100+ family-friendly events in around Cardiff for the summer holidays 2023
The summer holidays are almost here and if you’re looking for ideas to entertain your children then here are more than 100 family-friendly events and activities taking place in and around Cardiff. There’s everything from theatre shows and historical reenactments to nature and craft workshops, plus dinosaurs are coming to Bute Park and for something a little more adventurous, get ready for the opening of Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs as well as the return of the Cardiff Bay Aquapark.
I’ve rounded up everything I can find in this post, but let me know anything I have missed in the comments on my social media channels.
Please note all events are subject to chance and cancellation. Please visit the website of your selected event in order to avoid disappointment. Lots of the events must be prebooked.
Events are categorised as follows: Theatre, performance and other cultural events; Events at Museums; Castles and other historical events; Farm Parks; Outdoor attractions; Active Families; Outdoor attractions; Family fun attractions; Cinema and film-related
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Theatre, cultural, and other performance events
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FREE Gondwana
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Monday 3 July-Sunday 13 August
Step into a virtual forest for a one-of-a-kind virtual reality and projection experience. Immerse yourself in the world’s oldest tropical rainforest, an explorable, free-roaming representation of the Daintree Rainforest in Far North Queensland, Australia. Free to visit, no need to book. Recommended time, 15-20 minutes.
Presented simultaneously via virtual reality and projection. There will be two VR headsets available, along with additional seating for others to experience the projection. The experience is suitable for all ages however use of the VR headsets is restricted to age 13+.
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Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Saturday 22-Saturday 29 July, two performances daily
£12 per person, £44 for a family of 4
As part of the much-loved annual Cardiff Outdoor Theatre Festival, AndGo Productions return with this award-winning musical about an extraordinary girl with extraordinary powers. Very limited availability.
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FREE The Big Splash
Newport
Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 July
The largest free outdoor arts festival in Wales returns to Newport with a weekend filled with free activities for all of the family to enjoy. The city centre will be brimming with entertainment in every corner, with a programme packed full of street theatre, live music, workshops, arts and craft activities and so much more for visitors to enjoy, all free of charge. See the website for the full programme if events.
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FREE Cardiff Children’s Book Week
Waterstones, Cardiff
Monday 24-Sunday 30 July
A packed week of free events from children’s authors and craft sessions, including:
Q&A with Q&A with A.F. Steadman, author of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief (24 July, 11am)
Mog the Cat story time (25 July, 11am)
Q&A and signing with PG Bell, author of The Train to Impossible Places (25 July, 2pm)
How to Train Your Dragon: 20th Anniversary crafting session (26 July 11am)
Writing Workshop with Jack Meggitt-Phillips, author of The Beast and the Bethany (27 July, 11am);
Villain’s Showdown with Jack Meggitt-Phillips, author of The Beast and the Bethany (27 July, 1pm)
Summer crafts (28 July, 11am)
Design a Dragon with Caryl Lewis, author of The Boy Who Dreamed Dragons (28 July, 2pm)
Treasure Heist with Laura Noakes, author of Cosima Unfortunate Steals A Star (29 July, 2pm)
Make Your Own Elf Charms and Memory Jars with Thomas Leeds, author of Jayben and the Golden Torch (30 July, 2pm)
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Depot, Cardiff
Thursday 27 July, 10am
After 16 sell-out shows in Cardiff, Teach Rex returns with its unique, interactive show. Teach Rex uses life-like dinosaurs to perform their 1 hour show, teaching children about the anatomy and life of one the most mesmerizing creatures.
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Sherman Youth Theatre: Stolen Stories
Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
Thursday 27-Saturday 29 July, 7pm and Saturday 3pm
Adults £9, Children and under 25s £4.50
Sherman Youth Theatre celebrate the Sherman at 50 and their love for storytelling. A world where stories are banned. A writer on the run. Three books to save the world. Sherman Youth Theatre take over the Studio stage with Stolen Stories, a call to arms to protect the power of storytelling. Sharing work by William Shakespeare, William Gilbert and Homer, the Sherman’s young people adapt these classics into a powerful tale about the modern world. Stolen Stories will be performed by the Sherman’s Youth Theatre participants aged 8-18.
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Porthcawl Pavilion
Saturday 22 July, 10am and 11.30am
£10
Age guidance: 0-6 year olds
Spending time with Granny Pearl is always magical with her tales of the sea. However, there’s always been something fishy about her and on a special boat trip around the island with the family, audiences will hear the story of this special granny with a secret…Inspired by Jenny’s song ‘Granny Pearl’, this show is full of music and creativity and suitable for anyone for anyone who loves the sea, stories and surprises!
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New Theatre, Cardiff
Wednesday 26 July, 12pm and 3.30pm
Adults £26, children £18.50, family of 4 £72
Milkshake! Monkey is back with a spectacular new show, joined by some of his favourite Milkshake! Friends and presenters. Join Paddington, Daisy & Ollie, Milo, Noddy, Pip and Posy, Blue’s Clues & You. Learn the songs and have a dance in this new show full of laughter, audience interaction and lots of family fun.
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Porthcawl Pavilion
Tuesday 1 August, 11am and 2.30pm
£15
Get ready to dive under the sea with the Mermaid Princess, sing along with the Tower Princess and dance the night away with sisters the Colombian Princess and the Flower Madrigal. Come dressed for a royal summer fiesta and get ready to twirl and dance at the disco, followed by an enchanting meet and greet. Add on an optional fiesta tea for just £10 per person.
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FREE The Tortoise and the Hair
Caerphilly Library
Tuesday 1 August, 11.30am and 2.30pm
Age guidance: under 6s
This interactive story for under 6s and their grownups features live music, puppetry and a tale you thought you knew. Get ready to hop like a hare and travel like a tortoise. Who will win, slow and steady or fast and furious? Join in for an unexpected dash to the finish line.
Event is fully booked but call the theatre for returns .
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FREE Frogs in Bogs
Blackwood Miners’ Institute
Friday 4 August, 1pm and 3pm
Tickets are free but must be pre-booked
Join Frogs in Bogs, the superhero frog plumbers, to crack a clogging crime and defeat the evil Cwac Ty Bach in Familia’s new, hilarious, all-jumping, all-dancing, blockbusting show for all the family. Supported by Arts Council of Wales.
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Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Thursday 3 August, 5pm; Friday 4 August 11am and 2pm; Saturday 5 August, 11am, 2pm and 5pm
From £12
Disney’s iconic Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin and their best friends Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, and Owl (and don’t forget Tigger too!) have come to life in a beautifully crafted musical stage adaptation. Created by renowned family entertainment creator Jonathan Rockefeller, this new adventure heads to the U.K. following a record-breaking New York premiere in 2021. Babes in Arms tickets are available for under 2s with an accompanying adult. If you would like to attend with an under 2s, please select Standard & Baby Ticket at an extra £2.
