Banish the boredom this summer holiday with our full list of events and activities in Gwent

MONMOUTHSHIRE

Saturday, July 29 to Sunday, July 30 and Saturday, August 26 to Monday, August 28, 11am to 4pm

Try your hand at archery in Caldicot Castle with a trained instructor. Perfect for all the family.

www.visitmonmouthshire.com/caldicotcastle.aspx

Sunday July 30, 10am to 4pm

Visit Caldicot Castle and meet some furry friends at a Zoo Day. A whole array of animals will be there including alpaca, pony, sheep, goat, rabbits. guinea pigs. meerkat, reptiles, pygmy hedgehog, giant snail and four donkeys will be doing donkey rides.

www.caldicotcastle.co.uk

Saturday, August 19 to Sunday, August 20

The South Wales Pirate Weekend kicks off at Caldicot Castle. Yarr me hearties, strike the sails and grab your cutlass as we set off for plunder and booty across the Seven Captain Ddriag is intending to take control of the UK largest shipping channel by taking Caldicot Castle. The Kings men are intent on holding off this invasion.

In 2017 the festival will feature famous faces such as captains Sparrow, Barbosa and Hook, Living history areas that show how life was like for people in the 17th / 18th Centuries, Activities for the young and young at heart, a fully licensed 18th century tavern, Traders, Militia displays and of course, very loud bangs!

See the pirates engage in bloody battle with the kings men to gain control of the castle, hear the roar of cannon and musket fire, The clash of polished steel as swords are drawn, feel the excitement as the ground rumbles with a band of angry pirates charging the enemies ranks, and smell the smells of a hard won battle.

So Jeer the king and his men, Salute the black flag as she flies triumphantly, feel the excitement of battle, meet and greet the worldly outlaws and hear of their lives....

Thursday, August 3 to Sunday, August 6

The Green Gathering at Piercefield Park in Chepstow. A four day festival involving Festival bliss low impact living in an area of outstanding natural beauty, every nook and corner bursting with creativity. Intimate solar stages showcase up-and-coming acts, legendary festival favourites, DJs, poets, activists and spellbinding raconteurs. There’s magicians and mystics… off grid solutions and co-operatives… crafts, permaculture, tipis, campaigns, healing… kids’ activities and teen spaces… a stone circle and a faerie glade… open mic spaces and dance workshops… affordable bars and ethical eats.

www.greengathering.org.uk/

Saturday, August 12

Chepstow Show at Chepstow Racecourse. Chepstow Show is an annual celebration of the best of our local community - rural trades, talents and tastes.

The Show is open to all. Whether you are looking to enter one of the many classes, to showcase your goods and services or just to enjoy a wonderful family day out - you'll receive a warm welcome.

Admission prices - payable on entry: Adult £10; Seniors £8; Children (5 -16) £4; Under 5's Free; Family Ticket (2 Adults + 3 children) £25.

www.chepstowshow.co.uk

Saturday 12 to Sunday 13 August, 10am to 4pm

Chepstow Castle. Be a part of the interactive falconry display and see majestic birds of prey close up. Throughout the weekend there will be regular falconry displays with visitor interaction, as well as static displays of a range of birds of prey.

cadw.gov.wales/daysout/chepstow-castle/?lang=en

Saturday, July 29 to Sunday, July 30, 10am to 4pm. See history come to life as Chepstow Castle marks its 950th anniversary with historical re-enactments.

Come to Chepstow castle and join medieval display group Bowlore for archery and weapons displays, have-a-go archery and sword training lessons to commemorate this important 950th anniversary.

cadw.gov.wales/daysout/chepstow-castle/?lang=en

Tintern Abbey, Saturday August 19, 10am to 4pm

The daily life and duties of a Cistercian monk at Tintern Abbey in the 14th Century.

Brother Thomas will tell you all about his life as a monk at Tintern Abbey, including his daily duties, eating, habits and hygiene. The sympathetic and helpful brother will give you inside information about the monks’ rituals and responsibilities. As the cellarer of Tintern Abbey, he will be able to tell you all that is to know (and perhaps some things you shouldn’t know!) about the workings of the abbey, his fellow monks, the lay brothers and other ‘less religious’ people! You will learn about the daily life of the monks at the abbey, including their monastic duties, hygiene and eating habits, as well as the numerous religious services they would have to attend throughout the day.

