60+ family-friendly events in and around Cardiff for Easter holidays 2022
Wow, we are really spoiled for choice when it comes to family-friendly events this Easter. Looks like everywhere is making up for the last two years of lockdown.
These school holidays see a number of fab family trails, with The Dog’s Trust Snoopy Trail bringing painted sculptures of the famous character to locations across Cardiff, Caerphilly and Porthcawl; and St David’s Centre hosting Brick Live Nick Jr trail, featuring Lego models of some of the channel’s favourite characters including Paw Patrol, Blaze and the Monster Machines, and Shimmer and Shine. Also Wonderland at Newport’s Riverfront looks great – an immersive Alice in Wonderland experience suitable for all the family, while Dyffryn Gardens has a trail celebrating the much-loved The Tiger Who Came To Tea, and the Vale of Glamorgan has a Harry Potter-themed golden egg hunt.
Theatre for little ones includes Zog and The Flying Doctors at St David’s Hall, Horrible Histories at the Sherman Theatre and the Twirlywoos at the Riverfront.
Plus there’s lots of craft activities, outdoor events, historical re-enactments and more and of course plenty of Easter egg hunts and Easter-themed craft events.
One of the main reasons I started Cardiff Mummy Says 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!
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.
Easter-themed events
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Mountain View Ranch, Caerphilly
Saturday 9-Sunday 17 April
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.
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RSPB Newport Wetlands
Saturday 9-Sunday 24 April
£2 per trail pack; entry to the Wetlands is free but you will need to pay £4 for parking
An egg hunt like no other. Meet Gwen the goose and help to find her missing eggs. Along the way there will be activities and puzzles to complete and learn about the wetland creatures making their home on this special reserve.
No need to book; includes a trail activity booklet and a Gwen the goose mask.
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Cantref Adventure Farm, Brecon
Saturday 9-Sunday 24 April, 10.30am-5pm
Adults and children over 93cm £13, children under 93cm £6, non-walking babies free
Indoor and outdoor play, animals plus shows every half hour. Includes a daily Easter egg hunt, bottle feeding lambs, pet handling, tractor and trailer rides, Mr Ev’s Easter Show and more. Book online in advance.
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Greenmeadow Community Farm, Cwmbran
Saturday 9-Sunday 24 April, 10am-5pm
Adults £6.50, children £5.40, family (2+2) £23.50
A chance to see spring chicks, lambs and kid goats. Daily activities during the Easter holidays includes cuddle corner with some of the farm’s smaller animals, tractor and trailor riding, candling and handling (an amazing Easter activity where you get the opportunity to see a chick inside its shell using a special torch and learn all about chick life cycles), goat play; meet, greet and groom ponies and donkeys, meet the giant rabbits, plus animal teatime.
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FREE The Golden Egg Treasure Hunt
Across the Vale of Glamorgan
Sunday 10-Sunday 24 April
In the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter won a golden egg during the first task of the Triwizard Tournament and treasured it, taking his golden egg everywhere with him. Now, the Vale of Glamorgan Council in partnership with Beach Academy are challenging you to find 10 shining replicas of Harry’s Golden Egg at 10 amazing coast and countryside locations around the Vale of Glamorgan and take a photo of it in each location. Find and visit all 10 locations (between 10-24 April) to complete an online quiz for the chance to win the Golden Egg used in the photographs (a replica worth £70) plus a two day trip to London including a Family Studio Tour at Harry Potter World and overnight hotel stay including breakfast for a family of four. Register online to be emailed a treasure hunt pack or download one online.
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Easter Chocolate Making Workshop
Royal Mint Experience, Llantrisant
Saturday 9, Sunday 10, Thursday 14 and Friday 15 April, 12pm and 1.45pm
£15 (not including tour experience)
Get creative with chocolate this Easter, as the Royal Mint Experience partners with Chocolate House to offer a fun chocolate-making experience for children. Children will decorate an egg-shaped brownie with chocolate and Easter treats, make a chocolate lollipop with an edible Easter print, and design their own biscuit featuring the Easter bunny.
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FREE Easter Crafts
Margam Park, Port Talbot
Monday 11 and Thursday 14 April, 11am-3pm
Entry to the park is free, parking £6.80
Join in an Easter crafts session while exploring the country park. 11am-3pm in the Castle. Free – donations welcome.
