August sees the racing Family days come thick and fast! We start at the very beginning of the month with Fancy Dress Family Fun Day at Ripon Racecourse, where racegoers are encouraged to come in their best fancy dress. They also round off the month on Monday 30th August with their Bank Holiday Family Day. It’ll be an action packed day with balloon modelling and face painting, a barrel train ride, kub karts, an inflatable assault course and giant inflatable slide plus a Punch ‘n’ Judy and magic show.
Catterick have a double header of family fun with their ABF The Soldier’s Charity Family Day where children can enjoy a variety of free entertainment available in the Course Enclosure throughout the afternoon, including testing their skills on the Bootcamp Challenge, an inflatable obstacle course! On the second family day, Monday 15 August, younger racing fans can test their sporting skills on a 9-hole crazy golf course in the Course Enclosure. While for any youngsters who prefer a puzzle to putting, there will also be a treasure hunt with a sweet prize at the end, and the opportunity to enter the prize draw to win tickets for Lightwater Valley!
Thirsk host their Circus Family Fun Day on Friday 5th August and they also have a new family ticket to purchase. Two adults and accompanied children have access to the Grandstand and Paddock and Picnic Enclosure for just £20. The National Festival Circus will be in attendance along with face painting, balloon modelling and bouncy castles. Another great family day out comes on Friday, August 26, with the All Creatures Great and Small Family Day, celebrating Thirsk’s links with legendary television vet James Herriot. The day features a petting farm, with children able to get up close to lots of animals, along with face-painting, traditional fairground stalls, and bouncy castles.
For those dreaming of a trip to the Caribbean this summer, you can stay a bit closer to home and travel to Redcar instead. Their Caribbean Carnival day takes place on Saturday 6th August and alongside the great racing there’s plenty of fun for kids of all ages. Learn how to chant at Pirate School, join the pirates on a treasure hunt, and sail the high seas on the pirate ship bouncy castle.
Wear your best pirate outfit or favourite Caribbean shirt and you could swash buckle some treasure in the fancy dress competition for both adults and children.
The Industry Zone – Behind the Scenes Talk in the Winners Enclosure
The Horse Zone – Join the ex-racehorses during a parade of ex-racers
The Quiet Zone – Enjoy a free tea or coffee with us while you read the Racing Post and sort out your selections.
The Newcomers Zone – Meet our ‘Here to Help’ team who’ll show you around and explain how an afternoon at the races works.
The Tipster Zone – Listen to the expert Punters Panel in the Winners Enclosure
The Kids Zone – Enjoy the Kids zone throughout the afternoon in the Picnic Enclosure.
There will also be a funfair, free sweets, activity packs and racecards for kids and a ‘Hunt The Golden Horseshoe’ competition on every Family Sunday at Pontefract!
Beverley rounds off the eventful August with their Circus Family Fun Day on Sunday 28th August – a relaxed, fun afternoon race day suitable for all the family! Join us the Circus Skills workshop in a traditional big top, or let the kids ride the funfair rides during the afternoon. Traditional side shows available for all ages to battle it out – coconut shies, bat the rat – a proper summer fete feel!
End the Summer Holidays at York Racecourse on Sunday 4th September where Paw Patrol’s Chase will be making regular visits throughout the day. The “Big Top Entertainment Marquee” is home to giant inflatables, diggerland, a children’s zoo, zorb football, face painting, and lots more. Traditionally, this race meeting sees young riders taking part in the Pony Racing Series at the beginning of the day.
Don’t forget that under 18’s race free and are welcome to all race meetings, not just family days so if grandparents, parents or carers are looking for something to do with children over the summer, check out the fixture list https://goracing.co.uk/fixtures/ and take a look at this video, where Freja explains how she enjoys a day at the races.
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