Raglan Castle, Sunday, August 27 to Monday, August 28, 11am to 5pm

Step back to the era of Raglan Castle’s beginnings, as the Beaufort Company brings the 15th Century to life with living history, combat displays, shining knights and colourful characters.

cadw.wales.gov.uk/daysout/raglancastle/?lang=en

Chepstow Racecourse. Monday, August 28, 10.45am to 4pm

Come and join Chepstow Racecourse for a Bank Holiday Monday Family Race Day. Children aged 17 and under go free and there will be plenty of family entertainment all free of charge, including live music, magic, a bubble show, the mobile caving experience, go karts, face painting, Roaming Reptiles, inflatables and more. Parking is free and you can bring a picnic and your own chairs.

TORFAEN

Wednesday, July 26 2pm

Tickledom is the plantastic family musical full of song and laughter — ideal for kids aged 3 – will be performed at Cwmbran Congress Theatre.You’ll meet a host of colourful characters including Princess Violet and her companions Marigold, Dan D Lion, Snapdragon and Doc Leaf as they go on their mission to find the Forget-me-Nots — the only flower that can break the curse put on Tickledom by the evil ice witch, Fluell Created by Welsh writers John Manders and the award-winning composer Matthew Brind, Tickledom will bring a smile to your face this summer.

Tickets: Adult: £10, Children: £8, Over 60s: £8

Tel: 01633 868239, Email: info@congresstheatre.net

Thursday, July 27 2.30pm - 3.30pm

Blaenavon World Heritage Centre & Library

Come and join the story and craft sessions during the school holidays for children aged 5 and over. Cost is free.

Tel: 01495 742333, Email: blaenavon.tic@torfaen.gov.uk

Saturday, July 29 10.30am - 11.30am

Blaenavon Library For kids

Are you aged between 8 and 10? Why not come along to one of our Chatterbooks groups and have some fun with books, try new stories and take part in craft activities, bring your friends along too.

For further information contact 01495 742802 or email blaenavon.library@torfaen.gov.uk

Sunday, July 30 11am - 5pm

Llanyrafon Manor Cwmbran Arts & Crafts

Bursting with local producers and crafters, all your favourite regulars will be back with a wide variety of products ranging from farm fresh fruit & veg, meat and eggs to homemade bread fresh out of the oven. There is also a large assortment of very talented crafters, ranging from delicate gifts to home furnishings.All items sold at our market is locally sourced and handcrafted.

For further information contact 01633 648562.

Wednesday, August 2, 9 and 16 11am - 4pm

Blaenavon World Heritage Centre & Library

Make compost heads, bird feeders and bird houses with the Council's Recycling Team - all made from recycled materials. Cost: Free

Tel: 01495 742333, Email: blaenavon.tic@torfaen.gov.uk

Saturday, August 5 10.30am and Sunday, August 6 4pm

Defence of Blaenaon Ironworks

Return of the successful World War Two themed event centred on Blaenavon Ironworks. Enjoy living history displays, weapon displays and music, painting a vivid picture of life during this troubled time. There will be a chance to listen to real stories of life on the home front told by the firesides of Stack Square. Cost: Free

Tel: 01495 792615, Email: BlaenavonIronworks@Wales.gsi.gov.uk

Sunday, August 6 2pm - 4pm

Teddy Bears Picnic with Mad Mel’s Disco Blaenavon World Heritage Centre & Library

Bring your favourite teddy. Entertainment, activities and fun games with Mad Mel. Best dressed teddy wins a prize. £1 to register your bear for the competition.

Thursday, August 27 11am and Friday, August 28 (4.50pm)

Blaenavon Heritage Railway

Enjoy a scenic ride on a vintage train along with a host of classic vehicles.

Tel: 01495 707448, Email: info@pbrly.co.uk

NEWPORT

Wednesday, July 26 11am - 12pm

Caerleon Library

Children can create a mask to disguise themselves as an animal. Cost: Free

Tel: 01633 656656

Wednesday, July 26 2.30pm - 3.30pm

Ringland Library

Kids can design a coding machine. Cost: Free

Tel: 01633 656656

Friday, July 28 11am

Malpas Library & Information Centre

Come and have fun making a game to challenge others in the library using and coding a microbit.