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The Tail Of Peter Rabbit storytelling experience
The Royal Mint Experience, Llantrisant
Easter Monday 18-Thursday 21 April
£5 or included when you book the guided Royal Mint Experience
An interactive family workshop, storytelling and family trail, with five interactive storytelling sessions running every day. Each session involves fun activities during storytelling breaks, join the team in raiding McGregor’s garden, escape the sieve before being caught by McGregor and there are three other activities to get their imagination racing.
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Dyffryn Gardens, St Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan
Monday 11-Easter Monday 18 April 10am-4pm (no need to book)
A family-friendly trail with activities to complete and a chocolate reward. Explore the gardens and have a go at some nature-themed activities. Hunt the gardens to find 10 nature stops where you can move like an animal, listen to nature’s orchestra, see what you can find high in the skies and right down in the grass, and generally get up close with the living world of our beautiful gardens.
Each trail pack contains an activity sheet and pencil, once you have completed the activities you can collect your chocolate reward. There will be an allergen free reward for those that cannot have chocolate.
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Tredegar House, Newport
Monday 11-Easter Monday 18 April
£3 per trail plus usual admission charges – adults £11, child £5.50, family £27.50 (non Gift Aid prices) or free for National Trust members
Make your way along the trail and find nature-inspired activities for the whole family. The trail takes place between 11-18 April, from 10.30am to 4pm, so come along and explore the beautiful formal gardens of Tredegar House. Includes a trail map, pencil and a chocolate egg at the end.
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Amelia Trust Farm, Barry
Monday 11-Thursday 14 April
Children £7.50, adults £4.95, book online in advance
As well as the chance to see the animals, enjoy the woodland, and play in the park, there will be a chocolate prize for all children who complete the Easter trail, free face painting, free tractor rides and lawn games to enjoy!
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Newport Transporter Bridge
Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 April, 10am-4pm
Adults £4, children £3
Easter egg hunt and activities. Top walkway walks with binoculars, journeys across the river in the gondola and family activities including making a bridge themed bonnet between 11am and 3pm. Visitors must be physically fit to climb the steps to the top. There is no minimum age requirement however children must be capable of climbing the steps independently, baby carriers are permitted.
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The Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff
Good Friday April 15, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm
Two very special guests will be will be springing into The Red Dragon Centre to wish everyone a Happy Easter. Meet tribute characters, Peter Rabbit and Lily in the Centre mall at 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. Youngsters and families can also enjoy all the great attractions, restaurants and Easter fun inside the Centre – listen out for the beautiful birdsong from the Tweet Tree or take a selfie with Snoopy – the famous pooch visiting the centre as part of the Dog’s Trail South Wales.
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National Museum Cardiff and St Fagans National History Museum
Good Friday 15-Easter Monday 18 April, 10am-3pm
£3.50 per trail
Become an Easter detective. Crack the code and claim your tasty treat. Complete a cute craft to become a detective bunny, then set off on your way to search for our bunny friends hiding around the Museum. Dairy free option available.
The trail is available at all National Museum sites and is the same at each site – National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans National Museum of History, National Waterfront Museum, Big Pit National Coal Museum, National Wool Museum, National Roman Legion Museum.
Caerphilly Castle
Good Friday 15-Easter Monday 18 April, 10am-4pm
Easter activities include an Easter egg hunt and card-making.
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Family trails
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FREE The Dogs Trail Snoopy trail
Across Cardiff, Caerphilly and Porthcawl
Friday 8 April-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.
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FREE The Golden Egg Treasure Hunt
Across the Vale of Glamorgan
Sunday 10-Sunday 24 April
n the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter won a golden egg during the first task of the Triwizard Tournament and treasured it, taking his golden egg everywhere with him. Now, the Vale of Glamorgan Council in partnership with Beach Academy are challenging you to find 10 shining replicas of Harry’s Golden Egg at 10 amazing coast and countryside locations around the Vale of Glamorgan and take a photo of it in each location. Find and visit all 10 locations (between 10-24 April) to complete an online quiz for the chance to win the Golden Egg used in the photographs (a replica worth £70) plus a two day trip to London including a Family Studio Tour at Harry Potter World and overnight hotel stay including breakfast for a family of four. Register online to be emailed a treasure hunt pack or download one online.
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Riverfront, Newport
Saturday 9 April-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.
