100+ family-friendly events in and around Cardiff for the 2024 summer holidays
100+ family-friendly events in and around Cardiff for the 2024 summer holidays
I think this must be my biggest, most comprehensive school holiday event guide yet! There’s so much going on, from theatre performances, to museum exhibitions and craft activities, to family fun days, science workshops and lots more.
Events are categorised as follows: Theatre and performance; Events at castles; Events at museums; Arts, crafts and books; Outdoor attractions; Farm parks; Family fun – going on through the summer; Family fun – special events; Cinema events.
I’ve rounded up everything I can find in this post, but let me know anything I have missed in the comments on my social media channels.
Please note all events are subject to change and cancellation. Please visit the website of your selected event in order to avoid disappointment. Lots of the events must be prebooked.
Also, it really helps me keep on showing up in people’s news feeds if you like, share or comment on any of my social media posts.
Thanks as always for your amazing support.
If you don’t already, please follow the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page, Cardiff Mummy Says on Instagram, or @cardiffmummy on X/Twitter to be the first to know what’s going on for families locally. I share new events regularly, in particular on my Instagram Stories, and save them all in my What’s On highlights.
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AD| This guide is kindly sponsored by The Red Dragon Centre in Cardiff Bay.
Cardiff’s premier entertainment destination is open and ready to go for the summer and beyond, with lots of exciting events and plenty to keep children of all ages entertained. The centre has been the go-to destination for family fun for more than 25 years and is still here, still entertaining, still making memories.
Visit the ODEON multiplex for the latest summer blockbusters including Despicable Me 4 (U), Inside Out 2 (U), Fly Me To The Moon (12A), Twisters (12A), and Deadpool & Wolverine (15). Tickets are £5 all day every day when booked online in advance.
For a slice of ten-pin action, head to Hollywood Bowl where you can get 50% off standard bowling games when you book online in advance and bowl before 11am. Use the code SCHOOLSOUT50 online at www.hollywoodbowl.co.uk
Experimental Science are back at the centre for hands-on science workshops. Thursday 25 July sees a natural disasters theme to mark the release of the new move Twisters. On Thursday 1 August the theme is Crazy Chemistry, where you’ll make a bath home to take home; while Thursday 15 August is Slimy Science, exploring different techniques to create several pots of slime to take home. Workshops must be booked in advance and take place at 10am, 11am, 12pm and 1pm, priced at £10 per child with an age guidance of 4+.
Head to the centre for Poké Play Day on Wednesday 7 August, 11am-5pm, with traders selling Pokémon, Magic, Yu Gi Oh, One Piece and others. Free activities between 12-5pm include face painting, falconry, meet Pikachu and make a Pokémon mask to take home, with donations welcome in support of Ty Hafan.
Bank Holiday Monday 26 August will see a vibrant showcase from The Dragons. This bright and colourful duo will veer between high-energy prancing and sculptural stillness, with their long tongues and lizard like movements, with appearances at 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm.
With dining options including Five Guys, Volcano all you can eat Japanese, and Everytime Pan-Asian fast casual restaurant and tapas bar, and free parking for up to six hours (subject to minimum spend and validation), it’s a great day out for the whole family. For ore information, visit the website here.
100+ family-friendly events in and around Cardiff for the 2024 summer holidays
Theatre and performance
You’ve Got Dragons
Tuesday 16-Saturday 20 July, English and Welsh performances available
£6-£8
Wednesday 24-Saturday 27 July
Adults £12, children £10, 10.30am Welsh, 1.30pm English
Age guidance: 5+, running length 55 minutes
“Dragons come when you least expect it. You turn round…and they’re there.”
Lots of people get them; thumping heart, wobbly knees, swirly tummy. And sometimes they make you feel alone. So, what can a child with a bad case of the dragons do?
A delightful tale of one child’s journey to come to terms with their dragons told in Taking Flight’s unique inclusive style. With live, original music, this highly visual, sensitive production is a humorous and touching exploration of the dragons we all face. A delightful tale of one child’s journey to come to terms with their dragons told in Taking Flight’s unique inclusive style.
