite.com. Available from 1 July 2025. Children attending must be 6+ and accompanied by an adult.
Story Gardeners
Friday 15 August, 10.30am to midday
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Teddy Bears’ Picnic
Friday 15 August, midday to 2pm
Bring your teddy and picnic. Refreshments provided.
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Junk Box Challenge
Friday 22 August, 10.30am to midday
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Pick & Mix Crafts
Friday 29 August, 10.30am to midday
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Yate Library
Tales & Snails
Tuesday 29 July, 10.30am to midday
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Buzz & Scuttle
Tuesday 5 August, 2pm to 3.30pm
Places are limited for this activity. Book your tickets at sglibraries.eventbrite.com. Available from 1 July 2025. Children attending must be 6+ and accompanied by an adult.
Story Gardeners
Tuesday 12 August, 10.30am to midday
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Junk Box Challenge
Tuesday 19 August, 10.30am to midday
Free drop in most suitable for children aged 4+
Lego Club Challenge: Secret Garden
Tuesday 26 August, 10.30am to 11.30am
Suitable for children aged 4+. Places are limited for this activity. Book your tickets at sglibraries.eventbrite.com. Available from 1 July 2025.
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The Summer Reading Challenge is for primary school aged children. Some libraries also continue Lego™ Club and activities for babies and young children throughout the summer holidays.
Story Garden park trail
Can you find everyone in the Story Garden?
Download the trail activity sheet or pick one up at Emersons Green, Kingswood or Staple Hill libraries during staffed opening hours.
Visit Emersons Green Park, Kingswood Park or Page Park and go exploring. Look out for the Story Garden characters and as you find them, put their number in the circle on the activity sheet.
When you have found all the characters, bring your completed activity sheet back to the library and collect a sticker.
The park trail runs from Saturday 5 July to Saturday 13 September.