Term has ended with nearly two months of holidays to get through before classroom fun and the school run start up again.

But what's there to do in the meantime to fill the hours after all that summer homework is done.

That's where we hope this guide will come in handy listing fun activities to keep idle minds occupied.

But it's not definitive. If you have any events going on not listed here please get in touch and we'll add it to the list. Send the details by email to medwaymessenger@thekmgroup.co.uk

GENERAL:

Hempstead Valley

Shopping Centre

Weekdays from Monday, August 4, to Friday, August 22 and Saturday, August 23, 10am-4pm. Be prepared to be entertained. Everything is free, fun and for all the family with circus-themed events in the malls. Strolling face-painters, unicyclist, magician, clown stilt walkers, circus workshop, circus crafty art workshop, clown shows.

Parks

Medway has a number of parks and nature reserves which are free to go into. If you have a few spare pennies, you might want to pack up a picnic and make a day of it. Activities are also offered at the parks but have small charges. –Log on to www.medway.gov.uk and click on to leisure for details.

Riverside Country Park, Lower Rainham Road

Capstone Farm Country Park, Chatham

Berengrave Nursery, Lower Rainham Road/Berengrave Lane, Rainham

Ranscombe Farm Reserve

Rainham Shopping Centre

Every Friday for five weeks, starting on August 1, 11am-3pm. Five weeks of Friday fun begins at Rainham Shopping Centre in the High Street on August 1.

August 1: Martial arts displays, story-telling and face-painting.

Guildhall Museum, Rochester High Street

Until Friday, August 29, 10am-4pm (closed on Mondays). Children over five can keep busy at The Guildhall Museum during the summer holidays. There will be a range of free activities based on the museum’s new exhibition Sport for All: Going for Gold in Medway and inspired by the Beijing games.

Until Friday, August 29, the theme is Discovering Sport in Medway. Children can make their own souvenirs from the exhibition, including a racing board game, a jumping athlete figure, a penny farthing card, and a moving Chinese dragon. The activities run from 10am-4pm. Craft worker Anni Watson will be running her popular workshops at the museum.

The Brook Theatre, Woodlands Community Arts Centre, Chatham Library and Capstone Farm

Country Park

Heatwave is a series of workshops for under-18s, taking place at venues across Medway, until Friday, August 22. For a brochure and details of all the activities on offer, please contact the Arts Development Team, Arts for Life, on 01634 338319.

Fort Amherst

Explore the tunnels and find out about ghostly goings-on, every Sunday until September 14, 10.30am-4.30pm.

The Sunlight Centre, Gillingham

Until September 5, 10am-4pm. Explore creative media through drawing and painting, creating and recording music, film production and social journalism, creative writing, poetry, sculpture, art from recycled materials, graphic design and radio production. A touring exhibition of the work will follow the courses. Call 01634 388600 to find out more.

Friday, August 1

Kung Fu Panda (PG) at Central Theatre, Chatham until Thursday, August 14

Mega smoothie making.

Hempstead Library, 10-11am

Lordswood library 2-3pm.

£2 per family.

Free Wii sports drop-in for families. Strood Library. Times: 2-4pm.

Saturday, August 2

Strood Library, 2.30-3.30pm. Reading club for eight to 12-year-olds, 01634 335890

Monday, August 4, to Friday, August 8, 9.30am-4pm. Join the rock school at Greenacre School, Walderslade to learn how to play drums, keyboards, guitars, sing, and record music. Call 01634 861593 for details.

Tuesday, August 5

Minibeast detectives plus arts and crafts, Tyland Barn near Maidstone. Times: 11am-3pm. To book call 01622 662012.

Jewellery workshop, Rochester Library. Aged 8 to adult. Pay for what you make.

Fun, sport and team activities for eight to 18-year-olds at venues across Medway:

Rainham Recreation Ground, 11am-2pm.

Hoo Recreation Ground, Pottery Road, noon-5pm, Twydall Green, 3-6pm.

Wednesday, August 6

Model making at Upnor Castle, 11am-1pm and 2-4pm. For more details call 01634 718742.

Walderslade Village Library, from 3.45pm-5pm. Reading club for eight to 12-year-olds, 01634 686467.

Fun, sport and team activities for eight to 18-year-olds at venues across Medway:

Rookery Rec, 11am-2pm.

Grain Pavilion, noon-5pm, Lordswood Youth Club, Kestrel Centre, 3-6pm.

Thursday, August 7

Treasure Island by Quantum Theatre at Upnor Castle. Time: 7pm Adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale promising high drama, swordfights and Long John Silver. Tickets £9 for adults and £7 for children. Contact the box office on 0845 4505157 for details.

Thursday, August 7

Fun, sport and team activities for eight to 18-year-olds at venues across Medway:

Hempstead rec, 11am-2pm;

Maidstone Road Rec, Chatham, noon-5pm.

Strood Youth Centre, Montfort Road, 3-6pm.

Gillingham Library, 2pm-3pm. Crafts and stories for three- to seven-year-olds.

The Guildhall Museum - Going For Gold will be the focus, giving the children a chance to make their own championship medal. For information contact 01634 848717. The museum is open every day except Monday, from 10am-4pm.