COWfest 2022
This year's Children of Winchester Festival (COWfest) will take place on Saturday 19 February 2022.
We are planning a new in-person format this year, to take account of our COVID-affected environment, but also to try something new!
COWfest 2022 is offering a one-day kids’ takeover of Winchester city centre, with a wide range of FREE activities on offer in diverse spaces – from cultural venues and community facilities to shops and other businesses.
One of the objectives is to showcase Winchester city organisations and businesses – particularly those that are youth-oriented – and to enable them to reach new audiences. We hope the event will bring children and their parents and carers into buildings and businesses that they wouldn’t normally visit, in order to take part in free activities offered specifically for COWfest.
If your venue, organisation or business would like to take part, please email us on [email protected] for more information and to discuss what you'd like to offer!
COWfest 'lite' in 2021
Sadly, we cannot hold a full Children of Winchester Festival (COWfest) this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, you don't have to miss out – we have lined up some FREE family fun for half-term in our 2021 online COWfest-lite!
There are live and pre-recorded activities available, for all ages. With a big thank you to the Hampshire Cultural Trust, Treasure Gymnastics, Salsa y Sol, Mimosa Montessori and Little Blossom Yoga.
Check out the programme below:
LIVE SESSIONS ON SATURDAY 13th FEBRUARY
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10:30 to 11.15am |
Marine life craft – with Lindsey from Hampshire Cultural Trust. Let’s go and see the Sea! Create your own sea creatures at home. 🐬 FREE! Suitable for ages 4 to 10. Book here (only one ticket needed per family). 🎨 Class will be held on Zoom. Parent/carer will be emailed a link. All you will need is… Paper/card; Scissors; Sticky tape; Sharpie Pens or colouring pencils; Crayons or paint; Silver foil; Paper plates; Toilet roll tube. |
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11.00 to 11.30am |
Dancing Fun – with Salsa y Sol. Dance your heart out to dance tracks you love! DONATION (pay what you wish; class is usually £7 per family). Suitable for the whole family. Book by email to s[email protected] with name/age(s). Donation by BACS: Salsa y Sol 30-99-71 00026608 Class will be held on Zoom. Parent/carer will be emailed a link. |
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11.45am to 12.15pm |
Yoga – with Salsa y Sol. Do you know how much Super Power you have inside of you? Wake up your Inner Super Power with our Hatha Flow Yoga for Youngsters! 🧘♂️ DONATION (pay what you wish; class is usually £7 per family). Suitable for the whole family. Book by email to s[email protected] with name/age(s). Donation by BACS: Salsa y Sol 30-99-71 00026608 Class will be held on Zoom. Parent/carer will be emailed a link. |
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1.30 to 2.15pm |
Mask making – with Lindsey from Hampshire Cultural Trust. Join in the COWfest creative fun by making some colourful paper masks. 🎭 FREE! Suitable for ages 4 to 10. Book here (only one ticket needed per family). 🎨 Class will be held on Zoom. Parent/carer will be emailed a link. All you will need is… Paper/card; Felt tips/paint/crayons., anything to add colour! Scissors; Glue/sticky tape; String; Templates provided by download. |
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2.00 to 2.45pm |
Give gymnastics a go – with Jess from Treasure Gymnastics 🤸♂️ FREE! Suitable for ages 5 to 11. Book here. 🤸♀️ Class will be held on Zoom. Parent/carer will be emailed a link. All you will need is… Space to move; loose clothing; water to drink. |
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3.00 to 3.45pm |
Paper puppets – with Lindsey from Hampshire Cultural Trust. Do you love making up stories and putting on a performance? Have fun making paper puppets and a woodland stage backdrop and put on a puppet show! 🎨 FREE! Suitable for ages 4 to 10. Book here (only one ticket needed per family). 🎨 Class will be held on Zoom. Parent/carer will be emailed a link. All you will need is… A3 card or box to make your theatre; Split pins; Paint/pens/ crayons; Tissue paper and glue; Scissors; Sticky tape; Wooden skewers (parent supervision on the pointy bit) or lollypop sticks; Templates provided by download. |
PRE-RECORDED SESSIONS TO TRY WHENEVER YOU LIKE
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Yoga for toddlers |
The Snail and the Whale – with Little Blossom Yoga 🧘 A yoga story for all the family to enjoy, inspired by Julia Donaldson's 'The Snail and the Whale' – listen along and enjoy yoga postures, breathing activities, bonding fun and relaxation to try at home with your little ones! 🐌🐳 Watch here Find out more about Little Blossom Yoga at www.littleblossomyoga.co.uk or on Instagram @littleblossomyoga |
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Painting workshop |
Painting workshop inspired by Alma Thomas – with Mimosa Montessori 🎨 For children age 6+. Create your own circular painting in the style of Alma Thomas, and learn about her life and how she uses colour to create impact in her art. 🎨 Watch here Find out more about Mimosa Montessori on Facebook @MimosaMontessori or Instagram @mimosa_montessori |
MORE TO READ AND DO!