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New Theatre, Cardiff
Saturday 5 August, 12pm and 3pm
VIP tickets £34.50, standard £24
Meet intrepid explorers, fascinating professors and the bravest of rangers on a journey through Jurassic Earth, meeting some of the most incredible dinosaurs to have ever lived. This interactive family show is around 75 minutes in length and suitable for all ages. Featuring high-tech animatronics and realistic performances, you’ll come face to face with the world’s biggest walking T-rex, a big-hearted brontosaurus, tricky triceratops among others as well as getting to see a dinosaur egg hatching before your eyes.
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Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Tuesday 8-Saturday 12 August (Tuesday and Thursday 8pm; Wednesday and Friday 5.30pm and 8.30pm; Saturday 4pm and 8pm)
Age guidance 10+ (no under 2s)
From £19.50 (most dates sold out; check box office for returns)
From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power. These Queens may have green sleeves but their lipstick is rebellious red. Winner of the 2022 Tony Award for ‘Best Original Score’ and ‘Best Costume Design’, the 2022 WhatsOnStage Award for ‘Best West End Show’ and a Gold-Disk winning album, this sell-out Tudor take-off has ‘an incredibly strong and powerful message’ (The Australian) and is ‘pure entertainment’ (New York Times).
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Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff
Friday 11 August 2pm and 4pm, Saturday 12 August 2pm (Welsh language) and 4pm
£10 per ticket, age guidance 4+
Join Frogs in Bogs, the superhero frog plumbers, to crack a clogging crime and defeat the evil Cwac Ty Bach in Familia’s new, hilarious, all-jumping, all-dancing, blockbusting show for all the family.
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Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl
Saturday 12 August, 11am
£8.50, age guidance 3-8
Deep in the heart of the Norwegian Forest live the trolls – big trolls, tiny trolls and a Nosy Little Troll who has an amazingly sensitive nose… One day there is a mumbling and a rumbling from the trolls and a nasty smell. The Nosy Little Troll sets off to follow her nose on a quest to solve the mysterious pong. Will she be brave enough to cross the scary old stone bridge and succeed in sniffing out the culprit?
A warm-hearted funny Scandinavian story, starring a tasty brown cheese song, a lost goat and a bushy old troll with green fingers. Expect troll puppets, live music and lots of joining in in this interactive, funny and magical family show.
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Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Monday 14-Saturday 19 August, 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm
Age guidance 5+ (No under 2s)
This new production of ‘the original showbiz musical,’ 42nd Street, stars Samantha Womack as Dorothy Brock, alongside Michael Praed as Julian Marsh, Faye Tozer as Maggie Jones, Les Dennis as Bert Barry and Nicole-Lily Baisden as Peggy Sawyer. Jonathan Church (Singin’ In The Rain, The Drifters Girl) directs the iconic song-and-dance spectacular featuring a hit parade of toe-tapping songs including 42nd Street, We’re In The Money, Lullaby of Broadway, Shuffle Off To Buffalo and I Only Have Eyes For You.
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Riverfront Newport
Tuesday 15 August at 2pm and 4.30pm, Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 August at 11am and 2pm
£15
Enter a magical world of myths and legends in this fantastical Olivier Award Nominated show for all the family, which comes direct from the West End. Unveil a myriad of dark secrets and come face to face with some of the most magnificent monsters and terrifying beasts ever to walk the earth. Discover the colossal Stone Troll, the mysterious Indrik and Japanese Baku; the Tooth Fairy (not as sweet as you’d think), an adorable Unicorn and majestic Griffin. Take your place among legendary heroes, just don’t wake the Dragon… From the creators of the international smash hit Dinosaur World Live, who bring spectacular puppets to life, don’t miss this spell-binding adventure, live on stage!
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Sarah and Duck’s Big Top Birthday
Tuesday 15 August 1.30pm and 4.30pm, Wednesday 16 August 10.30am and 1.30pm
Adults £16.50, children £14, family of 4 £55
Friday 18 August 1.30pm and 4pm; Saturday 19 August 10.30am
£14.50, family of four £56
Marking the 10th anniversary of BAFTA award-winning CBeebies show, Sarah and Duck’s enchanting world is brought to life by the team behind The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show and Twirlywoos Live. Packed full of puppetry, storytelling and music, Sarah & Duck’s Big Top Birthday promises to be a celebration for the whole family. Join Sarah and her best friend Duck as they plan the ultimate circus soiree to help Scarf Lady celebrate her birthday. With entertainment lined up from a whole host of your favourite friends, including The Ribbon Sisters, The Shallots, Flamingo & John and Umbrella, the party is ready to go! Let’s just hope the weather holds out…
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New Theatre, Cardiff
Saturday 19 August 1pm and 4pm, Sunday 20 August 10am and 1pm
£20-£24
Iggle Piggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends are back in their fun-filled live show, Iggle Piggle’s Busy Day. Join Iggle Piggle as he looks for his friends in the Night Garden by following their funny sounds until he finds them. See your favourite characters brought to life with full-sized costumes, magical puppets and enchanting music. Now in its 14th year, In The Night Garden Live is one of the UK’s favourite family events, having been seen by more than 1.1 million people. At just under an hour in length, it’s perfect for the youngest of theatre-goers.
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Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Tuesday 22-Saturday 26 August, 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm
Age guidance 14+ (no admittance to under 2s)
Following two hit West End seasons, a record-breaking run at The Other Palace and winning the WhatsOnStage award for Best New Musical, Heathers The Musical, the black comedy rock musical based on the 1988 film, embarks on a new national tour. Westerberg High’s Veronica Sawyer is just another nobody dreaming of a better day. But when she joins the beautiful and impossibly cruel Heathers and her dreams of popularity may finally come true, mysterious teen rebel JD teaches her that it might kill to be a nobody, but it is murder being a somebody.
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Tredegar House, Newport
Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 August, 6.30pm
£20 adults, £10 children 9-17, children under 8 free
In the stunning setting of the cedar garden, enjoy a night of fun with Ballet Cymru.
Ballet Cymru will be performing Roald Dahl’s Little Red Riding Hood & The Three Little Pigs with a ballet spin.
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Events at Museums
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FREE BBC 100 in Wales
National Museum Cardiff
Until 3 September
Explore 100 years of the history of the BBC in Wales at the Nationa Museum Cardiff. From its birth in the 1920s into a new digital age, discover how Wales has, and will continue, to contribute to the making of the BBC. Experience a walk through time to discover more about the history of the BBC in Wales and how 100 years of broadcasting has evolved, as well as an opportunity to see the technology, programmes and costumes of the past through objects and archive footage. Tickets are free. Advance booking is recommended although there will be some on-the-day availability for those who arrive at the Museum without advance bookings.