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Memo Arts Centre, Barry
Wednesday 17-Saturday 20 July, 7.30pm, plus Saturday 2.30pm
Tickets £18
Barry’s Billboard Ensemble theatre group present Kinky Boots, a celebration of individuality, resilience, and the power of acceptance. The musical, inspired by true events, tells the heart-warming story of Charlie Price, a struggling shoe factory owner, who finds an unlikely business partner in Lola, a fabulous and fierce drag queen. Together, they embark on a journey to create a line of high-heeled boots that defy convention, challenge stereotypes, and ultimately, bring people together.
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Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Saturday 20-Saturday 27 July
£15, family (2+2) £52
The young local people of Go Productions theatre school present Shrek The Musical Jr, a specially-adapted version of the show based on the Oscar-winning smash hit film and outrageous Broadway show. Shrek’s peace comes crashing down when his swamp is invaded by annoying fairy tale misfits who have been banished by Lord Farquaad. In a bid to restore calm, Shrek makes a deal with the ‘tiny terror with big ambitions’ and sets off to rescue feisty Princess Fiona with his wisecracking donkey! But no fairy tale adventure is without twists and turns, and Shrek unexpectedly finds love along the way!
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FREE The Big Splash
Newport
Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 July
Wales’ largest free outdoor arts festival returns with a weekend full of family-friendly activities. Expect live music, street theatre, dance performance, workshops, crafts and more. See the website for full programme.
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FREE The Bench
Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff
Monday 22 July, 10am-4pm
Four dancers rotate throughout a six-hour period; each taking part in solo, duet, trio, and quartet improvised explorations of a bench so large it makes you remember how it felt to be a child in a park again.
Each dancer, from a different movement background, comes to the bench with no plan, no choreography, and no rehearsal. They draw from their individual skillset and interests to seek out what is magical and marvellous in the mundanity of a massive park bench.
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Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff
Tuesday 23 July 2pm, Wednesday 24 July 11am and 2pm
£8; age guidance 7+
One bench, two people, and five days. Through music, movement, and mishap, two young people experience the difficulty and joy in connecting with those unlike themselves. Rhythm is spontaneous and experiences life as movement; and all sound as music. Glas loves life smooth and stable; preferring things remain the same. When Rhythm and Glas meet at Bellevue park they have the five days of half-term to see if their friendship is worth keeping, before they go back to their separate schools. Will they find a way to create something remarkable and discover a rhythm that is theirs alone?
Plus see the website for details of the free Writing Movement Workshop: An exploration of writing and movement for families, Tuesday 23 July, 11am-12pm. Book alongside tickets to the performance.
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Horrible Histories: Rotten Royals
Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
Tuesday 23 July, 4pm and 7pm; Wednesday 24 July 2pm and 5pm
Standard tickets £16.50, under 25s half price
Age guidance: 5+; running time 65 minutes
Expect revolting rulers and mad monarchs from Britain’s barmy past in this stage show from Horrible Histories. Would you be wooed by Richard the Lionheart? Are you ready for a date with King Edward I? See Mary Tudor knock the spots off Mary Queen of Scots! Can evil Elizabeth entertain England? Filled with outrageous humour and singalong songs, this is history with the nasty bits left in.
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Have Your Welsh Cake and Eat It
Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
Thursday 25-Saturday 27 July, 7pm, plus 3pm Saturday
£10, under 25s half price
A spoonful of corporate greed mixed with a dollop of activism, all generously sprinkled with humour. These are the delicious ingredients to be found in Have Your Welsh Cake and Eat It, the latest production from Sherman Youth Theatre, a theatre group for ages 8-18. A billionaire BigWig with a penchant for golf courses is closing the Welsh Cake factory. Join the outraged Peaceful Protesters and Risk Taking Radicals as they take on the power-hungry people in suits ripping the heart out of their town.
