31 things to do in and around Cardiff in half term May 2015

Where has this year gone?! It’s almost the school holidays once again and if you are wondering how to entertain your little ones over the bank holiday weekend and the coming week, then look no further. Here’s 31 things to do in and around Cardiff in half term May 2015. Let me know if I have missed anything and I’ll do my best to add it in. Enjoy! 

Theatre, music and performance

* Welsh National Opera’s Peter Pan, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay

Saturday 23rd May, 630pm, and Sunday 31^st May, 4pm

Age guidance 8+. Running time, 2 hours 5 minutes with one interval

A great introduction to opera for anyone over the age of eight, this isn’t the sanitised, saccharine Peter Pan we know so well. Instead, the danger, delightful anarchy and vibrancy of JM Barrie’s original story is brought to the stage in a fast-paced and thrilling production. Before the shows, there will be free Peter Pan-themed family activities in the Centre.

*The Wizard of Oz, New Theatre, Cardiff

Wednesday 27^th– Sunday 31^st May

Wednesday – Saturday 2.00pm & 7.00pm,Sunday 2.00pm

Cardiff’s Orbit Theatre present the classic tale of Dorothy and her dog Toto as they travel the yellow brick road on the way to the Emerald City. Includes all the classic songs made famous  by the film, such as Over The Rainbow, Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead and We’re Off To See The Wizard.

http://www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk/what’s-on/orbit-theatre-the-wizard-of-oz/

*Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Junior, Dinas Powys Parish Hall

28^th-30^th May, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm matinee on the Saturday

Talented youngsters from the of Vale of Glamorgan’s Billboard Ensemble bring to life the beautiful story full of love, with a host of fantastic musical numbers and the much-loved characters from the Disney movie. Adults £9, child/OAP £7, family £30 (2+2)

https://www.facebook.com/events/1378138155850235/

*FREE! The Mavron Quartet Half Term Family Concert, The Gate Arts Centre, Keppoch Street, Roath

Wednesday 27^th May, 1pm

The Mavron Quartet’s free family concerts are a regular fixture during school holidays, with families and children of all ages invited to explore a wide range of music and activities and experiment with musical ideas.

http://www.thegate.org.uk/event/the-mavron-quartet-half-term-family-concert/

CINEMA

*Cinderella (U), Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Saturday 23^rd-Sunday 24^th May, 11am and 3pm

This is Disney’s real action version of the tale of Ella, who finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and stepsister when her father unexpectedly dies. An invitation to the palace ball gives her hope she may reunited with a dashing stranger she met in the woods, with the help of a fairy godmother played by Helena Bonham Carter.

http://www.chapter.org/cinderella-u

*Kids’ Film Club, Odeon, Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay

Saturday 23^rd-Thursday 28^th May (films not yet available from the 29^th onwards)

A chance to see Big Hero 6, Cinderella, Paddington and The Box Trolls for just £2.50 per ticket as part of Odeon’s Kids’ Club, every day of the school holidays and at the weekend.

http://www.odeon.co.uk/kids/

*Movies for Juniors, Cineworld, Cardiff

Saturday 23^rd– Thursday 28^th May (films not yet available from the 29^th onwards)

Movies for Juniors screenings cost just £1.75 per person over the holidays and at the weekends. This half term, you can see Sean The Sheep, Annie and Big Hero 6.

http://www.cineworld.co.uk/whatson?cinema=cardiff

For pre-schoolers

*Music With Mummy / Jolly Babies – Stay and Play

Monday 25^th May, 9.30am-11.30am, Bethany Baptist Church Hall, Heol Uchaf, Rhiwbina

Wednesday 27^th May, 9.30am-11.30am, Undy Community and Church Hall, Church Road, Undy

Friday 29^th May, 9.30am-11.30am, The Ararat Centre, Plas Treoda, Whitchurch

If you’ve got pre-schoolers, it can be frustrating in the school holidays when all the classes stop running and all the parks and softplays are full of big kids. Beth from Music With Mummy North Cardiff and Caldicot will be running playgroup-style stay-and-play session for the under five this week, featuring a music session. It costs £3.20 per family and places must be pre-booked.

*Discotots Pirates and Princesses Parties

Thursday 28^th May, 10am Whitchurch, 2pm Penarth

A chance to get dressed up and disco dancing with percussion instruments and games.

Suitable for ages walking to four. Must be pre-booked. Tickets costs £7 (walking siblings are £2 extra, adults and babes in arms free)

https://www.facebook.com/Discotots

Creative

*FREE All Hands On Deck, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay

Tuesday 26^th-Saturday 30^th May, 11am-4pm

Ahoy, me hearties! Following the success of Home Sweet Home, where visitors helped to create a cardboard city, comes the chance to build a giant cardboard pirate ship in the Centre’s Glanfa foyer. The ship will grow over the week, until it is ready to sail the seven seas. The event is free, you can just turn up on the day (although best to arrive early as spaces may be limited).

