100+ family-friendly events in and around Cardiff this April – including Easter
Wow! It took me forever to put the April listings together, because with Easter weekend and the school holidays there’s just so much going on! I’ve rounded up everything I could find, but if I’ve missed anything, let me know.
As always, all events are subject to change so do check with organisers to avoid disappointment.
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CHARITY
The Kymin, Penarth
Saturday 8th April, 2-5pm
Adults £5, children £2
A family events fundraising for charities helping babies born prematurely – Noah’s Ark/ Tiny Lives Appeal, Cwtch Baby Bank, Tear Fund and Tros Gynnal Plant.
Organised by TV and radio presenter Bethan Elfyn, whose second daughter was born prematurely, live music on the day will come from Ofelia, Little Folk, Cw Cw, Hana and Rebecca Hurn. There will also be vintage tea, coffee and cake, an egg hunt, a bouncy castle, a prize raffle, and an Easter bonnet parade with a Mad Hatter twist.
All Nations Church, Sachville Avenue, Cardiff
Tuesday 11th April, 1pm-4pm
Easter activities for children of all ages incuding an Egg Hunt, Easter themed crafts and for the first time, a Bunny Bop disco! Entry to the event is free, as are refreshments, but donations towards supporting the children receiving treatment at the Children’s Hospital for Wales, Cardiff, are welcome
Regular toddler/family days
Toddler Day – Teddy Bears’ Picnic
Techniquest, Cardiff Bay
Friday 7th April, 9.30am-4.30pm
Teddy Bears’ Picnic is the theme this month as the famous hands-on science centre opens its doors to the pre-schoolers of Cardiff and beyond. As well as more than 100 exhibits, you can expect teddy bears’ picnic themed drawing, colouring and crafts, as well as story time and a disco. Under 4s are free, with accompanying adults paying £5.50 entry. Read our review of a previous toddler day here.
FREE Family Saturdays
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Saturdays, 11am-4pm
Drop in to enjoy some family-friendly arts and crafts in Wales Millennium Centre’s foyer, with a different theme every week.
Parc Play, Curran Embankment, Cardiff
Fridays 7th and 28th April
Usual admission charges apply. No need to book. Read our review of a previous Parc toddler day here.
Friday 7th April – Easter crafts and bug hotel build
Friday 28th April – Animal Zone
Friday 5th May – Magic Stu
Friday 12th May – Beach party
Friday 19th May – RPSB Giving Nature A Home
Friday 26th May – Captain Jack Sparrow
FREE Toddler Time
National Museum Cardiff
Every Friday during term-time, 1.30pm-4pm
The museum welcomes pre-schoolers every Friday afternoon, with special boxes of toys, games and books hidden in different galleries to help parents and children explore the museum through play. Read our review of a previous Toddler Time here.
FREE Clore Explorers
National Museum Cardiff
Saturdays and Sundays during term time, 2pm
Free workshops give families the chance to find out more about objects from the museum and take part in a crafty activity.
FREE Super Saturdays
National Roman Legion Museum Caerleon
Saturdays from, 11am-4pm
Every Saturday, visitors can discover what life was like for a soldier in the Roman army. Visit the reconstructed barrack room and learn more about the weapons and armour, as well as try on some replica armour. Families can also dress up and play games in the Capricorn Centre, a relaxed hands-on area of the museum. Both areas are closed on Sundays but are open during some school holidays.
Read our review of the National Roman Legion Museum plus other Roman sites in Caerleon here.
Greenmeadow Community Farm, Cwmbran
Tuesdays 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th April
Events and workshops for the pre-school crowd, including singing, crafts and guest sessions from local pre-school classes. Usual entrance fees apply, but all workshops are free on a first-come, first-served basis.
FREE Dinky Dragons
Cardiff Story Museum, The Hayes, Cardiff
Friday 14th April, 10am-3pm
The Cardiff Story is a fascinating hands-on exhibition exploring the history of Cardiff. You can read our review here. The monthly Dinky Dragons free family days are great fun, taking place on the second Friday of each month, between 10am and 3pm. As well as the usual exhibits and dressing up clothes, there will be toys to play with, detective trails, crafts, messy play and rhyme time and story time at 11am and 1pm.
FREE Story and Rhyme Time in Welsh for Babies
Big Pit National Coal Museum
Thursdays during term time,10am-11.30am
Storytelling and singing for parents and babies, through the medium of Welsh, as well as soft play equipment for youngsters. Suitable for 0-4 years. In partnership with Menter Iaith Blaenau Gwent.
