A fun-filled week-long celebration of the magic of play is set to sweep Leeds later this month with the launch of the city’s first ever Festival of Play and Creativity.
People of all ages are encouraged to join the city-wide celebration and let loose their playful side with an activity-packed array of events taking place this upcoming half term week from 25 October to 3 November 2024.
From performances and interactive experiences to games and workshops, the inaugural Festival of Play and Creativity aims to showcase Leeds as a great place to play and encourage people to make more time to have fun.
The festival has been organised by Leeds Community of Play – a network of over 100 people and organisations, including Leeds City Council and its Child Friendly Leeds initiative, committed to inspiring playfulness in neighbourhoods.
Over 60 events are already planned for the week, which aims to highlight the city’s rich cultural landscape as well as promoting grassroots community activities, with organisers hoping it will spark ideas and enthusiasm and inspire more people to embrace the power of play.
In South Leeds, Seagulls are celebrating their 20th anniversary and new home on Water Lane in Holbeck with a Play with Paint day on Saturday 2 November. You will be able to take part in a gigantic, immersive painty experience and help create a playful and colourful canvas full of expression and bursting with fun. There will also be: graffiti demos, table tennis, colouring, canvas painting, DJ’s and food.
Hold Fast, the floating bookshop at Leeds Dock have organised a storytime session at nearby West Dock Creative Studio on Tuesday 29 October. They will be reading Troll by Frances Stickley and Stefano Martinuz, a lovely story that can be enjoyed by anyone but is aimed at children aged 3-7, with a BSL interpreter.
Other highlights so far include the six-day pop-up Playful Information Centre, featuring four refurbished shipping containers at Victoria Gardens, outside Leeds Art Gallery in the city centre, where a daily line-up of different artists will host activities including a ‘Conquer the Conker’ challenge, a ‘Wheel of crisps’ game, Halloween costume-making and a hot dog race.
The information centre will also showcase all the other playful happenings across the city, which include pumpkin carving at Kirkstall Valley Farm, Lego play with digital consultancy firm Hippo Digital and a mini gig at Brudenell Social Club.
Elsewhere across the city, community groups including Better Leeds Communities and LS14 Trust are getting involved with activities for all, resident-led playstreets will hold activities on people’s doorsteps and Leeds Libraries are providing colourful mini playboxes at various libraries, with each box boasting six drawers full of open-ended play activities.
Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for children and families, said:
“Play is vital for both adults and children but we know it can often be overlooked in life’s priorities so it’s really great to see an event like this which showcases the power of play to people of all ages.
“Last year we became the first city in England to commit to delivering an action plan optimising play opportunities for children and young people – a key element in helping everyone in Leeds to get the best start in life.
“We have an incredible community of playmakers, artists and organisations in Leeds who all work hard to lead the way for play and this festival is a fantastic way to showcase and celebrate this on the city-wide stage and hopefully inspire people to embrace play in their day-to-day lives.”
Rachel Ingle-Teare, senior librarian at Leeds Libraries, said:
“Leeds Libraries are thrilled to be a key partner in the festival – a celebration that encourages the joy of play into the heart of our communities – and are proud to offer a variety of playful experiences.
“The festival’s rich tapestry of events and activities are designed to ignite curiosity and encourage playful discovery for all ages. Join us in embracing the power of play and creativity across the city.”
Festival co-organiser Joanne Michael, founder of Leeds business HappyAsABean Creative and a member of Community of Play, added:
“Leeds is a city that knows how to play.
“The Festival of Play and Creativity has been a real community effort fuelled by over 100 members of Community of Play over the last nine months – all keen to encourage people of all ages to value time spent playing and make more time for joy.”
The Festival of Play and Creativity has a dedicated page on the Leeds Inspired website where all events are being listed; visit www.leedsinspired.co.uk/collection/FOP24. Many of the festival’s activities are free to attend, with some requiring pre-registration.
The Playful Information Centre has been sponsored by Northern Bloc Ice Cream.
This post is based ion a press release issued by Leeds City Council
Main photo: Cllr Ed Carlisle (Green, Hunslet & Riverside) worked with children from Greenmount Primary School (pictured), St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School and Kidz Klub Leeds to create this temporary mural in Beeston Hill.
While you’re here, can we ask a favour?
South Leeds Life is published by a not-for-profit social enterprise. We keep our costs as low as possible but we’ve been hit by increases in the print costs for our monthly newspaper which have doubled in the last two years.
Could you help support local community news by making a one off donation, or even better taking out a supporters subscription?
Donate here, or sign up for a subscription at bit.ly/SLLsubscribe