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FREE The Sea Horizon
National Museum Cardiff
Saturday 18 February-Sunday 10 September 2023
The Sea Horizon features 40 photographs by Garry Fabian Miller (one of the most progressive figures in fine art photography), all of which were made between 1976-77. Across eighteen months Fabian Miller photographed the view from the rooftop of his home in Clevedon, looking out across the Severn Estuary towards the coastline of Wales. Each photograph has the same square format with the line of the horizon dividing the sea and the sky. Compositional changes in light and weather disrupt the otherwise controlled elements of the work. The result is a group of forty portraits, all technically identical, yet all representationally unique. A powerful meditation on time, place and belonging.
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FREE The Fossil Swamp
National Museum Cardiff
Until 2 March 2025
This exhibition reveals a snapshot in time from 300 million years ago – when a vast tropical swamp covered what is now Wales. The Fossil Swamp had monster plants, giant insects, thunderstorms and floods.
Beautifully preserved fossils tell us about these ancient tropical wetlands. See the remains of strange plants which lived millions of years before flowers and fruits ever evolved. The prehistoric animals were also very different to those living today. Learn about the experts who figured out how these prehistoric plants lived plus see how the story of the fossil swamp links to the fossil fuel and climate problems we face today.
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Mission: Planet Earth – a VR Experience
National Museum Cardiff
Daily, 10.30am-4pm
£6 per person, age 13+
Put on your headset and strap yourself in for the journey of a lifetime, a mission through time in National Museum Cardiff’s virtual reality experience. Find out what Wales was like millions of years ago, from the warm depths of the seas of what will become Pembrokeshire to the bitterly cold climate of Powys. You might also come across some giant bugs, dinosaurs and even woolly mammoths. The experience lasts 15 minutes. Book in advance online or at the museum, subject to availability.
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St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff
Until 3 September 2023
Supporters of Wales’ national football teams are called The Red Wall. Dressed in their bucket hats and replica shirts, belting out chants from the stands, they’re often described as the 12th player on the pitch.
To celebrate Cymru qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, this exhibition shines a spotlight on some of the people and communities of The Red Wall. Fashion, music, identities and politics are all here, cemented together by a sense of belonging. A fan-led experience like no other.
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FREE Wales Is… Proud
St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff
Until 31 December 2023
Every summer, Pride marches and events are held across Wales to celebrate LGBTQ+ equality and visibility. Pride started as a protest, a statement of resistance, and activists in Wales have protested for LGBTQ+ rights for over 50 years. The display includes objects from Pride events held across Wales, protest banners and LGBTQ+ campaign badges from Amgueddfa Cymru’s collection.
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FREE Wales Is… Grateful for the NHS
St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff
Until 5 March 2024
Launched on 5 July 1948, The National Health Service was founded by the Tredegar-born Health Minister, Aneurin Bevan. His vision for a ‘free at the point of use’ service was inspired by the workmen’s medical aid societies of the South Wales coalfield.
Today, NHS Wales directly employs over 90,000 staff and provides healthcare to around 3 million people.
The National Health Service belongs to the people of Wales. It has a special place at the heart of our national life.
In 2021, the George Cross medal was bestowed on each of the UK National Health Services in recognition of all who have worked in the NHS since its launch in 1948. The award also acknowledged the dedication and bravery of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This display showcases the George Cross medal alongside objects that tell the story of the NHS in Wales from its inception through to the modern day.
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FREE The ‘Diff Diaries and Cardiff in Lockdown
Museum of Cardiff, The Old Library, Cardiff
Until Wednesday 26 July, 10am-4pm
This exhibition brings together two projects carried out during the Covid 19 lockdowns in 2020. The ‘Diff Diaries tell about the lockdown experiences of children in Cardiff in various video, image, and written word diaries.
Also on display are photographs collected from the people of Cardiff during lockdown. These show how normal city life was impacted when citizens had to stay indoors and how communities came together to support each other and show their appreciation for key workers during this time.
Visitors to the exhibition are encouraged to reflect on their own experiences of lockdown and the Covid-19 pandemic and add their memories to a reflection board in the exhibition. These will then be recorded and kept as part of the museum’s collection.
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FREE Crafty Wednesdays
Museum of Cardiff, Old Library, Cardiff
Wednesdays 26 July, 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 August, 11am-3pm
Visit on Wednesdays throughout the summer holidays for some creative and crafty fun for all the family. Drop in any time between 11am and 3pm.
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FREE Dinky Dragons
Museum of Cardiff, Old Library, Cardiff
Friday 11 August, 10am-3pm
A free monthly event for babies, toddlers and their grown-ups. Drop in for soft play and messy play. Rhyme time and Story time 11am and again at 1pm.
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FREE Big Pit’s 40th Birthday: Badges and Bunting
Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon
Fridays 4,11,18,25 August and 1 September, 11am-3pm
Celebrate 40th years of Big Pit as a museum. Learn some Welsh mining words, create a birthday bunting flag to be displayed at Big Pit and make a commemorative badge to take home with you.
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FREE Festival of Archaeology: Big Pit
Big Pit National Coal Museum
Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 July 2023, 10am -4pm
Explore the history of Big Pit and the Welsh Valleys in this family-friendly day.
Explore the network of mines beneath your feet through some stunning maps, created by Lee Reynolds, Big Pit surveyor, in a project called The Dark City. Did you know – in the 1970’s you could (almost) walk entirely underground from Big Pit to Ammanford. Chat to miner guides about what life was like working in a coal mine, plus family-friendly experiments of how to move water – very important for the underground to stop the mines flooding, and lots more.
Butty Bear, cuddly mining mascot, will also be present on this weekend, as well as 4, 11, 18, and 25 August, 11.30am-2pm.
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National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon
Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 July, 10am-4pm
Find out why fire was so important to the Romans, with the sounds and smells of the camp to bring it to life. Find out about the ancient art of blacksmithing, as well as coin striking and coinage in the Roman world.
Make some Roman style bread and cook it over an open fire or try to start a fire yourself using a bow drill.
Meet the museum’s soldiers in camp as well and take a selfie wearing replica Roman armour.
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FREE Gladiators
National Roman Legion Museum
Wednesdays 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 August 2023, 10.30-11.30am, 12-1pm, 1.30-2.30pm & 3-4pm.
2000 years ago Gladiators were some of the biggest sports stars in the Roman Empire, both loved and hated and watched by people from all parts of Roman society, including the soldiers in Caerleon. Pop into the museum’s ludus, a gladiator training school, where the gladiators will train you to fight and tell you all the equipment and lives of these impressive warriors. Drop-in sessions – no need to book.
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FREE Family life in the Fortress
National Roman Legion Museum
Fridays 4, 11, 18 and 25 August, 10.30–11.30am, 12–1pm, 1.30–2.30pm and 3-4pm
Think Roman fortresses were just for soldiers? Then think again. The Roman fortress didn’t just house soldiers in barracks; the fortress also contained the homes of the officers and their families.
Find out about family life in the fortress this summer and handle some real Roman objects.
