Family Activities
May Half-Term Holiday Activities
Come and join in with a printing workshop to create your own snail prints, a wildlife workshop and puppet making.
Splendid Snail Prints with Katie Allen
26 May
Arrange sticky shapes to make your own super snail. Then Katie will guide you through the printing process so you can produce your own splendid snail print.
Fantasy Puppets
27 May
Create fantasy puppets together in this playful family crafts session run by Kaye Mahoney (aka Kaye Leidoskope). Children and their grown-ups will learn about puppetry by making imaginative fantastical puppet characters using household junk and discovering ways of manipulating them. We’ll finish the session by exploring how to bring the puppets to life and showing off our creations to each other.
All About Snails with the Wildlife Trust
28 May
Discover the weird and wonderful world of slugs and snails! Learn about different molluscs, what’s a snail, what is a slug! Find out how do these creatures which can be found living almost everywhere, help other wildlife and people. Plus create your own snail craft to take home
All workshops last an hour and start at 11.15am, 12.45pm and 2.15pm. £6.05 per child. Booking Essential, suitable for children aged 5-12 years. To find out more or to book a place, scan the QR code, visit www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk or call the Booking Office on 01234 718044. Please use the transaction code HIGGINS30 to avoid paying a transaction fee. If you no longer require your place, do let us know so that it can be offered to another family.
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Sunday Crafternoons
28 June, 27 September
Free Drop-In, no need to book, 2-4pm (last admission 3:30pm)
Come and have a go at making Paper Dolls or creatures and their clothes with local artist Lisa Tilley. You can design your own character and the clothes they might wear or you can colour in and cut out one of the templates Lisa’s pre-prepared. So suitable for all. Crafternoons are a free, monthly creative activity sessions for families to have a go at 'making' together and enjoy the chance to get creative. All resources are provided. Suitable for under 12s. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please be aware that space is limited and there may be a wait to start.
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Young Lacemakers sessions in Garden Room
20 June, 15 August, 19 September
11.30am - 1.30pm and 2pm – 4pm,
£2 per session, booking essential
Aragon Lacemakers are also offering Young Lacemakers sessions on the same day as their demonstration sessions from 2pm to 4pm for children between the ages of 6 to 16 years. The lessons are tailored to each child’s pace in a supportive environment and equipment is provided. There is a small charge of £2 per session per child.
To book a place for the Young Lacemakers session please email Aragonlacemakers@gmail.com for more information.
Summer Holiday Activities
Choose from archaeology, animal encounters, clay, crafting, circus skills, felt, fire, painting, printing, rocket launches and so much more! Booking will be available from Tuesday 26 May.
All workshops last an hour. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Booking is essential unless stated otherwise. Adults do not need to book a place. To book a place for children visit the website at www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk/Book_Online, or call the Box Office on 01234 718044 (open Wednesday – Saturday, 10am-4pm). Please use promo code HIGGINS30 to avoid paying a transaction fee. If a booked place is no longer required for any of our workshops, please let us know so that it can be made available to another family.
LEGO
Tuesday 21 July
Free, Drop in, 11am – 4pm
Suitable for ages 6-9 years
This free drop-in event features four mini activities for children and their carers to collaborate and create using LEGO bricks. No booking required but, if the room is busy please wait a short time until there is space.
Medieval Castle Craft with Atiya Vohra
Wednesday 22 July
Free Drop-In Session, 12-3pm
Suitable for 5-12 years
As part of the annual Council for British Archaeology Festival, we are hosting a free crafting session inspired by the medieval kiln display and our proximity to the former Bedford Castle. Have a go at creating a heraldic shield design, make your own small clay pot, brass rubbing or calligraphy to produce your own illuminated letter in a medieval style.
Tiny Gardens with The Goodlife Garden
Thursday 23 July, £6.05 per child
11.15am–12.15pm, 12.45–1.45 pm and 2.15-3.15pm
Suitable for ages 5-12 years
Create a tiny garden to take home, perfect for fairies and elves to live in.
Archaeology Detectives Part 2 with Helen Ohlsson
Tuesday 28 July, £3.90 per child
11.15am–12.15pm, 12.45–1.45 pm and 2.15-3.15pm
suitable for ages 5-12 years
After the success of our first Archaeology Detectives, we have added more hands-on low tech, activities whilst retaining the pot reconstruction and the excavation pit.
