A paid collaboration with The Red Dragon Centre

It’s the last day of term for most Cardiff schools tomorrow, ready for two weeks of Easter holidays. If you’re off with your children or grandchildren, or perhaps you’re visiting Cardiff, and wondering how to entertain the little people in your life, then the good news is that you are spoiled for choice There’s so much going on, with everything from Easter egg hunts and Easter crafts to family theatre shows and nature-inspired outdoor activities – and lots of free and low-cost activities too. I’ve listed everything I can find below but do let me know anything I’ve missed in the comments below, on the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page or you can tweet me on @cardiffmummy 

These listings are organised into the below categories and listed in date order within their category. Some activities appear in more than one category. Clicking on the event name will take you to the website for further info. Please note all events are subject to change or cancellation so do check ahead to avoid disappointment. Categories as follows:  Easter egg hunts and other Easter-themed events; Arts and crafts; Books; Theatre and performance; Family fun; Museums, Castles and Historical; The great outdoors and nature-themed events; Cinema.

This post has been written in association with The Red Dragon Centre as part of Cardiff Mummy Says’ role as family blogger ambassador for the Cardiff Bay entertainment complex. The Red Dragon Centre is home to Hollywood Bowl for 10-pin family fun; family-friendly restaurants and cafes, and a huge Odeon cinema, which is the only digital IMAX® screen in South Wales.

This Easter holidays, there’s also an added attraction at The Red Dragon Centre in the shape of The Spring Maze, open daily from Saturday 13 to Sunday 28 April, 10.30am-4pm. Constructed using 30 pieces of artificial hedging and 25m of grass walling, the maze will be 4.3m wide at the entrance, 10.4m long and 6m wide at the exit. As well as six Easter eggs hidden in the maze for children to find, maze runners will have the opportunity to hunt for Easter clues and the chance to win a family day out at The Red Dragon Centre. We’ll definitely be visiting over the holiday and trying to find our way out! We’re also going to tie it in with a trip to the Odeon to see Dumbo (you can read my full guide to family films showing this Easter here).

The good news is that tickets at the Odeon are now £5 all day every day, for standard 2D films when bought at the cinema. You can read more here.

Plus the Odeon offers family films for just £2.50 per ticket as part of Odeon Kids. These early morning showings (usually around 10am) take place every weekend and every day during local school holidays. They are a great chance to catch slightly older films on the big screen and a perfect low-cost indoor option when the weather’s not great. Visit the Odeon Kids page for latest listings.

Family-friendly restaurants at The Red Dragon Centre include Bella Italia where children can eat for £1 with the purchase of an adult meal, and Spice Route where children eat half price with each paying adult. Plus for a holiday treat, stop by Cadwaladers which has a range of Easter Crème Egg sundaes, milkshakes and hot chocolates alongside its usual hot and cold snacks and ice cream treats, plus vegan alternatives too.

Parking is free for up to six hours for customers of The Red Dragon Centre (subject to minimum spend and entering your registration number into the terminals at one of the outlets) so you can make a day of it, with bowling and arcade games at Hollywood Bowl or a meal or refreshments at one of the family-friendly cafes and restaurants.

100+ family-friendly activities
in and around Cardiff
for the Easter holidays

Easter egg hunts and other Easter-themed events

Cardiff Castle Easter trail

FREE Easter egg hunt and other events

Hamleys, St David’s Shopping Centre, Cardiff

Saturday 6-Sunday 28 April

Meet Bunny Bear, 12-12.30pm, 3.30pm-4pm

Meet Easter mascot Bunny Bear. Snap a pic and share on Instagram with #Hamleys for a chance to win a Hamleys hamper worth over £1,500.

Easter egg hunt, 1pm-3pm

Find all five eggs hidden around the store to spell out a special Easter word.

Hamleys Lucky Dip, 11.30am, 2pm, 6pm

Place your hand inside Hamleys Lucky Dip box to choose a ball for your chance to win prizes ranging from balloons and stickers to arts and crafts or even an exclusive LEGO Minifigure.

Beat the Board Games Experts, 11am, 4pm, 6pm

The rumour inside Hamleys is they’ve never lost a board game in their life! Do you have what it takes to beat an expert? Will you be the first? Don’t forget to snap a pic with the expert, post them on Instagram with #Hamleys to be in with a chance to WIN a Huge Hamleys Hamper worth over £1,500.

Easter prize giveaway eggs-travaganza

Tacoma Square, Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay

Friday 12-Sunday 28 April, 8am-9pm

A play to win competition with hundreds of fabulous prize vouchers including meals at Carlucios, Nando’s, Pizza Express, The Dock, Salt Zizz and more; plus family tickets on Aquabus, free ice cream for a year from Cadwaladers and more.

Pit your wits against the clock in this Play to Win game – just match the colour of Easter eggs on the competition screen in Tacoma Square in the heart of Mermaid Quay. The more you match, the faster they get.

Easter hunt and other activities

Cantref Adventure Farm, Brecon

Friday 12-Sunday 28 April. 10.30am-5.30pm

Adults and children over 93cm £11.50, under 93cm free

A daily Easter hunt, plus feeding the lambs, tractor and trailer rides, Mr Ev’s (large horse mascot) stage show, pet barm, splash paddle boats, jungle swamp adventure ride and more.

Easter Trail 

Cardiff Castle

Saturday 13-Sunday 28 April

Adults £13, children £9.25, family £38; plus £1 per trail

Find the answer to Easter-themed clues hidden around the castle grounds to claim a prize

Normal admission applies plus £1 per person for the Easter Trail, including a prize. Please note that this is not an Easter Egg Hunt.

If you live or work in Cardiff you can apply for a Castle Key which gives free entry for three years subject to a £6.50 admin charge; no charge for children.

See Castles and Historical for details of Meet The Knights event from 21-22 April.

Easter cake sale and drop-in crafts

Penarth Library

Saturday 13 April, 10am-1pm

Friends of Penarth Library will be selling Easter cakes while there’s drop-in Easter-themed crafts with Mari Wirth.

Cadbury Easter egg hunt

Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan

Saturday 13-Sunday 28 April, 11am-3pm

£3.50 per trail plus usual entry fees

Adult £12.10, children £6.05, family £31 (Gift Aid prices), free to National Trust members

Bunny has been up to his old tricks again and hidden his precious chocolate. Follow the clues in the gardens to help find it.

Easter holiday events

Greenmeadow Community Farm, Cwmbran

Saturday 13-Sunday 28 April 10

As well as all the usual farm attractions, and a full range of daily activities (see Nature and the Great Outdoors section below) Easter Monday 22 sees an Easter bonnet parade, which will see the donkeys joining in. Visitors can also follow take part in a daily Easter egg trail with a chocolate prize at the end (£1.20 per child).

Easter Egg Hunt

Amelia Trust Farm, Barry

Saturday 13-Tuesday 23 April,

£2.50 plus usual farm admission of £2 per adult, £1.50 per child, £5 per family (2+3)

Enjoy the first signs of spring on the farm whole following the clues to find 10 hidden Easter eggs. Each has a letter on it – spell out the word to claim your prize.

Easter Trail

Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon

Monday 13-Wednesday 22 April, 11am-4pm

£1 per child

Follow the clues around Big Pit to find the special Easter eggs with letters on and make a word. Solve the puzzle and get a prize. See Museums and Historical section below for more events at Big Pit and Arts and Crafts for Spring crafts.

Easter crafts and face painting

Friday 17 and Sunday 19 April, 11am-4pm

£2 per child.

Easter Trail

Chepstow Castle

Saturday 13-Sunday 28 April, 9.30am-4pm

Adults £7.30, children £4.40, family £21.20, free for Cadw members

A fun family activity trail that takes visitors around Chepstow Castle.

