Febraury half-term is almost here, and there’s plenty to see and do in Medway!
Something for everyone on offer
Cllr Nina Gurung, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and Leisure, said: “There is loads to do in Medway this half-term, so make sure you get out there and take advantage of what is on offer! With our brilliant Child-Friendly Medway events, our amazing sports centres, fantastic cultural and heritage attractions and wonderful libraries and community hubs, there is something for everyone on offer!”
Plenty of fun with Child-Friendly Medway
Our Child-Friendly Medway (CFM) team will be hosting a number of free events throughout the week.
Start the half-term off with loads of fun at Medway Park with CFM’s Inflatables Fun Day on Monday, 17 February from 10am to 1pm.
For a more relaxed vibe, head to MidKent College on Wednesday, 19 February for a free screening of Encanto from 10am to 1pm.
On Thursday, 20 February the team will be bringing the fun to town at the Rochester Corn Exchange with free fun fair games. The Family Fun Fair day will take place from 1pm to 4pm, and will also focus on celebrating culture, diversity and inclusion in Medway.
Finally, head over to the Pentagon Shopping Centre on Friday, 21 February for plenty of crafts and activities at CFM’s ‘Under the Sea’ themed community event from 10am to 2pm.
These Child-Friendly Medway half-term activities are all free to attend, but must be booked in advance. You can reserve your space by emailing the team at: ChildFriendly@Medway.gov.uk.
Find out more about Child-Friendly Medway.
Sporting activities
Our Mini Youth Sports Camps will also be running at Medway Park during half-term, from Tuesday, 18 February to Friday, 21 February.
Designed for children aged between seven and 11-years-old, expect loads of fun and exciting activities, including dodgeball, swimming games, nerf wars, cricket, basketball, an obstacle course, football and more.
The sessions are delivered by our experienced sports coaches, and morning (9.30am – 12.30pm), afternoon (1pm to 4pm) and all day (9.30am – 4pm) sessions are available.
Half day sessions cost £11.60, full day sessions cost £23.20 and a booking for all eight sessions running over the four days costs £81.20. Medway Sport Premier Members also get a 20% discount.
Learn more about Mini Youth Sports Camps.
There’s plenty of fun to be had at Medway’s other sports centres throughout half-term as well. Take advantage of our brand-new sports Centre, Cozenton Park, and enjoy the flume, wave pool, splash pool and inflatable course!
Family Fun Inflatable sessions will also be running at Strood and Hoo sports Centre as well as at Cozenton Park.
The inflatable sessions will be taking place at:
Strood Sports Centre
- Monday, 17 February: 4.30pm to 6pm
- Wednesday, 19 February: 4.30pm to 6pm
- Sunday, 23 February: 1.30pm to 2.30pm
Hoo Sports Centre
- Wednesday 19 February: 2pm to 3.30pm
- Friday, 21 February: 2pm to 3.30pm
- Tuesday, 18 February: 10am to 11.30am
Cozenton Park Sports Centre
- Monday, 17 February: 3.15pm to 4:45pm
- Tuesday, 18 February: 2pm to 3.30pm
- Wednesday, 19 February: 4.15pm to 5.45pm
- Thursday, 20 February: 11.45am to 1:15pm
- Friday, 21 February: 4.15pm to 5.45pm
There’s no need to book for the Family Fun Inflatable sessions and these are free for Premier Members. Admission fees will apply for non-members.
There are also holiday swimming crash courses running throughout half-term at Medway Park, Strood, Hoo and Cozenton Park Sports Centres. They are perfect if you want to top-up or improve your child’s swimming skills! You can find out more on our website.
Find out more about sport in Medway.
Sporting celebration at Medway Archives Centre
An exhibition showcasing and celebrating Medway’s sporting heritage is also still on show at Medway Archives Centre over half-term.
The Past, Present and Future exhibition was created for the Medway Sports Awards 2024, and Medway sportspeople and clubs kindly donated items from their sporting careers including clothing, memorabilia, signed photographs, official programmes and fixture lists.
Local artist Designed by Esther also created a specially commissioned illustrated mural as part of the exhibition, which depicts some of the ‘Medway Greats’ including boxer Moses Itauma, Olympic gold medallist Nathan Hales, Paralympic gold medallist Charlotte Evans MBE and England rugby players Shaunagh Brown and Rachael Burford.
Some of the sporting memorabilia on display at the Part, Present and future exhibition.
Other items on show include past Gillingham FC and Chatham Town football programmes, 2012 Olympic memorabilia, a signed basketball from Medway’s NBA player Ryan Richards, a signed Adam Peaty Race Clinic photo and swim hat, trophies and Esther’s beautifully illustrated mural.
