Family Friendly Activities

Portsmouth's Armed Forces Day event returns in 2025, with displays and events on Southsea Common set for Saturday 21 June.

This special celebration for Portsmouth's Armed Forces Day will involve parades, music, military vehicles, and a whole lot more. Last year saw a Royal Navy parachute jump, parades, and live music throughout the day.

No tickets are needed, people and families can just turn up and enjoy the event.

Meet your emergency services heroes at Port Solent's fun 999 Community Day on Saturday 6 September, taking place from 11am to 4pm.

Get up close to police cars, ambulances, fire engines and lifeboats to see vintage and working emergency service vehicles.

Entry is free and so is parking, making for a cost-effective day out for the whole family to enjoy.

Shiver me timbers! We are setting sail for a swashbuckling day of fun as Pirate Day drops anchor on the Boardwalk.

Get ready for a treasure trove of entertainment with rollicking sea shanties, live pirate performances and a Batala band.

Dress to impress, ye landlubbers!
Whether you’re a fearsome first mate or a pint-sized pirate, we want to see your best buccaneer costumes. Eye patches, hats, parrots – the whole shipshape lot.

The Portsmouth International Kite Festival returns in 2025, with the skies above Southsea Common bursting into life and colour on the weekend of 26 and 27 July.

The event features beautiful and awe-inspiring kites, flown by some of the world’s most internationally renowned flyers. There's so much for visitors to enjoy and admire. The festival has amazing demonstrations showcasing the art of kite flying and making, which will see UK and European champions flying multi-line kites to music - performing tricks and ballet routines.

Portsmouth Historic Quarter Marks 80 Years Since VE Day with a Spectacular Celebration

10:00 – 16:00

Boathouse 4 & Boathouse 5

Free entry with a Historic Quarter Pass or your Ultimate Explorer Ticket

This full-day event will transport visitors back to 1945 with live music, dance, historic vessels, costumed interpreters and family-friendly activities, all commemorating eight decades since Victory in Europe Day.

Firepower at the Fort - Marking the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day.

Join us for a FREE big bang weekend to celebrate and commemorate the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day.

Get ready for two days full of noise, flames and smoke as a range of artillery from the Second World War, including anti-tank guns, field artillery and anti-aircraft guns, are fired.

This is a free event.
Please pre-book an arrival time and feel free to stay and make a day of it.

Firepower at the Fort - Marking the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day.

Join us for a FREE big bang weekend to celebrate and commemorate the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day.

Get ready for two days full of noise, flames and smoke as a range of artillery from the Second World War, including anti-tank guns, field artillery and anti-aircraft guns, are fired.

This is a free event.
Please pre-book an arrival time and feel free to stay and make a day of it.

Charge up to Fort Nelson this May half term holiday for a barrel-load of medieval mayhem and fun activities.

From Monday to Friday there’ll be lots of medieval-themed activities, including:

· Have-a-go pool noodle jousting

· Build your own fortress

· Create your own sword, shield and crown craft activities

Don’t miss the ‘Arming the knight’ demonstrations at 10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm when you can see how a knight is armed from head to toe in mail and steel to make him the ultimate fighting warrior.

Held at Mountbatten Sports Centre - This will be a great day for families, sci-fi collectors, fans, and every other kind of Comic Con Fan! There is lots to see and do, including out of this world displays and props, traders selling out of this world collections, meet celebrities from Tv and the movies! 

For those that like cosplay, there will be a wide array of cosplayers on arrival, fans attending are invited to dress up as your favourite tv, Film or other fictional character and be ready to compete in our cosplay competitions!

Join us for a fantastic Easter community event with:

Traditional Games - Try you luck at Splat the Rat and win toy prizes!

Free Bouncy Castle and assault course - Fun for all ages!

Easter crafts and scavenger hunt all free!

A Free Hot Meal - Enjoy a warm meal with family and friends.

Open to all families in the community - come along, enjoy and connect.

Venue: The Victory Primary School, Allaway Avenue, Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO6 4QP