Join us on Andover High Street for free family fun on Fridays 7, 14, 21 and 28 August.

This year’s theme is ‘Eco-explorers’ and we will be celebrating the incredible diversity of life on Earth and our role in protecting it.

Friday 14 August - Beetles, Bugs and Butterflies - ‘Mini Marvels’
Celebrate pollinators and insects as essential parts of Earth’s ecosystems. 

Activities:

• Nature bug hotels and bug finger puppets with Andover Trees United

  Get creative with nature-inspired crafts as you decorate your very own mini cardboard bug hotel and make a colourful bug finger puppet to live inside! Choose from a butterfly, beetle, bee, or ladybird and bring your tiny insect friend to life.

• Mini marvel mask making and creative writing with Chapel Arts Studios 

  Step into the shoes of a tiny insect and let your imagination take flight! Drop in to create your own wearable insect mask, choosing from a beetle, butterfly, or bee. Once your mask is complete, discover the world from your insect’s perspective and take part in a creative writing activity, crafting a short story about your adventures in nature.

• Installation by Merry go Round Storytelling

  Where the Ash Trees Grow is is a community art project led by artist and storyteller Amanda Kane-Smith, inspired by the meaning of Andover's name, which is thought to mean 'Ash Tree Stream'.
  
  Throughout August, the O2 shop in the Chantry Centre will be transformed into a growing installation of handmade ash trees and a chalk stream. Local people will be invited to drop into the O2 shop to contribute to the installation by helping create the trees and stream and to write their thoughts, hopes and wishes on leaves on the trees, and stones and ‘ripples’ in the river bed.

• Betty Bug and The Ugly Bug Ball by Routine Riots

  Join Betty Bug for a fun-filled interactive storytelling adventure and discover all about the annual Ugly Bug Ball! Meet a host of fascinating bugs, enjoy a lively tale, and learn how to dance the Charleston as you prepare for the biggest bug celebration of the year.

• Mr Chirrup's Bug Safari by Curious Company

  Join Curious Company on a fun-filled journey through stories, facts and songs in this interactive global bug safari!

  Led by the Old Green Grasshopper, Miss Ladybird and Arachne Spider this gorgeous show transforms perceptions of insects and demonstrates the vital contribution the tiny friends make to our existence. Perfect for all Roald Dahl lovers!

• Bug handling with BugFest

  Get up close to some of the world’s most fascinating creepy-crawlies with BugFest! Explore a collection of exotic minibeasts from around the globe, safely housed in naturalistic habitats, and enjoy the opportunity to handle a variety of incredible creatures. Discover amazing facts, ask questions, and learn from BugFest’s knowledgeable handlers during this exciting, hands-on experience. Perfect for curious minds of all ages!

• Rhymetimes, storytimes and drop in crafts with Andover Library

  Join Andover Library for a delightful day of songs, stories, crafts, and fun! At 11am, enjoy a lively 30-minute rhymetime session with music and singing. Throughout the day, children can also take part in drop-in craft activities, perfect for getting creative. Then, return at 2.30pm for a magical storytime session designed to spark imaginations and bring stories to life.

• Face painting with Sally Rose

  Add a splash of colour to your day with Face painting by Sally Rose. 

• Butterfly on a stick with Andover Museum

  Make and take craft and bug identification.