Tues 26 – Fri 29 July 2022

The popular Lightbox Summer Family Fun Festival is back!

Join us for the first week of the school holidays for garden games and ice cream in our courtyard, drop-in and bookable craft workshops and a self-led building trail with a sweet prize for those that take part.

Complete your visit by treating your little ones to a picnic box or a slice of pizza in our Café and by browsing the children’s gifts in our Shop.

Giant Garden Games
Tues 26 – Fri 29 July, Drop-in anytime from 10.30am – 4.30pm

Join us for free giant garden games in our courtyard throughout the Festival which include nostalgic classics such as snakes and ladders, Connect 4, KerPlunck, and Jenga. Please note this activity will not take place in the case of inclement weather. Children must be supervised at all times when playing the games.

Free | Suggested Donation £3

Building Trail
Tues 26 – Fri 29 July, Drop-in anytime from 10.30am – 5.00pm

Learning to fill in. Collect your trail from The Lightbox entrance and when completed go to Reception on the ground floor to claim a sticker and sweet treat prize.

Free | Suggested Donation £3

Mini Venice
Drop-in Tues 26 and Wed 27 July, Drop-in anytime from 11.00am – 4.00pm

Transport yourself to the waterways of Venice by taking part in our free Mini Venice craft activity. Recycled products will be used to create the boats, buildings and waterways of Venice, resulting in a mini version of this iconic Italian city. This activity is inspired by the Canaletto and Melissa McGill: Performance and Panorama exhibition in our Main Gallery over the school holidays.

Free | Suggested Donation £3

Design a map
Tues 26 July, 1.30pm – 3.00pm (5 – 7 year olds)

Come and make your own map to travel around the world or make up your own places to go on adventures to.

£9.50 per child | Accompanying adult goes free

Flying Aeroplanes
Wed 27 July, Drop-in anytime from 1.30pm – 4.00pm

Ready for take-off? Make a colourful aeroplane out of recycled materials and see where it will fly off to.

Free entry | Suggested Donation £3

Storytelling
Thurs 28 July, 11.00am – 11.40am

Join us for some stories, rhymes and hands-on creative fun. Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis at Reception from 10.30am on the day.

Free entry | Suggested Donation £3

Learn how to paint a landscape scene
Thurs 28 July, 1.30pm – 3.00pm (8 - 11 year olds)

Using our Canaletto exhibition as inspiration, you will learn how to paint a landscape scene that could be used as a postcard to remember your summer.

£9.50 per child | Accompanying adult goes free

Bubble Fun and Face Paint Friday
Fri 29 July, Drop-in anytime from 1.30pm – 4.00pm

Join us in our courtyard where an expert painter will transform little faces into sparkly butterflies, superhero characters and friendly animals. Afterwards, enjoy constructing a variety of bubble makers with us. Learn how they work in our Courtyard and then test them out at home – all for free! In the case of inclement weather, face painting will take place indoors and an alternative workshop will take place in the Studio.

Free entry | Suggested Donation £3

Something for the grown-ups…

Lightbox Lates Thurs
28 July, from 5.00pm

Can’t make it to The Lightbox during the day? Enjoy FREE entry to our exhibitions every last Thursday of the month, from 5.00pm – 8.30pm. Enjoy a drink in our Café or courtyard, or attend one of the special events such as Book Group, Poetry Open Mic, The Paint Club or take a trip on the Basingstoke Canal which finishes at The Lightbox with a cocktail. Find out more and book at thelightbox.org.uk/Lates.

Pasta Making Masterclass
Thurs 28 July, 7.30pm – 9.30pm

To mark the opening of our summer exhibition by the world-renowned Italian artist Canaletto, join us for this exclusive masterclass in pasta making with Towpath Kitchen. You will have the option to make spaghetti, tagliatelle or farfalle (gluten-free/ vegan options are available – please advise at time of booking) and will receive a complimentary glass of Prosecco. Whilst the dough rests enjoy a stroll in the main gallery to soak up the beautiful Venetian scenes depicted by Canaletto before heading back to finish making your pasta and enjoying the delicious end result! All ingredients and the glass of Prosecco are included in the price.

£50 Adults | £45 Lightbox Members