Easter-themed events
Breakfast or tea with the Easter Bunny
Wyevale Garden Centre, Cardiff
Saturday 1st-Thursday 23rd April
£9.99 per child; age guidance 3-8
Enjoy an Easter meal in the company of the Easter bunny, plus Easter cookie decorating, a cuddly toy gift and an activity sheet.
A minimum of 1 paying adult per booking; large meal £7.99 or small meal £3.99.
Treetop Adventure Golf
St David’s Shopping Centre, CArdiff
Friday 7th-Monday 24th April
Free face painting – 12th-17th, 20th-21st, 12pm-4pm
Meet The mascot Simi – 10th, 12th, 14th, 1th, 19th, 21st April, 11am-4pm
Free arts and crafts – 7th, 18th, 19th, 22nd, 24th April, 12pm-4pm
Plus a new pop up library thanks to Cardiff Central Library, all day
Read our review of Treetop Adventure Golf here.
Greenmeadow Community Farm, Cwmbran
Saturday 8th April-Sunday 23rd April
10am-5pm
A daily schedule of events including meeting giant Easter bunnies, Easter-themed crafts and an Easter Bonnet parade on Easter Monday, plus cuddle corner with the farm’s smaller animals, milking demonstrations, tractor rides and more.
Cardiff Castle
Saturday 8th-Sunday 23rd April
Find the answers to the puzzles in the house and the grounds and win an Easter prize.
£1 per trail, as well as normal admission or valid Castle Key.
See more of what to expect at Cardiff Castle here.
See below for details of Easter weekend fun.
National Roman Legion Museum Caerleon
Saturday 8th-Sunday 23rd April, 10am-5pm
£1 per person
No need to feel ‘sheepish’ when you hunt down the escaped flock around the museum and then claim your prize! Read more about our trip to the museum here.
Cwmcarn Forest, Crosskeys
Sunday 9th-Thursday 20th April
For more of what to expect at Cwmcarn Forest, see our review.
Easter Pottery Workshops, Sunday 9th April, £5 per child
Easter bunny pots, Monday 10th April, £4.50 per child
Bird Seed Cookie Workshops, Wednesday 12th April, £2.50 per child
Easter Toddler Crafts, Thursday 13th April, £2.50 per child, 18 months+
Easter Hunt Name Trail, Sunday 16th April, £4.50 per child (based on the story of The Boy Who Lost His Name, follow the clues around the forest)
Spring cupcake wreaths, Wednesday 19th April, £3 per child
Easter toddler crafts, Thursday 20th April, £2, 18 months+
Various sessions available; all must be pre-booked.
Big Pit National Coal Museum
Monday 10th-Wednesday 12th and Monday 17th-Wednesday 19th April, 12pm – 4pm
Entry to the museum is free but a small charge will apply
Drop in sessions to make pop up Easter cards, lamb masks and Easter egg hanging decorations.
St Fagans National Museum of History
Monday 10th, Wednesday 12th and Wednesday 19th April, 2.30-4.30pm
Free family sessions from Cardiff Libraries with reading, storytelling and craft activities.
The Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay
Good Friday 14th April, 12pm-4pm
Join in the free Easter craft workshop and then show off your masterpieces to Mr and Mrs Bunny, who will be meeting and greeting at the centre at 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm.
Peppa and George tributes will be at the centre on Easter Monday 17th April, at intervals between 12pm and 4pm, to celebrate the release of Peppa Pig: Mu First Cinema Experience.
The Winding Museum, Caerphilly
Good Friday 14th April,
£2.50 per child; booking essential
Get creative with family arts and crafts.
The Cardiff Story
Wednesdays 12th and, 19th April, 10am to 3pm
£1 per child (entry to the museum is free)
As well as all the hands-on exhibitions bringing the history of Cardiff to life, families can drop in for creative Easter crafts. Read our review of The Cardiff Story here.
Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan
Friday 14th-Monday 17th April
£2 per child, on top of usual admission charges
Follow the clues to explore the gardens, find the chocolate treats hidden by Bunny that will lead to a Cadbury treat at the end. read our review of Dyffryn Gardens here.
Tredegar House, Newport
Friday 14th-Monday 17th April
£2 per child, on top of usual admission charges
Follow the clues to explore the gardens, find the chocolate treats hidden by Bunny that will lead to a Cadbury treat at the end. Read our review of Tredegar House here.
Easter Fun including The Warwick Warriors
Cardiff Castle
Saturday 15th-Easter Monday 17th April
The Warwick Warriors will be entertaining the crowds with their dramatic fight sequences and quick-witted banter.
Easter activities include card making, egg rolling, egg decorating (Saturday and Sunday only), and egg and spoon races.
