COWfest 2018 will be a bit different... we are taking a break from the full festival, to make it even better next year and sustainable long-term. This year, COWfest is bringing you 5 chances to "play for a pound". That's right! You can try a new sporting activity for just £1. There will be 5 hour-long sessions running on Saturday 10th February 2018, at Kings' School sports centre: netball, basketball, multi-sports, handball and dodgeball.

You can book in advance or just turn up on the day (first come, first served). If you want to book tickets online, you can do so via these links:

9.30am Netball ages 8-11

11am Basketball ages 5-11

12.15pm Inclusive multi-sports ages 5-16

1.30pm Handball ages 5-11

2.45pm Dodgeball ages 5-11

So don't miss out! Come and play for a pound – you can even stay all day if you like, but don't forget to buy all 5 tickets!

There's just a week to go until COWfest 2017, so book soon if you would like to be involved!

The Big Top Tots workshop has now sold out, we have just one place left on the ages 5+ Circus Skills workshop, and other workshops are filling up quickly...

Even if you don't have workshop tickets, though, you can still pop down to the Tower at Kings' School on Saturday 18th February or the morning of Sunday 19th February to sample the atmosphere, take a look at the COWfest art gallery, and have a coffee...

See you at COWfest 2017!

All children's and young people's workshops are FREE this year at COWfest, thanks to a grant from Winchester City Council – so don't delay: book your place NOW!

COWfest 2017: Workshop details and tickets

Pre-school sessions:

Workshops for children aged 5 and up:

On Saturday, drop in any time between 10am and 3pm to create some stunning artworks and crafts with Art Stars (ages 5+):

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2017-arts-crafts-workshop-drop-in-tickets-31253534162

If you need to burn off some energy, how about trying Firefly Theatre School's Cheerleading workshop? (Ages 7+)

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2017-cheerleading-workshop-tickets-31249160079

In the afternoon, Creative Palaver will be larking around in the studio. Join them there to hone your Circus Skills (ages 5+):

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2017-circus-skills-workshop-tickets-31255666540

Or if you are keen to act up for a bit, try the University of Winchester HUB Youth Theatre's drama workshop (ages 7-11): 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2017-drama-workshop-tickets-31219549513 

Start your Sunday with a song, with Winnall Rock School's taster workshop (ages 10+): 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2017-rock-school-workshop-tickets-31219939680

All the fabulous workshops at COWfest 2017 are FREE, thanks to a Culture Grant from Winchester City Council.

There's something for all ages, from 8 weeks to 17 years old! So whatever you're into, or whatever you'd like to try, come and find it at COWfest...

Take a look at our Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1620226301613415

We are pleased to announce that the 2017 Children of Winchester Festival (COWfest) will be held on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th February, at the Tower at Kings' School.

This year, all workshops will be FREE, as will drop-in craft activities throughout the weekend!

So stay tuned for more details on workshops and performances, and information about how to book.

SEE YOU THERE!

Want to know what you can do at COWfest 2016?

Well, if you are aged 11 or older, there are three activities for you to try:

On Saturday 13th February, in the morning, you can have a go at Stage Fighting with Discarded Nut Theatre Company

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2016-stage-fighting-workshop-ages-11-tickets-20994033720

In the afternoon, there's a variety of arts and crafts to sample with Art Stars

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2016-arts-crafts-workshop-ages-11-tickets-20993936429

And on the morning of Sunday 14th, you can have a go at Songwriting and learn some Band Skills, with Winnall Rock School

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2016-songwriting-and-band-skills-workshop-ages-11-tickets-20994118975

If you are aged from 7 to 11 years, then there's a free drama workshop for you on the afternoon of Saturday 13th February, with the University of Winchester HUB Youth Theatre

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2016-drama-workshop-tickets-20993274449

And if you are aged between 5 and 10, then there's also an arts and crafts session for you with Art Stars, on the morning of Saturday 13th February

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2016-arts-crafts-workshop-ages-5-10-tickets-20993873240

If you are a parent or carer with a toddler, then you won't miss out. There are three short sessions with Moo Music for you to enjoy on Sunday 14th February

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2016-moosical-fun-1-tickets-20994209245

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2016-moosical-fun-2-tickets-20994406836

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2016-moosical-fun-3-tickets-20994500115

All ages are welcome to enjoy the performance Showcase at 1.30pm on Sunday 14th February

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2016-showcase-tickets-20994781958

In short – there's something for everyone at COWfest 2016, so come along and join in the fun!

A BIG thank you to the supporters of COWfest:

Kings' School, Winchester, for hosting the event

Hampshire County Council for their grant support via Councillor Martin Tod (Winchester Westgate Division)

Sainsbury's Winchester for providing free fruit for all our volunteers and workshop participants at the festival

Scrapstore for providing recycled materials for the Arts and Crafts workshops

Park Corner Design for advice to our young volunteers

We really appreciate your help and support in this, the first year of COWfest. It has made this new community initiative possible, and we are very grateful!

COWfest 2016 tickets are now on sale via Eventbrite!

You can buy tickets for both workshops and the performance showcase, with affordable prices ranging from £0 to £5. Simply go to the relevant workshop or showcase entry on this site and click on the Eventbrite link.

Places are limited, so don't delay – sign up now to join in the fun, and get your February half-term off to a good start.

COWfest is the Children of Winchester Festival, and it will run for the first time in 2016! It's all happening on the weekend of 13th and 14th February, at the Tower Arts Centre at Kings' School. The aim of COWfest is to showcase local talent and bring new audiences to Winchester's youth arts providers, and to give children a chance to have a go at different creative activities through workshops. We also hope for local young people to be involved in planning and marketing the festival. We are starting small in 2016, but our aim is to develop the festival over the coming years and to make it a regular feature of Winchester's festival calendar.

Check out the details of workshops and performances as we post them here, and join in the fun!

If you are are aged 14+, you can volunteer to help at COWfest 2016 by completing a short online form here.