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Holiday Fun returns to Colchester and Harwich this December- and it’s still completely FREE

10 Dec Holiday Fun returns to Colchester and Harwich this December- and it’s still completely FREE

There’s an absolute feast of fun to be enjoyed in Colchester and Harwich this December, as the ground-breaking Holiday Fun programme returns to North Essex.

Based at both Firstsite in Colchester and Harwich Arts and Heritage Centre, each day is chock-full of activities, including fun art and creative activities, movement-based sessions, plus a piping-hot nutritious meal for the whole family to sit down to and enjoy.

The award-winning Holiday Fun will get underway on Monday 20 December at both locations.

All Holiday Fun activities are free for families that require additional support during the school holidays, including those who qualify for benefits-based free school meals. They are most suitable for children 4-11, but all ages are welcome.

Firstsite, Colchester
Holiday Fun will take place Monday 20 to Friday 24 December and then from Wednesday 29 to Thursday 30 December at the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2021.

Children and their families and carers can participate in a number of different activities that are spread across each day, with creative sessions inside the iconic gallery building, keeping active and entertained in the fresh air with fun multi-sports and showing off their best moves with Street Dance. Also, this year we are thrilled to be able to offer families who require additional support the opportunity to go for a free spin around our outdoor skating rink.

Having worked up an appetite, the socially distanced Canteen will be open for everyone to sit down to a freshly prepared hot meal together and chat about their adventures.

Harwich Arts and Heritage Centre
Holiday Fun will take place in Harwich from Monday 20 to Thursday 23 December

Youngsters in the historic port town are invited to take part in a range of creative activities at Harwich Arts and Heritage Centre and then express themselves through sports-based games outside.

If it’s a chilly day, then a warming, tasty hot lunch for all the family is just the ticket. The Harwich Canteen will be serving freshly prepared family favourites including chicken stir fry and nut roast between midday and 1:15pm.

Early bird tickets for both Colchester and Harwich are available now and until 16 December, before extra tickets are released three days before each session.

Sally Shaw MBE, Director of Firstsite says: “We really looking forward to running Holiday Fun every school holiday, it’s wonderful to meet families in Harwich and Colchester, catching up with those who have been before and welcoming new families too. There’s always a great atmosphere, with lots of excited chatter and the sounds of children having a lovely time. It’s what the school holidays are all about.”

Sally adds: “Since we launched the Holiday Fun programme in 2017, it has become a popular resource for families in North Essex, keeping families happy, healthy and creative during the school break. The fact that we can provide this resource for free, is especially important at a time when people are really feeling the pinch. It’s also a great place for children and their caregivers to make new friends in a relaxed and friendly environment. This is something which has been even more of a challenge over the past 18 months and so we’re thrilled to be able to offer families this opportunity to connect, share experiences and support each other.”

For more information, to book a place or meal, simply call Firstsite on 01206 713 700 or visit the website, www.firstsite.uk. To keep up to date with all the latest news and to receive reminders when Holiday Fun tickets are available, sign up to the Firstsite newsletter, also via the website.

All the activities – indoors and outside – will follow the latest Covid-19 safety regulations and be carefully managed by Firstsite’s friendly and expert team to ensure everyone has a brilliant, inspiring and truly memorable day out.