Drop in sessions – no need to book.
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Castles and historical-themed events
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Fonmon Castle, Rhoose, Vale of Glamorgan
Saturday 29-Sunday 30 July, 10am-5pm
Adults £15, children £13, under 3s free
Thrill-seekers and history buffs will love this one-of-a-kind Foot Combat event which will transport you back in time to the Medival Era. Witness brave knights clad in armour, engage in heart-pounding battles on foot, smashing heads and clashing armour to determine who will emerge victorious. There will be living-history displays, swords and weapons and skills on show from the medieval period.
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Margam Country Park, Port Talbot
Sunday 27 and Bank Holiday 28 August
From £10.50 children, £12.50 adults, £40 family (early bird prices until 13 August)
The drums echo through the valley as the Parliament army marches to war against King Charles I’s Royalist supporters. Visit the interactive living history camp to immerse yourself in 17th Century life. Meet the soldiers of the Royalist and Parliament armies and see up close the weapons, clothing and equipment used in ages past. Watch as the two sides come head-to-head in a spectacular 17th Century battle display – which army will you be cheering on from the side lines?
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Tintern Abbey
Saturday 22 July and Saturday 19 August, 10am-4pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
As the cellarer of Tintern Abbey, Brother Thomas (a Cistercian monk) will be able to tell you all there is to know (and perhaps some things you shouldn’t know!) about the workings of the abbey, his fellow monks, the lay brothers and other ‘less religious’ people! 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.
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Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths
Saturday 22 July-Sunday 31 August, 10am-4.30pm
Included in usual admission. Adults £5, children £3.60, under 5s free, family (2+3) £16.30, or free for Cadw members
A Roman Baths treasure hunt. Personal valuables often went missing during a visit to the Baths, leaving a treasure trove of unusual objects, hidden for almost 2000 years. Explore the Baths and find the lost treasures.
If you’re in Caerleon, make sure to also visit the National Roman Legion Museum, barrack and amphitheatre remains too, all free to visit..
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Chepstow Castle
Saturday 22-Sunday 23 Jul, 10am-4pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
Visit Chepstow Castle and see if you have what it takes to be a medieval jester.
From juggling and diablo, to plate spinning and tightrope walking, resident jester Juggling Jim will be on-hand to teach the skills needed to entertain a medieval lord and lady, plus their distinguished guests! This is a drop-in session with no need to book.
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Chepstow Castle
Tuesday 25 July, 10am-4pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
Be entertained by the castle’s resident knight, and get a close-up look at medieval weaponry. Talks and demonstrations throughout the day.
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Raglan Castle
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
Wednesdays 26 July, 9, 16, 23 August
Wings of Wales will visit the castle with their birds of prey. Meet the birds and enjoy their flying displays.
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Tretower Court and Castle, Crickhowell
Saturday 29-Sunday 30 July 10.30am-4.30pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
The musical duo Pease Pottage invite visitors to hear them play the music of the 15th century. Enjoy the sounds of dances and popular melodies from the time of the house’s heyday.
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Excavating Castell Coch: A Victorian Expedition
Castell Coch, Tongwynlais
Saturday 29-Sunday 20 July, 11am-3pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
Join in with reconstructing the Victorian excavations of the 1800s. Uncover with your own hands a range of Medieval treasures, try and guess what it is you have found. Learn to record these items, in their archaeological context and practice these methods that are still used today.
Must be pre-booked
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Let’s Discover… The Printed Word
Chepstow Castle
Tuesday 1 August, 10am-4pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
Printer Francesca Kay demonstrates how to set type and print the old fashioned way. Francesca will make visitors a letterpress print with her vintage table top printing press, explaining how this ancient skill changed the world. She will also reveal how some of our common phrases come from the letterpress printing world.
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Chepstow Castle
Wednesday 2 and 9 August, 10am-4pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
Get crafty at Chepstow Castle during the summer holidays. Children can make something to play with in the castle and then take home. Drop-in sessions, no need to book.
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Tretower Court and Castle, Crickhowell
Saturday 5-Sunday 6 August, 10am-5pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
Dancing has always been a way that we can express and enjoy ourselves, but 500 years ago those dances ranged from the Branle of the commoner to the Gavotte of the courtier rather than the rumba or the waltz that you’ll find today….
A welcome return of the Renaissance Footnotes company who will inform and entertain on the etiquette, food and music of the 15th to the 17th centuries. Witness some of the most popular dances, and maybe even join in, with a glimpse of what might possibly be described as ‘Period Strictly’.
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Chepstow Castle
Saturday 5-Sunday 6 August, 10am-4pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
Put on your dancing shoes and visit Chepstow Castle to learn about the evolution of dance, from the medieval farandole to the French court dances of the 17th century. With demonstrations and audience participation workshops throughout the weekend, this is a fun and interactive event for the whole family.2
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The Defence of Blaenavon: World War
Blaenavon Ironworks
Saturday 5-Sunday 6 August, 11am-4pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £6.90, children £4.80, under 5s free, family (2+3) £22.50, or free for Cadw members
World War 2 explodes into Blaenavon again with the sights and sounds of the 1940s. Experience of what it was like to live through those troubled times.
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Let’s Discover… Medieval Beekeeping
Chepstow Castle
Saturday 12-Sunday 13 August, 10am-4pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
Learn about beekeeping during the medieval period, and how it compares with modern methods. There will be an observation hive so you can see the bees at work, plus samples of locally produced honey and meads to try.
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Tretower Court and Castle, Crickhowell
Saturday 12-Sunday 13 August, 10.30am-4.30pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
Experience birds of prey up close and personal. Spend the day with Wings of Wales Falconry, learn about the history of hawking and see the birds in flight.
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Raglan Castle
Saturday 12-Sunday 13 August, 11am-3.30pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
Juggling Jim will be at Raglan Castle to put visitors through your knightly paces. See how many of the challenges you can complete.
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Chepstow Castle
Tuesday 15 August, 10am-4pm
Have a go at making a patch of maille (chain mail) to take home with you.
Learn how traditional maille was made and see the tools and techniques for making the rings from a piece of wire. Learn how the rings were ‘woven’ together and have a go at linking and riveting rings for yourselves. Replicas of mail from different historical periods will be on show and you can try on a mail shirt to see how it would feel to wear one.
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Tretower Court and Castle, Crickhowell
Saturday 19-Sunday 20 August, 11am-4pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
Discover a day in the life of the Tretower household – see the differences between now and then. Learn about day-to-day life in the 15th century, the kinds of food the ate, how they spent their time and more. Historical re-enactors will be on hand to talk about all sorts of subjects – from dining etiquette to the best way of keeping your sword sharp and your bowstring dry.
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Castell Coch
Sunday 20-Monday 21 August, 11am-3pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
Embark on a journey of discovery and understanding of our surroundings. Through engaging activities and arts and crafts, we promise a fun-filled family time both to educate and entertain.