See website for details of adult-only evening events, plus Hummadruz Theatre Performances on Saturday 9 and Saturday 16 April. 1-2pm and 2.30-3.30pm, Saturday 23 April 4-5pm and 5.30-6.30pm, entry – £12, concessions – £8.Hummadruz theatre company will provide a unique performance creating UV theatre to music.
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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.
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FREE Nick Jr toy brick model trail by Brick Live
St David’s Centre Cardiff
Monday 11-Monday 25 April
Get ready for larger than life Lego creations of some of your favourite Nick Jr characters as Brick Live presents a toy brick model trail in St David’s Centre. Search for models of characters from Paw Patrol, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Abbey Hatcher and Shimmer and Shine. Built from over 149,000 toy bricks, pick up a free map of the trail, along with a special prize once you’ve found all the characters.
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Theatre and live performance
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Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Monday 4-Saturday 16 April
From £19.50; age guidance 5+ (no under 2s)
Written by Ben Elton and featuring 24 of Queen’s biggest hits delivered in a show that boasts the scale and spectacle that marked the band’s legendary live performances, this futuristic musical is set in a time when musical instruments have been banned and rock music is long forgotten.
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St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Monday 11 April, 4.30pm; Tuesday 12 April 11am, 2pm and 4.30pm
Age guidance 3+; one hour duration
Based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved book, this stage adaptation sees the roar-some crew back for a new adventure. Zog, super keen student turned air-ambulance, together with his Flying Doctor crew, Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout, tend to a sunburnt mermaid, a unicorn with one too many horns and a lion with the flu. However, Pearl’s uncle, the King, has other ideas about whether princesses should be doctors, and she’s soon locked up in the castle back in a crown and a silly frilly dress. With a bit of help from some friends and half a pound of cheese, can Pearl make her uncle better and prove princesses can be doctors.
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Dreamboats & Petticoats: Bringing On Back The Good Times
New Theatre, Cardiff
Monday 11-Saturday 16 April, 7.30pm plus Thursday 2.30pm
From £16
The good times are back! And so are Bobby, Laura, Sue, Norman and the gang. Inspired by the latest release in the series of smash-hit, multimillion selling Dreamboats & Petticoats albums, Bringing On Back The Good Times is filled with wit, charm and songs from the golden era of rock ‘n’ roll. The show features some of the greatest hit songs ever written from Roy Orbison, Eddie Cochran, The Walker Brothers and many more.
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Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors
Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
Wednesday 13 April 2pm and 7pm and Thursday 14 April, 2pm and 5pm
£16, under 25s half price
From the horrible Henries to the end of evil Elizabeth, hear the legends (and the lies!) about the torturing Tudors. Find out the fate of Henry’s headless wives and his punch up with the Pope. Meet Bloody Mary and see Ed fall dead in his bed. Survive the Spanish Armada as they launch their attack. It’s history with the nasty bits left in!
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Riverfront, Newport
Thursday 14 April at 1.30 & 4.30pm and Friday 15 April at 11.30am & 2.30pm
Tickets £14.50; age guidance 1+
Join Great BigHoo, Toodloo, Chickedy, Chick and their friends as they discover the wonderful world around us. Expect mischief, music and plenty of surprises as they set sail in their big red boat. The funny, loveable Twirlywoos are brought to life on stage with beautifully inventive puppetry promising an hour of colourful fun and laughter. From the producers of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show and Sarah and Duck Live on Stage, Twirlywoos Live is an enchanting introduction to theatre for all ages.
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Toy Story In Concert: The Film With Live Orchestra
St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Easter Monday 18 April, 6pm
Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story will be presented live in concert for the first time in the UK in 2022 with a nationwide tour. Toy Story in Concert will feature a screening of the groundbreaking complete film with Oscar® and Grammy®-winning composer Randy Newman’s musical score performed live to the film by the Novello Orchestra, conducted by David Mahoney.
The Toy Story films are beloved worldwide for their compelling characters, extraordinary storytelling, stunning visuals and the music of Randy Newman. The composer and songwriter is behind signature songs including “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” “Strange Things” and “I Will Go Sailing No More.”
When circumstances separate rival toys Buzz and Woody from their owner, the comically-mismatched duo eventually learn to put aside their differences, and they find themselves on a hilarious adventure-filled mission where the only way they can survive is to form an uneasy alliance.
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New Theatre, Cardiff
Wednesday 20-Saturday 23 April, 1pm and 5pm
From £15, age guidance 3+.