Normal admission applies, or valid Castle Key
Pre-book for egg decorating; £5 per child plus one adult; £2.50 per additional person
Read our review of Cardiff Castle here.
St Fagans National Museum of History
Good Friday 14th-Easter Monday 17th April, 11am-2pm
£2.50 per child
Family Easter trail. Solve the riddles and follow the trail around the site, then it’s back to the start to claim your egg-citing prize! See our review of St Fagans here.
See Historical section for details of Victorian school day events.
Bryngarw Country House
Saturday 15th-Easter Sunday 16th April
£7.50 per child advance booking necessary.
Come along and find over 7,000 chocolate eggs around Bryngarw Park. Start your session with a craft activity in the visitor centre before you hunt for the Easter eggs. Read our review of Bryngarw Country Park here.
Village Hotel Cardiff, Coryton
Easter Sunday 16th April, 12pm-4pm
Adults £25, children £12.50
A family Easter celebration, featuring a three-course meal and a lively, interactive show from Nutty Noah.
Caerphilly Castle
Sunday 16th April, 11am-4pm
Adults £7.95, children £5.2, family £23.70 (2+3)
An Easter egg hunt around the castle.
See our review of Caerphilly Castle here.
Victoria Park Bandstand, Cardiff
Easter Sunday 16th April, 2pm-4pm
£1 per child
Get creative at one of Cardiff’s most famous parks with Easter arts and crafts with the community park ranger.
Castell Coch
Sunday 16th April, 11am-4pm
Adult £6.50, children £4.20, family £19.30 (2+3)
An Easter trail around Wales’s famous fairytale castle.
See our review of Castell Coch here.
Children’s Arts and Crafts and egg hunt
Llancaich Fawr Manor
Easter Monday 17th April, 11am-4pm
£5 for children. First adult free, extra adults £1
Easter-theme crafts to make plus an egg hunt.
St Fagans National History Museum
Tuesday 18th-Friday 21st April, 12pm-4pm
£2 per child
Family friendly drop-in craft sessions with inspiration from objects in the museum’s collections as well as the animals, flowers and trees.
National Museum Cardiff
Friday 14th-Monday 17th April, 10am-4pm
Explore the Museum for signs of spring with the family Easter trail. Pick up your free trail guide from the Clore Discover Centre
Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths
Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th April, 11am-4pm
£2 per trail. Entry to the Baths are free.
Join our 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.
Read more about our visit to the Roman sites of Caerleon here.
FREE Easter Trail and Teddy Bear’s Picnic
Blaenavon Ironworks
Saturday 15th April, 11am-4pm
Easter trail, Teddy Bear’s picnic, and storytelling for children. Fun for all the family, with a free egg for the first 200 children to complete the Easter Egg Trail.
Children can bring their own teddy bear and picnic snack, and listen to stories together in Stack Square. Easter Egg Trail: 11am – 4pm; Storytelling and picnic: 1-3pm
Nature-themed and the Great Outdoors
FREE Wriggle – The Wonderful World of Worms
National Museum Cardiff
Until June 2018
A fascinating look into the weird and wonderful world of worms, this has plenty of interactive exhibits, perfect for children. Read our review here. Please note the museum is not open on Mondays.
Friday 7th-Sunday 9th April
Bute Park Cardiff
Adults £10 in advance (£9 RHS members) £13 on the door (£11); accompanying children under 16 free
The annual floral spectacular, the RHS Flower Show Cardiff, embraces Wales’ Year of Legends with a host of themed-gardens and features to spark the imagination. There’s plenty on offer for little ones, with tree climbing, den building, the popular annual school’s wheelbarrow competition, a chance to get up close and personal with giant wicker bug sculptures, plus making and decorating wood cookie name tag necklaces to take home.
Dyffryn Gardens
Saturday 8th April, 10am – 6pm
Adult £9.60, Child £4.80, Family £24
Don your safari jacket, explorer hat and muddy boots as you set off through the wilderness, following lost diary extracts of legendary plant hunters and facing challenges along the way. All those dressed to impress will receive a treat. Read more of what to expect at Dyffryn Gardens in our review.
Tredegar House, Newport
Saturday 8th April – Sunday 23rd April, 11am-4pm
Adult £9.20, Child £4.60, Family £23
A range of family activities throughout the house. (See Easter section above for details of egg hunt.) Read our review of Tredegar House here.
Little Green Fingers Bunny Hop Easter Workshops
Pugh’s Garden Centre, Radyr
Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th April, 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm
£6 per child; age 3+
Gardening and nature workshops for children. Decorate a plant pot, turn it into a bunny, and plant some cress seeds; make a bunny photo-booth style bunny selfie mask, and then go on a bunny hop hunt vegetable treasure hunt around the garden centre.