Must be pre-booked.
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Let’s Discover… Medieval Medicine
Chepstow Castle
Tuesday 22 August, 10am-4pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
What did medieval people do when they became ill? What medicines did they take and did these actually work? Meet Chepstow Castle’s medieval doctor who will be curing all for the day.
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Tintern Abbey
Saturday 26-Bank Holiday Monday 28 August, 11am-4pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
To celebrate the life of one of Tintern Abbey’s greatest patrons, Tintern Abbey will be welcoming William Marshal and his wife, Isabel, for the 801st anniversary of her death. Living history, medieval re-enactment, music and horse displays will transport the abbey back to its earliest days, to honour the life of Earl Marshal and his influential spouse – as the Greatest Knight returns.
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Castell Coch
Saturday 26-Bank Holiday 28 August, 11am-3pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
The scavenger hunt will take you on a quest around the inside and outside of Castell Coch, discovering new things along the way. Tickets must be booked in advance.
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Raglan Castle Odyssey – Living History through the Ages
Raglan Castle
Sunday 27-Bank Holiday Monday 28 August, 11am-4pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
A multi-historical period weekend of living history, tours, displays and fun. See living history groups from many eras go about their daily lives. Experience re-enactments and displays, wander their camps, and immerse yourself in times past.
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Let’s Discover… Herbs and Heritage
Chepstow Castle
Tuesday 29 August, 10am-4pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
Learn all about herbs and their uses during the Middle Ages, with resident expert Mistress Elizabeth. Children will also have the opportunity to make something to take home with them.
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Resting at the Abbey during the War of the Roses – 1471
Tintern Abbey
Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 September, 10am-4pm
Event included in usual admission, adults £8.70, children £6.10, under 5s free, family (2+3) £28.20, or free for Cadw members
Re-enactment of 1471, when a company of archers and their families rest at the abbey in order to pay their respects to William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke. Learn more about traditional skills such as fletching, spinning, dyeing, cooking, leather working and rush weaving and, of course, recreation in the Tavern Tent. Plus try your hand at medieval board and dice games, or braid making. Watch the cooks prepare the company’s meal, or question the arrowsmith on his skills and kills.
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Farm parks
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The Meadows Farm Village Retreat, Cardiff
Saturday 22 July-Sunday 2 September
£9.95 per person aged 3+,
A day of fun pack activities for everyone to enjoy from little kids to big kids we have covered it all – petting stations, rabbit village, chicken garden, farm animal stroll, foam party, summer treasure hunt, meet the mascots, photo wall, plus over 300 animals on site. Additional add-on experiences include reptile encounters, alpaca feeding and cuddles, wallaby walkthrough, goat walking and lorikeet kingdom, plus crafrs and biscuit decorating (£2 per person), roller skating (£4.50pp), bouncy castle (£2.50pp) tattoos (£1-£2.50pp). See the Facebook page for latest news on summer events.
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Cantref Adventure Farm, Brecon
Open daily Saturday 22 July-Sunday 2 September
£11.50-£14.75 per person 93cm and over, under 93 cm£6-£8.50, non-walking babies free
Meet Spirit the Unicorn
Saturday 22-Friday 28 July and Saturday 12-Friday 18 August
Pony Day includes lead rein pony ride (£2.50 extra, over 93cm)
Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 July, Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 August
Meet the Singing Princess
Tuesday 8-Thursday 10, Tuesday 15-Thursday 17, Tuesday 22-Thursday 24, Saturday 26-Sunday 27 Aiugust
Meet Blue the Dinosaur
Saturday 5-Friday 11 August, Saturday 19-Friday 25 August
Big Water Fight plus Slip and Slide
Saturday 26-Thursday 31 August
Plus a daily end-of-day foam party, maize maize and sunflower patch opening approximately 1 August, petting farm, animals, lots of indoor and outdoor play and more.
Amelia Trust Farm, Barry
As well as the usual farm attractions, including animals, woodland trails and playgrounds, Amelia Trust Farm has a whole host of specia; events this summer. All prices are for online advance bookings; on the door prices are slightly higher and subject to availability.
As well as these events, the farm is open daily. Usual entry is £4.95 per person aged 2+/
Prince and Princess Day
Wednesday 26 July
£6.50 per person 2+
Dress up as your favourite Prince and Princess, say hello to animals including Buddy, the Shetland pony, donkeys, goats, pigs, alpacas, and bunnies. Play in the park, explore the woodland, and have a go at our Summer Sunflower Trail! Plus tractor rides, face paints and more
Fluffy Friends Day
Friday 28 July
£6.50 per person 2+
Aimed specifically at the youngest visitors, families can meet new animals, play in the fresh air, and have outdoor adventures. During Fluffy Friends day, little visitors can pop into the Animal Centre to meet rabbits, guinea pigs, and ferrets. The animal care team will be on hand to tell you more about the fluffy friends and for you to give them a cuddle. Plus there’s story time where you can listen to the adventures of Rhyming Rabbit, while a real rabbit hops happily next to you, and you can meet Buddy the Shetland Pony too in his paddock
Amelia Trust Dog Show
Saturday 5 August
£4.50 per person (when booked online), £3 per dog to enter
Dogs of all shapes and sizes are welcome to enter as many categories as you’d like (see website for full list), with a winner and runner up for each. Plus an agility display and obedience display from Blue Ridge Canine Academy. Make sure to explore the farm’s woodlands, perfect for dog walks!
Teddy Bears’ Picnic
Thursday 10 August
£6.50 per person 2+
Bring your favourite teddies, pack your picnic, and enjoy a day at Amelia Trust. See the animals, play in the park, and explore the woodland, plus face painting, tractor rides, a colouring station, lawn games, and the Summer Sunflower trail. Add an extra treat with a Build Your Bear kit (£18) which includes a 16 inch soft teddy bear, stuffing, birth certificate, a wishing star to place in your bear, a teddy bear bag to colour in and use to carry your bear. (kits must be ordered by 2 August).
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Active Families
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Watersports, nature walks and other summer holiday activities
Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs, Cardiff
Opens Friday 28 July
From watersports hire, self-launch and tuition to outdoor swimming, nature trails and events, choose your adventure. Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs opens ready for the summer holidays. More information on events will be announced soon.
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FREE Strongkidz fitness classes
Ion Fitness, Llanishen and Space2B, Cardiff
Thanks to generous sponsors, Ion are once again offering free fitness classes for children over the summer holidays, with a range of sessions for 7-10, 11-14 and 15-18 year olds. Book online in advance.
Mondays (Llanishen), 2pm, 7-10 year olds
Tuesdays (Space2B) 10am 11-14 year olds; 11am 15-18 year olds
Wednesdays (Llanishen), 2pm, 11-13 year olds
Thursdays (Llanishen), 2pm, 14-16 year olds
Fridays (Llanishen),1.15pm 11-14 year olds; 2.15pm 15-18 year olds
Plus on Sundays, Ion will continue to offer their pay as you go classes in Llanishen to 7-10 year olds at 3.30pm and 11-13 year olds at 4.30pm.
