By Lucy Neill | 16 July 2026
The school holidays have arrived in Suffolk and we’re gearing up for another summer of fun events and activities for all ages in our libraries!
Browse our top events for children and families to enjoy throughout July and August.
This is just a small number of the wide variety of events our libraries are running this summer – head to our What’s On page to browse more events near you!
Don’t forget – teens can enjoy creative workshops at O Projeto Página em Branco this summer, including songwriting, special effects makeup, bookbinding and more. Bookings are now open!
Reading with Gwel the Therapy Dog
Where: Biblioteca de Stowmarket
When: Every other Thursday morning
Come along to Stowmarket Library and meet Gwel the therapy dog! Gwel will be visiting every other Thursday morning for young children to read out loud to her.
Gwel is registered with Pets as Therapy and she loves to listen to children read out loud to build their confidence, while their adults read or browse books nearby. Children can also enjoy some calming cuddles.
Board Game Fun
Where: Biblioteca de Kedington
When: Tuesdays throughout the summer
Join us on Tuesday mornings at Kedington Library for a morning of fun board games, suitable for all ages! We have a huge range of board games available, including Exploding Kittens Dominoes, Pac-Man, Yogi and many more!
Family Summer Crafts
Where: Biblioteca de Great Cornard
When: Fridays throughout the summer
Come along to Great Cornard Library for our free weekly family crafts, taking place every Friday throughout the summer holidays!
Enjoy creative activities to celebrate the Reading Quest themed around the Curious Creatures illustrations. Suitable for children aged 2 to 12 years old.
Photo Pet Show Competition
Where: Biblioteca de Oulton Broad
When: Throughout the summer
Calling all adorable pets! You are invited to take part in our Photo Pet Show this summer! Children can bring in photos of their pets to the library and enter them into one of four categories in our photography show.
From cats and dogs, to tortoises and snakes – all pets included! Bring a photo along anytime during the school holidays with your name and your pets name and age written on the back to take part.
Don’t forget to join us on Thursday 20 August where we’ll be showing a slideshow of the winning photos and handing out prizes!
Family Fun Activities
Where: Biblioteca Comunitária de Gainsborough
When: Every day throughout summer
You’re invited to take part in a variety of fun activities for all the family, with something new to try each day!
Whether a family or group of friends, we have something for everyone of all ages and abilities.
Enjoy Giant Games & Board Games on Mondays, Family Crafts on Tuesdays, Tênis de mesa e sinuca on Wednesdays, and Family Movie Afternoons on Thursdays. Plus weekend Lego and Crafts!
Storytime & Crafts with author Lisa Nickell-Lean
Where: Biblioteca de Southwold
When: Wednesday 22 July
Meet local children’s author Lisa Nickell-Lean! Lisa will be visiting the library to talk about her new picture book, Snoring is Boring. Plus fun dog-themed crafts!
Snoring is Boring is an enchanting introductory tale of an energetic little girl enticing her sleepy dog to more exciting activities other than boring snoring and sleeping!
Will he ever wake up and join in? Maybe, especially if it’s to discover fun seaside attractions in sunny Southwold.
Meet the Mini Monsters
Where: Biblioteca Capel St Mary
When: Thursday 23 July
Enjoy an interactive wildlife experience with Ed from Mini Monsters! Come along and enjoy a calm, structured, hands-on animal encounter using a selected range of exotic reptiles and invertebrates.
- Live animal demonstrations with fascinating facts
- Calm encounter sessions designed for family audiences
- Sensory-friendly handling options available.
Suitable for ages 4-10!
Summer Pottery Painting with Gallery Thea
Where: Southwold Library (Stella Peskett Millenium Hall)
When: Wednesday 29 July and Thursday 27 August
Join us for a fun summer pottery painting session with Southwold-based illustrator Gallery Thea! Children can get involved in painting their own mugs, plates and bowls to take home with them.
Suitable for older children.
Forensic Science & Crime Busting
Where: Biblioteca Long Melford
When: Saturday 1 August
Grab your magnifying glass and join us for a crime busting adventure in forensic science with Lab in a Library! Suitable for children aged 5+.
Take fingerprints, exam a crime scene, dress as CSIs and work out who the criminal is and how the crime was committed.
Reading with Gwel the Therapy Dog
Where: Biblioteca de Elmswell
When: Tuesday 4 August
Did you know Gwel also visits children at Biblioteca de Elmswell? Come along on the first Tuesday of every month and enjoy a relaxing reading-aloud session!
Gwel is registered with Pets as Therapy and she loves to listen to children read out loud to build their confidence, while their adults read, browse books or take a relaxing moment to doing our community jigsaw.
EPIC Dad Family Fundraiser
Where: Biblioteca de Newmarket
When: Tuesday 4 August
Join us at Newmarket Library for an EPIC afternoon of family activities! The team at EPIC Dad are running a fundraiser to help support the amazing work they do to support men, empower fathers, and strengthen families.
Come along from 15:30 to 17:00 and enjoy Lego, games, toys, creative crafts, and a bake sale!
Let’s Get Crafty: Space Crafts
Where: Biblioteca de Haverhill
When: Thursday 13 August
Blast off into a summer of creativity for 4-11 year olds at Haverhill Library!
We’ll be joined by the Suffolk Archives team who will be bringing their Let’s Get Crafty session for children to enjoy. Get stuck in with galaxy inspired fun under the sun!
Explorer’s Trail with author James Mayhew
Where: Biblioteca de Lowestoft
When: Tuesday 25 August
Save the date! Illustrator and author James Mayhew is visiting Lowestoft Library as part of the National Literacy Trust’s Explorer’s Trail. James will be sharing wonderful stories while painting.
Come along to meet furry friends, explore a special instrument, get crafty and much more!
To book your place, sign up via the National Literacy Trust in Suffolk’s interest form.
Dinosaur Crafty Fun
Where: Biblioteca Thurston
When: Tuesday 25 August
Join us for a fabulous afternoon with Emma Graham, author and illustrator of Tyranno – ROAR-us Rex!
Emma will be sharing fun ‘Rex’ crafts, sharing a story and will have her book on sale if you would like to take Rex home with you!
Pigeon’s Code Breakers
Where: Biblioteca do Condado de Ipswich
When: Friday 28 August
Come along to Ipswich County Library for some fun Curious Creatures themed craft activities for children to celebrate the Reading Quest!
Pigeon loves decoding things. Why not create your own code for Pigeon and your friends and family to figure out the secret message together?
Did you know our libraries run free and low-cost activities all throughout the year?
From live music performances to art workshops, parent and baby play groups to wellbeing support sessions, there’s something for everyone.
Visite nosso What’s On page to browse 500+ events across Suffolk!
Portuguese 
English 
Polish 
Lithuanian 
Romanian 
Bengali