Easter Events

Cwmcarn Visitor Centre

Clay Easter Tree Decorations

Monday 15 April, 11am-3.30pm

£6 per child; age 4+

Create a terracotta plant pot with crafty bits, use a branch to create the tree as a centre piece, decorated with hand-made clay egg decorations. Booking essential. Four sessions available.

Easter Bird Feeders

Tuesday 16 April, 11am-3.30pm

£4.50 per child; age 4+

Bring along an empty egg box, decorate with crafty bit and fill with homemade seed cakes for the birds. Booking essential. Four sessions available.

Paper Plate Crafts

Thursday 18 April, 10.30am-11.15am

£2.50 per child, ages 2+

A paper plate craft session where you can make some Easter decorations. Booking essential.

Great Easter Egg Hunt

Sunday 21 April, 10am-3pm

£4 per child; ages 3+

Follow the carrots around the valley to find the Easter Bunny, collecting clues as you go to claim your prize. Steps and muddy areas along the way. No booking required.

Easter Flower Decorations

Tuesday 23 April, 11am-3.30pm

£3 per child; ages 4+

Make a beautiful Easter decoration using egg cartons, paper plates and crafty items.

Booking essential. Four sessions available.

Paper Plate Crafts

Thursday 25 April, 10.30am-11.15am

£2.50 per child, ages 2+

A paper plate craft session where you can get messy. Booking essential.

Baa Baa Yarn Sheep

Friday 26 April, 11am-3.30pm

£3.50 per child; ages 4+

Make your very own woolly sheep using cardboard, pegs and lots of colourful wool. Booking essential. Four sessions available.

Themed Easter events

Bedwelty House, Tredegar

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

Monday 15-Saturday 20 April, 10am-12pm

Adults £8.50, children £12.50

A special Springtime buffet breakfast consisting of a bacon or sausage roll, pastries, pancakes, fruit platter, teas, coffees and juices. Children can enjoy soft play and Easter crafts while waiting for a visit from the Easter Bunny. All children will receive a small gift from the Easter Bunny. Must be pre-booked.#

Dino Easter Dash

Friday, April 19, 2019

11:00-12:30 and 1pm-2.30pm

£15 per explorer;

Join Louby Lou’s Storytelling and friends for this exciting egg hunt with a twist this Easter! The Easter Bunny is a busy this year, so it’s up to the dinosaurs to lay the eggs instead. But, which dino lays the chocolate eggs and can you get to his nest in time? Must be prebooked.

Unicorn Easter Dash

Thursday, April 25, 2019

11am-12:30pm and 1pm-2.30pm

£15 per child. Age guidance: 3+

Join Louby Lou and friends for this exciting egg hunt with a twist as you search for signs of magical unicorns around the house and park. Followed by a craft session to make and take home and a small treat for every child. Must be pre-booked.

See Family Fun for details of Princess Pyjama Parties and Nerf Gun Wars.

Children’s Easter workshops

Pugh’s Garden Villages Radyr and Wenvoe

Bird House Pot and Planting – Children’s Easter workshop

Pugh’s Garden Village, Radyr

Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 April 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm

Pugh’s Garden Village, Wenvoe

Thursday 18 April 10am; Friday 19 April 10am, 11am, 1pm

£7 per child. Age guidance: 3-12.

A pot decorating and planting workshop where children will use craft materials to create a bird house plant pot decoration, and then plant a spring flower inside to take home and watch grow out of your bird house. The event will also include an Easter egg hunt with a prize. Must be booked in advance.

Bunny Buddies workshops

Pugh’s Garden Village, Radyr

Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 April 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm

Pugh’s Garden Village, Wenvoe

Thursday 25 and Friday 26 April 10am, 11am, 1pm

A bunny-themed workshop where children will make sock bunnies to take home and cwtch. The event will also include an Easter egg hunt with a prize. Must be booked in advance.

£7 per child. Age guidance: 3-12.

Easter themed crafts

Parc Slip Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre, Bridgend

Tuesday 16 April, 2pm-3.30pm

£2 per child, age 3+

Drop-in Easter-themed arts activities at the nature reserve.

Easter Events

Margam Country Park, Port Talbot

(see the Great outdoors and nature-themed events section for more events at Margam Park)

Tuesday 16 April

FREE Easter Craft Activities, 11am-3pm

Themed craft session in the Castle.

Egg-cellent Eggs, 11am, 12.15pm, 1.45pm and 3pm

£3 per child

Wednesday 17 April

FREE Easter Explorers, 11am-3pm, meet at the rear of the Castle.

Take part in the ‘Eggcellent’ explorers trail, learn some ‘eggciting’ new facts, take part in egg themed arts and crafts activities, and complete an egg-carrying-animals assault course! Free activity. 11am to 3pm meet at the rear of the Castle.

Easter Stories and Rhyme Time session, 1pm and 2.15pm

45-minute sessions organised by the Libraries Service.

Thursday 18 April

Easter Egg Suncatchers, 11am, 12.15pm, 1.45pm and 3pm

£3 per child

Make an Easter-themed Suncatcher. Meet in the Castle.

Wednesday 24 April

Mad Hatters Easter Eggstravaganza, 11am and 3pm

Adults £16.95, children under 11 £11.95

A family-friendly two-hour dining experience at The Orangery. Guests will follow the mischievous Easter Bunny and fall down the rabbit hole to enter the topsy turvy world of the Mad Hatter and his guests who will provide a fantasy filled afternoon of fun. There will be games, entertainment and a delicious platter of “eat me/drink me” treats.

Peter Rabbit events

Royal Mint Experience, Llantrisant

Meet Peter Rabbit

Wednesday 17 April, 10.30am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 3pm and 4pm

Adults £13.50, children £11, family £40 on the door; £13/£10.50/£38.50 online advance bookings

Meet Peter Rabbit as a free extra either before or after your guided tour of the Royal Mint Experience.

Peter Rabbit Experience

Thursday 18, Saturday 20, Easter Monday 22, Wednesday 24 and Friday 26 April

Can be booked separately without the tour at £5 per child and £1 per adult.

An interactive storytelling experience where children will listen to The tale of Peter Rabbit as well as take part in games and activities inspired by the book’s characters. The sessions lasts around 45 minutes.

Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt

Tredegar House, Newport

Thursday 18 April to Easter Monday 22 April, 11am-4pm

Adults £11.20, children £5.60, family £28, free for National Trust members

Plus £2.50 per trail

Celebrate spring awakening this Easter and hunt through the spring shoots to discover which creatures all the weird and wonderful eggs belong to. Find them all to collect your Cadbury’s chocolatey prize.

Ranchfest

Mountain View Ranch

Good Friday 19-Easter Monday 22 April

£10 per person; must be booked in advance

All the usual outdoor freerange attractions plus live music and entertainment daily including Jimmy Juggle, Falconry UK, Wild Encounters Animal Shows, Tinto the Medieval Jester and more (different events every day; check website for details).

Cadbury’s Easter Egg Hunt

Aberdulais Falls, Neath

Good Friday 19-Easter Monday 22 April, 10am-5pm

Adults £6.50, children £3.25, family £16.25, free for National Trust members

Plus £2 per trail including a Cadbury chocolate prize.

Follow clues to the past of Aberdulais’ beautiful landscape to reveal the location of your Cadbury’s egg.

See also Aberdulais Rocks in Historical section below.