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Summer events from Beach Academy Wales
Various beaches in South Wales
A whole programme of events inspired by the local coastline, including seaside storytime, kite making, pirate school, snorkel school, young marine biologist sessions, beach jewellery making and lots more. See website for full programme (too much to include it all here!)
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Fluidty Freerunning Academy, Cardiff
Monday 24 July and Monday 21 August, 10am-12pm
£20 per person; age 4+
Don your best suits and gear up for superhero-themed games for kids in Fluidity’s Parkour paradise, led by the superheroes themselves. Themed games and challenges as well as some Superhero training as participants are taught awesome moves, hero skills and fundamentals to help keep villainy in check and the world a better place.
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Fluidity Freerunning Academy, Cardiff
Friday 28 July,
£20 per person, ages 7-14
Tactical style team games across the park lead by Fluidity’s games masters – Capture the Flag, Assassination, Battle Royale and more. Parkour free play as well as the Nerf Games. Equipment provided – goggles, bibs, guns and ammo.
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Celtic Manor Resort, Newport
A wide range of adventurous activities for families. Must be booked online in advance. Age and height restrictions apply. Full details on website.
Forest Nets – £16.50 per person (age 3+)
Adventure Golf – from £9 per person
Low Ropes – £14 per person (minimum height 1.2m)
High ropes – £24 per person (minimum height 1.4m)
Laser Combat – £16.50 per person (age 6+)
All Bounced Out – £16.50 per person (6-15 years)
Archery – £16.50 per person (6+years)
Laser Clay – £10 (age 8+)
Archery Tots – £8 per person (3-6 years)
Craft activities include Ted’s New Threads and Summer Crafts, £10 per child.
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St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff
Saturday 22 July-Sunday 2 September (plus weekends for the rest of September)
£15 per person
Experience an exciting high ropes course perched in the beech trees at St Fagans National Museum of History. Climb, swing, balance and wobble your way through the trees, and see the sights of St Fagans from above, before zipping back down to earth. Tackle CoedLan’s 18 different obstacles, including a balance beam, zig zag bridge, cargo nets and a zip wire.
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Cardiff Bay
Daily until 3 September, weekends only until 25 September
From £25 per hour
The inflatable waterpark is back with obstacles to climb up, jump off and splash around. Minimum age 8+, minimum height 1.2m. Participants must be able to swim 25m unaided. Children 8-16 must be supervised. Online booking is essential.
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Lido Ponty, Pontypridd
Free for children under 16, adults £3. Activity passes £2.50 per person
The National Lido of Wales features three pools – a main pool, an activity pool and a splash pool. For just £2.50 per person, visitors can also enjoy everything from fun inflatables to Aqua Peddlerz and Water Walker. For smaller visitors, the splash pool is complete with an umbrella water fountain that your little ones will love. They can bring their buckets and watering cans and play in the warm water in this safe and happy environment. Sessions do sell out in advance, so there will be limited availability.
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Outdoor Attractions
FREE ENTRY Open Days
St Donat’s Castle, Vale of Glamorgan
Sundays 23 July, 6 and 13 August
Free entry, parking £5; advisable to book in advance
Discover the beautiful grounds of St Donat’s Castle, home to UWC Atlantic in the Vale of Glamorgan. Spanning over 122 acres of woodland, coastline and original Tudor gardens, our beautiful campus is a hidden gem opening its doors for you to explore this Summer.
Book a castle tour to see inside, explore the ancient woodland, relax in one of the terraced gardens, head to the coastline, book a swim in the lido (£5 per person).
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Mountain View Ranch
Saturday 22 July-Sunday 3 September
£8.50 per person aged 2+
Join the Ranch family adventure trail, including the famous Gruffalo trail.Explore and discover all these and much, much more; two jumping pillows, guinea pigs, pygmy goats, ponies, straw bale obstacle course, soft archery, double zip wire, fairy forest, roly poly hill, tree houses, The Vomit Comet, The Big Big Swing, Hobbit Hill, and of course The Gruffalo. Tickets must be booked in advance; various time slots available.
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Fonmon Castle, Rhoose, Vale of Glamorgan
Medieval Event
Saturday 29-Sunday 30 July, 10am-5pm
Adults £15, children £13, under 3s free
Thrill-seekers and history buffs will love this one-of-a-kind Foot Combat event which will transport you back in time to the Medival Era. Witness brave knights clad in armour, engage in heart-pounding battles on foot, smashing heads and clashing armour to determine who will emerge victorious. There will be living-history displays, swords and weapons and skills on show from the medieval period.
Pirates Weekend
Saturday 5-Sunday 6 August, 10am-5pm
Adults £14, children £12, under 3s free
A weekend of swashbuckling with the pirates of Fonmon Castle. Shiver your timbers and test your skills with ropes and knots, walk the plank and engage in a super soaking battle with our live action pirates! If you manage to survive the battle you may win yourself a ‘Pirate Coin.’
Fonmon Castle Pantoland
Saturday 12-Sunday 13 August, 10am-5pm
Adults £14, children £12, under 3s free
Experience Fonmon Castle as it is transformed into a Summer Panto Meet and Greet. From Mother Twanky to Cinderella, and with live music and games on the lawn, this will be a weekend of fun and panto giggles. Old MacDonald will be present to sing the day away with little ones. Plus you get complete access to all the other parts of the estate including Jurassic Wales.
Batman and Superheroes Weekend
Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 August, 10am-5pm
Adults £14, children £12, under 3s free
Marvel in the awesome world of Batman as you visit Fonmon Castle for this superhero event. Join in the hunt for the missing ‘Baterangs’ as you wander through Gotham Manor, watch out for the Joker and get your photo taken with the official Batman car from the 1989 ‘Tim Burton’ Movie.
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RSPB Newport Wetlands
FREE Shrill Carder Bee Day with Bumblebee Conservation Trust
Saturday 22 July, 10.30am-2.30pm
The Wetlands is one of the best sites in the UK to see them. Bee experts will be on hand to help with identification and there will be the opportunity to join on one of several ‘Bee Safari’s’ throughout the day to try and spot shrills!
Whether you know lots about bumblebees or very little at all, this is the perfect opportunity to get amongst other bee enthusiasts and learn how we can help their populations to thrive through recording, planting and conserving. Drop in event, suitable for all ages. Slots on a bee safari subject to availability.
Pond Dipping
Monday 24, Wednesday 26, Thursday 27, Monday 31 July, Tuesday 1, Thursday 3 August, 10am, 11am and 1.30pm
£6.75 per child, £5.55 RSPB members
Age guidance 4+, children must be accompanied by an adult.