Orbit Theatre present this colourful celebration of a timeless classic Soar through this sparkling tale filled with magic, adventure, some lovable characters, and music that will have you singing along.
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National Theatre Connections Festival
Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
Thursday 21-Saturday 23 April
£5 per person per performance or £10 for a festival pass
Connections is the National Theatre’s annual festival of new plays for young people aged 13 to 18 and is one of the most vibrant and important events in the youth theatre calendar.
It gives young people invaluable experience of professional theatre-making. Sherman Theatre is proud to host Connections once again. This year joining Sherman Youth Theatre, with performances of these exciting new plays across three days will be The College Merthyr Tydfil, Bridgend College, Everyman Youth Theatre, Actors Workshop, Perfect Circle Youth Theatre, Sundial Theatre Company, and Swan Theatre Young Rep Company. See the website for details of the plays and timings.
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Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Tuesday 19-Saturday 30 April
From £17.50; age guidance 8+ (no under 2s)
Direct from the West End, Dreamgirls follows the story of a young female singing trip as they become music superstars. Inspired by the likes of The Supremes and The Shirelles, this spectacular musical production features the classic songs And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going, Listen, I Am Changing and One Night Only.
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Kinetic School of Performing Arts: Godspell
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff
Wednesday 20 April 7pm and Thursday 21 April, 2pm and 7pm
£16/£14
Kinetic School of Performing Arts present Godspell, composed by three-time Grammy and Academy Award winner, Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Children of Eden). Godspell features a parade of beloved songs, including Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord, Learn Your Lessons Well, All for the Best, All Good Gifts, Turn Back, O Man and By My Side. A small group of people help Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques and hefty doses of comic timing. An eclectic blend of songs, ranging in style from pop to vaudeville, is employed as the story of Jesus’ life dances across the stage.
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Museum of Cardiff, The Hayes, Cardiff
Wednesday 20 April, 11am-11.45am
A magical storytelling performance from Cath Little. Listen as she tells re-imagined Glamorgan folk tales for children. Free entry, no booking required.
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Riverfront, Newport
Thursday 21 April, 1.30pm and 3.30pm; Friday 22 and Saturday 23 April, 11am and 2pm
£14, age guidance 3+
Celebrating 12 years on stage, The Tiger Who Came to Tea is an adaptation of Judith Kerr’s much-loved picture book. The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a big, stripy tiger. Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show; packed with magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos.
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Blackwood Miners’ Institute, Caerphilly
Friday 22 April, 2pm
Adults £11, children £9, adults plus toddler £17.50
Age guidance 3+
What if the wishes were granted? What if the magic were real? Beasts and breadcrumbs, wolves and witches, frogs and fairies all join the fun in a stunning new adaptation of Grimm’s most magical tales. Head into the woods with Hansel & Gretel, help the little elves to make beautiful shoes, watch a slimy frog become a prince, and meet the princess who’s champion of hide-and-seek! Join award winning Box Tale Soup on an adventure for children aged 3+, featuring wonderful puppets, innovative theatre and spellbinding original music. Everyone knows even the wildest fairy tales hold a grain of truth…
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Other live events
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Memo Arts Centre, Barry
Thursday 14 April, 7pm
Adults £12, children £12, family £35
An evening of glitz, glamour and bodyslam mayhem as the Welsh Wrestling roadshow invades for one night only! Come see the over the top stars of the wrestling world collide in a night of super slamming action at this fun, crazy, family entertainment show.
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Memo Arts Centre, Barry
Friday 22 April, 6pm
£17.50
Pop concert experience featuring tributes to top favourite female pop stars including tributes to Little Mix, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, JoJo Siwa and many more.
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Margam Park
Easter Monday 18 April
Adult £11, children £9, Family (2+2) £35, 2s and under free
Titan is taking a break from his busy schedule to visit Margam Country Park for its Superhero Spectacular. His wisecracking antics have become the stuff of legends, his show is unrivalled in the world today! Funny, fast paced and full of surprises, Titan is the ultimate family entertainment show where you come to expect the unexpected! The day also features a selection of costumed characters inspired by your favourite comic superheroes – giant Transformers, Batman, Superwoman, Ice Princesses, Ironman, Spiderman, Captain America, Welsh superhero Siani Sionc and more – shows, dancing, singing, photo opportunities. Why not come dressed as your favourite superhero!