Easter Egg Trails

Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, Porthkerry Country Park and the Heritage Coast (Southerndown)

Good Friday 19-Easter Sunday 21 April, 10am-3.30pm

£3.50 per person

Have a go at an Easter Egg trails. Collect your map, find the Easter egg posts and answer the 10 questions to claim your bag of goodies. This is a self-led activity children must be accompanied by an adult. Maps available from: Reception (Cosmeston); Golf hut (Porthkerry); Visitor centre (Glamorgan Heritage Coast)

Easter Duck Trails

Caerleon Amphitheatre

Saturday 20-Easter Sunday 21 April, 11am-4pm

Adult £4.20, children £2.50, family £12.20, free for Cadw members

Join the Easter Duck trails around the Roman Baths and ‘hook a duck’ along the way, to win your own duck balloon and Easter egg treat to take home.

Easter Egg Trail

Blaenavon Ironworks

Saturday 20-Easter Sunday 21 April, 10am-4pm

Adults £5.20, children £3.50, family £16.80, free for Cadw members

Easter weekend fun at Blaenavon Ironworks with a children’s Easter egg trail

Easter arts and crafts

Forest Farm Warden Centre, Forest Farm Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff

Sunday 21 April, 1pm-3pm

£2 per child

Easter-themed drop-in arts and crafts for families.

The Big Museum Easter Trail

National Museum Cardiff

Friday 19-Monday 22 April, 10am-3pm

£3.50 per child. Age guidance: 4+

Solve the clues and follow the family Easter trail around the museum, then head back to the start to claim your prize. No need to book; pay on arrival although spaces are limited.

The Big Museum Easter Trail

St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff

Friday 19-Sunday 22 April, 10am-3pm

£3.50 per child. Age guidance: 4+

19–22 April 2019, 10am – 3pm

Solve the clues and follow the trail around the museum in this family trail. No advance booking, pay on arrival although spaces are limited.

Easter Egg-stravaganza

Rhondda Heritage Park

Friday 19 and Saturday 20 April, 10am-4pm

£2.50 per child

An egg hunt and Easter themed arts and crafts at the Welsh mining experience.

FREE Easter crafts

Newport Museum

Wednesday 24 April, 10am, 11am, 12pm

Age guidance 5-11

Children will be colouring and decorating Easter animal masks. Places are allocated on a first come first serve basis on the day. No booking – drop-in only.

Arts and Crafts

Easter Events

Cwmcarn Visitor Centre

Clay Easter Tree Decorations

Monday 15 April, 11am-3.30pm

£6 per child; age 4+

Create a terracotta plant pot with crafty bits, use a branch to create the tree as a centre piece, decorated with hand-made clay egg decorations. Booking essential. Four sessions available.

Easter Bird Feeders

Tuesday 16 April, 11am-3.30pm

£4.50 per child; age 4+

Bring along an empty egg box, decorate with crafty bit and fill with homemade seed cakes for the birds. Booking essential. Four sessions available.

Paper Plate Crafts

Thursday 18 April, 10.30am-11.15am

£2.50 per child, ages 2+

A paper plate craft session where you can make some Easter decorations. Booking essential.

Great Easter Egg Hunt

Sunday 21 April, 10am-3pm

£4 per child; ages 3+

Follow the carrots around the valley to find the Easter Bunny, collecting clues as you go to claim your prize. Steps and muddy areas along the way. No booking required.

Easter Flower Decorations

Tuesday 23 April, 11am-3.30pm

£3 per child; ages 4+

Make a beautiful Easter decoration using egg cartons, paper plates and crafty items.

Booking essential. Four sessions available.

Paper Plate Crafts

Thursday 25 April, 10.30am-11.15am

£2.50 per child, ages 2+

A paper plate craft session where you can get messy. Booking essential.

Baa Baa Yarn Sheep

Friday 26 April, 11am-3.30pm

£3.50 per child; ages 4+

Make your very own woolly sheep using cardboard, pegs and lots of colourful wool. Booking essential. Four sessions available.

Crafternoons

Caerphilly Castle

Monday 15-Thursday 18 and Tuesday 23-Friday 26 April, 2pm-4pm

Adults £8.90, children £5.30, family £25.70, Cadw members free

A variety of themed arts and crafts for Easter.

Crafts and Face-painting

Big Pit National Coal Museum

Friday 17 and Sunday 19 April, 11am-4pm (Easter-themed)

Friday 24-Sunday 26 April, 11am-4pm (spring-themed)

£2 per child.

Family-friendly themed craft sessions plus have your face painted. See Museums and Historical section below for details of exhibitions and a new virtual reality experience at Big Pit.

FREE Easter crafts

Newport Museum

Wednesday 24 April, 10am, 11am, 12pm

Age guidance 5-11

Children will be colouring and decorating Easter animal masks. Places are allocated on a first come first serve basis on the day. No booking – drop-in only.

FREE The Hidden Garden

Glanfa Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay

Monday 15-Saturday 20 April, 11am-4pm

Discover our tranquil garden, hang your positive messages and wishes for the future on our magic tree and colour your stress away with mindful colouring. This activity is free and open to everyone. }
Plus bilingual family yoga on free family yoga at 2pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, no sign-up required.

Children’s Easter workshops

Pugh’s Garden Villages Radyr and Wenvoe

Bird House Pot and Planting – Children’s Easter workshop

Pugh’s Garden Village, Radyr

Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 April 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm

Pugh’s Garden Village, Wenvoe

Thursday 18 April 10am; Friday 19 April 10am, 11am, 1pm

£7 per child. Age guidance: 3-12.

A pot decorating and planting workshop where children will use craft materials to create a bird house plant pot decoration, and then plant a spring flower inside to take home and watch grow out of your bird house. The event will also include an Easter egg hunt with a prize. Must be booked in advance.

Bunny Buddies workshops

Pugh’s Garden Village, Radyr

Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 April 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm

Pugh’s Garden Village, Wenvoe

Thursday 25 and Friday 26 April 10am, 11am, 1pm

A bunny-themed workshop where children will make sock bunnies to take home and cwtch. The event will also include an Easter egg hunt with a prize. Must be booked in advance.

£7 per child. Age guidance: 3-12.

Books

Pontypridd Children’s Book Festival

Various venues across Pontypridd

Saturday 18 May

Ticketed events cost from £0-£5

Sibeal Pounder, PG Bell, Matt Brown and Eloise Williams are just a few of the authors coming to Pontypridd for the town’s second children’s book festival. 20 authors and other guests taking in best sellers and local talent from the worlds of fiction, non-fiction, prose and poetry will be delivering a range of readings, workshops, interviews and Q&As. Plus there will be activities, stalls, displays and a Fair Trade Tuck Shop.

Bilingual Story Walk

Insole Court, Cardiff

Tuesday 16, Thursday 18, Tuesday 23, Thursday 25 April, 10.30am-2.30pm

£1 per map; free entry to Insole Court

A bilingual story walk around the grounds of Insole Court with Joe & the Adventure Door Pirates / Jo a Môr-Ladron y Drws Antur. Story walks are self-led, read at your own pace. Maps just £1 and available from the Visitor Centre.

Theatre and performance

Zog at St David’s Hall, Cardiff

Mark Morris Dance – Pepperland

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay

Friday 12 and Saturday 13 April, 8pm

Age 8+; no under 2s

Acclaimed choreographer Mark Morris returns to Cardiff with Pepperland, a unique tribute to The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Featuring an original score by Ethan Iverson, performed by a live chamber music ensemble, the show elaborates on Sgt. Pepper’s non-rock and roll influences. Arrangements of songs including With a Little Help From My Friends, When I’m Sixty-Four and Penny Lane, are interspersed with six Pepper-inspired original pieces intended especially to complement Mark Morris’ profound understanding of classical forms: Allegro, Scherzo, Adagio, and the blues.

