23 family-friendly events in and around Cardiff before the end of term

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Just three and a half weeks left until the schools break up for the summer. I’ll be producing weekly events guides over the holidays, but in the meantime, here are 23 family-friendly events in and around Cardiff.

Let me know if I’ve missed anything in the comments section below, on the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page or by tweeting me on @cardiffmummy

For more ideas for local family days out, see the Cardiff section of Cardiff Mummy Says or follow Cardiff Mummy Says on Instagram.

July events collage 1

Regular Toddler/Pre-school/Family days

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.

 

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 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.

 

Baby and Toddler Tuesdays

Greenmeadow Community Farm, Cwmbran

Every Tuesday

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 8th July, 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.

 

Under The Sea – Toddler Day

Techniquest, Cardiff Bay

Friday 8th July, 9.30am-4.30pm

Under the sea 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 seaside theme, as well as story time and a disco. Under 4s are free, with accompanying adults paying £5 entry. Read our review of a previous toddler day here.

 

Other events

FREE Wriggle – The Wonderful World of Worms

National Museum Cardiff

Until September 2017

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.

 

FREE Steampunk Weekend

Blaenavon Ironworks

Saturday 2nd-Sunday 3rd July, 10am-5pm

Tea duelling and the Steampunk Olympics, as well as talks, rapping, demonstrations and craft stalls all feature in this weekend celebration of the influence of Victorian style on the modern world.

 

FREE Tafwyl Fair

Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd July

Cardiff Castle

A celebration of the Welsh language and culture, with live music, children from local schools singing, arts and crafts, sports sessions and lots more.

 

 

Beyond the Border – Wales International Storytelling Festival

St Donats Arts Centre, Vale of Glamorgan

Friday 1st-Sunday 3rd July

Three days of stories and music from Wales and across the world, featuring over 100 performances on nine different stages. Storytelling, poetry, music, singing, theatre, circus, puppets and films, plus food and ale stalls, workshops for all ages, street theatre, story walks and a dedicated kidszone for family-friendly performances.

 

 

FREE Cardiff International Food and Drink Festival

Roald Dahl Plas, Cardiff Bay

Friday 8th-Sunday 10th July, 12pm-.945pm (until 7pm on Sunday)

As well as stalls from more than 100 local, national and international food and drink producers, you’ll also find craft and gift stalls and live music.

 

Speedway Grand Prix / Speedway Fanzone (free)

Principality Stadium, Cardiff from 3pm / City Hall Lawn 11am-4pm

Saturday 9th July

Cardiff hosts round 5 of the Speedway Grand Prix to find the world champion motorbiker, 5000CC bikes, speeds of over 70mph, single fixed gear and no brakes!.

The Fanzone features photo opportunities with the World Champion Trophies and Monster Energy Girls, Team Extreme BMC display, live DJ set from Huw Stephens plus more.

 

Vintage for Victory

Whitchurch Library Gardens, Cardiff

Friday 15th July, 5pm-10pm; Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th July, 10am-9.30pm

A celebration of life in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, Vintage for Victory will see live music, tribute bands, food and drinks stalls, a replica Spitfire and plenty more. 10% of ticket sales go to Cancer Research Wales.

 

Big Butterfly Count

Cwmcarn Forest

Saturday 16th July, 12.30pm-2.30pm

Explore the beautiful Cwmcarn Valley and record the different butterflies and moths seen, as part of a national survey. Adults £4, children £2.50; ages 6+.

 

Burt’s Magical Musical Kitchen

St David’s Hall, Cardiff

Saturday 16th and Monday 18th-Saturday 23rd July, 10.30am

Watch Bert and Cherry as they make a birthday cake live on stage, accompanied by live music from classical instruments. Part of the Welsh Proms season, the Tiddy Prom is an interactive and engaging show perfect for children aged 5 and under.

 

Quentin Blake – Inside Stories

National Museum Cardiff

Saturday 16th July-Sunday 20th November

Best-known for illustrating the wonderful world of Roald Dahl, but also famous for his own creations, Quentin Blake’s unique style is recognised worldwide. This exhibition includes rough drafts, story boards and finished works of some of his most famous characters, looking at how his ideas develop.

 

FREE Cadstock 2016 – Rock and Blues in Victoria Park

Victoria Park, Cadoxton Park, Barry

Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th July, from 1pm

A weekend of pop, rock and blues, as 10 local bands take to the stage. Also expect a bouncy castle, stalls, entertainment and refreshments at this free community music festival.

 

 

FREE Glamorgan Classic Car Show

St Fagans National History Museum

Sunday 17th July 10am-5pm

The Glamorgan Classic Car Club presents its annual show, giving visitors a chance to see some of Wales’s finest classic cars.

 

Family-friendly cinema screenings

I’m focussing on the cheaper early-morning film screenings here and special events, rather than the latest big films

 

Odeon Kids

Odeon Cinema, The Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay

The 10am weekend and half term 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, Mary Ann Street, Cardiff

The 10am weekend and half term 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.

 

Mini Mornings

Vue Cinema, Millennium Plaza, Cardiff

The 10am weekend and half term 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.

 

Chapter Arts Centre Cardiff

Family friendly film screenings of classic films, every weekend. See website for full listings.

 

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1 Comment to 23 family-friendly events in and around Cardiff before the end of term

  1. Kerry Norris

    I love these posts you do. It’s so easy to have them all in one place. I find it so tedious trying to find things to do normally. I’ll have to get to the museum x

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