38 family-friendly activities in and around Cardiff for March 2017
There’s so much going on for families in and around Cardiff this month. CBeebies star Justin Fletcher brings Justin’s Party to Wales Millennium Centre; the lambing season and #lambcam starts again at St Fagans National History Museum; and the fifth Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival takes place in venues across Cardiff.
Wales Millennium Centre, Techniquest, National Museum Cardiff, The Cardiff Story and Greenmeadow Farm all continue with their toddler days, with Parc Play joining the gang by bringing back its toddler days in time for spring.
Plus there’s plenty of special events for St David’s Day and Mothering Sunday.
I’ve rounded up everything I can find, but let me know if I’ve missed anything.
As always, all events are subject to change so do check with organisers to avoid disappointment.
This article is supported by Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival. The 5th annual festival takes place between Saturday 25th March and Sunday 2nd April 2017. Cardiff Mummy Says is a blogger ambassador for the event, which sees sessions with authors and illustrators taking place across the city. Tickets cost £4 per session and famous names on the programme include illustrator and author Nick Sharratt, Andy Stanton of Mr Gum fame, Hugless Douglas author David Melling, Welsh children’s poet Anni Llŷn, Lyn Gardner, Guardian journalist and children’s novelist, and TV presenters Lucy and Rhodri Owen with their new picture book Boo-a-Bog in the Park. You can read more about it here.
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Charity
The Noah’s Ark Teddy Bear’s Picnic
SSE SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff
Saturday 25th March, 11am-3pm
£7 per ticket
A family fun day to raise funds to help the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales. Music, entertainment and a packed lunch are included in the ticket price.
St David’s Day
FREE Cadw Free Entry on St David’s Day
Various locations across Wales
Wednesday 1st March
Castell Coch, Caerphilly Castle, Tintern Abbey, Chepstow Castle, Raglan Castle are among some of the Cadw monuments opening their doors for free in celebration of the Welsh patron saint on St David’s Day here. For a full list of participating venues, see the website.
National Museum Cardiff
Wednesday 1st March, 12pm
An open concert of traditional Welsh music.
FREE National St David’s Day Parade
City Hall, Cardiff, 12.30pm-2.30pm
Wednesday 1st March
An imaginative celebration of Welsh language, heritage and culture.
City Hall – assemble from 12, with the parade starting at 12.30pm and arriving in the Hayes at 1.15pm (full route available online). Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau will be sing at 1.45pm.
St David’s Day Lunch Time Concert
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
Wednesday 1st March, 1.15pm
£6 in advance, £8 on the day
A feast of traditional folk songs and well-known classics to celebrate St David’s Day, performed by the college’s singers and harpists.
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
Wednesday 1st March, 7.30pm
£15, concessions £13
An celebration of Welsh music from the colleges brass band, ranging from Karl Jenkins’ classic Stabat Mater and his popular Euphonium Concerto to tribues to Wales and Castell Coch, and favourites such as Men of Harlech and Sosban Fach.
Regular toddler/family days
Techniquest, Cardiff Bay
Friday 3rd March, 9.30am-4.30pm
Fairytale Frolics 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 fairytale-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 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.
Parc Play, Curran Embankment, Cardiff
Fridays 3rd, 10th and 17th March
Usual admission charges apply. No need to book.
Friday 3rd March, 10.30am and 2pm – Pony Fun
Friday 10th March, 10.30am and 2pm – Circus Antics
Friday 17th March, 10.30am and 2pm – Meet The Owls
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. Read our review of a previous Toddler Time here.
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.
FREE TODDLER TIME
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Friday 17th March, 11am-2.30pm
Singing, dancing, playing and crafts for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. No need to book – just turn up. See website for event timings.
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.
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 10th March, 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.
Theatre, culture and performance
Riverfront Arts Centre, Newport
Tuesday 7th March, 6,30pm
£11, concessions £9
Narrated excerpts of a dance version of the famous fairy tale, incorporating jazz, tap, Spanish, street, and singing.
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff
Saturday 4th March, 2.30pm and 5.30pm
Follow Alice and the White Rabbit as they set off on a colourful, topsy-turvy adventure in this imaginative and energetic musical stage production from Immersion Theatre,
Age guidance: 4+
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Friday 10th March, 1pm and 5pm
Saturday 11th March, 11.30am and 2.30pm
The familiar CBeebies presenter brings his new show to Cardiff, packed full of fantastic songs, dances and games, with plenty of surprises along the way.
Cardiff County and Vale of Glamorgan Junior Music Festival
St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Monday 13th March, 7pm
Musical ensembles from schools across Cardiff and the Vale unite for a night celebrating the talents of local young people. The night will include orchestras, brass bands, choirs, percussion and steel pans, as well as the delightful sound of over 20 harps, and a massed choir of primary school pupils.
Cardiff County and Vale of Glamorgan Music Service Spring Showcase 2017
St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Tuesday 14th March, 7pm
A showcase featuring the talents nurtured by Cardiff County and the Vale of Glamorgan Music Service, on the next stage of their journey, featuring orchestra, wind band, brass band, percussion, jazz, guitars and special guests.