The Girl With Incredibly Long Hair / Y Ferch Gyda Gwallt Hynod Hir

Touring Wales

Blackwood Miners Institute; Wednesday 10-Thursday 11 April

Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff; Saturday 13-Thursday 18 April

Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon; Friday 26-Saturday 27 April

Memo Arts Centre, Barry; Tuesday 7-Wednesday 8 May

Pontardawe Arts Centre; Wednesday 15-Thursday 16 May

Riverfront, Newport; Friday 17 and Saturday 18 May

Theatr Clwyd, Mold; Thursday 23-25 May

Following sell-out performances and great reviews in 2018, We Made This are touring Wales with The Girl With Incredibly Long Hair, a reimagining of Rapunzel for modern times, with both English and Welsh performances. An ambitious and immersive theatre production for young audiences, The Girl With Incredibly Long Hair joins Rapunzel, her Mam, and her new friend Daf as they set off on an adventure to the heart of the forest. Be immersed in its sights, sounds and smells, with the story unfolding all around the audience.

Sing-a-long-a The Greatest Showman

St David’s Hall, Cardiff

Saturday 13 April, 2pm and 7pm

A screening of the famous musical film with plenty of audience participation. A live host will teach everyone a unique set of dance moves, show you how to use our interactive prop bags, and also get you to practice your cheers, your boos and even a few wolf whistles. Fancy dress is strongly encouraged and full audience participation essential. Please note this is a screening of the movie, not a live stage show.

Horrible Histories: Brand New Barmy Britain

Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

Monday 15 April, 1.30pm and 5pm; Tuesday 16 April, 2.30pm and 7pm; Wednesday 17 April, 11am

Touring the UK for the first time, this show is the history of Britain with all the gory bits left in. Be reduced to rubble by the ruthless Romans. Mount a mutiny against King Henry VIII. See Mary Tudor knock the spots off Mary Queen of Scots. Help Georgian detectives find the headless man, plus lots more.

You’ve Got Dragons

Weston Studio, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay

Tuesday 16-Saturday 20 April

Taking Flight Theatre tackle children’s emotions and mental health in this tale of one child’s journey to come to terms with their dragons – the bad dreams, swirly tummy, feeling prickly that sometimes makes you feel alone. The show features live, original music, in a highly visual, sensitive production that is a humorous and touching exploration of the dragons we all face.

Egg and Spoon

Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

Wednesday 17 April, 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm

Ages 1-7; 40 minute show

A fun and interactive show guiding youngsters through the seasons. Percy and April will get the young audience settled on comfortable cushions and introduce them to Birdy, still hiding in his glowing egg. You will have to wait until Spring if you want to see him in this hands-on journey through the year. Run through the rain and the falling leaves and sleep under the snow until the sun wakes you up for the butterfly party.

The Amazing Bubble Man

Blackwood Miners’ Institute

Thursday 18 April, 11.30am and 2pm

Adults £12.50, children £10.50

Louis Pearl has been thrilling audiences worldwide for over thirty years with the art, magic, science and fun of bubbles. An Edinburgh Fringe favourite, he has sold out there for the last twelve years.

Louis explores the breathtaking dynamics of bubbles, combining comedy and artistry with audience participation and enough spellbinding bubble tricks to keep everyone mesmerized. From square bubbles to rocket bubbles, tornado bubbles to flying saucer bubbles, the Amazing Bubble Man conjures shrieks of laughter and gasps of amazement from all ages!

Little Meerkat’s Big Panic

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay

Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 April, 12pm and 4pm

Ages 0-7; 45 minutes

An award-winning musical multi-sensory adventure based on the storybook by renowned parenting and trauma expert, Jane Evans in which Little Meerkat finds out how to manage through some very big feelings. It’s Little Meerkat’s first day on Lookout Duty. However, he finds it overwhelming and falls asleep. When he wakes, all his meerkat friends and family are gone and he panics. Can a Kind Elephant and Wise Monkey help him feel calmer and find those missing meerkats?

Dinosaur World Live

Riverfront, Newport

Tuesday 23-Friday 26 April

(Tuesday 1pm and 3.30pm; Wednesday 11am and 2pm; Thursday 2pm; Friday 11am and 2pm)

£14; groups of 10+ £8.50

The roarsome interactive family show comes to Newport direct from the West End. Join the show’s intrepid explorer across unchartered territories to discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including every child’s favourite flesh-eating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor and Segnosaurus. A special meet and greet after the show offers brave explorers the chance to make a new dinosaur friend.

Tom Gates Live on Stage!

New Theatre, Cardiff

Wednesday 24-Sunday 28 April (Wednesday 7pm; Thursday-Saturday 2.00pm and 7.00pm; Sunday 11am and 3pm)

Based on the best-selling books by Liz Pichon, this new story comes to the stage for the first time. Tom’s doing everything possible to stay out of trouble but somehow he’s got three sad faces on the school achievement chart. And getting another sad face means Mr Fullerman won’t let him go on the school trip. Moany Marcus Meldrew is making things worse and now Tom’s annoyed his grumpy sister Delia. Even Amy Porter (who’s smart) won’t talk to him! Can his best friend Derek help? Will Rooster the dog stop eating his homework? Will his grandparents the Fossils ever make something he can actually eat?

Aliens Love Underpants

Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl

Tuesday 23 April, 12pm and 3.30pm

£14; group of 4 £50

Age guidance 3+

This zany and hilarious tale is based on the best-selling children’s book by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort. Aliens Love Underpants is a fantastically fresh and funny production that will delight the whole family. Trust us, you’ll laugh your pants off!

The Wonderful World of Disney on Ice

Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff

Wednesday 24-Sunday 28 April

Mickey and Minnie Mouse present an inspiring celebration of magic and family fun as some classic Disney animations are brought to the ice. Embark on an ocean adventure as Dory, Nemo and Marlin from Disney Pixar’s Finding Dory discover the real meaning of family. Travel to Arendelle with Anna, Elsa and the hilarious Olaf from Disney’s Frozen as they learn true love is the greatest power of all. Nothing is out of reach for Rapunzel as her friends help light the way. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs make their own magic and reveal we can do anything with our friends in tow. Toystory’s Buzz and Woody will have you jumping out of your seat in a foot-stomping throwdown; Simba, Timon and Pumbaa prowl the Pridelands in The Lion King; Jasmine, Aladdin and Genie show friendship is fearless; and your favourite Disney Princesses stay strong and journey on.

Zog

St David’s Hall, Cardiff

Friday 26 April-Sunday 28 April (Friday 4.30pm; Saturday 11am 2pm 4pm; Sunday 11am and 2pm)

Zog the dragon is eager to win a golden star at Madam Dragon’s school, where dragons learn all the things that dragons need to know.  Zog tries so very hard, perhaps too hard, and he bumps, burns and roars his way through years one, two and three. Luckily, the plucky Princess Pearl patches him up ready to face his biggest challenge yet… a duel with Gadabout the Great. Based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved picture book this magical adaptation features live musicians and a set which looks like it’s come straight from the book.

Read an interview with Julia Donaldson where she talks about bringing Zog to the stage here.

FREE Family Dance Festival

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay

Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 April, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm

Riverfront, Newport

Saturday 27 April at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm

An interactive and entertaining hour of pop-up dance featuring three professional companies from Wales and local youth groups. Witness the amazing dancers twisting and turning, tumbling and sliding in this jam-packed bilingual national touring event, plus have a go during the fun taster workshop following each performance. This is a free outdoor event and not ticketed; no need to hook, just turn up. A Bombastic, Coreo Cymru and Wales Millennium Centre co-production in association with Chapter.

Welsh Wrestling Live

Memo Arts Centre, Barry

Saturday 27 April, 7pm

Adults £12, children £16, group of 4 £35

Witness the thrills and spills of live Welsh Wrestling in an evening of glitz, glamour and bodyslam mayhem as the Welsh Wrestling roadshow invades for one night only! See the over the top stars of the wrestling world collide in a night of super slamming action at this fun, crazy, family entertainment show.