Places are limited. Contact the library to book a place now for this free event.

Tel: 01633 656656

Monday, July 31 11am

Bettws Library

Make a jumping frog and see how far he can go, for younger children create a tortoise friend. Cost: Free

Tel: 01633 656656

Wednesday, July 26 to Wednesday, August 30

Newport Museum and Art Gallery

Join us for Family Crafts on each Wednesday of the Summer Holidays:

Make a Newport shield on July 26.

Make an Ancient Egyptian headdress on August 2.

Make a Roman counting board on August 9.

Make a woodland animal mask on August 16.

Make an Ancient Egyptian Eye of Horus on August 23.

Make a paper Newport Ship on August 30.

15 places are available for each of the 3 sessions, which start on the hour:

11.00 - 12.00 12.00 - 13.00 13.00 - 14.00

Places are allocated on a first come first serve basis on the day. No booking - drop-in only.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Suitable for children aged five to 11

Family Crafts take place in the Art Gallery on the third floor.

Location : Newport Museum & Art Gallery

Price : FREE

BLAENAU GWENT

Monday, July 24 to Tuesday, September 1

Parc Bryn Bach, Tredegar

Suitable for ages 8-12 years

Activities each day:

Monday - Canoeing and Bush Craft

Tuesday - Climbing / Abseiling and Archery

Wednesday - Stand Up Paddleboarding and Kayaking

Thursday - Caving and Laser Tag

Friday - George Walking

All activities are led by fully qualified instructors.

Cost £25 per day (includes all safety equipment and return transport to activity sites)

For times - call 01495 711816

Monday, July 24 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Evening Ramble – Keeper’s Pond, Blorenge and Foxhunter’s Grave

Meeting at Keeper's Pond Car Park near Blaenavon.

A moderate circular walk taking people around the summit of the Blorenge Mountain.

The walk, incorporating former tramroads, encompasses a wealth of historical and natural features, which give this part of the Blaenafon Industrial Landscape its unique identity.

Walking boots, waterproofs essential.

Distance: 3 miles/5km

Leader: Frank Olding

Booking: 07971 081647 or frank.olding@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk. Cost: Free

Saturday, July 29 to Sunday, July 30

Steelhouse Festival 2017

Saxon will headline a great line-up performing on the weekend at the unique mountain-top location on the edge of the Brecon Beacons in South Wales. Other confirmed acts include Skindred, Inglorius, Stone Broke, Broken Witt Rebels.

£50 Saturday or Sunday per person. £85 for weekend per person. Camping £20 per person.

For tickets call 01495 370080

CAERPHILLY

Saturday, August 12 12pm - 5pm

CRAI Activity Park, Newbridge

A family fun day will take place to help raise funds for Williams Syndrome.

The event is being held by Sarah Bennett-Evans - mum of four-year-old Harrison Evans who was diagnosed with the syndrome age one. This means he has developmental difficulties, a heart condition and various other medical, sensory and sociability issues.

Ms Bennett-Evans said: “Getting Harri the help and support he needs to live a fulfilling and happy life is always a battle due to the lack of knowledge of the condition.

My ongoing and ever demanding aim is to make people more aware of this condition and to help fund more research into it so Harri and others like him can be loved, supported and accepted by our society.”

For more information on the fun day visit goo.gl/jb2kJT

Now - Thursday September 3 Mon - Fri 10am to 5pm Sat - Sun 11am to 4pm

Winding House Museum

The exhibition ‘Back in my Day’ – Childhood in the valleys, is open at the museum in New Tredegar until September 3.

It hosts a collection of objects and images detailing the different aspects of growing up in South Wales, from Victorian school rooms to Sunday school.

Entry is free.

Tuesday, July 24 10am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm - 4.30pm

Children can enjoy soft play, a disco and will get the chance to jump on the bouncy castle.

The event takes place from 10am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm and is £3 per child, with the first adult going free and extra adults paying £1.

For further information, visit llancaiachfawr.co.uk

Thursday, July 27 2pm

Nine-mile Point Car Park, Sirhowy Valley Country Park

Enjoy a family self-led cycle around the Country Park, following a map and clues to find the hidden treasure. Just turn up to pick a treasure trail map.

Cost: £1.50 per family

Booking required for this event. For booking and more information phone 01495 270991 or 01495 235219.