Felt Portraits with Anne-Marie Abbate
Wednesday 29 July, £6.05 per child
11.15am–12.15pm, 12.45–1.45 pm and 2.15-3.15pm
Suitable for ages 5-12
Have great fun watching wool turn into felt. Create a self-portrait using the wet felting process.
Pressing & Printing with Katie Allen
Thursday 30 July, £6.05 per child
12.45–1.45 pm and 2.15-3.15pm
Suitable for ages 5-12
Have a go at plasticine printing. Be guided by artist Katie Allen to press plasticine into a range of textured surfaces like shells, leaves, Lego bricks and then make a series of prints.
Meet the Egyptians with Helen Ohlsson
Tuesday 4 August, £3.90 per child
11.15am–12.15pm, 12.45–1.45 pm and 2.15-3.15pm
Suitable for ages 7-12
Find out facts about the Egyptians, their Gods and the pyramids. Make a sarcophagus for a mummy plus lots of other Egyptian inspired craft.
Drop-in Craft Session with Atiya Vohra, Higgins staff and volunteers
Tuesday 4 August, Free, 2-4pm, all ages welcome
Make your own Victorian toy or create some bug inspired craft!
Rocket launch with Little Science Labs
Wednesday 5 August, £6.05 per child
11.15am–12.15pm, 12.45–1.45 pm and 2.15-3.15pm
Suitable for ages 5-12
Inspired by the Artemis Rocket voyage? Why not create your own rocket with the help of Little Science Labs? You will design your own craft whilst receiving lots of advice about how to optimise your rocket’s flight performance and then launch it and see how high it flies.
Covent Garden Circus Skills:
Thursday 6 August, £6.05 per child
11.15am–12.15pm, 12.45–1.45 pm and 2.15-3.15pm
Suitable for ages 5-12
Session leader, Tabatha is a former Covent Garden Street Performer with over 25 years experience in the performance and entertainment industry. She invites all the family to try their hand at a variety of circus skills and have lots of fun along the way!
Puggle Club
Friday 7 August, 4 September, Free, drop in, 10.30am-12 or 1-2.30pm at The Higgins
Wednesday 26 August 11.30am-1.30pm at Bedford Central Library
Puggle Club is the perfect chance to get creative, have fun, and socialise offering free art & craft activities, stories and sensory play for children aged 2-5 years with their parents and carers. Pop in between 10.30am-12 or 1-2.30pm. Siblings are welcome to attend. No booking required but, if the room is busy please wait a short time, until there is space.
Teaching Talons
Tuesday 11 August, £6.05 per child
Suitable for ages 5-12
11.30am–12.30pm, 1–2 pm and 2.15-3.15pm
Enjoy meeting the awesome animal ambassadors of Teaching Talons.
Stone Age Session with Helen Ohlsson
Tuesday 11 August, £3.90 per child
11.15am–12.15pm, 12.45–1.45 pm and 2.15-3.15pm
Suitable for ages 7-12
There was more to the stone age than just stone! Explore Prehistory through hands on activities relating to the archaeology of the time, Create your own cave art, try your hand at flint axe making or grinding wheat to make flour.
Shaving Foam Marble Cards with Lisa Tilley
Wednesday 12 August, £6.05 per child,
Suitable for ages 5-12
Workshops 12.45–1.45 pm and 2.15-3.15pm
Come and have a go at paper marbling and make your own marbled cards. This technique is even more fun in that we use shaving foam instead of oil and is suitable for all. Younger children will need support from their adult.
Clay Keepsake Holders with Anne-Marie Abbate
Thursday 13 August, £6.05 per child
Suitable for ages 5-12
11.15am–12.15pm, 12.45–1.45 pm and 2.15-3.15pm
Do you collect special things? Construct a three-dimensional clay niche to display all your favourite and precious keepsake items. Add imprints and patterns to make your niche truly unique.
Dino Planters with The Goodlife Garden
Tuesday 18 August, £3.90 per child
Suitable for ages 5-12
11.15am–12.15pm, 12.45–1.45 pm and 2.15-3.15pm
Using recycled materials, make your own Dino plant pal for your windowsill where you can watch your plant grow, plant included.