*FREE Design Your Science Gallery, National Museum Cardiff

Saturday 23^rd to Sunday 31^st May 2015, 11am-4pm (the museum is closed on Mondays)

A chance for families to get creative in this free, drop-in session. Children can show the museum what they’d like to see in a new Natural Sciences Gallery.

http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/cardiff/whatson/?id=8067

*FREE Create Your Own St Fagans Artefact, St Fagans National History Museum

Monday 25th May, 11am, 1pm & 3pm

This unique workshop, run by ceramics and illustration students from Cardiff School of Art and Design, will encourage exploration of the history of objects at the St Fagans and give them the chance to create their very own ‘St Fagans artefact’ using clay dug from the museum site.

Workshops are free but must be booked at the cockpit on arrival. Suitable for 5+, and last for about an hour.

http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/stfagans/whatson/?id=8280

*FREE Family Craft Session, Cardiff Story Museum

Wednesday 27^th May

If you haven’t yet been to the Cardiff Story yet, then do – it’s such an interesting, interactive and free place to visit, suitable for all ages. This Wednesday sees a family craft day, where little ones can get creative for just £1.

https://www.facebook.com/cardiffstory?ref=ts&fref=ts

*Natural Vase Workshop, Cwmcarn Forest Drive

Friday 29^th May, 10am-2.15pm

Create your own natural flower vase using a glass jar and natural materials from the forest Bring along a clean jar. Booking essential; £3 per child, ages 4 and above.

http://your.caerphilly.gov.uk/cwmcarnforest/events/events

History and natural history

*FREE Natural History Open Day, National Museum Cardiff

Saturday 23 May, 10am-4pm

The museum is inviting families to celebrate International Day of Biodiversity with its scientists. You can explore dozens of natural history objects or join a behind-the-scenes tour to discover even more – and all for free.

http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/cardiff/whatson/?id=8066

*FREE Toys in the Schoolyard, St Fagans National History Museum

Tuesday 26^th, Thursday 28^th and Friday 29^th May, 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm

How did children play before the days of plastic and computers? Stop by the Victorian school house for an opportunity to play with some of the toys in the schoolyard. Free, suitable for families.

http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/stfagans/whatson/?id=8016

*FREE Food In War, St Fagans National History Museum

Tuesday 26^th, Thursday 28^th and Friday 29^th May, 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm

In this free drop-in session you can learn more about the food industry during the First World War and have a go at making butter, which was a key ingredient for many meals.

http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/stfagans/whatson/?id=8017

*Slings and Arrows, National Roman Legion Museum

Monday 25th–Friday 29th May, 11am-3pm

Make a working model of a catapult and try out archery and get a taste of what life was like for the Romans, who refined these into long-range weapons that could throw large stones.

Entry to the museum is free but Slings and Arrows costs £2 per person.

http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/roman/whatson/?id=7839

Science

*Fire and Ice, Techniquest, Cardiff Bay

Saturday 23^rd-Sunday 31^st May

Fire and Ice is the theme at Techniquest this half term, with a spectacular show that discovers what happens when things when get hot and cold. You’ll discover whether ice burns and how to turn a banana into a hammer with liquid nitrogen. You can also explore space in Wales’s only digital planetarium, not to mention getting hands-on with the 120 exhibits that make science fun. The Fire and Ice show is in addition to regular ticket prices.

Welsh language

*Miri Meithrin, Canton Community Hall

Thursday 28^th May, 9.30am-11.30am

Arts and crafts, a bouncy castle, and a performance from Heini plus more are on offer at this Welsh language play session. Non-Welsh speaking parents are welcome. £3.50 a child/baby.

For more information, email marirhys@mentercaerdydd.org

*Urdd Eisteddfod, Llancaich Fawr Manor, Caerphilly

Monday 25^th-Saturday 30^th May

More than 45,000 children will take part in the Urdd Eisteddfod, making it one of the biggest youth festivals in Europe. As well as competitions in dancing, music, poetry recitation and singing, there will be activities, stalls, an open air theatre and a funfair.

http://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/Things-To-Do/Events/Regular-Events/Urdd-Eisteddfod

Outdoor events

*Miniature Railways and Tramways, Heath Model Railway, Heath Park, Cardiff

Sunday 25^th and Bank Holiday Monday 25^th May, 1pm-5pm

The miniature railway is a great family day out, for all ages. You can rides on miniature steam, diesel and electric trains, plus a tram. Entry is £1.50 per person and each ride is £1.50 per person. Under 3s are free.

