The return of Sidmouth Folk Festival this week will be welcome news for families looking for summer entertainment for their own or visiting children.

The free Children's Festival, held in a safe enclosed space at the Peacock Lawn, near Blackmore Gardens, offers a full programme of fun shows and activities for all ages from babies to tweenagers, and with singing, dancing, storytelling, music and crafting all on the menu there's sure to be something for everyone.

Start the day with a dance round the maypole, and if there's more energy to burn, try some Morris, Bhangra or Clog dancing. Feeling noisy? There are lots of song sessions – you could even join a choir or learn how to “sing” in sign language! Adventurous kids will love the forest skills sessions, and there's plenty for crafty types to make and do – create a festival tutu or a set of juggling balls, try nature printing, tie-dying, or felting, or help to build spectacular lanterns for the end of festival torchlight procession. And when you need a bit of quiet time, you can just sit back and enjoy some relaxing music or a story.

Daytime events are all free, but priority is given to festival ticketholders, so make sure to pick up free tickets in advance from the box office or Tourist Information Centre. The full Children's Festival programme can be downloaded from the Festival website, which also includes details of ticketed evening events suitable for children.