25 family-friendly events in and around Cardiff this May Bank Holiday weekend

If you’re looking for something to do over the Bank Holiday weekend, then there’s plenty of family-friendly events happening in and around Cardiff. There are family fun days, historical reenactments, nature events plus more. The Snoopy trail continues in aid of The Dog’s Trust, plus you’ve still got time to experience Wonderland at Newport Riverfront. Read on for more information about thee and more.
One of the main reasons I started Cardiff Mummy Says back in 2014 was because I kept on finding out about events after they’d happened. These listings are always some of the most popular posts I write, but I need your help to ensure they keep getting seen by parents, grandparents and carers looking to entertain their children. Please give me a like, comment or a share on social media, it makes such a difference. Thank you!
All events are subject to change or cancellation, please do check ahead with the organisers to avoid disappointment. Click on the name of the event to go to the relevant website.
Let me know anything I’ve missed in the comments below, or on the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page.
I also share lots of events on the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page, as well as Instagram Stories (see the Local Events highlight) and Twitter.
For more ideas of local days out, see the Cardiff section of Cardiff Mummy Says.
–
BANK HOLIDAY EVENTS
Candleston Castle Campsite, Merthyr Mawr, Bridgend
Saturday 30 April-Monday 2 May, 11am-3pm, 3pm-6pm (adults only 6.30pm-10pm)
Adults entry £5, children free
Street Food Circus proudly present Forest Feastival, an alfresco dining experience like no other. Get outdoors this spring, enjoy the flora and fauna of the Glamorgan heritage coastline. Walk the Big Dipper, Wales biggest sand dune, all the while working up a good appetite to come and feast under canvas in a magical woodland setting. An outdoor food court pitched up in a forest featuring the best street food trucks and chefs from Wales and beyond serving dishes of deliciousness. Eight weekends of outdoor feasting set under canvas amongst the woodlands of the Merthyr Mawr Estate. Adults-only evening sessions but families welcome during the day.
–
St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff
Saturday 30 April-Monday 2 May
Cost from £1; suitability Age 2-11
Visit the traditional fairground and experience the magic of a bygone era. Plus visit more than 50 historical buildings from across Wales, and the museum galleries.
–
Heath Park, Cardiff
Sunday 1 and Monday 2 May, 1pm-5pm
£2.20 entry per person plus £2.20 per ride; under 3s free
Cardiff Model Engineering Society opens its doors for the public with miniature train rides – steam, diesel and electric – and tram rides available. See website for further dates for 2022.
–
Whitchurch Common, Cardiff
Monday 2 May, 11am-5pm
Free entry, book tickets in advance
The popular event returns with a children’s fun fair, face painting, food and craft stalls, a licensed bar plus entertainment for all ages.
Organised by Calon Heart, the carnival is raising vital funds for heart screenings and life-saving defibrillators across Wales.
–
Margam Park, Port Talbot
Monday 2 May, 10am-5pm
Adult £11, children £9, family (2+2) £35, children 2 and under ree
Book online in advance
A day of dragon fun. Be captivated by the enormous Valerian Dragon; say hello to Sir Aurelious Jones the Pirate Knight and his partner in crime Epico the Dragon. Blizzard the Ice Dragon has flown in from the North, with a little frost on his wings, he will melt your heart. Enjoy the Tale of the Dragons Breath with Francis Maxey, international storyteller and join Sir Percival Knott the Dragon Keeper as he takes you on a journey of discovery. Look out for the Dragon Tamer Fire Performers after the shows. Join in the Giant Dragon balloon modelling workshop and be part of the balloon dragon parade.
–
FAMILY TRAILS
–
FREE The Dogs Trail Snoopy trail–
Across Cardiff, Caerphilly and Porthcawl
Until Sunday 5 June
To celebrate Dogs Trust’s new rehoming centre coming to Cardiff, A Dog’s Trail is a spectacular, free public art trail pawing its way across the city. For eight weeks the streets and parks of Cardiff, Cardiff Bay, Caerphilly and Porthcawl are home to a series of intricately decorated Snoopy sculptures, each designed by local, regional and national artists, designers and illustrators – both well-known favourites and newly emerging talent.