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Arts and Crafts
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Glanfa Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Monday 11-Friday 22 April, 11am-3pm (11am-2pm on 21 April)
Free and no need to book
Design your own colourful, garden guardian to protect a space that you love! The staff will help you get started with your monster design: make and model, cut and stick or put pencil to paper. Some of the Centre’s favourite designs will be brought to life and turned into giant inflatables over the summer and hung inside the building, courtesy of giant inflatable designers, Designs in Air.
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Oh Susannah! Easter Sewing Club
Riverfront, Newport
Tuesday 12 and Tuesday 19 April, 10.30am-12.30pm
£3, ages 6-9
Thursday 14 and Thursday 21 April, 10am-3.30pm
£10, ages 10-14
A fun and accessible introduction to sewing. In this relaxed friendly environment you can have a go at making a textile item to take home.
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Riverfront, Newport
Thursday 14 and Wednesday 20 April, 1pm-3pm
£3, ages 9-11
Friday 15 and Friday 22 April,10am-3pm
£10, ages 8-12
A fun and friendly craft sessions for kids to try a variety of craft activities.
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Hedgehog Crafts with the Wildlife Trust
The Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay
Wednesday 13 April, 12pm-4pm
To celebrate Sonic the Hedgehog 2, coming to the big screen, The Red Dragon Centre is partnering with the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales this Easter! Come along for a free hedgehog themed drop in arts and crafts workshop in the Centre mall. Build your own hedgehog with pinecones plus learn how to make gardens friendlier for these cute little creatures.
FREE Flossie and Boo: Little Adventures Workshops
Riverfront, Newport
Wednesday 20 April, 11.30am and 1.30pm
Tickets are free but must be prebooked
Create your own Little Adventure with Flossy and Boo. Who will you meet? Where will you go? Create new stories and discover new worlds through craft, drama and play.
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Museums and Galleries
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FREE LIGHTBOX: Postcards from the Future
Chapter, Cardiff
Until Sunday 15 May , 8:30am-11pm
To celebrate Chapter’s 50th birthday, local children and young people were invited to send themselves a postcard from an imagined future, half a century from now. They were asked to let their imaginations run wild: How will we travel? What will school look like? Where will we live? What will we eat? With more than 1,200 submissions received, some of the best entries are now eon display at Chapter.
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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.
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Historical-themed events
FREE Medieval Re-enactment Weekend
Margam Park
Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 April
Entry to Margam Park is free, car parking charges apply (£6.80 per car)
Step back in time with a re-enactment weekend featuring medieval knights and archers from the Lions and Lilies Group. A weekend of archery, combat and sword demonstrations. Discover what life was like for soldiers and civilians in the Civil Wars with the Sealed Knot in our Living History camp. Ask questions, learn how to handle a pike and try on armour, and learn about handicrafts and the food of the era. Find out which 17th century expressions are still in use today.
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Fonmon Castle, Rhoose
Saturday 16, Easter Sunday 17 and Easter Monday 18 April
Adults £16.50, children £13, under 3s free; advance booking only
The Medieval Arena will be brought to life by jousting knights in armour fighting, medieval living encampments, and medieval archery. Plus visit the dinosaur trail, learn about the pirates of Fonmon and more.
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Chepstow Castle
Saturday 9-Sunday 24 April, 9.30am-4.30pm
Standard admission applies, free to Cadw members
Search the castle for features old and new, and be the first one in your family to shout BINGO! Please bring your own pencil, or a pencil may be purchased in the castle shop.
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Tintern Abbey
Saturday 9 April, 10am-4pm
Standard admission applies, free to Cadw members
Brother Thomas will tell you all about his life as a monk at Tintern Abbey in the 14th century. The sympathetic and helpful brother will give you inside information about the monks’ rituals and responsibilities. You will learn about the daily life of the monks at the abbey, including their monastic duties, hygiene and eating habits, as well as the numerous religious services they would have to attend throughout the day.
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Chepstow Castle
Wednesday 13 April, 10am-4pm
Standard admission applies, free to Cadw members
Discover what the medieval residents of Chepstow castle would have eaten, especially around feast days. With a display of ingredients, food and utensils, with ‘in progress’ preparation of bread dough and spice mix for gingerbread, children will also be able to use fake food to assemble ingredients for the cauldron of pottage and set the table for a noble visitor to the castle.
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Tintern Abbey
Saturday 16 and Easter Sunday 17 April, 10am-4pm
Standard admission applies, free to Cadw members
See majestic birds of prey in flight. Learn how the Tudors used birds of prey and why falconry was the most popular sport of the day, and how birds of prey live. Have your photo taken with the birds for a unique souvenir.