Family fun

CoedLan High Ropes at St Fagans

CoedLan – High Ropes

St Fagans National Museum of History

Friday 5 April-Sunday 3 November, 10.15am-4.30pm

£10 per person;

Tackle CoedLan’s 18 obstacles, including a balance beam, zig zag bridge, cargo net and a zip wire. No need to book in advance – buy your tickets on the day from the CoedLan desk. However if you’d like to guarantee a spot, you can book in advance by calling 029 2057 3322.

Participants must be 110cm tall and aged 6 or over in order to take part. Children between 110cm and 130cm must be accompanied by an individual over 130cm and aged 12 years old or over. The maximum weight is 18 stone. Read our review of the experience here (paid collaboration as part of our role as family blogger ambassadors with National Museum Wales).

Airmazing / Star Tours / Night and Day

Techniquest, Cardiff Bay

Saturday 6-Sunday 28 April, 10am-5pm

Adults £8.20, children £6.40, family £29, under 3s free (cheaper when booked online in advance and without Gift Aid)

Planetarium shows, £1.50 per person extra

As well as two-floors of hands-on science fun, get ready for Airmazing, a live science show where you can find out about the gases that make up our atmosphere. Star Tours is the Planetarium show for ages 7+ were you can learn more about some familiar constellations, the planets and how stars are born and die. Night and Day is the Planetarium show for under 7s where you can learn where the sun goes at night and why it gets dark.

Ponty Lido

Ynys Angharad Park, Pontypridd

Saturday 13-Sunday 28 April, 7.30am-7.15pm

£2 per adult, children under 16, free

The open air swimming pool is open for the Easter holidays with swimming sessions bookable online in advance and with a limited number of spaces available on the day from 9am. The heated pools include an area for lane swimming and more relaxed swims, a splash pool for young children and water activities available for an additional £2.50 per person, including fun inflatables, Aqua Scooterz, Aqua Peddlerz and Water Walkerz.

Monday 29 April-Friday 24 May – open for morning swims (7.30am-9am) on weekdays as as well as weekends and Bank Holiday Monday.

Saturday 25 May-Sunday 1 September – open daily 7.30am-7.15pm.

It will then be open at weekends until September 22, as well as daily for morning sessions only from 7.30am until 9am.

FREE Spring Maze

The Red Dragon Centre

Saturday 13-Sunday 28 April, 10.30am-4pm

Can you find your way out of the Red Dragon Centre maze this Easter holiday? Constructed using 30 pieces of artificial hedging and 25m of grass walling, the maze will be 4.3m wide at the entrance, 10.4m long and 6m wide at the exit.  As well as six Easter eggs hidden in the maze for children to find, maze runners will have the opportunity to hunt for Easter clues and the chance to win a family day out at The Red Dragon Centre. Entry to the maze is free. Parking is free for up to six hours for customers subject to minimum spend and validation.

Easter events

Treetop Adventure Golf, St David’s Shopping Centre, Cardiff

Adults £8.50, children £7, under 5s £4, family of 4 £28, family of five £35 (for one round)

The Easter Weekend 19^th Hole Challenge

Good Friday 19-Easter Monday 22 April

As well as all the fun of indoor adventure golf, unleash the power of the bonus hole to win a surprise.

Face painting and glitter tattoos

Wednesday 17-Monday 22 and Wednesday 24-Saturday 27 April, 12pm-4pm

Free face painting and glitter tattoos for customers.

Princess Pyjama Party

Bedwellty House, Tredegar

Tuesday, April 16, 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm

£15.50 per child. Age guidance: 3+

Join our princesses as they swap their ball-gowns for pyjamas and get ready for some princess pampering. This fun filled session for little princesses will include singing, princess pampering, glitter tattoos, games and snacks. Must be pre-booked.

Fortnite Themed Nerf Wars

Bedwellty House and Park, Tredegar

Tuesday, April 23, 10am-11:30pm, 12.30pm-2pm and 3pm-4.30pm

£15.50 per child. Age guidance 5+.

This boogie bomb of a session will lead you and your fellow flossers into a Fortnite inspired Nerf Battle Royale incorporating teamwork, honour, loyalty and dancing. Must be pre-booked.

Heath Park Miniature Railway and Tramway

Heath Park, Cardiff

Easter Sunday 21 and Easter Monday 22 April, 1pm-5pm

Sunday 26 and Bank Holiday Monday 27 May, 1pm-5pm

£2 entry per person; rides £2 each; children 3 and under free

Cardiff Model Engineering Society opens its doors for the public with miniature train rides – steam, diesel and electric – and tram rides available. See website for further dates for 2019.

Jurassic Dinosaurs in the Park

Margam Country Park, Port Talbot

Easter Monday 22 April

Adults £9, children £7, family £30 (on the door – cheaper when booked In advance)

Tiny, the huge Triceratops and Dexter, the cheeky, feathered T-Rex are here to help the fabulous Dr Fossil, along with some of the mischievous Dino Babies. Help adorable Emily Brontosaurus find the lost egg. Meet Spence the Spinosaurus and Richie the Raptor. See the giant dinosaur egg – climb inside and feel what it is like to hatch out of a massive dino egg.

The great outdoors and nature-themed

RHS Flower Show Cardiff

Bute Park, Cardiff

Friday 12 and Saturday 13 April, 10am-5.30pm; Sunday 14 April 10am-4.30pm

£11 RHS members in advance; £13 on the day. Non-members £12/£15. Each adult may bring two children 16 and under free of charge. No ticket required.

Kick-start your gardening year with seasonal ideas for your garden, stunning floral displays, and fabulous shopping. There’s plenty for families including following The Very Hungry Caterpillar through the show, spotting the giant-sized fruit he’s chomped his way through
in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the iconic book’s publication. Families can also learn the ancient craft of willow weaving, weave some willow; take part in RSPB workshops to investigate the wonderful world of snails; and pot your own strawberries to take home and grow. See the website for full details. Photo above taken by Cardiff Mummy Says at a previous RHS Cardiff show.

Easter holiday activities

Cantref Adventure Farm, Brecon

Friday 12-Sunday 28 April. 10.30am-5.30pm

Adults and children over 93cm £11.50, under 93cm free

A daily Easter hunt, plus feeding the lambs, tractor and trailer rides, horse mascot Mr Ev’s stage show, pet barm, splash paddle boats, jungle swamp adventure ride and more.

Plant Hunter Exhibition

Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan

Saturday 13-Sunday 28 April, 10am-4pm

Adult £12.10, children £6.05, family £31 (Gift Aid prices), free to National Trust members

Set off on an adventure through the evolving woodland of the arboretum to complete this special expedition. Choose your own path through the towering trees and cross perilous terrain, you will discover fascinating facts and you might even bump into fellow Plant Hunters along the way, who are eager to share their own exciting Dyffryn arboretum adventures with you.

Holiday events

Mountain View Ranch

£7 per person, under 2s free; family of 4 £26, family of 5 £32

Saturday 13-Sunday 28 April,  9.30am-5pm (excluding Good Friday 19-Easter Monday 22 which is ticket only; see Easter section above)

As well as 100 acres of freerange family attractions, daily events included in ghe admission price include Easter egg trail, meet the funny goats, Gruffalo story, soft archery, space hoppers, jumping pillow, campfire and marshmallows and Easter games. Some activities are weather-dependent. Also High Ropes available for £5 per person.

Events and times may vary according to the weather, any changes will be posted here by 9am on the day!

Easter holiday events

Greenmeadow Community Farm, Cwmbran

Saturday 13-Sunday 28 April 10

As well as all the usual farm attractions, the Easter holidays see a range of additional activities including cuddle corner with the smaller animals, goat milking, bottle feeding lambs (small charge applies), egg collecting, and candling and handling sessions where you learn all about life in an eggshell and meet spring chicks; meet the giant rabbits, mini beast hunting, donkey grooming and more.

