35 family-friendly events in and around Cardiff for September 2016
The schools are back, pre-school classes are starting again, and life is getting back to normal after the summer. As always, there’s plenty of family-friendly events taking place in Cardiff and the surrounding areas.
The big event this month is City of the Unexpected, which will see celebrations across Cardiff marking the centenary of the birth of Roald Dahl, on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th September. More detailed information below.
Lots of the regular toddler and pre-school days are back running again, including Techniquest, Cardiff Story, Wales Millennium Centre, National Museum Cardiff and Greemeadow Farm. Again, all the details are below.
September also sees significant buildings across Wales giving free entry for Open Doors. There’s too many events to list here, but you can find a full list on the Cadw website.
I hope you find something to inspire you and your little ones! And please spread the word to other local parents you know. I’m always so grateful to people who like, comment or share any of these events postings – because Facebook does its best to hide me from people’s timelines and without regular interaction, I’ll disappear from your news feed!
Please remember all events are subject to change so check with the organisers to avoid disappointment.
Follow the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page for more ideas of local family-friendly activities, visit the Cardiff section of Cardiff Mummy Says, follow Cardiff Mummy Says on Instagram or @cardiffmummy on Twitter
CHARITY
Cardiff Bay Barrage
Sunday 18th September, 9.30am-2pm
Support Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales with a family-friendly walk of either 3K or 10K across Cardiff Bay barrage. The day will begin with a Zumba warm-up. Ffancy dress is optional, and the route suitable for buggies, wheelchairs and dogs. £5 registration per person includes a t-shirt and bottle of water. Minimum sponsorship, £35.
Ynysmaerdy Community Centre
Sunday 18th September, 10am-1pm
Little ones (and parents, if they wish!) can cycle between one and five miles for 2 Wish Upon A Star, which supports bereaved parents. The cycle path is safe, away from traffic and will be fully marshalled. The charity’s elephant mascot, Gorgeous George, will be attending, and there’s also a bouncy castle, lucky dip, cakes and refreshments. Registration costs £5 or £10 to include a t-shirt.
World’s Biggest Coffee Morning
Parc Play, Cardiff
Friday 30th September, 10am-2pm
Regular toddler/family days
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. September and October see Roald Dahl-themed events each weekend.
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 during term time, 2pm
Free workshops give families the chance to find out more about objects from the museum and take part in a crafty activity.
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 9th September, 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.
FREE Story and Rhyme Time in Welsh for Babies
Big Pit National Coal Museum
Thursdays during term time,10am-11.30am
Storytelling and singing for parents and babies, through the medium of Welsh, as well as soft play equipment for youngsters. Suitable for 0-4 years. In partnership with Menter Iaith Blaenau Gwent.
Ongoing events
The Wondercrump World Of Roald Dahl
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Friday 16th August to 14th January 2017
£8-£9
A magical and interactive journey, learning about Roald Dahl’s extraordinary life and the surprising inspiration for his most famous characters and stories. The guided tour features interactive installations, chance to test your own powers of creativity as well as unique items from the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre archives.
Ages 7+; the guided group experience lasts around one hour; maximum of three children per adult.
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.
Treasures: Adventures in Archaeology
National Museum Cardiff
Until Sunday 30th October 2016
Adults £7, concessions £5, 16s and under free – book online beforehand
An Egyptian mummy, Roman treasures, a crystal skull from the film India Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, plus human skulls from Viking-age burials on Anglesey are among key exhibits in this celebration of archaeological discoveries. The museum is not open on Mondays. Read our review here.
FREE Quentin Blake: Inside Stories
National Museum Cardiff
Saturday 16th July-Sunday 20th November 2016
The famous illustrator of children’s books gives an insight into his creative process, with sketches, drafts and finished pictures of some of his most famous characters. Read our review here.
Other events
Techniquest, Cardiff Bay
Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September
The hands-on science centre welcomes a host of animals, wildlife, reptiles and birds for its annual Animal Weekend. Visitors can hold an owl, learn how to fish, meet reptiles, plus lots more. Usual entrance fees apply.
FREE Gobblefunk
Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay
Saturday 10th-Sunday 25th September
10 made up words dotted around Mermaid Quay, in celebration of the centenary of Roald Dahl’s birth. You can also have a go at making up your own words. There will also be Roald Dahl colouring and a quiz for children each weekend.
The activities are free, although donations for some of Roald Dahl’s community outreach programmes are appreciated.
FREE Food Festival
St Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff
Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September 2016, 10am-5pm
More than 80 food, drink and craft stalls showcase the best Welsh and international produce, with family-friendly activities during the festival include circus workshops, model cows to milk, and historic cooking displays. Across the museum, there’s also foraging, fly fishing, beekeeping and brewing, with flavours from the Iron Age to 1950s post-war Wales.
Blaenavon Heritage Community Concert
Blaenavon Ironworks
Saturday 10th September, 6.30-pm-8.30pm
Blaenavon Town Band, Male Voice Choir, Ladies Choir, Welsh Dancers and the Pashy Pops singers present an evening of family-friendly entertainment in aid of the Mayor’s charities and Royal British Legion. £3 adults, £5 family. Available from the Ironworks shop.
FREE Open Doors Weekend
Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan
Tredegar House, Newport
Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September
Free entry at the National Trust houses and gardens, as part of Cadw’s Open Doors Weekend.
