This course is currently sold out. We do sometimes get cancellations – if you would like to be added to the waiting list, please contact us.
Bring your family to a creative and fun Summer folk break at Halsway!
There’ll be a programme of activities each morning and evening, focused around children but suitable for the whole family – mum, dad, aunties and uncles, granny and grandad, even close family friends! – to join in with. You’ll be able to spend quality time together exploring creative and accessible folk activities (no experience necessary) and we’ll make the most of Halsway’s beautiful setting and outdoor spaces to inspire us!
Typical activities might include:
- Singing for everyone – learning some traditional songs or perhaps creating some of our own…
- Fun Folk Dancing for everyone – using up some excess energy or refining your best moves!
- Music-making for all, where everybody can join in whatever their age, instrument or experience, and make a great sound together
- “Have a go” workshops where we create new dances or learn something new or perhaps try new musical instruments
- Games, crafts and outdoor play exploring the environment around us
All activities will be optional, so if you want to take some time out to relax or do your own thing that’s fine, but we do expect children to be supervised by a member of their family at all times.
Afternoons are free time for trips around this lovely area; there’s plenty to see and do including the West Somerset Railway, the seaside and Exmoor. One day a week is left completely free for you to plan your own day trips, or to relax at the Manor if you prefer.
Stay in our beautiful Manor house – large family rooms are available, and also comfortable double / twin rooms for accompanying grandparents, for example – or you can set-up camp in our lovely grounds. All meals are provided, so you can relax and enjoy yourselves in a convivial, family-orientated atmosphere!
Who is it for?
The holiday is for families and children of all ages who want to experience a fun and creative folk break together. We are only accepting bookings from family groups including children. Your ‘family’ group can include close friends and relations of all ages, but please note that the organised programme is aimed solely at providing inclusive family activities. There won’t be any activities aimed solely at adults.
The Team
David Faulkner is a multi-talented musician, dance caller, band leader, vocal coach – you name it! – with many years’ experience in running inclusive and creative folk arts activities and projects in all kinds of community and education settings. He is a regular tutor at Halsway – at last year’s Family Folk week, and many times as a key tutor on our annual Bagpipe Weekend! He has been playing pipes for over 25 years with groups such as the Eel Grinders and Jon Swayne’s Zephyrus, and performs regularly as a duet with accordionist Steve Turner. He has toured in Europe, Canada and America and taught piping courses in the UK and abroad and has worked as a community musician for nearly 20 years.
Alison Rowley is a versatile and capable folk musician, ceilidh caller, workshop leader and private instrumental teacher, underpinned with a solid Cambridge University musical education. With Shooting Roots, she has led workshops at Sidmouth, Broadstairs & Towersey folk festivals. She has worked as a tutor / project leader for many folk music projects including adult Ukulele & Folk Bands for Rainbow Music, ‘Call Me Ceilidh’ Youth Folk Ensemble for Cambridgeshire Music, Youth Folk Band for Kent Music, and as a lead tutor and composer for EFDSS. Since 2015 she has been a member of The ‘mAy’ Team, demonstrating dances and facilitating audience participation in maypole and historical dance performances at large events such as BBC Countryfile Live and Spring Live.