Each sculpture is sponsored by a business or individual and has its own tale to tell, many showcasing South Wales’ wealth of artistic talent whilst celebrating the vibrance, culture and creativity that the region has to offer. There’s 40 large snoopy sculptures to spot plus 75 smaller ones designed by local schools and community groups.
Download the A Dog’s Trail With Snoopy app to see their locations.
–
Riverfront, Newport
Until Saturday 7 May
Adults £8, concessions £6, family £23
Explore and discover the weird world of Wonderland. Nothing is quite what it seems and everything seems like it shouldn’t…
Go down the rabbit hole and crash the Mad Hatter’s tea party, navigate the underground woods, then watch yourself shrink and grow and walk on the ceiling and your world gets turned upside down and the impossible happens right before your eyes.
Wonderland is an interactive and immersive experience that takes the weird and often dreamlike strangeness of Carroll’s work and runs with it.
The experience is suitable for all ages but does include extensive ultra-violet lighting, occasional stroboscopic effects and smoke machines/hazers/dry ice.
Various time slots available; the experience lasts around one hour.
Read our full review of Wonderland here.
–
Dyffryn Gardens, St Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan
Until Sunday 15 May
Adults £11, child £5.50, family £27.50 (non Gift Aid prices) or free for National Trust members
Celebrate Judith Kerr’s much-loved children’s book with the Seven Stories touring exhibition of The Tiger Who Came To Tea.
Enjoy the outdoor trail, exploring the life of Tiger in the wild, before he met Sophie. Practice your roaring and jumping, try to spot the tiger tails hidden in the gardens and make sure you stop to take pictures at the tiger picture board.
Then recreate your own tiger tea party in the Morning Room with a pretend tea set and the tiger himself. In the Red Library see facsimile artwork of Judith Kerr’s illustrations and find out more about her artistic process.
–
Fonmon Castle, Rhoose
Open daily from 29 April
Adults £16.50, children £13, under 3s free; advance booking
Visit the dinosaur trail, learn about the pirates of Fonmon and more, wander through the medieval farm, explore the story telling trail and the Mad Hatter’s Garden, plus lots more.
–
Mountain View Ranch, Caerphilly
Saturday 30 April-Sunday 2 May, book a timed session in advance
Adults and children over the age of 2 £8, under 2s free, disabled/carers £6
With Ranch map in hand, navigate around the 100 acre site finding all the golden eggs and taking part in activities for all ages including two jumping pillows, soft archery, double zip wire, fairy forest, roly poly hill, tree houses, the vomit commit, the big big swing, Hobbit Hill, enchanted wood, adventure play area and the famous Gruffalo trail. Book online in advance.
–
HISTORICAL EVENTS
–
Resting at the Abbey during the Wars of the Roses – 1471
Tintern Abbey
Saturday 30 April-Monday 2 May, 10am-4pm
Standard admission applies, free to Cadw members
It’s 1471 and a company of archers and their families rest at the abbey in order to pay their respects to William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke. They set up camp in the grounds and continue to practice their civilian skills, such as fletching, spinning, dyeing, cooking, leather working, rush weaving and, of course, enjoying recreation in the tavern tent. One can even write! Come and see all this close up, and maybe try your hand at medieval board and dice games, or even braid making. Watch the cooks prepare the company’s meal, and question the arrow-smith and bowyer on their skills and kills.
–
Chepstow Castle
Saturday 30 April-Monday 2 May, 10am-4pm
Standard admission applies, free to Cadw members
Experience the sights and sounds of medieval life, as historical re-enactment group Bowlore takes over Chepstow Castle. Displays and demonstrations will take place throughout the day, with have-a-go archery and sword school for anyone who thinks they have what it takes to become a medieval knight (additional charge for these activities).
–
Blaenavon Ironworks
Saturday 30 April-Monday 2 May, 11am-4pm
Standard admission applies, free to Cadw members
No one can delight and disgust quite like the Ragged Victorians, portraying the daily life of the Victorian poor and industrial workers! From Peelers to rat-catchers to bare knuckle fighters, this is the real 1800s!
–
Castell Coch, Tongwynlais, Cardiff
Saturday 30 April-Monday 2 May, 11am-3pm
Standard admission applies, free to Cadw members
Traditional May Day activities including making a May Day crown of flowers plus listen to Aesop’s fables storytelling.
Must be booked online in advance.