http://www.cardiffmes.com/

*Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival

Sunday 24^th-Monday 25^th 2015

There’s plenty to keep children entertained at Cowbridge’s famous Food and Drink festival this bank holiday. From light-hearted competitions such as best animal made out of a vegetable and spaghetti sculpture, to best garden in a shoebox and ugliest vegetable, each category is divided into Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, with prizes on offer for the top three in each category. Tickets cost £5 per day or £8 for the weekend, with under 12s admitted for free.

www.cowbridgefoodanddrink.org

*South Wales Dog and Family Fun Day, Fonmon Castle Showground, Vale of Glamorgan

Bank Holiday Monday 25th May, 9am-5pm

This family-friendly day out combines fun dog shows with a fairground, donkey rides, a chance to meet a host of popular children’s characters, falconry displays, a laser gun combat zone and a chance to meet exotic animals, plus much more. Entry costs from £10 per car, with full pricing structure on the website.

http://www.fonmoncharitydogshow.com/

*Bank Holiday Super Hero Family Fun Day, Margam Park

Bank Holiday Monday 25th May

A chance to meet SpiderMan, Iron Man, the Hulk, and Anna, Elsa and Olaf from Frozen. Also features the Margam Kite Festival, plus Wonder Woman Hula Hoop Show, a vintage circus, Tangent Man, and Welsh superhero, Pontycanna Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Archive. Come dressed as your favourite super hero.

Admission charges apply. Adults £6, children/OAP £4, family (2 plus 2) £19, (under-3s are free).
https://www.facebook.com/events/1585001818410526/

*FREE Story time with Disney Junior’s Doc Mcstuffin and Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Margam Park

Wednesday 27^th May, sessions in the castle at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm

A meet and greet and photo opportunity with a story read by storyteller.

Plus ‘Bird Brains’ Discovery Centre at 10.30am-2.30pm where you can contribute to a wildlife recording with a guided bird walk!

https://www.facebook.com/events/906188472744826/

*Wildlife Week, Dyffryn Gardens

Saturday 23^rd to Sunday 31^st May

This half term is dedicated to all things wild. Highlights include getting creepy crawly with make-it Monday and 50 things Wednesday. Normal admission costs apply.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dyffryn-gardens/things-to-see-and-do/events/

*Half term events at Mountain View Ranch, Caerphilly

Saturday 23^rd-Sunday 31^st May, 9.30am-5pm

Daily events over the holiday include the Gruffalo story, meet the rabbits, archery, campfire and marshmallow toasting, plus high ropes and segway at an additional cost for the more adventurous.

www.mountainviewranch.co.uk

*FREE Spring Family Activity Day, Bute Park Education Centre, Cardiff

Tuesday 26th May, 11am or 1.30pm

With a reading of Brambley Hedge – The Spring Story by Jill Barklem, participants will then head out into the park to look for spring flowers and enjoy outdoor activities, followed by a mini fruit and cake picnic and arts and crafts activities. For ages 3+. Booking is essential on 029 2087 2730 or butepark@cardiff.gov.uk

http://bute-park.com/tribe_events/spring-family-activity-day-in-bute-park/

*Butterfly Feeder Workshop, Cwmcarn Forest Drive

Wednesday 27^th May, 10am-2.15pm

A chance to understand more about nature by creating your own butterfly feeder for the garden. Booking essential; £3 per child, ages 4 and above.

http://your.caerphilly.gov.uk/cwmcarnforest/events/events

*FREE WITH A CASTLE KEY Dragon Tales, Cardiff Castle

Thursday 28th May, timed slots

Cardiff Castle will be taken over by dragons with dragon-themed storytelling and dragons on the loose. No need to book in advance. The sessions are free but normal admission applies, or a valid Castle Key.

http://www.cardiffcastle.com/whats-on/

*Parrot Pandemonium, Cardiff Castle

Friday 29^th May, timed slots

A chance to meet beautiful birds up close, including macaws, cockatoos, African greys and a kookaburra. Limited availability, tickets are £3 per person in addition to normal admission or a valid Castle Key. You can book via 029 2087 8100 or in person at the ticket office.

http://www.cardiffcastle.com/whats-on/

Sports

Holiday Soccer School, Gol Centre, Cardiff

Tuesday 26^th-Friday 29^th May, 8.30am-12pm/3.30pm/5.30pm

A chance for children to brush up on their soccer skills in either Welsh or English, from £7 per half day.

http://www.golcentres.co.uk/creo_files/upload/main/g%C3%B4l_half_term_soccer_schools_may_2015.pdf

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