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Bocs, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Saturday 27 July-Sunday 8 September, Sunday-Monday 11am-4.30pm, Tuesday to Saturday 11am-6.30pm; running time 10-15 minutes
Pay what you can; age guidance 10+
Get ready to take the plunge with a series of shared interactive experiences that will take you beneath the surfaces of the ocean to reveal the secrets to our survival on land. Drop In The Ocean (at Bocs) is a an interactive, social virtual-reality experience where you can ride a jellyfish, meet a leatherback turtle and come face to face with a whale shark. From the perspective of a tiny plankton, you’ll explore the ocean in stunning virtual reality – and see why the need to protect it is so urgent.
Critical Distance (Bocs) is a shared immersive experience which uses groundbreaking mixed reality to bring audiences into the world of Southern Resident orcas in North America’s Pacific Northwest. It is seen through the eyes of Kiki, an eight-year-old orca who carries the expectations and future of her pod on her shoulders.
Interactive Oceans (throughout Wales Millennium Centre) is a digital scavenger hunt where you can use your mobile device to reveal some of the world’s most remarkable marine creatures – too tiny for the human eye to see. Explore the interactive projection screen to discover the magic of bioluminescence and use your whole body to make some waves.
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Tuesday 23-Saturday 28 July, 7pm, plus 2pm Wednesday 24, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 July
From £20, age guidance 6+ (no under 2s)
Starring Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood as The Wicked Witch of the West and JLS sensation Aston Merrygold as The Tin Man, this spectacular production will be truly magical for all the family.
Featuring the iconic original score from the Oscar-winning MGM film including Over The Rainbow, Follow The Yellow Brick Road and We’re Off To See The Wizard with additional songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.
Join Dorothy, Toto, and friends on an unforgettable adventure down the yellow brick road to the merry old land of Oz.
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BBC National Orchestra of Wales: The Island of Never Too Late
BBC Hoddinott Hall, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Sunday 28 July, 3pm
£10, under 26s £5, family (2+2) £25
Join BBC National Orchestra of Wales in BBC Hoddinott Hall this July to discover the story of a young girl Siân, the devastating effects of climate change on the habitats of penguin, polar bear and arctic tern and her mission to find a solution to make things better. How will she do it? What solutions will she discover? Running time: one hour.
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Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Monday 29 July-Saturday 3 August, 7.30pm plus Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm
From £18, age guidance 8+ (no under 2s)
Featuring hit songs Welcome to the 60s, You Can’t Stop the Beat, Good Morning Baltimore and many more, Hairspray features big-hearted Tracy Turnblad and her friends as they dance their way into history in their quest to fight intolerance and racism. From the spirited Seaweed and his sister Little Inez to the charming Link Larkin and the resolute Motormouth Maybelle, witness a cast of characters who refuse to be silenced in the face of prejudice and discrimination, instead gaining acceptance and equality. This fun-filled, feel-good show is bursting with show-stopping numbers and dizzying dance routines that you can’t help not to shimmy too.
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Fireman Sam: The Great Camping Adventure
New Theatre, Cardiff
Thursday 1 August, 12pm and 3.30pm
£19-£20.50
Thursday 8 August, 12.30pm and 3pm
£18, group of four £17.50
Norman wants to go on an adventure to impress his friends, so when two famous animal explorers arrive in Pontypandy, he follows them into the mountains. But when Norman discovers a rare red squirrel, one of the explorers decides to take the glory for themselves, leaving Norman stranded in a cave. Now it’s up to Fireman Sam to save the day and ensure everyone is safe on their camping adventure.
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Blackwood Miners’ Institute
Friday 2 August, 1pm, Welsh
Saturday 2 August, 3pm, bilingual
Pay what you can from free to £15
Flex your muscles and practise your lunges, it’s time for the Great Insect Games. Hosted by the gym junkie grasshoppers you can take part in the hare-brained events. Who will win at synchronised swimming – the spider or the slug?! And how will the butterfly fare at weightlifting?! How does a snail wear boxing gloves? Join the gloriously bug infested opening ceremony and sing along to the Insect National Anthem at this fun packed show for all the family.
