That’s surely the recipe for fun days out this weekend and, as usual, the Mansfield and Ashfield area, along with the rest of Nottinghamshire, is bursting at the seams with things to do and places to go.
In Ashfield, excitement is mounting ahead of the opening of Kirkby’s new leisure centre by professional footballer Tom Huddlestone.
And in Mansfield, the town’s summer festival is ready to explode into life, while the Robin Hood Festival steps up another gear this weekend.
Add family fun at the cricket, at Sherwood Pines, Southwell Minster and Mansfield Museum, and there couldn’t be much more packed into our weekly guide.
Just one piece of advice – before you visit the venues, please check their individual websites for admission prices and opening times.
Have a great weekend!
9. Pick your own sunflowers
Nothing could be more summery than basking among thousands of sunflowers in acres of rolling countryside. So starting this Thursday and running throughout August, a family-run venue at Oaks Lane in Oxton is hosting the Sunflower Experience, where you can have your photo taken and even pick your own produce, including potatoes, gladioli and sweetcorn, as well as the sunflowers. Photo: Submitted
10. Window clings for the kids
Mansfield Museum's holiday activities continue next Tuesday (10 am to 12 midday) when it hosts a free Window Clings session for youngsters. They can create their own window clings, using special glass paint and recycling-themed templates. Photo: Submitted