FREE Experience a birthday party at Hamleys
Hamleys, St David’s shopping centre, Cardiff
Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September, 12-4pm – Tea Party with rag dolls and toy soldiers
Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th September, 12-4pm – Pirates and Princess party
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September, 12-4pm – Luvlies party
Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd October, 12-4pm – Superheroes party
Experience the thrill of a Hamleys birthday party with fun, magic, theatre and party games.
If you book your party by 2nd October, the birthday child will receive a free toy to the value of £75 for parties of 10 children or more.
Expect big queues and get there early!
Miniature Railways and Tramways
Heath Model Railway, Heath Park, Cardiff
Sunday 11th September, 1pm-5pm
Cardiff Model Engineering Society open their doors, meaning the whole family can ride 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.
Greenmeadow Community Farm, Cwmbran
Sunday 11th September, 10am-5pm
An action packed family fun day, including old fashioned races (egg and spoon, three-legged etc), duck agility and pig racing, plus a show from Airborne, involving thrilling stunts on bikes and a tightrope.
Techniquest, Cardiff Bay
Friday 16th September, 9.30am-4.30pm
When I Grow Up 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 more than 100 exhibits, you can expect themed drawing, colouring and crafts, as well as story time and a disco. Under 4s are free, with accompanying adults paying £5.50 entry. Read our review of a previous toddler day here.
FREE Beachwatch – The Great British Beach Clean
Ogmore Beach
Saturday 17th September, 11.30am-3.30pm
11.30pm-1pm – Biologists and geologists from National Museum Wales will be leading free science and art beach activities for families, including finding rockpools and fossils. Must be pre-booked.
2pm-3.30pm – beach clean and survey. Equipment provided. No need to book.
Parking at the beach costs around £5 for the day.
Various locations across Cardiff
Saturday 17th September, 1pm-9.30pm
Look out for unexpected happenings on the streets and buildings of Cardiff throughout the city…but don’t be fooled, not everything is what it seems! The locations will be revealed during the day.
(There are also readings from Roald Dahl’s books taking part in strange and unusual venues across the city. Tickets cost £10 but are currently sold out.)
FREE The Great Pyjama Picnic – City of the Unexpected
Coopers Field, Bute Park
Sunday 18th September, 2pm-5pm
Put on your PJs, bring a picnic, and enjoy a Roald Dahl themed afternoon of music, food and stories. Beca Lyne-Pirkis of Great British Bake Off fame will be judging a picnics competition, with four categories – Most Dahlian Picnic, Most Revolting Picnic, Most Beautiful Picnic and Most Unexpected Picnic.
FREE Telescope Workshop
National Museum Cardiff
Saturday 24th September, 10am-4pm
Advice on using a telescope, plus a prize trail to explore the museum’s display of space rocks. In partnership with Cardff Astronomical Society.
Margam Park, Port Talbot
Sunday 18th September, 11am
Classic cars, military vehicles, buses and more, feature in The Big Wlsh Car Show, raising money for the charity Blood Wise. Other highloghts include the Rockwood Dog Display Team, a funfair for the children, craft stalls and entertainers, plus show your strength in the Big Welsh Car Show Car Pull. Adults £10, seniors £7. Children under 16 free with a paying adult.
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September
St Fagan’s National History Museum
12pm (Welsh language), 1.30pm, 3pm
£5 per person
Was Boudicca a guardian of her people or a warmongering woman with a taste for Roman blood? With the Romans having invaded most of Wales and England, Boudicca insisted on fighting for her cause, and for the freedom of her people. But what difference did the red-haired leader make in the end? The family-friendly show takes place in Bryn Eryr, the Iron Age roundhouse.
Hollywood Bowl, The Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September
As well as all the usual fun of bowling, families can enjoy extra inclusive treats including face painting, glow bowling, balloons and treasure hunts. Usual bowling charges
FREE Newport Family Cycling Festival
Newport Wetlands and Tredegar House
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September
Newport Wetlands, Tredegar House and Sustrans present a weekend for young cyclists and their families.
The Saturday (3pm-5pm) sees the chance to have your bike transported from Tredegar House to Newport Wetlands for a guided family ride and a pond dipping session.
Sunday (11am-4pm) sees a 20 mile round trip from Tredegar House to Newport Wetlands, via the Newport Transporter bridge. Participants must be a minimum of 12 years of age.
Bedwellty House, Newport
Sunday 25th September, 2pm-5pm
An afternoon of whizzpopping fun to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Roald Dahl, with a children’s afternoon tea, storytelling, and craft activities inspired by some of the author’s most famous characters.
Sherman Cymru
Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th September
Age 7+. £9 a ticket.
Michael Morpugo’s enchanting tale is brought to life by award-winning performer and storyteller Danyah Miller. Despite being warned to stay away by their parents, Gracie and Daniel begin to unravel the mysterious Birdman’s secrets, the villages’ fears and superstitions and learn why the whales came to the island.
Lindbury Gallery, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
Friday 30th September-Friday 28th October
Jaw-dropping creations from the college’s theatre designers in this annual exhibition of giant paper sculptures, all made from recycled items.
Family-friendly 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. Tuesday 13th September sees Scratch’n’Sniff Matilda, James and The Giant Peach, and The Witches; Esio Trot and Fantastic Mr Fox on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th September; and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on Monday 19th September. Plus Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September.
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