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Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Monday 5-Wednesday 7 August, 7pm
From £22; age guidance 8+ (no under 2s)
More than 40 local theatre schools, singers, and groups unite for a spectacular showcase of youth performing arts. This vibrant production celebrates the next generation of performers and will include solo singers, musical theatre and drama groups, street and hip-hop dancers, ballet dancers, cheerleaders, gymnasts, Irish dancers, ballroom and Latin, and a variety of tap, modern and jazz from the best local dance and drama schools.
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Blackwood Miners’ Institute
Wednesday 7 August, 11am and 2.30pm
Pay what you can from free to £15
Gwen, an anxious polar bear, wakes up on a broken icecap hundreds of miles away from her family. On her perilous journey through the arctic sea, she will have to find her courage, as well as her way home.
This is a fun, visual and thought-provoking Welsh language performance for young audiences and their families. Centred on themes of climate change, home and confidence, it encompasses puppetry, music and visual storytelling for a rich and exciting story of finding confidence in yourself.
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The Riverfront, Newport
Friday 9 August, 3pm
£18, family of four £70
Direct from London’s West End, take a dive into the world of science and look at how science shapes the modern world we live in – with a few loud bangs along the way. The show’s presenters will take an anarchic approach to science communication, looking at the scientists, engineers and inventors who have shaped the modern world that we live in while proving that all of us have the ability to change our world for the better. Expect 20ft liquid nitrogen clouds, exploding oxygen and hydrogen balloons, fire tornados, hydrogen bole rockets, ignited methane and even a self-build hovercraft.
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Dr Doolittle – open air theatre
The Kymin Gardens, Penarth
Saturday 10 August
Doors open 2pm, performance starts £3pm
Adults £18.95, children under 12 £12.95
Illyria theatre company return with their hit 2018 Dr Doolittle show, a funny, much-loved and exciting family adventure. When Dr John Dolittle of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh is taught by his wise old parrot Polynesia how to talk to animals, news of his skills spreads far and wide.
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Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Tuesday 13-Saturday 17 August, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday
From £17, age guidance: 14+ (no under 2s)
The smash hit West End award-winning show, Heathers The Musical returns to Cardiff. The black comedy rock musical based on the eponymous 1988 film tells of Westerberg High’s Veronica Sawyer, just another nobody dreaming of a better day. But when she joins the beautiful and impossibly cruel Heathers and her dreams of popularity may finally come true, mysterious teen rebel JD teaches her that it might kill to be a nobody, but it is murder being a somebody.
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The Tale of Jemima Pudddleduck – outdoor theatre
St Donat’s Castle, Vale of Glamorgan
Sunday 18 August, doors open 12.30pm performance begins 2pm
Adults £15, children 4-16 £11, family (2+2) £35, under 3s free
Outdoor theatre returns to St Donat’s Castle this summer, as Quantum present a delightful new adaptation of Beatrix Potter’s much-loved tale — The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck . Prevented from hatching her eggs at the farm, foolish Jemima goes in search of a nesting place in the forest and soon she meets a charming ‘gentleman’ who offers her the perfect nesting place in his wood shed. But why is his wood-shed full of feathers and why is he asking her to collect the herbs for roast duck? Back at the farm, the Collie-dog, Kep, puts two and two together, but will he be in time to rescue Jemima from her fate?
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The Riverfront, Newport
Friday 16 August, 2pm, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 August 11am and 3pm
Age guidance: 3+
£15.75 per person
Experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World Live in this interactive family show for all the family. Discover a pre-historic world of astonishing and remarkably life-like dinosaurs. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor and Segnosaurus!
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New Theatre, Cardiff
Sunday 18 August, 12pm and 3pm
£24.50-£35.50
Prepare to go on a Jurassic adventure. Meet the bravest of rangers as they take you on a journey through Jurassic Earth, introducing their herd of incredible dinosaur species. Take Rangers Danger’s masterclass to become an Official Dinosaur Ranger, gaining the skills you need to come face-to-face with the largest walking T Rex, as well as a Brontosaurus, Triceratops, Carnotaurus, Velociraptors and Spinosaurus. A thrilling, fun-filled 75 minute family show, featuring animatronics and realistic performances.
