This October half term, libraries in Devon and Torbay have an exciting lineup of activities to keep children engaged and entertained during the school break. With events ranging from family theatre to digital drawing, libraries across the county will offer loads of free and low-cost fun for families.
Parents and carers can find a wide variety of interactive sessions to spark children’s creativity and curiosity. Budding artists can express themselves at paper lantern workshops in Paignton and Totnes libraries. Exeter and Torquay libraries will host “Framed!” by Paddleboat Theatre, a thrilling family whodunit with music, puppetry, physical comedy and more. Many libraries will also have spooky Halloween-themed events to round out the week.
With so much on offer, families are sure to find an activity to enthral children of all ages. Libraries provide a welcoming place for communities to play, learn and spend time together.
Make treasured memories with your little ones this half term by getting creative at your local library. See the listings below for a taste of what’s on, or find your local library on Facebook or on the Devon and Torbay websites.
Monday 23rd October, 10am – 1pm
Nature Doodles with Megan Dowsett
Ottery St Mary Library
FREE event (limited places, reservation is advised)
How do you Doodle? Join local artist Megan Dowsett and explore how to doodle with Nature in this interactive family friendly workshop. This workshop uses an extensive array of seed pods, sticks, leaves and cones to create temporary artworks, known as Nature Doodles.
Monday 23rd October, 10am – 12pm
Inky Autumn Tales with Participate Arts
Sidmouth Library
Tickets £2
Inspired by the Big Draw Festival, join Participate Arts and explore lots of different, fun drawing materials and inks to create some wonderful vivid images. Make a wonderful artwork to take away and participate in a large collaborative drawing. Based on your favourite story characters.
Monday 23rd October, 2.30 – 3.30pm
Paddleboat Theatre presents ‘Framed!’
Torquay Library
Tickets £7 Adults, £4 Kids
The legendary detective Rufus Caper has been framed and needs your help to uncover the truth! Paddleboat Theatre Company presents a thrilling family whodunit. Expect music, puppetry, physical comedy and more. Come and help us catch the clues and spot the suspects before Rufus goes down for a crime he didn’t commit!
Age guidance – over 8s.
Tuesday 24th October, 10am – 12.30pm
Inky Autumn Tales with Participate Arts
Paignton Library
Tickets £4
Inspired by the Big Draw Festival, join Participate Arts and explore lots of different, fun drawing materials and inks to create some wonderful vivid images. Make a wonderful artwork to take away and participate in a large collaborative drawing. Based on your favourite story characters.
Tuesday 24th October, 2.30 – 4.30pm
Light Up Lanterns with Participate Arts
Paignton Library
Tickets £4
Inspired by your favourite stories, create black silhouette characters and landscapes on to colourful backgrounds. See your images illuminated as they are transformed into a magical paper lantern. Designed for the days getting shorter in the autumn season, the lanterns will come with a battery operated light.
Tuesday 24th October, 10am – 12pm
Spooky Crafts Session
Barnstaple Library
FREE
Join us in the children’s library for a Halloween themed crafts session! It’s completely free with no need to book – just come along and get creative.
Wednesday 25th October, 7.30 – 8.30pm
Paddleboat Theatre presents ‘Framed!’
Exeter Library
Tickets £7
The legendary detective Rufus Caper has been framed and needs your help to uncover the truth! Paddleboat Theatre Company presents a thrilling family whodunit. Expect music, puppetry, physical comedy and more. Come and help us catch the clues and spot the suspects before Rufus goes down for a crime he didn’t commit!
Age guidance – over 8s.
Wednesday 25th October, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Light Up Lanterns with Participate Arts
Totnes Library
Tickets £2
Inspired by your favourite stories, create black silhouette characters and landscapes on to colourful backgrounds. See your images illuminated as they are transformed into a magical paper lantern. Designed for the days getting shorter in the autumn season, the lanterns will come with a battery operated light.
Thursday 26th October, 10.30am – 11.30am
The Leaf Thief
Brixham Library
Tickets £1.50
Come and join us for a story about squirrel’s missing leaves, make a leaf crown and do some other leaf activities!
Friday 27th October, 4 – 5.30pm
Digital Media Workshop with Sound Communities
Ottery St Mary Library
Tickets £3
A workshop with creative tech experts for young people age 8+, unleashing the possibilities of digital art. Represent what life is like for young people in Ottery. The session will explore a range of techniques and allow you to pursue the ones which interest you most.
Saturday 28th October, 10.30am – 12pm
Big Silly Gig with Laura Loft & the Big Music Collective
Torrington Library
Tickets £2
An energetic, fun and silly sing along with live music, sensory props and percussion. Sing, play and dance along to original silly songs and well known songs with Laura Loft plus musicians Jay Scott-Hamilton & Katie Scott-Hamilton from The Big Music Collective. An interactive family gig with plenty of opportunities to “get creating music” together and explore and play the instruments.
See what’s on at your local library by visiting librariesevolve.org.uk/events.
Libraries in Devon and Torbay are run by Libraries Unlimited, an independent staff and community owned charity. Join up for free by filling in the online form at devonlibraries.org.uk or torbaylibraries.org.uk. Follow Libraries Unlimited on Facebook.
You can join us on our social media pages, follow us on Facebook or Twitter and keep up to date with whats going on in South Devon.
Got a news story, blog or press release that you’d like to share or want to advertise with us? Contact us
