Brunel Centre Easter Eggcitement – hop along to Swindon’s Brunel Centre.
Swindon’s Brunel Shopping Centre is transforming into a centre of Easter fun. They’ve got a lineup of free activities to entertain children and families this Easter holidays.
Among the ‘egg-stravanganza’ the centre is planning, is a centre-wide Easter egg trail. Young detectives can hunt for hidden eggs tucked away in shop windows across the centre. Each egg has a letter which, when combined, reveals a hidden seasonal word.
To join the fun, families can pick up an official trail map from gift store Something Different, on The Brunel’s ground floor. Once the word is complete, return the map to the shop to collect a treat.
Brunel Centre Easter Eggcitement – Brunel Centre Easter Eggcitement
Swindon Story Shed
The popular Swindon Story Shed, a non-profit bookshop literacy project based in the Brunel, is also ‘hatching’ holiday activities. With a focus on Spring, the Story Shed will run themed art activities to spark young minds. You’ll find them on the ground floor of The Brunel.
Children and families can drop in any time to the sessions. They’ll run between 10am and 4pm, from March 31 to April 2, and again from April 7 to 9.
They’ll get the chance to take part in crafts focusing on:
Spring flora and fauna
Making plants and animals from lots of different materials – many of them recycled.
They can also explore sound and use materials to create their own noises. Children can take their artwork with them, or have it displayed in the Swindon Story Shed outlet, upstairs at The Brunel.
Popular face painter Dani’s Doodles will also be joining Swindon Story Shed from 11am to 4pm. There is no charge for face-painting, but they encourage donations to Prospect Hospice.
A spokesperson for the Brunel, said: ‘We’re thrilled to bring the community together this Easter. Between the interactive trail, face painting and the Swindon Story Shed, we have a range of free activities, so families can shop and get creative all in one visit.’
EXTC Headline Summer Programme AT TOWN GARDENS BOWL.
South Swindon Parish Council is proud to announce the launch of its much-anticipated summer programme of live events for 2026. It’s now available to book via www.towngardens-swindon.co.uk.
The season is set to bring a dynamic mix of comedy, theatre, live music and family-friendly performances to the iconic Town Gardens Bowl. Even better, ticket prices are frozen at 2024’s prices.
Headlining the season, on the 18th July, there’s Swindon’s own EXTC. You can also enjoy, for the fourth year running, fan-faves, Supersonic Queen and Rock the Tots.
There’s something for everyone to enjoy this summer at Swindon’s unique outdoor venue, set in the heart of the beautiful Town Gardens in Old Town.
EXTC Headline Summer Programme – Supersonic Queen at the bowl in Town Gardens
Kicking it all off
Kicking off the season on 3rd May, to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Town Gardens Bowl, join Pinch Punch for a one-of-a-kind, improvised and hilarious murder mystery, Locomotive for Murder.
If you’re looking for ways to entertain the kids this summer, there’s plenty of events aimed at them. Experience classical music in a baby-friendly show with Music for Miniatures on 7th June. Or treat your little dancers to their first ballet, Alice in Wonderland, on 2nd August. Then bring the whole family together for the superstars of wrestling as they head to Swindon with KAPOW Wrestling on 1st August.
3rd May: Locomotive for Murder: The Improvised Whodunnit
5th June: The Mumford and Sons Story
7th June: Music for Miniatures: Up in the Air
12th June: ShakeItUp: The Improvised Shakespeare Show
13th June: The Kate Bush Experience
19th June: Parody of the Rings
20th June: OASIZ
4th July: Seriously Collins: A Tribute to Phil Collins and Genesis
5th July: The (Almost) Complete History of Britain
11th July: The Alter Eagles
12th July: The Great Gatsby
18th July: EXTC: XTC’s Terry Chambers and Friends
23rd July: Comedy Club 4 Kids
25th July: Supersonic Queen
28th July: The Great Baldini Presents: The Family Magic Show
Financial Experts go Canal-side. Southby & Co Financial Planning, are on a mission. And it’s to sponsor the preservation of the historic canals of Wiltshire and Berkshire.
Founded by Dave Southby, the Wroughton-based financial advisers are sponsoring the landing stage at the stretch of the Wilts & Berks canal that runs from Rushy Platt through to Wichelstowe. This area is becoming popular as somewhere to visit and live as the development works continue in 2026 and beyond.
Financial Experts go Canal-side – Southby & Co Financial Planning team who are sponsoring the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust’s landing stage at Wichelstowe in Swindon.
In the beginning
‘When I started Southby & Co Financial Planning, I wanted to not only improve the lives of our clients but also our local community,’ said Dave. ‘For this reason, we thought working with the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust was the perfect partnership. There’s a shared vision of leaving a lasting legacy for many future generations to come.’
About the canal
The Wilts and Berks canal is a national historic site. It opened in 1810 becoming a bustling trade route. 1914 saw it abandoned with much of the canal demolished or filled in as it was unnavigable.
In 1977, the Wilts & Berks Canal Amenity Group formed. They had the view of full restoration. And for decades they’ve worked hard to bring that vision back to partial reality.
The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust stems from that original group founded in 1977. And the charity continues to champion reinstating the canal and towpath. The aim of the charity’s restoration is to bring economic benefits, health and wellbeing to the public, nature and biodiversity as well as flood alleviation.