Saturday 13-Friday 19 sees meet the giant rabbits; Saturday 20-Sunday 28 sees goat’s play, and Easter Monday 22 sees an Easter bonnet parade, which will see the donkeys joining in. Visitors can also follow the farm’s Stick Man trail and take part in an Easter egg trail with a chocolate prize at the end (£1.20 per child).

The Little Sprouts Garden Club

Pyle Garden Centre, Bridgend

Saturdays 13 and 27 April, 11 May, 25 May, 8 and 22nd June

£9 per child; children stay without parents

Join Rosie the Ranger and the rest of the Little Sprout Gang in our fortnightly gardening club. Educational, engaging workshop session for children aged 4-9 which will include arts and crafts, interactive storytelling and activities to learn all about Trees and their importance to the planet.

Easter Events

Margam Country Park, Port Talbot

Saturday 13 April

FREE Dolls House Exhibition 10am-4.30pm

West Glamorgan Dolls House Club presents an exhibition of dolls houses, shop and miniature scenes. Surf shops to Victorian houses, school rooms to an old London pub.

FREE Lions and Lilies – Medieval Knights and Archers

A weekend of archery, combat and sword demonstrations. The Knights and Squires in the Lions and Lilies have been trained by a renowned sword master, great medieval fun.

Sunday 14 April

FREE UltrsSepulChral, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm

Thirty minute performances of edieval songs, poems and chants with voices and instruments in the Castle.

Monday 15 April

FREE ICE Bridge, 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm

Discover how to build a bridge – an amazing chance to construct a 17m long cable bridge – and walk over it. Organised by the STEM Ambassador Hub and the Institution of Civil Engineers, numbers are limited. Pick up your tickets at entrance cabin.

Tuesday 16 April

FREE Easter Craft Activities, 11am-3pm

Themed craft session in the Castle.

Egg-cellent Eggs, 11am, 12.15pm, 1.45pm and 3pm

£3 per child

Have a go Archery

3 arrows £1

With Margam Archery Club, meet at the BBQ site at the rear of the Castle.

Wednesday 17 April

FREE Easter Explorers, 11am-3pm, meet at the rear of the Castle.

Take part in the ‘Eggcellent’ explorers trail, learn some ‘eggciting’ new facts, take part in egg themed arts and crafts activities, and complete an egg-carrying-animals assault course! Free activity. 11am to 3pm meet at the rear of the Castle.

Easter Stories and Rhyme Time session, 1pm and 2.15pm

45-minute sessions organised by the Libraries Service

Have a go Archery

3 arrows £1

With Margam Archery Club, meet at the BBQ site at the rear of the Castle.

Thursday 18 April

Easter Egg Suncatchers, 11am, 12.15pm, 1.45pm and 3pm

£3 per child

Make an Easter-themed Suncatcher. Meet in the Castle.

Easter Monday 22 April

Jurassic Dinosaurs in the Park

Adults £9, children £7, family £30 (on the door – cheaper when booked In advance)

Tiny, the huge Triceratops and Dexter, the cheeky, feathered T-Rex are here to help the fabulous Dr Fossil, along with some of the mischievous Dino Babies. Help adorable Emily Brontosaurus find the lost egg. Meet Spence the Spinosaurus and Richie the Raptor. See the giant dinosaur egg – climb inside and feel what it is like to hatch out of a massive dino egg.

Tuesday 23 April

Pom Pom Sheep, 11am, 12.15pm, 1.45pm and 3pm

£3 per child

Make your own fluffy colourful pompom sheep.

Have a go Archery

3 arrows £1

With Margam Archery Club, meet at the BBQ site at the rear of the Castle.

Wednesday 24 April

Mad Hatters Easter Eggstravaganza, 11am and 3pm

Adults £16.95, children under 11 £11.95

A family-friendly two-hour dining experience at The Orangery. Guests will follow the mischievous Easter Bunny and fall down the rabbit hole to enter the topsy turvy world of the Mad Hatter and his guests who will provide a fantasy filled afternoon of fun. There will be games, entertainment and a delicious platter of “eat me/drink me” treats.

Have a go Archery

3 arrows £1

With Margam Archery Club, meet at the BBQ site at the rear of the Castle.

Discover Coracles, 10am-4pm, at New Pond

Discover more about the ancient vessels which have been used for thousands of years for fishing on Welsh rives.

Thursday 25 April

Grass Creatures, 11am, 12.15pm, 1.45pm and 3pm

£3 per child

Make and grow your own living grass creature.

FREE Friday 26 April

ICE Bridge, 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm

Discover how to build a bridge – an amazing chance to construct a 17m long cable bridge – and walk over it. Organised by the STEM Ambassador Hub and the Institution of Civil Engineers, numbers are limited. Pick up your tickets at entrance cabin.

FREE Spring Craft Activities, 11am-3pm

Spring crafts with the Friends of Margam, in the Castle.

FREE Keep Penylan Tidy: Community Litter Pick

Meet at Penylan Pantry

Sunday 14 April, 1-3pm

Keep the community tidy with this litter pick. Kit provided.

Easter Pond Dipping

Newport Wetlands

Monday 15-Friday 19 and Monday 22-Friday 26 April, 10.30am-12.30pm an 2pm-3.30pm

RSPB members £4.40, non-members £5.50

A variety of exciting pond related family wildlife activities, including pond dipping, led by an enthusiastic team who can tell you more about the creatures bursting into life in the ponds and wetland areas.

PLUS Bat and Moth Walk

Friday 26 April, 7pm

RSPB members £6.40, non-members £8

A nocturnal adventure as you head out into the night with bat detectors to search for bats.  You will also make and use a variety of moth traps to discover what incredible creatures are out and about when the sun goes down. Booking essential.

Easter Events

Cwmcarn Visitor Centre

Clay Easter Tree Decorations

Monday 15 April, 11am-3.30pm

£6 per child; age 4+

Create a terracotta plant pot with crafty bits, use a branch to create the tree as a centre piece, decorated with hand-made clay egg decorations. Booking essential. Four sessions available.

Easter Bird Feeders

Tuesday 16 April, 11am-3.30pm

£4.50 per child; age 4+

Bring along an empty egg box, decorate with crafty bit and fill with homemade seed cakes for the birds. Booking essential. Four sessions available.

Paper Plate Crafts

Thursday 18 April, 10.30am-11.15am

£2.50 per child, ages 2+

A paper plate craft session where you can make some Easter decorations. Booking essential.

Great Easter Egg Hunt

Sunday 21 April, 10am-3pm

£4 per child; ages 3+

Follow the carrots around the valley to find the Easter Bunny, collecting clues as you go to claim your prize. Steps and muddy areas along the way. No booking required.

Easter Flower Decorations

Tuesday 23 April, 11am-3.30pm

£3 per child; ages 4+

Make a beautiful Easter decoration using egg cartons, paper plates and crafty items.

Booking essential. Four sessions available.

Paper Plate Crafts

Thursday 25 April, 10.30am-11.15am

£2.50 per child, ages 2+

A paper plate craft session where you can get messy. Booking essential.

Baa Baa Yarn Sheep

Friday 26 April, 11am-3.30pm

£3.50 per child; ages 4+

Make your very own woolly sheep using cardboard, pegs and lots of colourful wool. Booking essential. Four sessions available.

Children’s Easter workshops

Pugh’s Garden Villages Radyr and Wenvoe

Bird House Pot and Planting – Children’s Easter workshop

Pugh’s Garden Village, Radyr

Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 April 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm

Pugh’s Garden Village, Wenvoe

Thursday 18 April 10am; Friday 19 April 10am, 11am, 1pm

£7 per child. Age guidance: 3-12.