Read our review of a previous Little Green Fingers workshop at Pugh’s
Newport Wetlands
Monday 10th-Friday 14th and Monday 17th-Friday 21st April, 10am-12pm
RSPB Members £3 / non-members £5
Daily family wildlife activities such as pond dipping and minibeast hunting, led by the reserve’s staff who can tell you more about the creatures bursting into life in our ponds and meadows.
Margam Park
Monday 10th-Sunday 23rd April
Daily family-friendly activities. For more on what to expect at Margam Park, see our review.
Monday 10th April, Pondnet Spawn Court, 10.30am, FREE
Monday 10th April, Easter Crafts, 11am FREE
Tuesday 11th April, Egg-Cellent Eggs, £3 per person
Tuesday 11th April, Archery
Wednesday 12th April, Zoolab: Springtime and Archery, various times available, £3 per person
Thursday 13th April, Super Soapy Soap Socks felt making, various times available, £3 per child
Thursday 13th April, RSPB, 10am-4pm Castle Lawn, FREE
Thursday 13th April, Margam Tales Myths and legends, FREE, get ticket from cabin on arrival
Thursday 13th April, Stand up Paddle Boarding, age 7+, 1-hr beginner sessions, £12, various times available, pre-book
Easter Sunday 16th April Lions and Lilies – Medieval Knights and Archers
Adults £7.00, Children £5.00, Family (2 +2) £23.00.
Easter Monday 17 April 2017, 10:00 – Charge of the Dark Knight’ Family Fun Day
Adults £7.00, Children £5.00, Family (2 +2) £23.00.
Tuesday 18th April, Funky Foam Door Hangers, £3 per child, various sessions available
Tuesday 18th April, Archery
Wednesday 19th April, Zoolab Mini Beasts, £3 per child
Wednesday 19th April, Archery
Thursday 20th, Family Bushcraft – Fire Through The Ages, various sessions available, £3 per child, age 5+
Thursday 21st April, RSPB, 10am-4pm Castle Lawn, FREE
Thursday 21st April, Castle Tour, 2om, Margam Tales, Myths and Legends
Friday 21st April, It’s A Bug’s Life crafts, 11am-3pm FREE
Friday 21st April, RSPB, 10am-4pm Castle Lawn, FREE
Saturday 22nd April, Try Canoeing, £12 per person, 1 hr beginner session, book in advance, 7+
Sunday 23rd April, Try Kayaking, £12 per person, 1 hr beginner session, book in advance, 7+
Animal Encounters and Falcons Flying
Llancaich Fawr Manor
Good Friday 14th April, 10am-2pm; 2pm to 4pm.
Up close and personal with a fascinating range of animals. Pre-booking essential
FREE Otters in the City
Blackweir Bridge, Bute Park
Saturday 15th April, 10.30am-4pm
Learn more about otters in Cardiff, with Wildlife Trust if South and West Wales and Cardiff University Otter Project.
Caerphilly Castle
Wednesday 19th April, 11am-4pm.
Adults £7.95, children £5.20, family £23.70
Experience birds of prey up close with Pembrokeshire Falconry. Learn about hunting with birds, as well as why owls are so silent in flight. There will be photo opportunities throughout the day for a small additional charge. Flying displays 12pm and 3pm. The birds can be viewed throughout the day when not flying.
Forest Farm, Cardiff
Saturday 22nd April 10am-12pm
Butterflies, bees and birds! Spring is an amazing time for birds, with migrants coming from far and wide to holiday in Wales. Discover flitting chiffchaffs, buzzing bumble bees and experience the unique song of the wood warbler in one of Cardiff’s hidden treasures.
Read more about our walk at Forest Farm here.
Newport Wetlands
Friday 21 April, 7pm-late
RSPB members £6 / non members £8; booking essential
A guided walk around Newport Wetlands using a bat detector to search for the bats that make their home at the nature reserve. You’ll then use a moth trap, wine roping and sugaring to see what different species you can trap and identify throughout the evening. Includes fire with toasted marshmallows and hot chocolate. Don’t forget your torch!
Spring Flowers in Coed Y Felin
Coed y Felin Woods, Lisvane
Saturday 22 April 10.30am
Explore the superb ancient woodland of Coed Y Felin and discover the amazing queen bees feasting on the nectar rich meadows.
Tredegar House, Newport
Saturday 29th April-Monday 1st May, 11am-4pm
A three day weekend of outdoor fun, giving children the chance to tick off some of the National Trust’s 50 things to do before 11¾. Celebrate Screen-Free Week by getting stuck in in the great outdoors.