‘The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust are doing a fantastic job. They’re restoring 70 miles of canal and towpath in Swindon and across the region. All benefitting our communities and local wildlife,’ continued Dave. ‘In sponsoring the landing stage in South Swindon, we’re able to have a direct effect. Both on the environment and on the lives of everyone in the area and Swindon as a whole.’
Chloe Ford, head of communications at Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, spoke about the effect this sponsorship will have on the trust and local community.
We’re so pleased to have Southby & Co sponsoring our landing stage. This community asset is much-loved and used by many who enjoy our Dragonfly boat trips. And that’s exactly how Dave Southby found us. It’s such an exciting time looking ahead, as from the landing stage we can see the building of the next section underway. Southby & Co’s sponsorship helps us maintain and run into the future!’
Securing a financial future
Dave and his team work with individuals, families, and business owners across Swindon and Wiltshire. They help them manage their finances effectively and plan for the future. For more information visit: https://www.southbyfp.co.uk/
South Swindon Celebrates Spring WITH THE RETURN OF THE BLOSSOM FESTIVAL!
South Swindon Parish Council announces the return of the Blossom Festival. It’ll be taking place throughout April across the parish’s open spaces. The festival will bring residents together to celebrate spring with a vibrant programme of nature-inspired events, family activities and community gatherings.
South Swindon Celebrates Spring – the blossom circle in the GWR park
A range of free events
Across the month, a range of free events will take place in locations including:
GWR Park
Town Gardens
Queens Park and …
…Badbury Park, inviting residents of all ages to enjoy their local green spaces.
The programme will include:
Guided heritage and bat walks
Spring strolls
A community picnic
Circus and bug workshops
And pond dipping amongst other family-friendly events designed to encourage the community to connect with nature and each other.
One of the highlights of the festival will be the main community event at GWR Park on 25th April. There’ll be live music performances, local food and drink vendors and craft stalls. And a variety of activities for children and families to enjoy throughout the day.
Town gardens blossoms and flower beds Town gardens blossoms and flower beds
Arts Award Discover
The Blossom Festival will also be incorporating Prime Theatre’s Arts Award Discover. That offers attendees a fun way to try new arts activities and be creative!
A range of activities will be available across the programme of events, for participants to collect stamps towards their certificate. It’s a great first step before trying the higher Arts Award levels. SSPC is pleased to be subsidising AA for residents of the parish. Talk to a member of staff on site for more information.
Cllr Linda Kasmaty, Chair of Leisure, Environment and Amenities, said:
‘The South Swindon Parish’s amazing Blossom Festival is taking place for the whole of April. There is something for everyone at this year’s event including of course, cherry blossom, but also pond dipping, bat walks, yoga, and concerts. It’s well worth making a note of activities that interest you so you don’t miss out.’
South Swindon Parish Council would like to thank the National Trust for continuing to fund the Blossom Festival for the fourth year running. Thus enabling the council to deliver a range of free events that celebrate nature, wellbeing and community across the parish.
More information about the festival programme and individual events will be on https://southswindon-pc.gov.uk/blossom/ and the Parish Council’s social media pages.
Swindon & Wiltshire Pride are so excited to announce a £69,500 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. They’ll use it to deliver ‘We Were Always Here’. That’s a community heritage project to discover the hidden social history of LGBTQIA+ people in Wiltshire.
We Were Always Here – Swindon and Wiltshire Pride logo
The project’s focus
The project focuses on two centuries of social history from the beginning of the 18th century. That period saw the introduction of strict laws against any kind of homosexual behaviour. It’ll tell too of how 2014 saw the achievement of equal rights with the passing of the same sex marriage act.
‘We Were Always Here’ will discover the stories of how ordinary queer Wiltshire folk lived and loved, suffered and triumphed against social attitudes. With this grant SWP will be able to undertake this community research project and produce:
An exhibition – an easily transportable, free-standing item suitable for indoor and outdoor display. It will be available for loan to interested organisations and educational establishments, with a permanent home in the Pride Hub, Swindon town centre.
A concise, illustrated history book – offered free-of-charge to every senior school, college, library and LGBTQIA+ organisations in Wiltshire.
They will work at close quarters with project partners, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre and Swindon Local Studies Library. Also Kate Parsons (Heritage Interpretation Design Lead) and Andrew Foyle (Historian Advisor).
The organisation is further looking for volunteer researchers and contributors. If you think you can fulfil any of these roles, or to find out further details, please visit our website: https://www.swindonwiltshirepride.org.uk/pride-history-project
Applications for paid roles close on 3 April 2026. James Fraser, Vice-Chair at Swindon & Wiltshire Pride said: ‘We’re excited to be able to start work on ‘We Were Always Here’.
This is an important project which will help us uncover and preserve the hidden history of the LGBTQIA+ community in Wiltshire. Thank you to National Lottery players and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for helping make this possible.’
Kate Parsons, Heritage Interpretation Design Lead said:
‘We hope very much to hear from people who were in, or around, the LGBTQIA+ community before the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1969. Members of the community who were adults before the legal change will be now around 80 years old. We’d like to capture these stories and experiences before those voices are lost.’
Swindon Pride launched in 2008, with the first ever Pride festival being held in Swindon. In 2009, the Pride event expanded to incorporate Swindon & Wiltshire Pride. Swindon & Wiltshire Pride gained charity status in 2019.
