Families are invited to enjoy a day packed with free activities as National Play Day comes to Burnley on Wednesday 5 August, transforming locations across the town into spaces for play, creativity and community fun.
Celebrated across the UK on the first Wednesday of August, National Play Day champions every child’s right to play and highlights the important role play has in supporting children’s happiness, wellbeing, creativity and development. This year’s theme, ‘Play – Here, There, Everywhere’, celebrates the idea that play can happen anywhere, from parks and libraries to shopping centres and public spaces.
Working in partnership, Burnley Leisure & Culture, Burnley BID, Charter Walk, Burnley Library, Burnley Market Hall, Participation Works NW, Park Play, Disco Bowl Burnley and Real Food Hall have come together to create a full programme of free activities for families to enjoy throughout the day.
Visitors are encouraged to explore the town, drop into as many activities as they like and discover that play really can happen everywhere.
What’s On
St James’s Street (near One Beyond), 11am – 2pm
Burnley Leisure & Culture and Burnley BID will be inviting families to put their skills to the test with a giant inflatable football goal and giant inflatable darts challenge, offering plenty of active fun for children and adults alike.
Participation Works NW will also be bringing its Youth & Community Van to the town, featuring games, arts and crafts, music, interactive activities, refreshments and the chance to explore the van while making new friends.
Burnley’s Disco Bowl will also be joining the celebrations by bringing some of the fun from its Finsley Gate venue to St James’s Street. Families can enjoy a mini golf challenge, decorate a bowling pin in a colouring competition and spin the prize wheel for the chance to win keyrings, sweets, drinks and more.
Down Town, 9.30am – 3pm
Head to Down Town, above New Look, for imaginative role play, creativity and hands-on fun. Children can become café owners for the day using play food, create their own menus and make play food from play dough. There will also be messy play, sensory activities and games for all ages throughout the day.
Charter Walk Shopping Centre
Market Square, 10am – 2pm
Park Play will be hosting a range of free games and activities, including a smoothie bike serving free smoothies and a bicycle obstacle course. Families can also take part in Charter Walk’s interactive Rolling Together workshop celebrating creativity and community.
Outside Superdrug, 11am – 4pm
Challenge family and friends at Big Games Day, featuring a fantastic selection of giant games for all ages.
Visitors can also enjoy Charter Walk’s free Ping Pong Parlour and explore the permanent Fleet Walk Play Trail, complete with colourful hopscotch and snakes and ladders.
Burnley Market Hall, 11am – 3pm
Burnley Market Hall will host a free Darts & Nerf Drop-In Session in its event space, featuring inflatable Nerf challenges alongside giant darts. No booking is required and families can simply drop in throughout the afternoon.
Burnley Library, 10.30am – 4pm
Burnley Library will begin the day with a special Storytime session at 10.30am before opening up a range of free activities including LEGO, jigsaws, board games, card games, giant games, table football and a display of gaming-themed books. No booking is required, although children must be accompanied by an adult.
Real Food Hall, 12pm – 2pm (while ingredients last)
Young chefs can enjoy free pizza making with Levi’s Pizzeria at Real Food Hall on Manchester Road. Children will create their own pizza using fresh ingredients before taking it away to enjoy. The activity will operate on a first come, first served basis while ingredients last.
Make a Day of It
With free activities taking place across Burnley, National Play Day is the perfect opportunity to spend quality time together, discover somewhere new and enjoy everything the town has to offer.
Alongside the activities, visitors can enjoy Burnley’s fantastic selection of family-friendly cafés, coffee shops and restaurants, making it easy to stop for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a well-earned sweet treat.
Alexis Turner, Outdoor Activities Coordinator at Burnley Leisure & Culture, said: “We’re delighted to be helping bring National Play Day to Burnley after a few years away. Burnley Leisure & Culture (BLC) have previously led this event, and it’s fantastic to be working alongside Burnley BID and Charter Walk to bring partners together once again and create a fun, welcoming celebration of play that encourages people to enjoy everything our town has to offer.
“My role is to help people make the most of Burnley’s outdoor spaces. Of course this includes our parks and green spaces, but it’s also about recognising that the outdoors includes our streets, town centre and public spaces. Play can happen anywhere, and it’s for everyone.
“Play is a vital part of healthy, happy communities. It encourages children to be active, creative and confident, while giving families the chance to spend quality time together, make new connections and create lasting memories. It also helps people of all ages to feel connected to the places where they live and supports positive wellbeing.
“Events like National Play Day show how play can bring people together, helping to build relationships, strengthen communities and encourage people to connect in the places they use every day. By creating opportunities to play in the heart of Burnley, we’re inviting families to see familiar spaces differently, spend quality time together right on their doorstep.”
Jason Cothliff, Burnley BID Project Manager, added: “National Play Day is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate Burnley as a place where families can come together, have fun and make lasting memories. By bringing activities into our streets, public spaces, shops and community venues, we’re encouraging people to explore different parts of the town while supporting the fantastic organisations and businesses that make Burnley such a great place to visit. We hope families will spend the day discovering everything that’s happening, enjoy quality time together and experience first-hand that play really can happen here, there and everywhere.”