Discover the underwater life at Newport Wetlands. See what creatures you can catch with staff and volunteers on-hand to help you identify your finds. You will have exclusive access to our pond dipping area, your own equipment and identification charts to help you discover and learn about the creatures you catch.
Booking essential.
Brilliant Bumblebees
Saturday 4 August, 10.30am
Adults £7.75, children £5.75 (RSPB members £6.35/£4.75)
A 90-minute activity involving a short walk to spot eight common bumblebees and (hopefully) two rarer varieties. Learn how to identify them in your gardens and local green spaces. Age guidance 7+. Booking essential.
Yogi Duck and the Little Chick book launch
Saturday 13 August, 10am-3pm
The launch of a newpicture book celebrating a story inspired by the unique site, by local author-illustrator Isabel Benavides. The book shares the adventures of a little moorhen chick and will be brought to life in a storytelling event. As well as getting to know some fabulous characters, the story’s theme is one of mindfulness and calm… immersing particpants in the wonderful nature of our reserve. 10am – meet and greet the author; 10.30am storytelling pond dipping session, 11.30am book signing, 1pm children’s watercolour class, 2pm adult watercolour masterclass.
Meadow Mini Beast Hunt
Monday 14, Tuesday 15, Wednesday 16 August, 10am and 1pm
Children £6.75, RSPB members £5.55
Join a special mission to build the best home for the extraordinary bugs and beetles at Newport Wetlands. Start by putting together an ideal home made from natural materials, then put your building skills to the test whilst hunting for beasties. Age 4+, children must be accompanied by an adult.
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Summer Activities
Margam Country Park
Saturday 22 July- Sunday 3 September
Free entry, parking 7.50 per car, some events incur a small charge, many are free
As well as the huge grounds to explore – playgrounds, fairytale village, deer herd, farm animals, lake and more – there’s a huge programme of events over the summer, with activities on almost every day (too much to list here). Activities include, craft sessions, nature-themed activities, have a go archery, storytelling sessions with Looby Lou on Thursdays and more.
Big event highlights (all ticketed separately) include
Sunday 22 July: Family Fun Day With Paw Patrol, Paddington Bear and more
Sunday 6 August: Wind in the Willows outdoor theatre
Friday 18-Sunday 21: Adventure Cinema (Elvis, Dirty Dancing and Top Gun: Maverick)
Sunday 27 and Bank Holiday Monday 28 August: Civil War Comes To Wales
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Tredegar House, Newport
Saturday 22 July-Sunday 3 September, 10.30am-4.30pm
£11 adults, £5.50 children, free for National Trust members
Fun, active, playful experiences for families. Sport equipment to borrow from VR, plus games in the gardens, every Thursday and Saturday throughout the school holidays with additional games available.
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Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan
Saturday 22 July-Sunday 3 September
£11 adults, £5.50 children, free for National Trust members
Dyffryn Gardens will be transformed into a garden of music. Children will be able to explore musical sound outdoors; playing unusual percussion instruments and musical games as well as dressing-up and staring in their own musical in the Theatre Garden. There will also be fun family games and designated quiet areas where you can simply listen to the music of nature.
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Bute Park, Cardiff
Thursday 17 August-Sunday 3 September
£9.59 per person 3+, under 3s free, family of 4 £36.21
Journey back in time to the prehistoric, meeting a different life-sized dinosaur at each twist and turn along the Bute Park dinosaur trail. Help the palaeontologist find his tools and solve puzzles along the way. Visit the Dinosaur Dentist and even brush a T Rex’s teeth. The Dino Trail winds its way past 40 life-szed, realistic animatronic dinosaurs from the Jurassic, Triassic and Cretaceous periods. They move their heads, jaws, and claws and hiss, snarl, and growl, to provide an immersive experience. Meet well known favourites such as Stegosaurus, Triceratops and Velociraptor as well as a Dilophosaurus, Kentrosaurus and Hyparosaurus, and the huge, hungry T-Rex.
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Family fun and adventure
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The Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff
FREE Super Summer Hero Quest
From 17 July
A free augmented reality trail. Track down six unique artifacts using the floor markers in the centre, scan using the app, and some of your favourite heroes – scale them up or down on your screen to bring them into your world. Also take a look at the superhero mirror wall and see yourself transform into a superhero.
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Superhero Science Workshops
Sundays 6, 13 and 20 August
£10 per child per session
ExperiMental Science will be hosting science workshops where children can discover what’s really behind the powers of some of their favourite heroes.
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FREE Superhero Takeover
Bank Holiday Monday 28 August
A day of free superhero-tastic fun. Get up close to life-size superhero statues, meet Iron Man and Spiderman tributes, view rare edition comics, and a chance to win prizes.
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Tour of Principality Stadium with Josh Navidi
Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Sunday 6 and Sunday 20 August, 11am, 1pm and 3pm
Adults £35, children under 16 £15
An exclusive access behind the scenes tour of one of the world’s true sporting venues in the company of Wales and British and Irish Lions star, Josh Navidi. The former back rower will feature in tours the day after Wales take on England and South Africa on Sunday 6 August and Sunday 20 August respectively, at Principality Stadium. Fans are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment.
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Ocean Extravaganza / Legend of the Enchanted Reef / Is Water Wet?
Techniquest, Cardiff Bay
Saturday 22 July-Sunday 2 September
Adults £10.45, children £10, 2 and under free, family (2+3) £40.90
Ocean Extravaganza is a 30 minute live science show, priced at £2 per person in addition to usual entry and suitable for ages 5+.
Discover more about the way our seas are changing and what we can do to help protect the underwater environment for future generations. Test your knowledge of the ocean with a fishy facts quiz, and see whether you might be destined to become an oceanographer yourself. You’ll even discover an explosive way that water can be made.
Legend of the Enchanted Reef is a 30 minute Planetarium show, priced at £2 per person in addition to usual entry and suitable for ages 5+.
When their home reef is destroyed by a fishing trawler, three fish set out on a quest across the polluted ocean to find the “Enchanted Reef” — a mythical underwater heaven free from humans. Legend of the Enchanted Reef is filled with humour and imagination that the whole family will enjoy. The film combines entertainment and education with an important message about the impact of ocean pollution.
Is Water Wet? is a 45-minute lab workshop, with a minimum age requirement of 7, and priced at £2 per person in addition to usual entry. Explore the wonderful world of water in this hands-on workshops and learn all about pH levels, water cycles, the positive effects of phytoplankton and more!
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Parc Play, Cardiff
Monday 24 July Parc Birthday Party
Monday 31 July Tiki Party With Special Guests
Monday 7 August Circus Skills Workshop
Monday 14 August Really Wild Showtime
Monday 21 August Superheroes Training Day
See website for prices
Fun, games and special events across the summer holidays, limited tickets for events, must be booked in advance. Parc is open all summer on other days for indoor-outdoor play.