A pot decorating and planting workshop where children will use craft materials to create a bird house plant pot decoration, and then plant a spring flower inside to take home and watch grow out of your bird house. The event will also include an Easter egg hunt with a prize. Must be booked in advance.

Bunny Buddies workshops

Pugh’s Garden Village, Radyr

Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 April 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm

Pugh’s Garden Village, Wenvoe

Thursday 25 and Friday 26 April 10am, 11am, 1pm

A bunny-themed workshop where children will make sock bunnies to take home and cwtch. The event will also include an Easter egg hunt with a prize. Must be booked in advance.

£7 per child. Age guidance: 3-12.

FREE Spring Bingo Wild Challenge

Bute Park Education Centre, Cardiff

Wednesday 24 April, 10am-3.30pm

Look out for the signs of spring as nature starts to wake up from its winter slumber. Join the RSPB to complete the Spring Bingo Wild Challenge.

FREE Trowbridge Green Family Fair

Trowbridge Community Centre

Thursday 18 April, 11am-1pm

Workshops and crafts for the whole family including Dr Bike, looking at bikes; TwinMade showing how to repair clothes, Warm Wales helping to reduce energy costs; Pedal Emporium to show the wonders of green energy to crate art; Benthyg with their ‘library of things’; Green City showing how to repurpose waste materials; Repair Café Wales will be welcoming broken goods to try and breathe life into them once more; Mess ‘n’ Tots will be providing environmentally friendly crafts and messy play for the children.

Pond Dipping

Bryngarw Country Park, Bridgend

Wednesday 24 April

£4 per child

What underwater creatures will you find living in the murky depths of Bryngarw’s pond? Find out in this pond dipping session. Booking is essential.

Survival Challenge – Sticks and Stones Learning

Forest Farm Country Park, Cardiff

Thursday 25 April, 1pm-4pm

£12 per child (accompanying adults free); age guidance 5-9

Can you survive in the wilderness? Have a go at den building, making decorations for your new home and then sit round the fire to enjoy marshmallows and hot chocolate – although you will have to whittle your own marshmallow stick first. Forest Farm Country Park is a beautiful woodland site with a river running through it, and makes a great location for this survival challenge. Pre-booking essential.

Noah’s Ark Treasure Hunt

Summerhouse Café, Bute Park, Cardiff

Friday April 26, 12pm-3pm

£2.50 per person, including an Easter Egg

A treasure hunt in aid of Noah’s Ark children’s hospital charity. As well as the treasure hunt, the event will include face painting, a raffle and bran tub. The event is organised by Community Housing Cymru (CHC) who have pledged to raise £20,000 through different events. Last year, the team at Noah’s Ark saved the life of baby Theo who was born when his mum Hayley, Policy and Programmes Manager at CHC, was just 26 weeks pregnant. Theo along with Mam and Dad celebrated his first birthday a few weeks ago.

FREE Birds in the Bay

Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve

Sunday 28 April, 9am-11am

Join the Community Park Ranger in search of the migratory birds that visit the Bay shores. Meet at the start of the boardwalk, Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve, off Windsor Esplanade CF10 5BG.

Birds of Prey Morning Flying Demonstration

St Donat’s Arts Centre, Llantwit Major

Tuesday 16 April; 10.30am and 1.30pm

£9 children, £7.50 adults

As recently seen on BBC1’s Countryfile, Wings Of Wales return to St Donat’s for morning and afternoon birds of prey demonstrations. Watch eagles in action, witness the silent flight of owls and thrill at the high speeds reached by falcons. Wings of Wales have worked around the world for the conservation of birds of prey and have many years of falconry experience. Wings of Wales are currently working with Wilder Britain to reintroduce species such as the Golden Eagle back into Wales. Weather permitting; the flying demonstration will take place on the beautiful Top Lawn of St Donat’s Castle, overlooking the sea.

Beach Academy Wales Family Session: Marine Animal Egg Hunt

Ogmore Beach

Wednesday 17 April 17, 1.30pm-3.30pm

£5 per child, accompanying adults free. Age guidance: 6+

Follow the trail on the hunt for animal babies.

Birds of Prey

Tintern Abbey

Saturday 20 and Easter Sunday 21 April, 11am-4pm

Adult £7.30, child £4.40, family £21.20, free to Cadw members

See majestic birds of prey in flight, and have your photo taken with them for a unique souvenir. Learn how falconry was part of Tudor life and how birds of prey live, and why falconry was the most popular sport of the day.

Museums, castles and historical

Traditional fairground at St Fagans

Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing

National Museum Cardiff

Friday 1 February-Monday 6 May

£5 adults/£4 concessions/16 years and under: Free

Twelve of Leonardo da Vinci’s greatest drawings are on display in Cardiff to mark the 500th anniversary of his death as part of a national celebration of the extraordinary artist. The drawings are from the Royal Collection which contains the world’s finest collection of Leonardo’s works. Buy your tickets on the day; limited availability.

FREE Leonardo, Bodies and Bones

Saturday 17 and Sunday 28 April, 12pm-4pm

Have a go at drawing your own skeleton and chat with medical students from Cardiff University School of Medicine. There is also the chance to see a display of artworks from the students’ most recent art competition. Learn how their experience of medicine and interest in human anatomy inspired the creations of these students, much as it did for Leonardo.

FREE Kyffin Williams: the Artist and Amgueddfa Cymru

National Museum Cardiff

Until Wednesday 1 May

This exhibition opened last year to celebrate 100 years since the birth John Kyffin Williams (1918-2006), arguably Wales’ most popular and prolific landscape painter of the 20th century. Born in Llangefni, Williams’ career spanned more than 60 year with his distinctive style depicting the rural landscape of Snowdonia, its cottages and hill farmers. He had a long history with Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum of Wales) both as an artist and committee member and this display explores that relationship through artwork and archival material.

FREE David Nash: Sculpture through the Seasons

National Museum Cardiff

Until Saturday 1 September

David Nash is one of Britain;s most important artists and this exhibition marks the 50th anniversary of him living and working in Capel Rhiw – a former Methodist chapel in Blaenau Ffestiniog, north Wales. David Nash: Sculpture through the Seasons is the largest and most ambitious exhibition of David Nash’s work ever presented in Wales. It features key sculptures from the late 1960s to the present day, exploring the different ways the artist has cut, carved and manipulated wood to produce sculptures that sit between the abstract and figurative.

Museum ExplorAR: A living guide to the galleries

National Museum Cardiff

£10 per hour plus refundable deposit

A new way of looking at some of the museum’s most famous exhibits – thought augmented reality (AR) which brings the exhibits to life. Pick up a handset at the museum’s shop and use the handset for Monet’s Waterlilly Garden Experience; Underwater Life Experience; and Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Creatures Experience in either Welsh or English. Read our full review of the AR experience here.

St Fagans Makers Market

St Fagans National Museum of History

Saturday 13-Sunday 28 April, 10am-5pm

Pick up something special that you’d never find on the high street. There’s a chance to meet the makers and find out more about their crafts as they run workshops and demonstrations throughout the week. Making activities for children available at some stalls for an additional cost.

Traditional Fairground

St Fagans National Museum of History

Saturday 13-Sunday 28 April, 10am-5pm

From £1 per child per ride; ages 2-11

Visit the Traditional Fairground and experience the magic of a bygone era.

FREE From Mine to Museum Exhibition

Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon

Until Tuesday 30 April (open Mondays to Fridays)

As Big Pit celebrates its 35th anniversary, this exhibition traces the history of Big Pit as it transformed from a working coal mine into one of UK’s leading museums and tourist attractions.

