In Southampton...

Young designers of the future, this is your chance to have your work exhibited. This Saturday, The John Hansard Gallery, Above Bar Street, Southampton, opposite Guildhall Square, is offering Southampton residents, aged 4-11 the opportunity to design a new colourful walkway for the centre of the city. Not a Southampton resident? You can still join in the fun but unfortunately are unable to enter the competition. The gallery also has a variety of exhibitions for all ages and there is free entry. Opening times 11:30am to 4pm, and the event is run by artists, in the Active Space.

In Winchester…

Sometimes cycling can feel a little isolating, but this shall not be the case on Saturday. Cycle Winchester have organised a mass ride for December 15 at 10am. ‘Bike trains’ will snake into Winchester from Kings Worthy, Badger Farm and Harestock, before completing two celebratory laps of the one-way system. Any one with a road worthy bike can take part, look on the Facebook page for more information about the routes undertaken. This is a great and safe way to introduce your children to cycling on the roads of Winchester and ends in a seasonal treat.

In Portsmouth…

Ever wondered what its like to work at the North Pole? Experience it yourself at the Emirates Tower, this weekend. The Tower Toymaker Workshop turns your little ones into elves, as they create their own reindeer soft toy, by naming their reindeer, filling it with stuffing and placing a magic charm inside before they carefully seal it up. But do not forget to meet Father Christmas in his grotto, before you leave! Advance Booking is advised, with tickets costing £15 per child, which includes unlimited entry to the tower, as well as the soft toy and a mischievous elf trail. For accompanying adults, standard admission fees apply.

In the New Forest…

Fancy yourself as a bit of a Robin Hood or Katniss Everdeen? Then why don’t you pick up the bow and arrow and get yourself down to New Forest Activities Centre, this weekend. Equipment will be provided in the 90-minute session, taught by trained instructors, where you can go from complete beginner to target shooter in no time. This activity looks like fun for all the family and with challenges and games a plenty, there will be many opportunities for you to compete against each other in friendly rivalries. Sessions cost £18 for adults and £15 for children.

In Southampton…

Christmas is filled with moral tales, from the ‘Christmas Carol’ to the first Christmas itself. But at the Nuffield Southampton Theatre, this Christmas a modern moral tale is unfolding. The musical adaptation of David Walliams’ ‘Billionaire Boy’ shows how money is not necessary in order to achieve happiness. The show promises to be a great trip out for all the family and there are matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday as well as an evening performance on Saturday. Tickets cost £10-£32 per person and are available from the NST website.

In Winchester…

Looking for a family activity that does not involve Christmas. Well you are in luck. Marwell Zoo is running an Explorer’s trail. For standard entry and a suggested donation of £1, your family could receive an annual membership for two adults and two children. The trail goes around the whole zoo, so you get to see every animal from lemurs to penguins. A pencil is an added bonus but unnecessary as the trail is all about collecting stamps. When you have completed the trail, just take the stamped book to the shop, to claim your free sticker.

In Portsmouth…

Experience the magic of movies with a green screen workshop this Saturday. The London Camera Exchange Exhibition and Workshops are offering you the chance to see how green screens work. The workshop is run by Familiar Stranger Films, a production company in Portsmouth, it starts at 10am and finishes at 2pm. The exhibition and workshop take place in the Cascades Shopping Centre. They are both free to enter. The exhibition is of photos taken by local photographers and just by turning up you are entered into a prize draw to win a £200 tripod.

In Romsey…

A partridge in a pear tree is what you will see if you go the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens this weekend. The 12 Days of Christmas garden activity trail is an interactive family fun trail around the gardens that is expected to last around 90 minutes. It seems they have lost their 12 presents and were wondering whether anyone could find them. If you do, then you can all claim your edible treat, included in the trail price of £2.50, plus garden admission fees. Last entry to the trail is at 3pm and it is said to be fun for all ages.

In Southampton…

Water babies and adrenaline junkies alike can rejoice at the new Aqua Warrior inflatable in The Quays Swimming and Diving Complex. Anyone can take on the challenge but must be able to swim at 25m unaided. The 14 piece inflatable obstacle course is available for battle from 2pm till 4pm Saturday, with last admission at 3.30pm. It cost £20 for a family ticket, two adults and up to three children, or £7 for adults and £5 for children under 16. If you end up enjoying it then you can always go back again as it is available, every Saturday, or you can book it out for a party.

In Basingstoke…

Rabbits, pigs and ponies are just some of the animals you will get to hang out with, if you go to Miller’s Ark Animals open day this weekend. The farm, located between Hook and Basingstoke, offers adults and children alike the opportunity to groom baby donkeys and ponies, cuddle lambs and baby goats, stroke rabbits and guinea pigs on their laps, hold tiny chicks and ducklings and tickle the piglets tummies. All the holding pens are under cover so there is no need to worry about the weather. Entry is £8 for adults and for children aged 2 and over.