Find out more about Medway Archives Centre.
Unleash your creativity at Medway’s libraries and community hubs
Medway’s libraries will be hosting state-of-the-art virtual reality dance workshops throughout half-term in partnership with local company A+E Lab.
Aimed at those aged between 13 and 18-years-old, the free workshops will see you design your own character inspired by your favourite books, and work as a group to create a 360° film through your dance movements.
The workshops are taking place at:
Hempstead Library
- Tuesday, 18 February: 10.30am – 11.30am
Luton Library
- Tuesday, 18 February: 3pm – 4pm
Hoo Library
- Wednesday, 19 February: 10.30am – 11.30am
Rainham Library
- Wednesday, 19 February: 2.30pm – 3.30pm
Lordswood Library
- Thursday, 20 February: 2.30pm – 3.30pm
These workshops are supported by Medway Council, Arts Council England, Applause and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
There is limited capacity for these workshops and you will need to book in advance. You can find out more and book your place here.
Medway’s libraries and community hubs will also be running arts and craft sessions throughout half-term – come along and create your own fairytale creature, brilliant bug, a jiggly jellyfish and much more!
Sessions are running throughout the week and are all free to attend, but some do need to be booked in advance.
You can also kickstart your half-term at Lordswood Library on Saturday, 15 February with a special screening of The Lego Batman Movie. It forms part of a series of events called Saturday Cinema, with a different film being shown on one Saturday each month.
The screening will start at 9am and run until 10.30am. Places need to be booked, but it is free to attend.
Find out more about Medway’s libraries and community hubs.
Head to Medway’s Heritage sites
We are lucky to have so many fantastic heritage attractions in Medway, and they are the perfect place to visit over half-term.
Whether you head to the iconic Rochester Castle, the awe-inspiring Eastgate House, or pop over to the enlightening Guildhall Museum – there’s plenty to take in. If you are at The Guildhall on Tuesday, 18 or Friday, 21 February make sure you take part in the special arts and crafts sessions running from 10am to 4pm, which are included in the cost of admission.
Eastgate House will also be home to a special Alice in Wonderland themed half-term trail – follow the hearts around the magnificent Tudor townhouse to try and find Alice’s Tea Party! The trail is running at Eastgate House on Saturday, 15, Sunday, 16 and Saturday, 22 February, and is included in the cost of admission.
The half-term trail is the perfect warm up to a series of Alice in Wonderland shows at Eastgate House this April (Saturday, 12, Sunday, 13, and Saturday, 19) to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the Lewis Carroll classic. Tickets for the theatre performances are on sale now – find out more on Visit Medway.
So much more happening in Medway
If you want enjoy the great outdoors this half-term why not head to one of Medway’s many greenspaces or country parks. If you head to Capstone Country Park on Tuesday, 18, Wednesday, 19 or Thursday, 20 February – make sure to get involved in the arts and crafts sessions of offer! Make your own recycled bird feeder, hedgehog house or wooden person. Sessions cost £4 and run from 10am – 12pm and 1pm – 3pm on all three days.
The Historic Dockyard Chatham is also running an exciting event this half-term – ‘The Rat Pack and the Lost Shipwreck’. Join in the trail to find the missing pieces of a fabled treasure map, which points to the site of a remarkable shipwreck! The price of the trail is included in the cost of your Dockyard entry ticket.
Over at Rochester Cathedral, marvel at the truly astounding seven metre art installation of Luke Jerram’s ‘Mars: War and Peace’. The impressive work will be on display throughout February until Saturday, 8 March. You can find out more on the cathedral’s website.
Luke Jerram’s ‘Mars: War and Peace’ at Rochester Cathedral
Head to Fort Amhurst to take part in their Bee Happy Adventure trail. Find the seven bees which have hidden around the fort to win a prize – and as you find each of the bees you can scan a QR code to learn more about the bees and their important jobs in the hive! The trail is running from Saturday, 15 February to Sunday, 23 February from 10am to 3pm. Find out more, including how to book your ticket.
Electric Medway will also be hosting a special series of its Young Hack digital camps this half-term. You will have the opportunity to use creative technology to explore the entertainment history of the Old High Street Intra. Sessions aimed at those aged between 11 and 16-years-old will run on Tuesday, 18, Wednesday, 19 and Thursday, 20 February. A session for 16 to 18-year-olds will run on Thursday, 21 February.
No experience is necessary, and all of the camps will be held at Sun Pier House, Chatham and run from 10am to 4pm. Find out more and book your place.