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Royal Mint Experience, Llantrisant
As well as the guided tour where you’ll get to see how coins for the UK and around the world are made, look out for these special events across the summer.
Workshops with Bricks McGee
Saturday 19 August 2023
£10 per ticket
The sky’s the limit to your imagination in this intergalactic LEGO making workshop with Bricks McGee. Complete the challenges set by a master builder, put your creative helmets on, build your moon-base and soar into the stratosphere in this hands-on workshop.
Get 50% off when you book a tour on the same day.
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Wonderous Willow Weaving
Tuesday 26 July, 10.30am-12pm and 1.30pm-3pm (drop in sessions)
Drop in for a ‘have a go’ session to discover the wonders of willow weaving with Clare Revera, who is keeping the traditional craft alive. Make and take home your own magic wand, bird feeder or even a fishing rod!
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Remarkable Renewables workshop with Green Squirrel
Wednesdays 9 and 16 August, 10:30am, 12pm, 1:30pm
£10 per ticket
Green Squirrel are joining forces with the Royal Mint Experience to put the world to rights with Green Squirrel’s Sun, Wind and Me programme to discover the wonders and importance of renewable energy.
Get 50% off when you book a tour on the same day.
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Jonathan’s Jungle Roadshow
Tuesday 26 July and Friday 18August
£10 per ticket
Come face to face with some remarkable creatures in Jonathan’s Jungle Roadshow! See, hold and learn about some of nature’s wonders and discover what we can do to protect them.
Get 50% off when you book a tour on the same day.
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Animal Encounters
Monday 7 and Wednesdays 9 and 16 August, 10.30am, 12pm and 1.30pm
£10 per ticket
A wild adventure with A&S Animal Encounters. Get up close and personal with some weird and wonderful creatures, while learning about their natural habitats and how you can play your part in ensuring their preservation.
Get 50% off when you book a tour on the same day.
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Bank Holiday fun
Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 August
Alongside the usual tour, challenge your family on an inflatable assault course and for the smaller family members, enjoy a spin on the Chair-o-plane. Plus over 40 stalls of locally produced gifts, cakes and hand crafted items, music and free face painting for all. Free ride ticket with every children’s tour booked; under 5s go free on the tour but will need to purchase a ride voucher at guest services.
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FREE Bee the Change family craft workshops
St David’s Cardiff
Summer Seeds
Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 August
Wildflower workshop with plant pot painting, planting wildflower seeds and creating a card embedded with wildflower seeds.
Bee Kind to Bugs
Saturday 12 and Sunday 13August:
Learn about the brilliance of bugs and help make them a home in this bug hotel workshop.
Protect Pollinators
Saturday 19 and Sunday 20August:
Make a bee feeder and learn about pollinators.
Bee medley
Saturday 26, Sunday 27and Bank Holiday Monday 28August
A medley of activities from the three previous weekends – Summer Seeds, Bee Kind to Bugs and Protect Pollinators.
Get crafty and help save the bees with free craft workshops at St David’s Cardiff.
Across each weekend in August, learn about the importance of bees and bugs and take part in a variety of activities from plant pot painting, planting wildflowers, making bug hotels and bee feeders. While you’re there, spot the bee and floral decorations and share a picture using the hashtag #beethechange to make your bee-saving pledge.
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Summer holiday workshops from Beth Morris
Insole Court, Cardiff
Various arts and craft workshops across the summer, some suitable for children aged 7-11, some for young people of secondary age and some for children 11+ and adults to attend together (or on their own). Workshops include jewellery making, painting floral wreaths, creating a ‘tea party’ from sponges and other items, peg puppets, ‘about me’ tiles and lots more.
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Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay
Saturday 22 July-Tuesday 29 August, 11am-8pm
A range of funfair attractions including the dodgems, waltzer and funhouse plus sweet and savoury food vendors.
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IKEA Cardiff
Saturday 22 July-Sunday 3 September, 10am-5pm
A variety of messy arts and crafts, games and competitions, all for free. See in store for details.
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Heath Park, Cardiff
Sunday 23 July, Sunday 27 August, Bank Holiday Monday 28 August, 1pm to 5pm
£2.50 entry plus £2.50 per ride, free entry and free rides for children 3 and under
Cardiff Model Engineering Society opens its doors to the public with miniature train rides – steam, diesel and electric – plus tram rides.
(Advance notice: also running Sunday 17 September and Sunday 15 October, 1pm-5pm)
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Penllyn, Cowbridge
Wednesday 9 August
Adults £15, children £5, family (2+2) £30
The Vale of Glamorgan Show returns, with over 20,000 visitors expected on site at Penllyn. Now the largest one day event in the Vale of Glamorgan, the day features livestock and horse showing, with over 200 trade stands on the main field, the food court selling produce, most of which has been grown or made in the Vale, along with a shopping mall and a large craft fair.
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FREE Barry Island Food and Drink Festival
Barry Island Promenade
Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 September, 11am-7pm
Enjoy food, drink, music and craft stalls all along the prom. More details will be announced nearer the time.
Cinema and film-related
The focus here is on independent cinemas, film-related events, and cheaper family screenings rather than the current big releases.
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Chapter Arts, Cardiff
Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays over the summer holidays
Free films for families three times a week over the half term – please note these sell out fast. Speak to the Box Office for returns. Chapter continues to offer free family films three times a week during the summer holidaus with choices includinh Wall-E, Ice Age, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, The Lego Movie, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Iron Giant, Inside Out, Lyle Lyle Crocodile, Matilda, The Greatest Showman and The Princess Bridge. For anyone unable to book online or by phone, Chapter reserve a few tickets and release them on the day of the screening. This is done on a first-come-first-served basis, so your ticket is not guaranteed.
Chapter also has screenings of paid-for family films this summer, including Barbie, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and others to be announced.
See website for information. Children can also pick up a free packed lunch. Donations are very welcome to support Chapter in continuing to offer this incredible initiative.
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Memo Arts Centre, Barry
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (PG)
Friday 21-Friday 28 July
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (12A)
Friday 21 July-Thursday 3 August
Elemental (PG)
Friday 28 July-Friday 4 August
Adults £6, children £5
Check the website for announcements of film screenings later in the holidays.
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Cineworld, Mary Ann Street, Cardiff
The 10am weekend and school holiday Movies for Juniors showings are just £2.50 per person. Check online for schedule; films are usually a few months old rather than new releases.
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Vue Cinema, Millennium Plaza, Cardiff
The 10am weekend and school holiday Movies for Juniors showings are just £2.49 per person when booked online or £3.49 on the door. Check online for schedule; films are usually a few months old rather than new releases.
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Do follow the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page, Cardiff Mummy Says on Instagram, Cardiff Mummy Says on Threads , or @cardiffmummy on Twitter to be the first to know what’s going on for families locally. I share events, activities and days out ideas almost every day.
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