THEATRE, PERFORMANCE AND CULTURAL
Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival
Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd April
Events across the city
Highlights of the second weekend of the festival include Shoo Rayner with Dragons, Chris Haughton and his new books Goodnight Everyone, Jenny Nimo, author of the Snow Spider talking about Welsh myths, David Solomons, author of My Gym Teacher is an Alien Overlord, Geek Girl author Holly Smale, and TV presenters Lucy and Rhodri Owen, author of Boo-a-bog in the Park.
Sessions cost £4 per person.
Disney On Ice: 100 Years of Magic
Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Wednesday 5th April-Sunday 9th April
6.30pm daily plus 10.30am and 2.30pm on Saturday and Sunday
Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and a host of Disney princesses lead the celebrations as Disney On Ice celebrates 100 years of Disney magic. Sing along to more than 30 songs from classic Disney films such as The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and Frozen, plus Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story and Finding Nemo.
Memo Arts Centre, Barry
Saturday 8th April, 7pm
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.
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
Monday 10th-Wedneday 12th April, 7.30pm, Wednesday matinee 2pm
Adults £14, concessions £12, children under 16 £10
Kinetic Theatre Arts present a musical stage adaptation of the film Legally Blonde. It tells the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrols at Havard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend…. and finds herself successfully defending an exercise queen in a murder trial.
Riverfront Theatre, Newport
Tuesday 11th April
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s best-selling book is brought to the stage in this heart-warming musical adaptation by Scamp Theatre. Betty O’Barley and Harry O’Hay are scarecrows in love and about to be married. Until, that is, the smooth Reginald Rake swoops in to try to take Harry’s place. Will Harry make it back in the nick of time to save their special day?
Age guidance: 3+
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff
Wednesday 12th April, 3pm
A spring showcase from the National Youth Boys Choir, featuring a range of music from many cultures and traditions. The boys, who are aged 9-15 and hail from around the UK, will perform on the back of a week’s rehearsals at Llandovery College in West Wales.
Pavilion Theatre, Porthcawl
Thursday 13th April, 2.30pm
This musical adventure about growing up and the importance of family follows Tom, a toddler with a cool older problem, a secret dragon and a dribbling problem that looks set to threaten his friendship with his brother. Can the dragon’s magic help them put it back together again or will it make things worse? This is a new musical based on the new book by Steven Lee and with magic designed by Paul Daniels.
Age guidance: 2+. Running time: 1 hour
Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff
Thursday 13th and Friday 14th April, 6.30pm, Saturday 15th April, 2pm and 5pm.
Taking Flight Company present this delightful tale of one child’s journey to come to terms with their inner dragon… the worries, fears and anxieties which sneak up on us at one time or another. An inclusive and accessible take on Kathryn Cave’s book, this a fully accessible intergenerational show featuring creative captioning, BSL and audio description.
Age guidance 4+
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Friday 14th April, 7.30pm
Saturday 15th April, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
A new version of the classic legend sees Jason, an ordinary human in a world bursting with gods, monsters and superheroes. Assembling a team of mighty Argonauts, he tales the ship Argo on the ultimate adventure – the quest for the Golden Fleece.
Age guidance: 7+
Feztival of Magic and Comedy – a celebration of Tommy Cooper
Caerphilly Castle
Saturday 15th April, 11am-4pm
Adults £7.95, children £5.20, family £23.70 (2+3)
As part of the Year of Legends, Caerphilly Castle is celebrates on of the town’s great legends – Tommy Cooper, with a ‘feztival’ of magic and comedy.
The Riverfront, Newport
Tuesday 18 April 3pm & 5pm
Wednesday 19 April 12pm & 3pm
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Friday 21st April, 3pm & 5pm
Saturday 22 April, 12pm & 3pm
No need to book
This jam-packed hour-long pop-up dance show is a great way to introduce families to contemporary dance. Four short dance acts will be followed by a chance for kids to take part in a workshop and try some of the moves they’ve just seen. Presented by Chapter & Coreo Cymru, in partnership with National Dance Company Wales, the show is touring Wales throughout April.
Riverfront Arts Centre, Newport
Thursday 20th April, 11.30am and 2.30pm
Puppetry, original live music and tap dancing combine in this magical tale about a tap dancer. Marina Skippett can’t dance at home because her evil aunt banned it, so every night she creeps down to the boardwalk to shuffle and stomp to the sounds of the sea. One night she meets a mysterious watery boy and her life is never the same again.
Age guidance: 3+
St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Friday 21st April, 2.30pm
Children’s TV presenter Naomi Wilkinson presents a show packed full of fun and surprises as Naomi is joined on stage by ‘Animal Mark’, and some of his scariest creatures. Join Naomi as she recalls some of her most exciting wildlife experiences from the far flung corners of the world and even introduces the audience to some of the most fierce and frightening animals she met along the way.
