20 family-friendly events in and around Cardiff in January 2016

Cardiff

People keep telling me what a dull and miserable month January is. It’s cold, it’s raining, no one’s got any money after Christmas, and there’s nothing going on. Granted, there’s nowhere near as many exciting events at this time of year as in November and December – but there’s still plenty happening if you know where to look.

Here are 20 family-friendly events in and around Cardiff in January 2016. About half of them are free events, which is always good at this time of year. Do feel free to add any other events you know of in the comments section below, on the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page or by tweeting me on @cardiffmummy

Please note all events are subject to change, so I recommend checking ahead before visiting anywhere.

Cardiff Mumy Says January 2016 events

 

Crafts, museums and science-based

 

FREE Clore Explorers

National Museum Cardiff

Saturdays and Sundays, 2pm

Free workshops give families the chance to find out more about objects from the museum and take part in a crafty activity.

 

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.

 

Jacdo Crafternoons

Chapter Arts Centre, Canton, Cardiff

Saturdays 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th January

1-2.30pm – sessions for 3-5 year olds

2.30-4pm – sessions for 6-8 year olds.

An imaginative session of fun arts and crafts activities, with your little ones able to take home what they have made. Spaces are limited and must be pre-booked. Cost is £6 per child, which includes all materials.

 

FREE Dinky Dragons family day

The Cardiff Story, The Hayes, Cardiff

Friday 8th January, 10am-3pm

The Cardiff Story is a fascinating hands-on exhibition exploring the history of Cardiff. If you’ve never been before, we really recommend it. You can read our review here. If you have pre-schoolers, then the monthly Dinky Dragons free family fun days are great fun. Held on the second Friday of each month, between 10am and 3pm, there will be toys to play with, detective trails, crafts, messy play and rhyme time and story time at 11am and 1pm.

 

Toddler Day – Space Adventures

Techniquest, Cardiff Bay

Friday 8th January

Space adventures 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 over 100 exhibits, you can expect drawing, colouring and crafts with a space theme, as well as story time and a disco. Under 4s are free, with accompanying adults paying £5 entry.

If you’re visiting Techniquest at the weekends, then check out their family shows, Starman and his Dog, Search For Life and Destination Space.

 

FREE Star Attractions at the Museum

National Museum Cardiff

Saturday 16th January, 11am-4pm

A free fun-filled day of astronomical activities, shows and displays for all the family to tie in with BBC Stargazing Live. Explore the Museum’s meteorite collection, and use a impact simulator to discover the effects of a meteorite hitting your home town. There will be stands from local branches of the Astronomical Society, as well as 3D space shows and planetarium shows, and much more besides.

 

Calenning in Caerleon

National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon

Saturday 16th January, 2pm-4pm, £2 per person, drop in

Celebrating an old tradition found in this part of South Wales, this workshop will give you the chance to make a traditional new year’s gift of the Calenning apple.

 

Mosaic Workshop

National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon

Saturday 23rd January, 12pm-4pm, £3 per person, drop in

The Romans used mosaics to decorate the floor, but this workshop will give you the chance to male a coaster, pot stand or a picture in tile.

 

FREE I Spy… Nature Big Garden Birdwatch

Sunday 31st January, 11am, 1pm, 3pm (places limited, please book at the information desk on arrival)

A free day of family actitivies to coincide with the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch. Get to know the birds in your garden, join a guided family bird walk around the Museum to spot and identify some brilliant birds up-close. You can also make your own super tasty bird feeder to encourage birds into your garden.

 

FREE Fireside Story Telling – National Storytelling Week

St Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff

Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st January

Fireside storytelling for families. Listen to a tale or two in the warmth of the fire as St Fagans celebrates National Storytelling Week.

 

FREE Big Garden Birdwatch

St Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff

Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st January, 11am-1pm, 2pm-4pm

To coincide with RSPB’s Big Garden Bird Watch survey, St Fagans is hosting free family workshops where you can spot woodland birds and make a bird feeder to attract bird’s to your own garden.

 

THEATRE AND PERFORMANCE

Aladdin

New Theatre, Cardiff

Until 17th January

We absolutely loved Aladdin when we saw it before Christmas – you can read our review here.

 

The African Children’s Choir

St David’s Hall, Cardiff

Thursday 14th January, 7.30pm

An evening of musical entertainment from the African Children’s choir, which raises money to help build schools and deliver education throughout Africa in Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.

 

 

Comic Con Cymru

St David’s Hall, Cardiff

Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th January, from 11am

A weekend of autograph sessions, photo shoots, question and answer panels, comicbook artists, retro gaming, stalls full of collectables and memorabilia, plus loads more.

 

FILM

The big films showing in all the cinemas at the moment are The Good Dinosaur, and Snoopy and Charlie Brown: A Peanuts Adventure, I’m focussing here on the cheaper children’s weekend screenings and other one-off film showings.

 

Odeon Kids

Odeon Cinema, Red Dragon Centre Cardiff Bay

The 10am weekend showings are £2.50 per person. Films to be announced; films are usually a few months old rather than new releases.

 

Movies for Juniors

Cineworld, Cardiff

The 10am weekend showings are just £1.75 per person. Films to be announced; films are usually a few months old rather than new releases.

 

Frozen Sing-a-long (PG)

Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Saturday 9th January, 3pm; Sunday 10th January, 11am

A special screening of the famous Disney film, where you can sing along to the words on the screen as Anna sets off on an epic journey to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter. Dressing up as your favourite Frozen character is encouraged.

 

The Big Knights (U)

Film: Saturday 16th January, 11am; Sunday 17th January, 3pm

Animation workshop: Saturday 16th January, 1-4pm (age 5+)

 

In the far off land of Borovia, where dragons are fierce, witches are wicked, scientists are insane, the economy is bad, and television is in black and white, stands Castle Big: home of The Big Knights.

 

The Lady and the Tramp (U)

Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st January, 3pm

A chance to see the classic Disney tale of pampered pooch lady and the roguish and charming Tramp, on the big screen.

Do feel free to add any more family friendly events you know of in the comments section below, on the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page or by tweeting me on @cardiffmummy

Cardiff Mumy Says January 2016 events with text

2 Comments to 20 family-friendly events in and around Cardiff in January 2016

  1. Lots of great things here. We have Bear Monday’s to Thursday’s and lots of these Events are Friday’s, Saturday’s and Sunday’s if you hear of any toddler events that would suit us id love to know 🙂

    • Cardiff Mummy Says

      You should try Greenmeadow Farm in Cwmbran. They have toddler days on Tuesdays, starting again in February. I’ve not been to the toddler days but it’s such a fab place to visit. x

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