What’s on this summer at Z-arts…
The weather may not have made its mind up yet, but summer is fast approaching, read on to find out everything that’s happening in our building over July and August…
1.Haphazard 2024
Saturday 27 July | Drop in 1pm – 4pm
Free and for all the family!
Presented by Word of Warning + Z-arts
Playful, quirky, engaging, and sometimes plain daft: Haphazard is for kids and their adults, adults and their adults — anyone looking for a different day out. In 2023 we saw lasers, slinkies, silver birds, woolly jellyfish, and a shower of confetti… join us to see what 2024 might bring. A free Live Art takeover of Z-arts. Turn up at any time, come and go as you please… and expect the unexpected!
2. Summer of Stories
Tuesday 30 July – Saturday 24 August
Free for all the family!
Storytelling and drop-in Arts and Crafts for the whole family across August! Each week will celebrate a different author including, Oliver Jeffers, Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler, Michael Rosen, and Rob Biddulph. Keep an eye out on our socials and website for more info!
3. The 100 Story Hotel
Various dates available | For ages 1-8
Created with Rob Biddulph and Discover Children’s Story Centre, our interactive world of play and storytelling is open across the summer holidays! Welcome to The 100 Story Hotel – an unusual establishment filled with penguins, polar bears, dinosaurs and mermaids! With plenty of rooms to explore and a whole host of characters from Rob Biddulph’s books, this interactive world is not to be missed.
4. The Library of Enchantment
Various dates available | For ages 6+
Ever wanted to step inside a story? The Library of Enchantment is a fun-filled thrilling family-friendly escape room, full of seafaring adventures, time travelling tricks, and a pesky old bookworm who’s always up to meddlesome mischief! Join us for an enchanting experience that requires your puzzling skills, logic, persistence and, most of all, teamwork.
5. Dog Gone Story Trail (Outdoors)
Free and for all the family!
Our Dog Gone (by Rob Biddulph) self-led story trail is a perfect outdoor adventure for grown-ups, children, and canines. Simply collect a story trail from our Box Office and head across the road to Hulme Park! Don’t worry it’s not far for little legs. You’ll follow the map, take part in challenges, and answer questions all based on Rob’s lovely story Dog Gone.
6. Dino Trail (Indoors)
Free and for all the family!
Gregosaurus and his tiny dinosaur friends are causing some ‘Happy Hatch Day’ havoc and have gone on an adventure around the building, please help us find them! They have tucked themselves away in a rather GIANT game of tiny dinosaur hide and seek! Look out closely for them in Reception, Z-cafe and Library areas of the building. There are 8 to find, can you spot them all?! No need to book, just turn up and chat to one of our friendly Visitor Experience Team members.
7. National Play Day
Wednesday 7 August | Drop in 11am – 2pm
Free and for all the family!
Get ready for a free day of adventure, creativity, and endless fun for kids and families! This event is currently sold out, but contact our Box Office to be added to the waiting list and keep an eye out for more tickets being released…
8. Summer Stars – Summer Holiday Activity Club
Tuesday 6 – Friday 9 August (Ages 5-7)
Tuesday 13 – Friday 16 August (Ages 8-11)
For children on income-based free school meals and attending a Manchester Primary School. Booking is available via the MCRactive website.
9. Grimwood Museum Adventure Trail
Saturday 3 – Saturday 24 August
Free and for all the family!
We’ve teamed up with Kids in Museums and Simon & Schuster Children’s Books to create a fun, free museum trail for families to enjoy in the 2024 summer holidays. Get ready for a wander into the woods – and to meet some unique characters along the way! The Grimwood Museum Adventure celebrates the release of Party Animals, the fourth book in the brilliantly anarchic comedy-adventure series, Grimwood, by bestselling author-illustrator Nadia Shireen.
A free summer holiday activity for families, in partnership with Simon & Schuster.
10. Summer Reading Challenge, Marvellous Makers
Free and for all the family!
Join Marvellous Makers with Manchester libraries. You’re invited to join our free Summer Reading Challenge Marvellous Makers.
The challenge will run from 1 July to 14 September.
The Summer Reading Challenge is launching in libraries on 1 July. You’re invited to kick off your summer reading and see if you can read 6 books before 14 September. Join at Z-arts Children’s Library to receive your special collector folder. Start reading books to earn your medal and certificate. You’ll earn your medal when you’ve read six, but why stop there? Libraries have lots of free activities for you to enjoy during the summer holidays too.
Join us at Z-arts and hang out for the whole day! We’ve got lots to keep little and big kids entertained whatever the weather…
Grab some food or drinks from our cafe, read a book in our Children’s Library, express yourself and have a doodle on our colouring sheets, hang out in the toy corner or even take a ride on our big red bus 🚌 As one of our visiting families said…
“Today we hid from the rubbish weather and came with our pals to Z-arts and did EVERYTHING!! ☔️ We had such a good day. There was a great buzz around the building. Thanks to all the staff who were in and made the day so nice for us and put up with riotous rabble!! Absolutely saved our day!”