Fire Tiles with Little Science Labs
Wednesday 19 August, £6.05 per child
Suitable for ages 5-12
11.15am-12.15pm, 12.45–1.45pm and 2.15-3.15pm
Create your own beautiful tile using the magic of flammable inks. Children will learn about the fire triangle as well as how to light a fire safely in this unique and exciting fire workshop.
All workshops last an hour. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Booking is essential unless stated otherwise. Adults do not need to book a place. To book a place for children on all holiday activities, visit the website at www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk/Book_Online, call the Box Office on 01234 718044 (open Wednesday – Saturday, 10am-4pm). Please use promo code HIGGINS30 to avoid paying a transaction fee. If a booked place is no longer required for any of our workshops, please let us know so that it can be made available to another family.
Storytelling in the Gallery with Belinda
Sunday 30 August, Free, 2.30pm, suitable for ages up to 7
Creative activities for Early Years
Suitable for children under 5 years
5 June, 3 July, 7 August, 4 September
Free, no need to book 10.30am-12 & 1-2.30pm
A chance to get creative, have fun, and socialise!
It’s a drop-in activity, so no need to book. Just pop in any time between 10.30am and 12 or between 1pm and 2.30pm and stay for as long as you like. Please be aware some activities might not be suitable for under 24 months.
Children must be accompanied by an adult, come and join in the Puggle fun. All activities are subject to availability, if the room is getting a bit full, we might ask you to wait until there is space.
I Spy with Kevin the Platypus
Kevin the Platypus has been with the museum for well over 100 years and he still loves exploring.
Pick up a free ‘I Spy’ trail and discover awesome objects and amazing art all over the galleries and collections. There are many themes to choose from.
Super Silly Museums!
The Higgins Bedford is delighted to be one of the winners of a book giveaway to mark the release of 'Super Silly Museums' by popular children’s author, Nick Sharratt.
Create your own adventure by seeing how many things you can spot from the book at The Higgins Bedford with this fun self-led trail.
Download the trail or pick up a free copy from reception. The book is available for young visitors to enjoy reading in the museum.
All Aboard!
Join The Higgins Bedford and Spectrum Community Arts and travel through a series of video workshops filled with movement, music and games themed around transport. Aimed at children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Subtitled versions are available to watch here.
Sensory Movement with Mel
This sensory movement video is aimed at people of any age who love to dance and use fun, sensory based props! The dances are inspired by transport and we will be dancing like airplanes, bikes and much more. Come along and use noisy shakers, colourful scarves and other props to explore fun ways of transport!
Sensory Adventure with Frankie
Calling sensory seekers! Help Frankie follow the map to find the hidden treasure! This adventure will stimulate your senses as we journey up the river using props, music and movement.
Learn a Dance Routine with Jade
On your marks, get set, GO! Join Jade to learn a fun, accessible dance routine! Aimed at those with disabilities and additional needs - get your engines revving as we dance down the highway together!
Arts & Crafts with Lila
Up, up and away! Join Lila to make your own hot air balloon in this fun crafts session inspired by Colonel Frederick Burnaby’s air adventures. (Adult supervision required)
Sensory Music with Sarah
Whoo Whoo – All Aboard! Get ready to sing, play and move in this sensory music session. We’ll be climbing aboard a stream train and flying high in a hot air balloon. Bring an instrument or even a tub of pasta and let’s shake, rattle and roll together!
These workshops were part of Bedford Borough Council’s Summer of SEND, a celebration of all things Special Educational Needs and/or Disability (SEND) across Bedford.
Note: Neither Spectrum Community Arts, The Higgins Bedford or Bedford Borough Council own the music used in these videos. It is being used purely for performance purposes and not for profit.
Tales of Colonel Frederick Burnaby
Join Vicki as she reads a story from the Tales of Colonel Frederick Burnaby. The famous Victorian Bedfordian was known for his great strength and daring, world-wide travelling adventures, hot air ballooning escapades and eventful military career. A ‘larger than life’ man, who was very much of his time. (Suitable for ages 7+)
Part 1
Part 2