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Historia Normannis: Life in the Marches,
Raglan Castle
Saturday 16-Easter Monday 18 April, 10am-4pm
Standard admission applies, free to Cadw members
Late 12th century living history excitement at Raglan Castle. Historia Normannis returns to Raglan to show a slice of life from the late 1100s in the Welsh Marches. Fashion shows, medieval living, arms and armour … the melting pot of the borderlands, where Welsh, English and Norman all mixed. Also featuring Wings Of Wales, who’ll be flying some of the birds used at that time.
Let’s Discover Dung Detectives
Raglan Castle
Wednesday 20 April, 10am-4pm
Standard admission applies, free to Cadw members
Discover, by dissecting a fake poo, what the different people who lived in the castle ate.
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Nature-themed events
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Margam Country Park
Good Friday 15-Easter Sunday 17 April
Go wild this holidays and discover the range of wildlife that make their home in the park. Activities include minibeast hunts, nature crafts, and pond dipping. Some events have a small charge, See website for times and prices.
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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.
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Hedgehog Crafts with the Wildlife Trust
The Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay
Wednesday 13 April, 12pm-4pm
To celebrate Sonic the Hedgehog 2, coming to the big screen, The Red Dragon Centre is partnering with the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales this Easter! Come along for a free hedgehog themed drop in arts and crafts workshop in the Centre mall. Build your own hedgehog with pinecones plus learn how to make gardens friendlier for these cute little creatures.
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Active Families
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Ynys Angharad Park, Pontypridd
Saturday 9-Sunday 24 April
£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.
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Treetop Adventure Golf
St David’s Shopping Centre, Cardiff
Monday 4-Sunday 24 April, from 10am
Even the miniest of mini golfers can trek the trails, with family discounts available. No need to book; just turn up and tee off.
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Mountain View Ranch, Caerphilly
Saturday 9-Sunday 17 April
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.
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Coedlan – Highropes at St Fagans
St Fagans National Museum of History
Friday 9-Monday 25 April, 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.
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St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff
Friday 9-Sunday 24 April
Cost from £1; suitability Age 2-11
Visit the traditional fairground and experience the magic of a bygone era.
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Heath Park, Cardiff
Easter Sunday 17April and Easter Monday 18 April, 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.
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Science-themed
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Techniquest, Cardiff
Saturday 9-Sunday 24 April
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 we can use science to do things that are extraordinary and almost superhuman. Book online in advance.
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Food
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Candleston Castle Campsite, Merthyr Mawr, Bridgend
Good Friday 15 April-Easter Monday 18 April
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 with us under canvas in a magical woodland setting. An outdoor food court pitched up in a forest featuring the best street food trucks & 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, with a family jamboree in the afternoons.
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Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival
Around Cowbridge
Easter Sunday 17-and Easter Monday 18 April
Expect all the usual delicious food and drink stalls, guest speakers and demonstrations plus family activities, showcasing the finest produce from Wales and beyond, with lots of delicious food and drink to sample and purchase. More details to be announced on the website soon.
Cinema
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The focus here is on smaller independent cinemas and one-off events such as outdoor film screenings, plus cheaper family films at the big cinemas, these are often early-morning screenings of older releases.
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Atlantic Collage, St Donats, Vale of Glamorgan
Friday 22 April
West Side Story
Saturday 23 April
Spiderman: No Way Home
From £11
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The Bad Guys (U)
Saturday 16-Thursday 21 April
Coda (12A)
Tuesday 19-Wednesday 20 April
Memo Arts Centre Barry
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Sing 2 (U)
Tuesday 12 April, 2pm
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Odeon Kids
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.
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Movies for Juniors
Cineworld, Mary Ann Street, Cardiff
The 10am weekend and school holiday Movies for Juniors showings are just £2.50 per person. Check online for schedule; films are usually a few months old rather than new releases.
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Mini Mornings
Vue Cinema, Millennium Plaza, Cardiff
The 10am weekend and school holiday Movies for Juniors showings are just £2.49 per person when booked online or £3.49 on the door. Check online for schedule; films are usually a few months old rather than new releases.
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Chapter Arts Centre, Canton, Cardiff
Latest release family films plus older films
£6/£4 booked in advance; see website for full listings.
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