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February half term special 2024
There's so much going on this half-term holiday for children of all ages and we thought it might help if we shared some of the things we've been told about!
Family activities at The Higgins Bedford and in Bedford Borough Libraries are funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Did you know that there are now regular family focused email bulletins available from both our Families Hubs and SEND Matters teams? You can subscribe to these below:
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Visits to our Green Flag-awarded parks and play areas, booking an event, getting involved in sport and physical activity, and exploring arts and culture in Bedford Borough, are just some of the fun options for this half term, and you can find out more on our website!
Families can take part in a free sports day at Jubilee Park on Tuesday and Wednesday, and every Sunday children aged 8 eight to 14 can enjoy free sport activities and a hot meal at Kempston Youth Centre, on Hillgrounds Road, with Sporting Aid. Learn about this and other events they provide on their Facebook page.
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Have you joined Street Tag yet? It's fantastic fun for families and people of all ages!
Download the Street Tag app and earn points as you explore your surroundings, whether you are walking, wheeling, or cycling.
Join either the Community or the Primary Schools Leaderboard and compete for prizes for either yourself and your family and friends, or for your chosen PTA.
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For children under 12
Sunday 18 February
This is a wonderful free storytelling event for children aged five and younger at The Higgins Bedford.
The event is free and there is no need to book – just aim to arrive for the start of the first story at 2.30pm. There will also be some fun activities to join in with.
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Explore the amazing art and fascinating items on display around the building, then use your imagination and a range of materials to get arty in this free monthly creative session.
Bring your imagination from 2-4pm at The Higgins Bedford. There's no need to book, so just drop in with your children!
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Monday 19 to Friday 23 February
Bring your kids along for some fun free crafts at our libraries in Bedford, Bromham, Kempston, Putnoe and Wootton this half-term.
There's something different to do each day, from decorating a llama finger puppet to making your very own crazy caterpillar.
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Tuesday 20 and Friday 23 February
Join local artists and have a go at printing activities inspired by the works of the artist Edward Bawden.
These sessions always prove very popular, so please book early to avoid disappointment.
This event costs £5.50 per child and is suitable for ages five to 12.
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Wednesday 21 February
Get groovy with Simon James Green at this fun-filled interactive session, perfect for children aged four to seven.
No need to book, it's free, so just come along!
This is a Love Libraries Month events funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
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For older children and teens
Wednesday 21 February
For readers aged 12 and over
Does awkward teenage hilarity with a positive message sound familiar? Then this is the session for you...
This laugh out loud event includes comedy and anecdotes from Simon's own (hapless) school days.
There will be readings from the books, a Q&A and a lot of cringe a lot. You've been warned!
Head to Kempston Library, tickets are £2, and it starts at 2.30pm.
This is a Love Libraries Month events funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
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Thursday 22 February
The Total Pop Party Girls are back and ready to party with you all, singing all your favourite hits including songs by Little Mix, Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Pink, Ed Sheeran, Olivia Rodrigo and many more.
It's an excellent introduction for kids who are too young to go to the big concerts but don’t want to miss out on seeing partying to the sound of their favourite pop stars!
The event starts at 3pm.
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Exhibitions at The Higgins Bedford
This captivating showcase, by multi-disciplinary artist Sophie Gresswell, invites visitors to explore the rich tapestry of mixed heritage and intersecting journeys. Explore an array of thought-provoking artworks inspired from the artists home county of Bedfordshire and a residency to her grandfather’s birthplace on the island of St. Helena (a remote British island in the South Atlantic).
This new exhibition can be found in the Sir William Harpur Gallery and runs to 9 June 2024. Entry is free.
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Edward Bawden & Me is curated by Bawden’s good friend, the illustrator and printmaker Chris Brown, who invited a diverse group of 30 artists and makers to respond to works by Edward Bawden in The Higgins Bedford collection. The exhibition features an artistic response from each of them, alongside the Bawden work that inspired it.
The Higgins Bedford is the home of the Edward Bawden Archive, a collection of over 1,000 pieces that Bawden donated to the gallery in the 1980s. Bawden wrote:
“My own wish, would be for all the jigsaw pieces of my life’s work to be together … I must say I should feel immensely happy if I could be allowed to leave my remains to Bedford.”
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You can park for free, for four hours each day at Allhallows Car Park.
You can also park for free for the first two hours, from Monday to Saturday in Queen Street Car Park.
There is up to two hours free parking every Saturday in all Council-owned town centre single and multi-storey car parks, as well as a.
All day every Sunday in Council-owned town centre car parks.
You can also park for free every day after 6pm in all town centre car parks, except for River Street.
And there is free on-street parking after 6pm, from Monday to Saturday, except for Castle Lane which is from 11pm.
...and don't forget that bus fares on Stagecoach, Grant Palmer, and Uno routes are just £2!
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