FREE Junior Conservatoire Foyer Concert
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff
Saturday 18th March 1.45pm
Free and informal recitals given by the college’s talented junior musicians (aged 8-18) in the beautiful surroundings of the foyer.
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Thursday 23rd-Saturday 25th March, 7.30pm
A visually stunning production telling the story of two estranged brothers brought together by their mother’s death. Drawing parallels between their fraternal bitterness and the competition between the Soviets and Americans during the space race, this beautiful and enigmatic one-man show is a witty exploration of one of the great mysteries of our time.
Age guidance: 11+. No under 2s.
Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival
Venues across Cardiff
Saturday March 25th-Sunday April 2nd
Far too many events to list here! There are loads of free events across the city, but highlights of the ticketed events include Nick Sharratt discussing his popular picture books and first chapter book; Anni Llyn, the Welsh children’s poet; David Melling, the author of Hugless Dugless; Lyn Gardner discussing Rose Campion and the Stolen Secret; Welsh language pirate show Parti Ddu; and David Solomons discussing superheroes and alien overlords.
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Tuesday 28th-Thursday 30th March, 7.30pm
Friday 31st March, 5pm and 8pm
Saturday 1st April, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Showcasing the finest in traditional circus thrills and skills, Cirque Beserk! Brings it bang up to date in a jaw-dropping spectacular for all the family. Combining contemporary cirque-style artisty with adrenaline-fuelled stunt action, this international troupe includes over 30 jugglers, acrobats, aerialists, dancers, drummers, death-defying stuntmen, award-winning clown Tweedy – and legendary motorcycle Globe of Death.
Age guidance: 5+ (No under 2s)
The Riverfront, Newport
Wednesday 29th-Friday 31st March, 7.30pm
Saturday 1st April, 1pm an 7.30pm
The classic musical is performed by youngsters from the Children’s Academy of Stage Training (CAST). Join orphan Annie, her four-legged friend, Sandy and the vibrant team of naughty-ish(!) orphans. Watch them act, dance and sing their way through this magical musical journey, plotting their uprising against orphanage supervisor, Miss Hannigan and her henchmen. Each performance is from a different branch of CAST, see the website for details.
Museums, science and historical
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
Monday 13th March, 6.30pm-7.30pm
Adults £12, concessions £10 (currently buy one get one free)
Age guidance 10+
This interactive science show for families shows you how to use modern tools and technologies and things from your home to have fun and make a difference to the world around you. The robot-filled show is presented by electrical engineer Professor Danielle George MBE, and is produced by the Royal Institution, supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering.
FREE The Brain Games
National Museum Cardiff
Sunday 19th March, 11am-4pm
Cardiff University Brain Games returns to the National Museum, Cardiff for a 5th year of brainy fun! Learn all about the brain at this fun and interactive event. Flip your eyesight, feel the force of your brain and try out DIY brain surgery. Challenge your friends and family and collect points and prizes as you discover just what a human brain can do.
The Winding House, New Tredegar
Saturday 25th March, 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.
Llancaiach Fawr Manor, Treharris
Mothering Sunday 26th March
Normal admission charges apply, but free entry for mums
Themed activities in the historical manor house.
Miniature Railways and Tramways
Heath Model Railway, Heath Park, Cardiff
Sunday 19th March, 1pm-5pm
A chance for the whole family to ride on miniature steam, diesel and electric trains, plus a tram, as Cardiff Model Engineering Society open their doors. Entry is £1.60 per person and each ride is £1.60 per person. Under 3s are free.
The great outdoors and nature-themed
St Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff
Wednesday 1st-Friday 31st March
Celebrate the start of spring with the museum’s annual baby boom in the lambing shed. You can also follow the progress of the mums and babies live on #lambcam https://museum.wales/lambcam/
Please note, contact with sheep during lambing time can pose a health risk to pregnant women, so read the NHS guidelines before coming to meet the sheep. The museum operates a no-touch policy to protect the heavily pregnant ewes, the new mums and their offspring. All healthy lambs will be fed by their mothers. Any additional bottle feeding for vulnerable lambs will be carried out as required by the farm team, and will not be offered as a public activity.
Cwmcarn Forest
Saturday 25th March
£5.50 per adult, £3 per child
Booking essential
A five-mile walk taking in spectacular views of the Nantcarn Valley, and to see new views of the area which have opened up since felling at the forest. See our review of our day out at Cwmcarn Forest here.
Free entry for mums and grandmothers
Greenmeadow Community Farm, Cwmbran
Mothering Sunday, 26th March
Mums and grandmothers can visit the farm park for free.
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
Saturday 4th and 18th March – Ballerina
Saturday 11th March – A Monster Calls
A cinema club where for one hour before the 3pm family film, children can take part in a number of craft activities relating to the film. Spaces limited so pre-booking is advisable.
Carry On Screaming screenings
A chance for parents with babies under one to see ‘grown up’ films at 11am every Friday.3rd March – Certain Women (12A)
Friday 10th March – Hidden Figures (PG)
Friday 17th March – Viceroy’s House (12A)
Friday 31st March – Denial (12A)
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