FREE Family of Miners Exhibition

Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon

Until Tuesday 30 April, 9.30am-5pm

A photographic exhibition by Walter Waygood documenting mining and miners of Blaenafon from the 1970s onwards.

FREE Virtual Reality Experience

Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon

Tuesday 2 April 2019-Thursday 2 April 2020, 9.30am-5pm

Featuring real characters from Blaenavon’s industrial past, the ‘Time Travel in the Blaenavon World Heritage Site’ experience uses audio storytelling and three-dimensional technology to display the town’s rich industrial history through three virtual reality films ― showcasing life at Big Pit, the town primary school and the home of a local family in Blaenavon Heritage Town.

Using smart devices, the immersive content can be viewed at three iconic locations across the internationally celebrated region, including Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon World Heritage Centre and Blaenavon Heritage Town, which all feature in the immersive films.

The films can be viewed with or without an accompanying VR headset, which are available to borrow from Big Pit National Coal Museum( deposit of £5 required) or Blaenavon World Heritage Centre or can be simply viewed using a mobile phone.  Plus, visitors can revisit the on-site experience and view the digital package at home using a desktop browser.

Laura Ford: Squatters at Castell Coch

Castell Coch, Tongwynlais, Cardiff

Saturday 30 March-Monday 6 May

Adults £7.30, children, family £21.20 or free for Cadw members (usual castle entry fees)

Laura Ford unveils a series of new sculptures inside Wales’ iconic Castell Coch, as visitors are invited to discover over 15 works created by one of the UK’s leading contemporary artists. A meticulously handcrafted rabble of otherworldly interlopers are concealed and revealed within the castle’s architecture as figures appear cloaked, crouched or soaring from the rafters. Ford’s reinterpretation of the folk lore and folk art, which is so intrinsic to the public perception of the castle, takes on a fantastical and sometimes sinister edge. Rendered in bronze, jesmonite and ceramic, and clothed in brilliant swathes of wool and felt, her child-sized figures are inherently tactile. Their postures are pointedly and recognisably human.

Medieval Siege Engine Firing

Caerphilly Castle

Saturday 13-Sunday 14 April, 11am-4pm

Adults £8.90, children £5.30, family £25.70, Cadw members free

A weekend of medieval weapons and living history, as the Company of Chivalry present displays and living history throughout the day including firing the mighty Siege Engines.

Aberdulais Rocks

Aberdulais Tinworks and Waterfall, Neath

Saturday 13-Sunday 28 April, 10am-5pm

Adults £6.50, children £3.25, family £16.25, free for National Trust members

Discover how to understand the clues to the past of Aberdulais’ beautiful landscape beneath your feet with a geology exhibition and family friendly trail. Pick up a map and start exploring.

Stickin’ Gladiators

Caerleon Amphitheatre

Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 April, 10am-4pm

£1 per child in addition to usual entry fees

Adults £4.20, children £2.50, family £12.20, Cadw members free

Create and customise your own Roman Gladiator, using stickers. This craft activity gives children the opportunity to learn about different gladiators before creating their own unique fighter. Prizes will be given for the best three creations, to be judged by a Roman expert.

Civil War Re-enactment

Caerphilly Castle

Good Friday 19-Easter Monday 22 April, 11am-4pm

Adults £8.90, children £5.30, family £25.70, Cadw members free

Re-live the tumultuous times of the Civil War, with Roundheads versus Cavaliers in the castle, complete with cannon and muskets. This Easter, the Marquess of Winchester’s Regiment of the King’s Army will be in residence at Caerphilly Castle with four days of battles, cannons and muskets.  Witness changing of the guard, drill and a host of living history activities throughout the castle, as well as regular skirmishes between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians, with a detachment of dragoon guards and artillery men.

Meet The Knights

Cardiff Castle

Easter Sunday 21 and Easter Monday 22 April; 10am-5pm

Adults £13, children £9.25, family £38

Travel back to the medieval times as Sir Jay and Sir Lewis (The Warwick Warriors) return to Cardiff Castle. There will be two combat displays each day, along with the chance to learn more about the weapons and armour used by a medieval knight. In addition, there will be stories, Egg Rolling and Egg and Spoon Races taking place at various times throughout the two days.

If you live or work in Cardiff you can apply for a Castle Key which gives free entry for three years subject to a £6.50 admin charge; no charge for children.

See Easter section above for details of the Easter Trail.

Birds of Prey

Tintern Abbey

Saturday 20 and Easter Sunday 21 April, 11am-4pm

Adult £7.30, child £4.40, family £21.20, free to Cadw members

See majestic birds of prey in flight, and have your photo taken with them for a unique souvenir. Learn how falconry was part of Tudor life and how birds of prey live, and why falconry was the most popular sport of the day.

Brother Thomas the Cellarer

Tintern Abbey

Saturday 20 April, 10am-4pm

Adult £7.30, child £4.40, family £21.20, free to Cadw members

Brother Thomas will tell you all about his life as a monk at Tintern Abbey in the 14^th century. The sympathetic and helpful brother will give you inside information about the monks’ rituals and responsibilities. You will learn about the daily life of the monks at the abbey, including their monastic duties, hygiene and eating habits, as well as the numerous religious services they would have to attend throughout the day.

Brother Thomas will be available from 10am until 4pm, and will give tours at 11am and 3pm, and a presentation in the Outer Parlour at 1pm.

Historia Normannis: Bringing history to life!

Raglan Castle

Saturday 20-Easter Monday 22 April, 10am-4pm

Adults £7.30, children £4.40, family £21.20

A slice of life from over 800 years ago. Experience life in the Marches in the 12th century where Welsh, English and Norman all mingle. Fashion shows, singing, historical crafts, medieval justice, archery and, of course, knights and men-at-arms fighting for your entertainment.

Come see a slice of life from over 800 years ago!

FREE The Winding Engine

Winding House Museum, New Tredegar

Saturday 27 April and Saturday 25 May; 12pm

The Winding House Museum is built on the site of the former Elliot Colliery and its centre-piece is the original Victorian winding engine. This remarkable piece of machinery was used to operate the cages that transported men and coal between the surface and the mine below. The museum’s dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers maintain and run the engine for the public on the last Saturday of the month.

Little Warrior Day

Caerphilly Castle

Friday 26 April, 11am-4pm

Adults £8.90, children £5.30, family £25.70, Cadw members free

Hands-on experiences and activities as children discover their inner little warrior. Test your strength on the striker, test your agility by storming our inflatable assault course and manoeuvre through Gilbert’s maze. Join the knight school where you will be trained in sword fighting or ‘have a go archery’, and more.

Medieval Weekend

Caerphilly Castle

Adults £8.90, children £5.30, family £25.70, Cadw members free

Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 April, 11am-4pm

A weekend of medieval fun and mayhem with historical reenactions from Bowlore.

Learn archery and sword skills, as well as watching weapons displays and demonstrations. Plus see Caerphilly Castle’s mighty Siege Engines being fired twice during the day.

Cinema and film

I’m focusing on special film events and cheap family screenings at holidays and weekends here, rather than regular cinema screenings.

Movies for Juniors

Cineworld, Mary Ann Street, Cardiff

The 10am weekend and school holiday Movies for Juniors showings are just £2 per person. Check online for schedule; films are usually a few months old rather than new releases.

Mini Mornings

Vue Cinema, Millennium Plaza, Cardiff

The 10am weekend and school holiday Movies for Juniors showings are just £2.49 per person. Check online for schedule; films are usually a few months old rather than new releases.

Chapter Arts Centre, Canton, Cardiff

A different family film every week

£4/£3 booked in advance; see website for full listings.

Memo Arts Centre Barry

A selection of family-friendly films at weekends and during school holidays.

Adults £6; concessions £4; under 16s £3 when booked in advance. £6.50/£4.50/£3.50 on the door.