Age guidance: 5+
The Wizard of Oz – Easter Panto
The Riverfront, Newport
Friday 21st April, 3pm and 7pm
Saturday 22nd April, 1pm and 5pm
Dorothy and her adventures with the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and the munchkins are given the panto treatment, with plenty of engeretic dance routines, well-known pop songs, lots of audience participation and humour for all the family.
Memo Arts Centre, Barry
Sunday 23rd April, 2.30pm
This musical adventure about growing up and the importance of family follows Tom, a toddler with a cool older problem, a secret dragon and a dribbling problem that looks set to threaten his friendship with his brother. Can the dragon’s magic help them put it back together again or will it make things worse? This is a new musical based on the new book by Steven Lee and with magic designed by Paul Daniels.
Age guidance: 2+. Running time: 1 hour
Northern Ballet: Goldilocks & the Three Bears
New Theatre, Cardiff
Friday 28th April, 12pm and 2pm
A great way to introduce children to live ballet, music and theatre. The tale of mischievous Goldilocks and her run-in with the three bears is brought to life in one of Northern Ballet’s acclaimed Short Ballets for Small People. Running time: 40 minutes.
Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl
Friday 28th April, 7.30pm
Lewis Carrol’s much-loved children’s classic is turned into a ballet as Alice tumbles into Wonderland. Guided by the White Rabbit, she meets an array of astonishing charaters, including the Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, and the mischievous twins, Tweedledum and Tweedledee.
National Dance Company Wales: Discover Dance
Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
Saturday 29th April, 2pm
Learn some moves, get on stage with the company dancers, watch a short performance and ask the dancers anything you like.
Running time: 90 minutes. Age guidance: 7+
St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Saturday 29th April and Sunday 30th April, 11.30am and 2.30pm
This show will take the audience across unchartered territories to discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, Giraffatitan and Segnosaurus, to name a few!
Age guidance: 3+; Running time 50 minutes plus 15 minutes ‘meat and greet’ with the dinosaurs. Limited number of Danger Zone seats available.
Hamleys Cardiff
Saturday 22nd April, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm
Meet TV favourites Bing and Flop, and join in with Bing’s treasure hunt around the store.
Meet Doh-Doh!
Hamleys, Cardiff
Saturday 15th April, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm
Doh-Doh, a Play-Doh mascot will be helping youngsters have fun moulding, squidging and making marvellous creations – pllus 25% off Play-Doh! Products.
HISTORICAL, MUSEUMS, STEAM TRAINS ETC
FREE From Wembley to Wales: Celebrating Cardiff City’s 1927 FA Cup Victory
The Cardiff Story
4th March-4th September 2017
Celebrating 90 years of Cardiff City Football Club’s FA Cup win, discover more about the match, the players and the fans of the club’s most famous victory. (See below for details of a family day on 23rd April.)
April Fool’s Day – True or False
Caerphilly Castle, Cardiff
Saturday 1st April, 9.30am-5pm
Adults £7.50, under 16s £5.20, family £23.70 (2+3)
How much do you know about the castle? Take the True or False quiz for April Fool’s Day and find out. Read our review of Caerphilly Castle here.
Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths
Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th April, 10am-4pm
£2 per child (entry to the museum is free)
Create and customise your own Roman Gladiator using stickers. Learn about different gladiators before creating your own unique fighter.
Read about our day out to the Roman sites in Caerleon here.
St Fagans National History Museum
Monday 10th-Thursday 13th April, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm
£2 per person; museum entry is free, £5 parking
Find out what schooldays were like 1890s style. Be on your best behaviour for the super strict Victorian schoolteachers though! Read our review of St Fagans here.
Tintern Abbey
Good Friday 14th-Easter Monday 17th April, 10am-4pm, with tours at 11am, 1pm and 3pm
Adults £6.50, children £4.20, family (2+3) £19.30
Disover more about the daily life and duties of a Cistercian monk at Tintern Abbey in the 14th Century as ‘Brother Thomas’ tells visitors all about his life as a monk at Tintern Abbey.
Read our review of Tintern Abbey here.
Cardiff Castle
Saturday 15th-Easter Monday 17th April
The Warwick Warriors will be entertaining the crowds with their dramatic fight seqences and quick-witted banter.
Easter activities include card making, egg rolling, egg decorating (Saturday and Sunday only), and egg and spoon races.
