Easter Holiday Japes

Here in Waltham Forest, we are screeching into the Easter holidays mere hours before Good Friday. I appreciate that some of you have been on holidays all week but we’ve barely had time to put the PE kit in the wash. If you’re the same, here are some fun things you can do to fill in that full two weeks post-Bank Holiday. It’s a long time.

Anyhoo, first up a bouncy fun day for Good Friday. Chingford-based company JS Bouncy Castle & Party Hire are hosting the party, which may or may not be rainy (doesn’t it always rain on Good Friday?) at Chingford Rugby Club. We’re planning to go if it doesn’t rain and maybe if it does. Wristbands cost £7 for over-5s and £4 for under-5s which allows them to run riot on bouncy castles and inflatable slides. If you fancy something more spiritually minded for such an important Christian calendar date, there’s a full scale passion play on in Trafalgar Square at both 12:00 and 15:15. Sadly, I think my heathen children will prefer the bouncy castles.

And now for something completely different… the MiniBox festival in Shoreditch. If reggae nursery rhymes and a craft village appeal to you and your hipster child, get down to Shoreditch on 8th April. But be quick..it’s only on from 3-5. And it’s free. Woohoo! Meanwhile, in Peckham on the 12th April Nimble Arts are hosting the second ever Indiepop Tots event, playing the kind of music we listened to as stroppy teenagers and now want to introduce our kids too. Sadly, I am otherwise engaged but one day we shall make it to South London and shake our booty to Belle and Sebastian.

There’s more toddler-dancing action at Big Fish Little Fish, who are throwing a “MadHatters Tea Party” in Balham on 19th April. The last Balham party was super fun so you should definitely check it out. I hear exciting things are brewing in the BFLF camp, including festivals and comedy…so check out their brand new website for updates!

Or how about some exciting kids’ theatre? It’s totally not in the Easter holidays, but I hear there’s a production of “Rapunzel” at the Redbridge Drama Centre that should appeal to all fans of “Tangled”, or just girls like Eva who like long, blond wigs. It’s on 30th April and tickets are £6. Landing more solidly in the Easter holidays is “Big Red Bath” on 17th April at the Half Moon Theatre, Limehouse. It’s about a big, red bath I believe and is recommended for the under 6s. On a grander scale, “Tree Fu Tom Live” is swooping Londonwards, with an Uxbridge show on 17th April as well. There will copious amounts of Big World Magic. I’m also very tempted by the English National Ballet’s “My First Ballet” for my dance-loving girl. It’s got to be better than Angelina Ballerina. It’s on at the Peacock Theatre from now until 12th April.

Of course, if this is all too much effort, just come to church with us on Sunday and eat some chocolate. Look at Eva last year:

Aww, mullety girl!

Happy Easter everyone!