For lots of great kids' activities and other resources, check out Hampshire Cultural Trust's 'Culture on Call' website, with its Kidzone here.
Here are some of our favourite activities:
- Learn to make a bird feeder out of pine cones here
- Find some beautiful Winchester Cathedral and King Alfred's statue colouring sheets here
- Create your own piece of history by making a family time capsule here
2020 festival programme
At this year's COWfest, we have a fantastic range of drop-in and bookable activities on offer at our new venue – the Winchester Discovery Centre!
Best of all, thanks to the support of the Winchester BID and Waitrose, all children can take part for FREE!
Take a look at this year's festival programme:
FREE DROP-IN ACTIVITIES
Arts and Crafts – 10am to 4pm
Art Stars – Pirate themed creativity for ages 7-11
deBuriart Workshops – Abstract printmaking for ages 4+
Mimosa Montessori – Eric Carle inspired collage for ages 3+
University of Southampton arts and crafts – Weaving, Lollystick people and Valentine’s inspired craft for ages 3+; origami for ages 7+
Winchester Embroiderers’ Guild – embroidery for ages 6-10
All day – Winchester Embroiderers’ Guild annual exhibition in the City Space gallery
Children’s Library
10am: Rhymetime – ages 0-3
11am: Storytime: A Very Hungry Caterpillar – ages 3-7
12.30-3.30pm: Wannabe Street: Role play zones
2pm-4pm: Lego Club – ages 4+
Café
2.30-3pm: Salsa y Sol – Zumba – ages 7-11
FREE WORKSHOPS
Relax Kids – Relaxation and mindfulness
9.30-10.15: ages 3-5 BOOK HERE
10.30-11.15: ages 6-10 BOOK HERE
Playmakers Young Producers – Drama
10am-11 am: Be your own Superhero! – ages 4-7 BOOK HERE
11:30am-12:30pm: No Stupid Questions – ages 8-11 BOOK HERE
Creative Palaver – Circus skills
11.45-12.45: ages 4-7 BOOK HERE
1-2pm: ages 8-12 BOOK HERE
Noisy Oyster – The Odd Bods puppetry for ages 6-12
Workshop 1: 12-1pm BOOK HERE
Workshop 2: 1.30-2.30pm BOOK HERE
Workshop 3: 3-4pm BOOK HERE
Winnall Rock School – Songwriting
1.30-4.30pm: ages 7-13 BOOK HERE
Little Blossom Yoga
2.30-3.00pm: parent and baby BOOK HERE
3.15-3.45pm: parent and toddler 18 months-4 years BOOK HERE
4-4.45pm: ages 5-11 BOOK HERE
Support COWfest 2020!
PLEASE help us get 2020 off to a good start by supporting the Children of Winchester Festival (COWfest) with your green coins in Waitrose during January!
THANK YOU!
COWfest 2020 will be held on Saturday 15th February at the Winchester Discovery Centre – so hold the date for FREE fun and creativity for children of all ages!
COWfest 2020
** HOLD THE DATE! **
The 5th Children of Winchester Festival (COWfest) will take place on Saturday 15th February 2020 – at a new venue, the Discovery Centre!
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
Thank you...
THANK YOU to all those involved in COWfest 2019!
