22 family-friendly events in and around Cardiff this May bank holiday
We’ve only just had Easter and here we are with another long weekend! There’s plenty going on to keep you and the little ones entertained. Here are 22 events taking place in and around Cardiff.
As always, all events are subject to cancellation or change so do check ahead with the organisers to avoid any disappointment.
Let me know if I’ve missed anything.
For more ideas of days out in South Wales, see the Cardiff section of Cardiff Mummy Says, follow Cardiff Mummy Says on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Main picture: St Fagans National Museum of History
CHARITY
Llandaff Rowing Club, Cardiff
Monday 1st May, 11am-4pm
A fun-filled May Day celebration with stalls, fun fair rides, face painting, a BBQ, a beer and champagne bar plus plenty more, in aid of Welsh Hearts charity.
THEATRE, CULTURAL AND PERFORMANCE
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+
The Angel Hotel, Cardiff
Saturday 29th April, 10am-10pm
£5 adults, free for under 16s
Local board game shop Rules of Play hosts Wales’ biggest board gaming event. With activities for all ages and for newcomers and experienced gamers alike, there will be plenty for families, with a dedicated Kids Zone with child-friendly puzzles and award-winning family games.
St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Saturday 29th April and Sunday 30th April, 11.30am and 2.30pm
This show will take the audiance 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.
Bedwellty House, Tredegar
Friday 28th and Saturday 29th April, 12pm and 2.30pm
£16 per guest, ages 4+
A Beauty and the Beast-themed afternoon tea, with sweets and savouries inspired by the film.
MUSEUMS, SCIENCE AND HISTORICAL
From Wembley to Wales: Celebrating Cardiff City’s 1927 FA Cup Victory
The Cardiff Story, The Old Library, The Hayes
4th March-4th September 2017.
An exhibition celebrating 90 years of Cardiff’s famous football victory; discover more about the match, the players and the fans. The Cardiff Story is also home to two floors of fascinating hands-on exhibits about the history of the city, including dressing up and playing areas for children. Read more here.
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.
National Museum Cardiff
Until 3rd September 2017
Celebrating the bold and colourful work of one of Britain’s most important and internationally renowned abstract artists, this exhibition features major paintings from across Gillian Ayres’ career. In fact, this is the largest exhibition of her work ever seen in the UK. Children are welcome into the gallery and the paintings even feature specific labels for for young children aged under 5, displayed at children’s height and in a bright yellow colour.
FREE Mayday Bank Holiday Events
St Fagans National Museum of History
Saturday 29th April
South Wales Clarinet Choir, 12pm, 1pm and 2.30pm, St Teilo’s Church
Saturday 29th April-Monday 1st May
Make a May Crown, 11am-4pm, Cockpit, £2 per person
St Fagans Food Market and St Fagans Makers Market will also be open all weekend.
Monday 1st May
Traditonal folk dancing, 11.30am, 1pm, 2pm, Gwalia Green (upstairs in Oakdale if wet)
2pm session includes Raising the Maypole if weather is dry.
Read more of what to expect at St Fagans here. Please note parking costs £5, cash only.
FREE The Winding Engine
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.
Search For Life/Night and Day/Colourful Chemistry
Techniquest, Cardiff Bay
Saturday 29thApril-Monday 1st May, 10am-5pm
Adults £8, children 4-15 and concessions £6.50, family (2+3) £28. Planetarium shows £1.50 extra per person.
As well as all the hands-on science exhibits, Techiquest has three science shows running this weekend. Search for Life is the Planetarium show for ages 7+, exploring how life is thought to have started and where life has been found in some of the most extreme places. Night and Day, also in the Planetarium, is for under 7s and explores where the sun goes at night. Colourful Chemistry, in the science theatre, explores how colour changes occur in chemical reactions through fun experiments.
Read our review of Techniquest.
Medieval Mayhem
Caerphilly Castle
Sunday 30th and Monday 1st May, 10am-4pm
Adults £7.95, children and concessions £5.20, family (2+3) £23.70
Learn archery and sword skills as well as watching weapons displays and demonstrations with Bowlore medieval re-enactment.
Read our review of Caerphilly Castle.
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.
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.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS AND NATURE THEMED
Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay
Until 23rd May 2017
Sat 8 Apr 2017 – Tue 23 May 2017
The GreenHouse at Mermaid Quay has been built entirely of recycled materials. Flowers and vegetables are growing inside using the soil enhahncer mde from recycling the food waste from Mermaid Quay’s restaurants, cafes and bars.
FREE ADMISSION Picnic Penarth
Station Approach, Penarth, CF64 3EE
Sunday April 30th, 3pm-7pm
An afternoon of food and drink from local producers, accompanied by and music, with undercover seating provided.
FREE Cowbridge May Fair
The Bear Field, Cowbridge
Monday 1st May, 10am-5pm
A traditional May Fair, with maypole dancing, food stalls, bar/refreshment, tug-of-war, fairground attractions, and more. Some actives incur extra charges.
Learn To Play Croquet
Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan
Monday 1st May, 11am-5pm
Croquet is free but usual admission applies, adults £9.60, children £4.80, family £24, including gift aid
Members of Dyffryn Garden’s croquet team will be on hand to help visitors of all ages learn the ropes of the lawn game.
For more of what to expect at Dyffryn Gardens, read our review here.
Tredegar House, Newport
Saturday 29th April-Monday 1st May
During Screen-Free Week, a chance for children to tick seven things off the National Trust’s 50 Things to do Before You’re 11¾, including cooking on a campfire, bird watching, big hunting, making a grass trumpet, going on a barefoot walk, making a trail with sticks and exploring inside a tree.
For more of what to expect at Tredegar House, read our review here.
Mountain View Ranch, Caerphilly
Saturday 29th April-Monday 1st May, 9.30am-5pm
Adults and children £6 per person, under 18 months free, family of 4 £23, family of 5 £28
As well as more than 100 acres to explore, activities for the bank holiday weekend include goat walk at 9.45am; Gruffalo story 11am and 2pm; campfire and marshmallows 1pm-3.30pm, archery 12.30pm-3pm,
Read our review of Mountain View Ranch here.
Margam Park
Monday 1st May, 10am-5pm
Adults £7, children £5, family 2+2 £23. Parking free.
A family fun day featuring live entertainment and acts on an animal theme, such as Bjorn the Polar Bear and the Flying Dodos. There are no real animals on show; it’s all theatre.
For more of what to expect at Margam Park, read our review.
Greenmeadow Community Farm, Cwmbram
Monday 1st May, 10am-5pm
Adults £5.75, children 2016 and concessions £4.85, family 2+3 £21
As well as all the farm animals to see, there’s a full timetable of extra events, including milking demonstrations, tractor and trailer rides, cuddle corner with smaller animals, a chance to meet the farm’s new chicks, a pig washing event and arts and crafts. All included in the entry price.
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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Some fabulous ideas here, and I’m in Cardiff, Sunday. May pop into the museum.
Another to add, it’s Caerphilly food festival too x
Great list – so much to do this bank holiday! My partner and son are likely off to the tabletop event on Saturday, and we’re hoping to visit St Fagans on Sunday even though a little rain is predicted. I hope you have a lovely bank holiday weekend.