With plenty of schools out for summer, there are plenty of excited kids around too. But no sooner have you folded the uniform away, you realise you have a lot of free time to fill. Don’t worry! Whether family-friendly by design or just offering some great child discounts, these 10 fantastic events will keep you and the kids busy until September!
UEFA Women's Euro 2022 (6-31 July 2022), Football
Venues across England
Roar on the Lionesses, get behind Germany, or fall behind France at the UEFA Women’s Euros this summer, as 16 of the best football teams the continent has to offer go head-to-head for European glory. Women’s football often provides a more affordable and family-friendly experience than the men’s game, so it’s ideal for a fun and memorable day out with the kids. Adult tickets start at just GBP £10, while prices for children aged 16 and under begin at £5. If you haven’t already caught a case of football fever this summer, then it’s time to get yourself to a game and enjoy the goals galore!
Family Fun Days at the Races (July & August 2022), Horse Racing
Venues across the UK
They offer top-class sport in the open air, are surrounded by entertainment and activities for all ages, and provide discounted entry prices for younger racegoers - racecourses are the ideal place to spend a day during the school holidays! The UK’s stunning courses host numerous family fun days throughout the summer break including Musselburgh’s Lucas Ice Cream Family Day (19 July), Market Rasen’s Family Extravaganza Raceday (31 July), Redcar’s Caribbean Carnival Family Day (6 August), Bangor-on-Dee’s Family Fun Evening (15 August), and Carlisle’s Come Racing Family Fun (19 August), to name just a few! To round the summer off, there are Bank Holiday racedays on 29 August at Epsom Downs, Ripon, Chepstow, and Southwell, with most admitting children free of charge - how better to keep the kids entertained!
MLB Home Run Derby (18 July 2022), Baseball
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles CA, USA
Fast, fun, and full of action – the Home Run Derby is a much-loved, streamlined version of America’s Pastime, perfect for a day out with the family. Now in its 36th year, the annual slugfest will be held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in 2022 as “The Polar Bear” Pete Alonso vies to win a record-breaking 3rd title in a row. With over 300 home runs likely to soar into the crowd, why not grab a glove, head to the bleachers, and snag yourself a historic souvenir fresh from the bat of one of MLB’s biggest hitters! Tickets, which start at around USD $125, also include access to All-Star batting practice earlier in the day, where giants of the game like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge may make an appearance.
Rocket Mortgage Classic (25-31 July 2022), Golf
Detroit Golf Club, Detroit MI, USA
Join the stars of the PGA Tour as they compete in the Rocket Mortgage Classic. You’ll see some of the world’s best battle it out on the course and some famous faces in action in the Area 313 Celebrity Scramble, which this year will include NFL legends Larry Fitzgerald and Barry Sanders, and 14-time LPGA Tour winner Lexi Thompson. What’s more, Tuesday 26 July and Wednesday 27 July are free-admission Detroit Community Days, with the former including a Youth Golf Clinic presented by The Children’s Foundation. During the tournament itself, kids have the opportunity to get their favourite player’s autograph or take a break to enjoy the fun and interactive activities in the Youth Golf Zone. Adult tickets start at USD $66, while children aged 15 and under get free entry throughout.
UCI BMX Racing World Championships (26-31 July 2022), Cycling - BMX
Parc des Expositions de la Beaujoire, Nantes, France
BMX racing is a thrilling, fast, and daring sport where riders speed their way around a twisting, undulating course while trying to avoid colliding with their opponents on the tight corners. With races lasting under a minute, it’s “blink and you’ll miss it” spectating! The UCI World Championships is the pinnacle of the discipline with more than 3,000 participants set to compete in Nantes. Entry is completely free for children under 6 and there is a reduced rate for children aged 6 to 11 years old, with day tickets starting from as little as EUR €11. There’s also the option to purchase weekend tickets or 4-day tickets to cover the action from Thursday to Sunday.
London E-Prix (30-31 Jul 2022), Motorsports
ExCeL London, London, UK
For the children who grew up speeding their toy cars across the bedroom carpet, there won’t be many days out more exciting than the London E-Prix. In the heart of the Docklands, the fastest electric racing cars in the world will show off their incredible power and control across 2 days of thrilling competition. Tickets are available for seated grandstand viewing along the circuit, starting from GBP £49 for adults and £25 for children aged 15 and under. For an even more affordable excursion, check out the Allianz E-Village, the fan festival area of the race where you can follow the action on big screens. Tickets are £15 for adults and free for children!
The Hundred (3 August - 3 September 2022), Cricket
Venues across the UK
Following its successful first year in 2021, The Hundred is back by popular demand! Set to take place at cricket grounds across the country during August, the fast-paced, action-packed 100-ball cricket tournament has been designed with families in mind, meaning everyone, from kids to grandparents, can enjoy a day out together. Away from all the excitement on the pitch, interactive games and live music from the likes of Bastille ensure that there’s something for everyone at The Hundred. Better still, tickets for under 6s are free, while children aged 6–15 can attend for just GBP £5. Howzat for a great deal?
Rocket League World Championship (4-14 August 2022), Esports
Dickies Arena, Fort Worth TX, USA
Rocket League revolves around a simple premise: hit a giant ball into a goal by driving (or flying) into it with your rocket-powered car. Sadly, this is not a new Olympic sport, but it is one of the world’s biggest video games, and a bona fide esports spectacle! The Rocket League World Championship is the climactic final event of the Rocket League World Championship season, and pits the best players in the world against each other in a fun-filled, action-packed, family-friendly tournament. Tickets for the competition’s final 3 days start from USD $108, with cheaper individual day tickets available from secondary sellers.
Duel in the Pool (19-21 Aug 2022), Swimming
Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, Sydney, Australia
It might not be the summer holidays Down Under, but children from Australia and the United States will love cheering on their nations’ finest swimmers at Duel in the Pool this August! The competition began back in 2003 and has been held 7 times, but whether Team USA faced the best Australian swimmers or an all-star team from Europe, the Americans have so far proved unbeatable. This year the contest is back after a 7-year hiatus, and Australia is desperate to win the Duel for the first time. You won’t need to splash out much for tickets, with prices starting at AUD $10 (USD $7) for children aged 16 and under. Family tickets are also available from AUD $50 (USD $34).
The Rugby Championship: Australia v South Africa (27 August 2022), Rugby Union
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia
The Rugby Championship is a fixture of the international rugby calendar, which sees 4 of the best Southern Hemisphere sides go head-to-head across 8 thrilling weeks. One of the most interesting match-ups promises to be Australia v South Africa, with both sides looking to hit their stride in time for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Their first meeting will be in Adelaide on 27 August, where the whole family can enjoy top-class rugby, whilst also soaking-up the incredible atmosphere which so often accompanies Rugby Championship games. Discounted child tickets are available in most seating categories, and there are also family tickets available for groups of 2 adults and 2 children, with prices starting at AUD $59.75 (USD $40.30) per family member.
For more information on these events, including ticket prices, click the links below:
- UEFA Women's Euro 2022 (6-31 July 2022), Football
- Family Fun Days at the Races (July & August 2022), Horse Racing
- MLB Home Run Derby (18 July 2022), Baseball
- Rocket Mortgage Classic (25-31 July 2022), Golf
- UCI BMX Racing World Championships (26-31 July 2022), Cycling - BMX
- London E-Prix (30-31 Jul 2022), Motorsports
- The Hundred (3 August - 3 September 2022), Cricket
- Rocket League World Championship (4-14 August 2022), Esports
- Duel in the Pool (19-21 Aug 2022), Swimming
- The Rugby Championship: Australia v South Africa (27 August 2022), Rugby Union