A film about, and celebration of, child-like wonder. Two young sisters move with their father to be closer to the hospital where their mother is staying. They meet creatures of the forest surrounding their home – like Totoro and the amazing Cat Bus.
Sheffield summer holiday picks
School's out!
While the summer holiday is an absolute joy, it's not always easy to keep the good times going throughout the full six weeks. Thankfully many of Sheffield's museums, galleries and cultural organisations make it that much easier.
Here's our roundup of some of the arts and culture activities and events for families, kids and young people taking place in Sheffield over the 2025 summer break.
For children eligible for free school meals, Sheffield Healthy Holidays is also once again running tons of free activities – find things in your postcode.
For more tips for adventures with young'uns, see our Sheffield for Tots tour.
Wild Play
Multiple dates
Outdoor nature-inspired activities for 3-to-9-year-olds. On themes of: survival, amazing trees, art in the woods, woodland adventure, and pond dipping. At J G Graves Woodland Discovery Centre and Greno Woods.
Kids Creative Summer School
Multiple dates
The Art House
Wednesday afternoon sessions for primary school-aged children to have fun and learn new creative skills – from fun with Posca pens to decorating a small treasure box to folk art. Led by Rebecca Brambila
Together Festival
Fri. 1 August 2025 — Sat. 2 August 2025
Crucible Theatre
A FREE annual summer celebration of theatre and arts, created with community groups across Sheffield. Featuring a show with lots of improvisation. An adventure told through theatre, film, beatbox and rap. Dance inspired by Inside Out. And more.
Desi Fest Sheffield Mela
Sun. 3 August 2025
Firth Park, S5 6HE
A festival promoting diversity, unity and community spirit, shining a spotlight on cultural traditions of the South Asian community. With live music and dance, activities for young people, exhibitions and demos, fun fair rides, stalls and more.
Sheffield Gaming Market
Sun. 3 August 2025
Ponds Forge, Sheaf Street, S1 2BP
Discover old school games, consoles and accessories at this huge retro gaming market.
Robin Hood
Wed. 6 August 2025
Sheffield Botanical Gardens
Join utter legends Robin, Marian and the Merry Men for a hilariously adventurous take on the timeless tales of everyone's favourite archer. Brought to Sheffield Botanical Gardens by Pantaloons theatre company.
Lifeboat tours
Multiple dates
National Emergency Services Museum
Every Thursday this August, it's your chance to climb aboard the 47-foot-long 'City of Sheffield' Tyne-class lifeboat. Discover the vital role this vessel once played, sit in the crew's seats and see the cabins where rescued people took shelter.
Summer Family Cinema: FernGully, The Last Rainforest
Fri. 8 August 2025
Hillsborough Pavilion, Middlewood Road, S6 4HD
Join RivelinCo to enjoy this 1992 animated film full of adventure, wonder and an inspiring message about nature. Crysta is a fairy living in a rainforest under threat, on a mission to protect it from destruction. With crafts and packed lunch.
Peddler
Multiple dates
Peddler Warehouse, 92 Burton Road, S3 8DA
Food, music and art in a former warehouse, one weekend a month. Plus kids craft activities on the Saturday afternoons. With bonus Christmas crafts for their festive edition.
Eats, Treats & Moor
Sat. 9 August 2025 — Sun. 10 August 2025
The Moor, S1 4PF
A weekend bursting with flavour, fun, and festivities on The Moor. With over 30 local and national vendors, live music, face painting, rides and demos throughout the weekend.
Family-Friendly Inflatable Air Puppets Workshop with Rosie McGinn
Tue. 12 August 2025 — Wed. 13 August 2025
Site Gallery
Create an inflatable air puppet inspired by your favourite fictional characters, complete with flailing arms that will dance around the gallery. For ages 10+, intergenerational collaboration encouraged. Led by artist Rosie McGinn.
Hamlet
Fri. 15 August 2025
Sheffield Botanical Gardens
Join the critically-acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company as they tackle Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy in their own anarchic style. Performing outdoors in Sheffield's glorious Botanical Gardens and suitable for all ages.
Family-Friendly Kite Making Workshop with Christopher Jarratt
Wed. 20 August 2025
Site Gallery
Design and build a unique kite inspired by the Fake Fans exhibition, and decorate it with bold, character-filled designs that celebrate your personal faves.
Sheffield Fayre
Mon. 25 August 2025
Norfolk Heritage Park, Guildford Avenue, S2 2PL
A bank holiday day out for all of the family in Norfolk Park. With a fun fair, demos, arts and crafts, stalls, and more.
Belle
Sun. 24 August 2025 — Tue. 26 August 2025
The Light, The Moor, S1 4PF
Lonely 17-year-old Suzu enters a virtual world, where she becomes world famous singer Belle. She embarks on an adventure to become her true self, in this fantastical and beautiful animated film from Oscar-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda.
Family-Friendly Fan Fiction Writing Workshop with Sile Sibanda
Wed. 27 August 2025
Site Gallery
If you were in control of your favourite characters, what adventures would they get up to? Delve into fandom as you tell our own stories through your favourite fictional characters, inspired by the Fake Fans exhibition.
Summer Holiday Activities at Manor Lodge
Mon. 21 July 2025 — Thu. 28 August 2025
Manor Lodge
A season of crafts activities and trails around the historic grounds, on a different theme each week of the holidays. Nature crafts. Castles and dragons. Birds, bees and Bugs. Brilliant buildings. And more.
Graves Park Food Festival
Sat. 30 August 2025 — Sun. 31 August 2025
Graves Park, Hemsworth Road, S8 8LJ
A family-friendly celebration of international food, independent drink, live music, arts and charity – all taking place in the biggest park in Sheffield.
With stalls, bars, chef demos, children's entertainment, and lots more.
Make It! Play It!
Thu. 24 July 2025 — Mon. 1 September 2025
National Videogame Museum
The NVM's summer exhibition takes a look at what it takes to bring a videogame to life. Including an exclusive first look at a brand new claymation game, plus drop-in sessions in sculpting clay characters, building scenes with LEGO, and animation.
Celebrating 150 Years of Weston Park Museum
Weston Park Museum
This summer, join one of our city’s best-loved museums as it kicks off celebrations for its 150th anniversary. Including chance to play retro games, build a giant 3D map of the city, create decorations for the museum's big birthday party, and more.