Colchester Library is laying on a full programme of free summer activities for children from 21 July, as part of an Essex Library Service scheme running across the county. Crafts, storytimes and Lego sessions are all in the line-up, alongside reading with therapy dogs and baby and toddler rhymetime.
The centrepiece is the Summer Reading Challenge, which this year carries the theme ‘Read to the Beat’. Children can read any library books and collect stickers along the way, earning a certificate and medal once they finish. Delivered by charity The Reading Agency, the challenge runs from 18 July to 5 September and is powered by Universal Music Group UK. Illustrations come from award‑winning author and illustrator Harry Woodgate.
At Colchester Library in Trinity Square, a special ‘Read To The Beat – Musical Instrument Discovery’ session will take place on 4 August at 10am for ages 3 to 11. The library also hosts regular hobby clubs for Minecraft, Warhammer, Pokémon, Dungeons & Dragons and model and kit painting during the holidays. All activities are free, and the challenge includes a version designed for under‑fours.
Colchester Library at CO1 1JB keeps extended hours, with Wednesday evenings until 7pm and Sunday openings. The summer programme follows the library’s long tradition of holiday events, with themes changing each year. While children are being entertained, an architectural photography exhibition remains on show until 31 July, having originally appeared at the Colchester Festival in July 1951.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