Normal admission applies, or valid Castle Key
Pre-book for egg decorating; £5 per child plus one adult; £2.50 per additional person
Blaenavon Heritage Railway
Friday 14th-Sunday 17th April
Adults £10, children £5, family £25
Travel the 3½ miles of track in the World Heritage Site on the edge of the Brecon Beacons.
Travel from the main station at Furnace Sidings to the Big Pit National Mining Museum for an underground tour. The second journey takes passengers to Coed Avon and Blaenavon (High Level) where you can alight to explore the Heritage Town and Ironworks.
Raglan Castle
Saturday 15th-Monday 17th April, 11am-4.30pm
Adults £6.50, children £4.20, family £19.30 (2+3)
Step back in time for Stone Age Easter fun with dinosaur walkabouts, caveman characters, a prehistoric trail, face painting for the children and more. Visitors can meet Tiny, a 125 million years young dinosaur brought to life by the wonders of modern science. Tiny is accompanied by a palaeontologist who presents a lively and informative natural history show.
Caerphilly Castle
Easter Sunday16th and Easter Monday17th April, 10am-4pm
Adults £7.95, children £5.20, family £23.70 (2+3)
Two archery shows, a weapons show, have-a-go archery, hands-on weapons and an armour
Castell Coch
Easter Monday 17th-Friday 21st April, 9.30am-5pm
Adults £6.50, children £4.20, family £19.30
Explore the castle’s history from two different periods, from its medieval incarnation to being attacked and destroyed, before rising up once more centuries later.
Miniature Railways and Tramways
Heath Model Railway, Heath Park, Cardiff
Easter Sunday 16th and Easter Monday 17th April, 1pm-5pm
A chance for the whole family to ride on miniature steam, diesel and electric trains, plus a tram, as Cardiff Model Engineering Society open their doors. Entry is £1.60 per person and each ride is £1.60 per person. Under 3s are free.
Check out the rest of Heath Park while you are there – here’s our review.
Family craft – 90 year anniversary of Cardiff City winning the FA Cup
The Cardiff Story
Sunday 23rd April, 10am -3pm
£1 per child
A sport-inspired family craft day celebrating the 90th anniversary of Cardiff City Football team winning the FA Cup in this sport inspired, family craft day! £1 per child. The accompanying exhibition From Wembley to Wales: Celebrating Cardiff City’s 1927 FA Cup Victory runs at the museum until 4th September where you can find out about the match, the players and the fans to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the FA Cup win. Entry to the exhibition is free.
The Winding House, New Tredegar
Saturday 29th April, 12pm
The Winding House is a museum built on the site of the former Elliot Colliery. Its centre-piece is the original Victorian winding engine, which used to operate the cages which transported men and coal between the surface and the mine below. Visitors can see the huge engine in operation for 10-15 minutes at 12pm on the last Saturday of the month.
Caerphilly Castle
Sunday 30th April-Monday 1st May, 10am-4pm
Adults £7.95, children £5.20, family £23.70 (2+3)
A weekend of medieval fun and mayhem with the good people of Bowlore. Learn archery skills and then watch an archery display, watch a weapons display, visit sword school, plus hands-on weapons and armour displays throughout the day.
Blaenavon Heritage Railway
Sunday 30th and Monday 1st May
Adults £10, children £5, family £25
A mix of diesel and steam engines will be running over the weekend. Train route as above.
Lions and Lilies – Medieval Knights and Archers
Margam Park, Port Talbot
Easter Sunday 16th April, 10am
Adults £7.00, Children £5.00, Family (2 +2) £23.00.
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!
Charge of the Dark Knight’ Family Fun Day
Margam Park, Port Talbot
Easter Monday 17 April 2017, 10:00
Adults £7.00, Children £5.00, Family (2 +2) £23.00.
Knight jousting between the Black Knight and the Heroic Knight from the Lions and Lillies re-enactment group who display the colour and pageantry of the Kingdom of Edward III.
Read our review of Margam Park here.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Star Tours, Night and Day, Amazing Eggsperiments
Techniquest
Satrurday 8th-Sunday 23rd plus Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th April
As well as the usual hands-on science exhibitions, there are three shows at Techniquest this month. Star Tours (7+), which focuses on constellatiobs, the planets and how stars are born and die; while Night and Day (under 7s) asks where the sun goes at night. Both are in the digital planetarium and cost of £1.50 extra per person. Amazing Eggsperiments is a live science show of experiements which will show how strong an egg is, why they turn solid when heated, and how to tell if an egg is boiled or raw, rotten or fresh.
Weekend of 1st/2nd April – shows are Switched On, Space Hunters and Mars.
ARTS, CRAFT AND CREATIVE (non Easter-related)
FREE Bingo Fflamingo!