This year's festival was busy, noisy, messy and great fun!
Particular thanks go to:
- all our COWfest volunteers from the University of Winchester and Westgate School; you were all brilliant!
- all our COWfest workshop and activity providers; you put smiles on lots of children's faces!
- the community centre team at Kings' School; you stepped in to help at key moments and kept everything running smoothly!
- our fabulous sponsors, the Alresford Music Festival and Cass Art; your raffle prizes were much appreciated as were all the art supplies!
- our funders, Winchester Round Table; without you, we couldn't have offered such a varied festival programme for FREE to so many children and young people.
DON'T MISS OUT
Tickets for COWfest 2019 are going quickly – so book yours now to be sure of having a FREE place.
Want to know what you can do at COWfest?
We have two activities that are open to all ages:
Mimosa Montessori junk modelling and texture wall, all ages, 10.00 – 12.00 and 13.00 – 15.00
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-junk-modelling-workshop-1-all-ages-tickets-54852741025
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-junk-modelling-workshop-2-all-ages-tickets-54922428462
Winchester School of Art stencilling, all ages, 10.00 – 12.00 and 13.00 – 15.00
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-stencilling-workshop-1-all-ages-tickets-54853783142
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-stencilling-workshop-2-all-ages-tickets-54925349198
Some are aimed at babies and pre-schoolers:
9.30 – 10.15 Relax Kids ‘Little Stars’ ages 2-5
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-relax-kids-little-stars-ages-2-5-tickets-54852187369
13.15 – 13.55 Caterpillar Music ages 0-18 mths
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-caterpillar-music-ages-0-18-months-tickets-54852426083
14.10 – 14.50 Caterpillar Music ages 18 mths-4 years
Lots of our workshops cater for children at primary school:
9.30 – 10.30 Saints Foundation football ages 5-7
Elka textiles weaving, ages 6+, 10.00 – 12.00 and 13.00 – 15.00
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-weaving-workshop-1-ages-6-tickets-54852560485
Georgia de Buriatte printmaking, ages 6+, 10.00 – 12.00 and 13.00 – 15.00
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-printmaking-workshop-1-ages-6-tickets-54853853352
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-printmaking-workshop-2-ages-6-tickets-54924247904
10.30 – 11.30 Relax Kids ‘Magical Adventures’ ages 5-9
10.45 – 11.45 Saints Foundation football ages 5-11
10.00 – 13.00 Winchester Hub Youth Theatre drama workshop ages 6-13
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-drama-workshop-tickets-54798543920
12.45 –13.45 District Sports dodgeball ages 7+
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-dodgeball-ages-7-tickets-54833226657
14.00 – 17.00 Winnall Rock School songwriting workshop ages 7-16, followed by performance showcase
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-songwriting-workshop-tickets-54799183834
14.00 – 15.00 District Sports basketball ages 7-11
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-basketball-ages-7-11-tickets-54833267780
15.00 – 16.00 District Sports basketball ages 7+
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-basketball-ages-7-tickets-54833271792
16.15 – 17.15 District Sports dodgeball ages 7+
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-dodgeball-ages-7-tickets-54833257750
15.30 – 17.30 Let's Dance ages 7+
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-lets-dance-ages-7-tickets-54852493284
And there are activities for older children and teens as well:
Elka textiles weaving, ages 6+, 10.00 – 12.00 and 13.00 – 15.00
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-weaving-workshop-1-ages-6-tickets-54852560485
Georgia de Buriatte printmaking, ages 6+, 10.00 – 12.00 and 13.00 – 15.00
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-printmaking-workshop-1-ages-6-tickets-54853853352
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-printmaking-workshop-2-ages-6-tickets-54924247904
10.00 – 13.00 Winchester Hub Youth Theatre drama workshop ages 6-13
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-drama-workshop-tickets-54798543920
14.00 – 17.00 Winnall Rock School songwriting workshop ages 7-16, followed by performance showcase
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-songwriting-workshop-tickets-54799183834
15.00 – 16.00 District Sports basketball ages 7+
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-basketball-ages-7-tickets-54833271792
16.15 – 17.15 District Sports dodgeball ages 7+
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-dodgeball-ages-7-tickets-54833257750
15.30 – 17.30 Let's Dance ages 7+
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-lets-dance-ages-7-tickets-54852493284
So there really is something for everyone!