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Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Tuesday 20-Saturday 24 August, 7.30pm plus Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm
From £18, age guidance 12+
Willy Russell’s legendary musical tells the captivating and moving tale of twins separated at birth, who grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with tragic consequences.
Former X Factor finalist Niki Evans returns to the iconic role of Mrs Johnstone, and the superb score includes Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe, Easy Terms and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True.
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The Riverfront, Newport
Wednesday 21 August, 11.30am and 2.30pm
Join your favourite Milkshake! friends on holiday with Dora, Pip and Posy, Blue from Blue’s Clues and You!, Milo, Milkshake! Monkey plus two presenters for an all-new adventure. Jump aboard the Milkshake! train as we go on an all singing, all dancing holiday together,
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Ballet Cymru: Romeo and Juliet
Tredgar House, Newport
Tuesday 20-Thursday 22 August, 6.30pm
Dyffryn Gardens
Wednesday 28-Friday 30 August, 6.30pm
Adults £22, children £11
An outdoor performance of this award-winning production.
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New Theatre, Cardiff
Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 August, 10am, 1pm, 4pm
£10-£19
Join Peppa in her new live show as she heads to the zoo and the beach with her family and friends for a special party. Prepare to sing and dance with colourful scarecrows, feed the penguins, build big sandcastles, and even swim in the sea! Packed full of songs, dance and muddy puddles, Peppa’s Fun Day Out is a perfect introduction to theatre for Peppa fans.
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New Theatre, Cardiff
Tuesday 27 August, 12pm (75 minutes including interval)
£19 (children aged 12 months+ require a paid ticket)
The UK’s premier tribute to global phenomenon… Ms Rachel. With more than five billion views and eight million subscribers on Youtube, Ms Rachel is the biggest viral sensation to hit our children’s screens since ‘Baby Shark!’
This is the only children’s tribute of its kind, bringing her character to life in a fun, interactive live show with lots of audience participation for the little ones.
Miss Rachel UK encapsulates her bubbly personality, sweet singing voice and educational content.
The show includes interactive screen content throughout featuring unique and on brand animation and scenery, plus puppetry and voices on screen with Bertie & friends.
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New Theatre, Cardiff
Saturday 31 August, 3pm, 7.30pm
£24.25-£40.50
Musical theatre meets circus, as favourite West End and Broadway hits combine with breath-taking, amazing performances, incredible contortionists, and thrilling feats of agility and air. The award-winning, smash-hit sensation is fun for all the family as musical theatre stars performing the big numbers from your favourite shows are joined by mesmerising circus stars.
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Ministry of Science: Science Saved The World
New Theatre, Cardiff
Sunday 1 September, 1.30pm
£19-£20.50
Direct from London’s West End, take a dive into the world of science and look at how science shapes the modern world we live in – with a few loud bangs along the way. The show’s presenters will take an anarchic approach to science communication, looking at the scientists, engineers and inventors who have shaped the modern world that we live in while proving that all of us have the ability to change our world for the better. Expect 20ft liquid nigrogen clouds, exploding oxygen and hydrogen balloons, fire tornados, hydrogen bole rockets, ignited methane and even a self-build hovercraft.
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Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Monday 2-Saturday 7 September, 7.30pm plus Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm
From £18; age guidance 7+ (no under 2s)
With its phenomenal score, bursting with hits including Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’, Hopelessly Devoted to You and You’re the One That I Want, this thrilling new version of the classic musical – it was a musical before it was a film – is brought to life by a fresh young cast who bring energy, vitality and passion to this ultimate musical classic.
Round-up your Burger Palace Boys, pick up your Pink Ladies and re-discover why Grease really is the one that you want this term.
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Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Every Friday
£12
Wales Millennium Centre’s backstage tour will give you an exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of theatre. Beginning at the iconic Donald Gordon Theatre, you will be guided through the theatre’s rarely seen backstage areas before ending your tour with an opportunity for photos by the famous inscription wall. The ticket also includes 10% off Wales Millennium Centre merchandise in Siop and 10% off food at Ffwrnais.