–
FREE Wales is…Yr Urdd
St Fagans National Museum of History
Until Sunday 5 June 2022
Discover iconic objects that tell the history of the Urdd in this new display to mark the centenary of the Welsh language youth organisation.
When Ifan ab Owen Edwards established the Urdd in 1922 his aim was to promote and protect the Welsh language.100 years later the Urdd is the largest organisation for children and young people in Wales.
Objects on display include items from the first Urdd Eisteddfod, the first Peace and Goodwill Message, and memorabilia including the first Mistar Urdd to travel into space.
–
FARMS AND NATURE EVENTS
–
Cantref Adventure Farm, Brecon
Saturday 30 April-Monday 2 May, 10.30am-5pm
Meet Blue the Velociraptor and Spirit the Unicorn this bank holiday weekend. Plus help to bottle feed the lambs, take a tractor and trailer ride to see some of the larger animals on the farm and meet the small animals in the pet handling area, plus lots of indoor and outdoor play.
Newport Wetlands
Pond dipping
Saturday 30 April, 11am-12pm
£7 per child
Discover the underwater life at Newport Wetlands. The reserve’s knowledgeable team will be on hand to help with identification. You will have exclusive access to the pond dipping area and your own equipment and spotting sheets to help you identify the creatures you catch. Suitable for children of ages 4 and above and must accompanied by an adult.
Bug hunting
Saturday 30 April, 3pm-4pm
£7 per child
Join a bug hunt in our woodland. An expert guide will be on hand to help identify all the wonderful creatures that live at the reserve. You will have spotting sheets to help with identification and will record all these species as part of the City Nature Challenge weekend.
–
Greenmeadow Community Farm, Cwmbran
Monday 2 May, 10am-5pm
Bank holiday activities include cuddle corner where you can meet and hold some of the smaller animals, a milking demonstration, tractor and trail rides, pig washing, meet the giant rabbits plus animal eat time, as well as the usual farm attractions.
The farm is also open Saturday and Sunday, with a food and craft market on the Sunday.
FREE The Tweet Tree
The Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay
Until 2 May
The Red Dragon Centre has joined forces with RSPB Cymru to help make some noise for nature and bring even joy to customers through birdsong. Filled with sounds of some of the UK’s greatest songbirds, a specially-created Tweet Tree has sprouted inside The Red Dragon Centre this spring. The flourishing tree, located next to Cadwaladers coffee shop, will play the sounds of the great outdoors inside throughout April, between 9am-5pm daily. As well as spreading the happiness with its songs of spring, the Tweet Tree is also helping to raise awareness for Welsh wildlife. The RSPB track, Let Nature Sing, features the songs of many threatened and endangered birds – it has been released as a single by RSPB to help raise awareness of the shocking loss of 40 million birds from the UK in just 50 years.
–
ACTIVE FAMILIES
–
Ynys Angharad Park, Pontypridd
Saturday 30 April-Sunday 2 May
£2 per adult, children under 16, free; activity tickets £2.50
The open air swimming pool is open for the Easter holidays with swimming sessions bookable online in advance. The heated pools include an area for lane swimming and more relaxed swims, a splash pool for young children and water activities available for an additional £2.50 per person, including fun inflatables, Aqua Scooterz, Aqua Peddlerz and Water Walkerz.
–
Treetop Adventure Golf
St David’s Shopping Centre, Cardiff
Open daily
Even the miniest of mini golfers can trek the trails, with family discounts available. No need to book; just turn up and tee off.
–
Coedlan – Highropes at St Fagans
St Fagans National Museum of History
Saturday 30 April-Monday 2 May, 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.15pm, 3.15pm, 4.15pm
£15; participants must be at least 110cm tall and aged over 6. Children 110-130cm must be accompaniaed by an individiaul over 130cm and aged over 12.
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 net and a 50m zip wire.
–
SCIENCE EVENTS
–
Techniquest, Cardiff
Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May
Adults 16+ £10.90; children 3-15 £9.05; under 3s free; family £38.18. Science show £2 per person when booked in conjunction with general admission
Alongside more than 100 hands-on science exhibits, experience this live science show in Techniquest’s science theatre. Through a series of experiments, find out how humans are harnessing the forces of the natural world to overcome the many problems of flight.
–
Leave a Reply