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Monday 10th-Saturday 15th April, 11am-4pm
Once again, Wales Millennium Centre’s foyer will become a giant collaborative art work, as visitors create a giant colony of extraordinary flamingos. The event is bilingual and suitable for all ages. No need to book, just turn up, although at busy times there may a wait.
FREE Taking Flight Theatre BBC Get Creative Workshop
Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff
Sunday 9th April, 10am-5pm
Create a model box of a miniature house and make it as touchy feely as you can! It even has a tiny light inside to make it really magical. The event is part of BBC Get Creative and is free.
FREE Painting Colours and Shapes
National Museum Cardiff
Saturday 8th-Thursday 13th April 11am, 1pm, 3pm
Gillian Ayres is one of the most important abstract painters of the 20th century, famed for her paintings of shapes and bright colours. This workshop will explore her paintings inspired by the landscapes of Wales, inspiring children to create their own painted work of art. This messy art workshop is particularly suitable for young children!
Roath Church House, Waterloo Road, Cardiff
Tuesday 18th-Thursday 20th April, 10am-4pm
Age 9-16; £110
A three-day animation workshop suitable for all levels. You will learn how to storyboard, character design, build your characters, animate, sound record and edit your ideas, using HD industry animation technology.
Manga Drawing Workshop
Friday 21st April 2017, 10am-4pm
Age 10-16, £40
This Manga drawing workshop teaches you how to draw and create characters in the popular Japanese style. You will be taught construction techniques to strengthen your artwork and how to pose your Manga characters. You will explore how to draw Manga and Chibi heads including facial expressions.
FREE Botanical Illustration Family Workshops
National Museum Cardiff
Tuesday 18th-Friday 21st April, 11am, 1pm, 3pm
Botanical illustrations are paintings or drawings (usually watercolors) of plants and flowers that show scientific detail. They are an important scientific resource but also very beautiful. This family workshop will show you how to paint in the style of a botanical illustrator and find out more about the important plant life on the museum’s urban meadow.
Family craft – 90 year anniversary of Cardiff City winning the FA Cup
The Cardiff Story
Sunday 23rd April, 10am -3pm
£1 per child
A sport-inspired family craft day celebrating the 90th anniversary of Cardiff City Football team winning the FA Cup in this sport inspired, family craft day! £1 per child
The accompanying exhibition From Wembley to Wales: Celebtating Cardiff City’s 1927 FA Cup Victory runs at the museum until 4th September where you can find out abiut the matchm the players and the fans to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the FA Cup win. Entry to the exhibition is free.
Get Active!
The Tramshed, Cardiff
Sunday 9th April, 2pm-4.30pm
All tickets £7.50; pre-walkers free
Big Fish Little Fish’s family rave returns to Cardiff with a Space is the Place theme. Alex Paterson from The Orb will DJ, while intergalactic planetaries, space cadets and little aliens can get busy on the multi-sensory dance floor with club visuals, glitter and bubbles, giant bouncy balloons and the legendary parachute dance. There’s a craft room, a giant colouring mural, a chill out area with soft play and Wendy houses, plus licensed bars and restaurant with special kids menu created for the event, free glow sticks and transfer tattoos, cake stall, photo booth, face painting and more!
Willows High School, Cardiff
Wednesday 12th April, 12pm-2pm
£4.50 including skate hire. All ages and abilities welcome.
Margam Park
Daily family-friendly activities. For more on what to expect at Margam Park, see our review.
Thursday 13th April, Stand up Paddle Boarding, age 7+, 1-hr beginner sessions, £12, various times available, pre-book
Thursday 20th, Family Bushcraft – Fire Through The Ages, various sessions available, £3
Saturday 22nd April, Try Canoeing, £12 per person, book in advance, 7+
Sunday 23rd April, Try Kayaking, £12 per person, 1 hr beginner session, book in advance, 7+
CINEMA
I’m focusing on special film events and cheap family screenings at holidays and weekends here, rather than regular cinema screenings.
Odeon Cinema, The Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay
The 10am weekend and school holiday showings are £2.50 per person. Films to be announced; films are usually a few months old rather than new releases.
Cineworld, Mary Ann Street, Cardiff
The 10am weekend and school holiday Movies for Juniors showings are just £1.75 per person. Check online for schedule; films are usually a few months old rather than new releases.
Vue Cinema, Millennium Plaza, Cardiff
The 10am weekend and school holiday Movies for Juniors showings are just £1.99 per person. Check online for schedule; films are usually a few months old rather than new releases.
Family friendly film screenings of classic films, every weekend and during school holidays. See website for full listings.
PLUS Crafty Pictures (ages 7-12)
Saturdays, 1.50pm
£6 including ticket to the 3pm film
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