Family Activities
Toby’s Tall Tales
15 June, 20 July
Free, no need to book, 2.30pm
Join trained actor and teacher Toby in the art gallery on a creative exploration of stories. Toby will engage children with immersive story reading and help children create their own stories using puppets, drawings, songs and the artwork from the gallery.
Ideal for ages up to 7. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Please be aware, space in the gallery is limited and is offered on a first come first served basis.
Sunday Crafternoons
22 June
Free Drop-In, no need to book, 2-4pm
At our next Crafternoon, join Marisa Straccia who will be looking at Edward Bawden's Brighton Pier and creating a collage imagining of what's under the pier and in the water. Come along to dreate your own creatures from the deep!
Crafternoons are a free, monthly creative activity sessios 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. Above are just some of the creations from the last session.
Summer Holiday Activities for all at The Higgins
Join our artists to create neon paintings, colour viewers, rainbows, sun catchers, lanterns, kaleidoscopes, colour spinners, artworks from nature and postage stamps. Step back in time during history sessions and enjoy animal encounters with Teaching Talons. Plus, we have our monthly Puggle Club, stories and drop-in craft sessions!
© Lisa Tilley
Thursday 24 July
Neon Painting with Lisa Tilley £5.50
Suitable for 5-12yrs
Paint with florescent paints and then use UV lights to see them glow. 11.15am, 12.45pm and 2.15pm
© Katie Allen
Tuesday 29 July
Create Colour Viewers with Katie Allen £5.50 Suitable for 5-12yrs
Make and decorate a colour viewer to see the world in a whole new light! Experiment with coloured filters to make disappearing drawings and finish with a visit to see Colour & Light. 11.15am, 12.45pm and 2.15pm
©Little Science Labs
Wednesday 30 July
Make Rainbows with Little Science Labs £5.50 Suitable for 5-12yrs
Conduct your own experiment and make a rainbow in a tube! 11.15am, 12.45pm and 2.15pm
© Paige Denham
Thursday 31 July
Stencil & Stamp with Paige Denham £5.50
Suitable for 5-12yrs
Join artist Paige Denham as we create colourful artwork using a stencil and stamp technique. Build an artwork shape by shape and take your masterpiece away with you! 11.15am, 12.45pm and 2.15pm
© Anne-Marie Abbate
Tuesday 5 August
Sun Catchers with Anne-Marie Abbate £5.50
Suitable for 5-12yrs
Create colourful sun catchers to hang from windows or trees or to decorate your room. 11.15am, 12.45pm and 2.15pm
Wednesday 6 August
Meet the Romans £3.55 Suitable for 7-12yrs
Discover what life was like for a Roman living in Britain and create Roman inspired craft to take away.
Sessions start at 11:15am and 2:15pm
Thursday 7 August
Teaching Talons £5.50 Suitable for 5-12yrs
Come are meet the friendly animals from Teaching Talons. Get up close to a variety of reptiles, mammals, creepy crawlies and even birds from around the World!'
Sessions start at 11:15am and 12:45pm
Tuesday 12 August
Multi-coloured lollipop lanterns with Anne-Marie Abbate £5.50 Suitable for 5-12yrs
Make wonderful willow and tissue paper lanterns that are lit up with multi coloured lights. 11.15am, 12.45pm and 2.15pm
Wednesday 13 August
Meet the children of WW2 £3.55 Suitable for 7-12yrs
Ahead of VEJ Day, discover what life was like for the children of WW2, handle objects from the time, design your own gas mask box and create some celebration bunting! Sessions start at 11:15am and 2:15pm
Thursday 14 August
Colour, Craft and Create Session Free, Drop in Suitable for 5-12yrs
This is a free, drop-in making session in which families can come along and get creative with the available resources. This session is supported by Higgins staff and volunteers. Session runs from 12-3pm
© Anne-Marie Abbate
Tuesday 19 August
Artworks from stamps with Anne-Marie Abbate £5.50 Suitable for 5-12yrs
Inspired by our new stamp display, design your own stamp image using vintage postage stamps. 11.15am, 12.45pm and 2.15pm
Wednesday 20 August
Meet the residents of Bedford Castle £3.55 Suitable for 7-12yrs
Discover the story of Bedford Castle, who lived in it and why it no longer exists and paint a medieval tile. Sessions start at 11:15am and 2:15pm
©Ross Bolwell-Williams
Thursday 21 August
Kaleidoscopes £5.50 Suitable for 5-12yrs
Create your very own kaleidoscope and enjoy the colourful patterns collide! 11.15am, 12.45pm and 2.15pm
Tuesday 26 August
Little Science Labs makes Colour Spinners £5.50 Suitable for 5-12yrs
Create your own colour spinners, see how the colours mix together and understand the science. 11.15am, 12.45pm and 2.15pm
©Little Science Labs
Wednesday 27 August
Meet the Anglo Saxons and Vikings £3.55 Suitable for 7-12yrs
Discover what life was like in Bedford at the time of the Anglo Saxons and the Vikings, handle artefacts from the past and create a pouch to keep your precious items safe. 11.15am, 12.45pm and 2.15pm
Early Years Activities for the Summer (2-5 years):
Puggle Club
1 August & 5 September 2025 Free, Drop In
Art & craft activities 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.
Friday 8 August
The Goodlife Garden Free, Suitable for Under 6s
Join The Good Life Garden to explore art through nature. These are free sessions but places are limited so booking is essential. 11.15am, 12.45pm and 2.15pm
Thursday 14 August
Rhymetime in the Gallery (11:30am-12) Under 6s
Staff from Bedford’s wonderful Central Library will be leading a lovely Rhymetime session in the Gallery. This is a drop-in session, no need to book. Numbers are limited so places will be allocated to those who arrive first. The session lasts 30 minutes.
Friday 15 August
Exploring with Kaye Leidoskope
Join Kaye Leidoskope for a lively & lovely interactive sessions for children 2 to 5 years and their grown-ups. You can expect play, songs, crafts and we always have bubbles… perfect for little ones to creatively learn through play! These are free sessions but places are limited so booking is essential. 11.15am, 12.45pm and 2.15pm
For more information about all of our workshops please visit https://www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk/Whats_on/Family_Events.aspx , scan the QR code or call 01234 718044 to book your place.
Unless stated places for workshops are limited so booking is essential. Each workshops has a suggested age range and all children must be accompanied by an adult. Unless stated workshops last one hour and take place at 11.15am, 12.45pm and 2.15pm. You need only book a place for each participating child, not the accompanying adult. When booking your workshop place, please use the promotional code HIGGINS30, to avoid paying a transaction fee.
Creative activities for Early Years
Suitable for children under 5 years Free
6 June, 4 July, 1 August, 5 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 10:30 am 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 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.
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.
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.
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