In addition to the pre-booked sessions above, there will be several 'drop in and try' activities available, as well as a cafe for parents and carers to relax in throughout the day.
The cafe will also be offering raffle tickets to parents and carers, for two fantastic prizes – a family ticket to this year's Alresford Music Festival, and a fantastic bundle of arts supplies from Cass Art (which has a lovely new shop on the Winchester School of Art campus).
The COWfest team is very grateful to the support of the Alresford Music Festival and Cass Art for our festival this year! THANK YOU.
And, of course, we wouldn't be able to offer all the fantastic COWfest activities for FREE without the help of Winchester Round Table. Another big THANK YOU to them...
COWfest 2019 tickets
TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE!
You can now book tickets for workshops and activities at COWfest 2019 on Saturday 16th February.
All tickets are FREE, so we expect the festival to book up quickly. Please make sure you only book sessions that you can attend – and if you can no longer make it nearer the time, please release your ticket for another child to enjoy! Thank you!
Programme details and ticket links are as follows:
Sports hall
9.30 – 10.30 Saints Foundation football ages 5-7
10.45 – 11.45 Saints Foundation football ages 8-11
12.45 –13.45 District Sports dodgeball ages 7+
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-dodgeball-ages-7-tickets-54833226657
14.00 – 15.00 District Sports basketball ages 7-11
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-basketball-ages-7-11-tickets-54833267780
15.00 – 16.00 District Sports basketball ages 7+
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-basketball-ages-7-tickets-54833271792
16.15 – 17.15 District Sports dodgeball ages 7+
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-dodgeball-ages-7-tickets-54833257750
Tower theatre
10.00 – 13.00 Winchester Hub Youth Theatre drama workshop ages 6-13
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-drama-workshop-tickets-54798543920
14.00 – 17.00 Winnall Rock School songwriting workshop ages 7-16, followed by performance showcase
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-songwriting-workshop-tickets-54799183834
Tower studio
9.30 – 10.15 Relax Kids ‘Little Stars’ ages 2-5
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-relax-kids-little-stars-ages-2-5-tickets-54852187369
10.30 – 11.30 Relax Kids ‘Magical Adventures’ ages 5-9
13.15 – 13.55 Caterpillar Music ages 0-18 mths
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-caterpillar-music-ages-0-18-months-tickets-54852426083
14.10 – 14.50 Caterpillar Music ages 18 mths-4 years
15.30 – 17.30 Let's Dance ages 7+
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-lets-dance-ages-7-tickets-54852493284
Tower atrium
Elka textiles weaving, ages 6+, 10.00 – 12.00 and 13.00 – 15.00
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-weaving-workshop-1-ages-6-tickets-54852560485
Mimosa Montessori junk modelling and texture wall, all ages, 10.00 – 12.00 and 13.00 – 15.00
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-junk-modelling-workshop-1-all-ages-tickets-54852741025
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-junk-modelling-workshop-2-all-ages-tickets-54922428462
Winchester School of Art stencilling, all ages, 10.00 – 12.00 and 13.00 – 15.00
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-stencilling-workshop-1-all-ages-tickets-54853783142
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-stencilling-workshop-2-all-ages-tickets-54925349198
Georgia de Buriatte printmaking, ages 6+, 10.00 – 12.00 and 13.00 – 15.00
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-printmaking-workshop-1-ages-6-tickets-54853853352
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cowfest-2019-printmaking-workshop-2-ages-6-tickets-54924247904
COWfest 2019
We are pleased to announce that the 2019 Children of Winchester Festival (COWfest) will be held on Saturday 16th February, at the Tower and Sports Centre at Kings' School.
This year, all workshops and activity sessions will be FREE! There will be something to try for all ages, from babies through to 18 year olds, with a wide range of arts and sports activities on offer...
So stay tuned for more details on workshops and performances, and information about how to book.
SEE YOU THERE!
COWfest 2018 – Play for a Pound
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!