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Events at castles
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Tintern Abbey
Saturdays 20 July and 10 August, 10am-4pm
Adult £8.55, children £6.03, family £27.36, under 5s free
Step back in time with Brother Thomas and learn what life was like as a monk in Tintern Abbey as he gives visitors inside information about the monks’ rituals and responsibilities.
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Chepstow Castle
Saturday 20-Sunday 21 July, 10am-4pm
Adult £8.55, children £6.03, family £27.36, under 5s free, or free for Cadw members
Do you have what it takes to be a medieval jester? From juggling and diablo, to plate spinning and tightrope walking, resident jester Juggling Jim will be on-hand to teach visitors the skills needed to entertain a medieval lord and lady, plus their distinguished guests.
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Let’s Discover… Medieval Weapons
Chepstow Castle
Tuesday 23 July, 10am-4pm
Adult £9.50, children £6.70, family £30.40, under 5s free, or free for Cadw members
Be entertained by the castle’s resident knight, and get a close-up look at medieval weaponry with talks and demonstrations throughout the day.
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Chepstow Castle
Wednesdays from 24 July to 28 August, 10am-4pm
Adult £9.50, children £6.70, family £30.40, under 5s free, or free for Cadw members
Get crafty at Chepstow Castle during the summer holidays. Children can make something to play with and then take home. Drop-in sessions every Wednesday during the school summer holidays.
Castell Coch
Saturday 27-Sunday 28 July, 11am-3pm
Adult £9.50, children £6.70, family £30.40, under 5s free, or free for Cadw members
A chance to reconstruct the Victorian excavations of the 1800s at Castell Coch. Uncover with your own hands a range of Medieval treasures, and guess what you have found. Learn how to record items in their archaeological context and practice methods that are still used today.
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Chepstow Castle
Saturday 27-Sunday 28 July, 10am-4pm
Adult £9.50, children £6.70, family £30.40, under 5s free, or free for Cadw members
Put on your dancing shoes and learn about the evolution of dance, from the medieval farandole to the French court dances of the 17th century. With demonstrations and audience participation workshops throughout the weekend, this is a fun and interactive event for the whole family.
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Chepstow Castle
Tuesday 30 July, 10am-4pm
Adult £9.50, children £6.70, family £30.40, under 5s free, or free for Cadw members
Learn about the ancient craft of willow weaving, and how its strength and durability made it an essential resource in medieval Britain. Children can also make a willow wand to take home.
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Chepstow Castle
Tuesday 30 July, 10am-4pm
Adult £9.50, children £6.70, family £30.40, under 5s free, or free for Cadw members
Chepstow Castle is under attack from the forces of Parliament! Experience the hustle and bustle of life during the English Civil War, with soldiers on guard and civilians helping in any way possible to keep the castle safe and tended. An encampment will show everyday life, ranging from making clothes, healing the injured and making coinage. Weapon displays will demonstrate the skills needed to wield a 16ft pike, and how to load and fire a musket. Try on armour and handle the trusty pike and sword of the gentlemen soldier, and children can take part in drills to see what it takes to be a solider defending the castle.
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Raglan Castle
Wednesdays 31 July, 7, 14, 21 August, 11am-3pm
Adult £9.50, children £6.70, family £30.40, under 5s free, or free for Cadw members
Wings of Wales return to their castle with their birds of prey. Meet the birds and enjoy their flying displays.
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Caerphilly Castle
Saturday 3-Sunday 4 August, 11am-3pm
Adult £10.90, children £7.60, family £34.90, under 5s free, or free for Cadw members
Enjoy some hands-on crafts and nature-themed activities, inspired by local plants and wildlflowers. Spend the day exploring your surroundings and getting your hands dirty with hands-on crafts and nature-themed activities.
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Tintern Abbey
Saturday 3-Sunday 4 August, 10am-4pm
Adult £8.55, children £6.03, family £27.36, under 5s free
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.
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Let’s Discover… Medieval Games
Chepstow Castle
Tuesday 6 August, 10am-4pm
Adult £9.50, children £6.70, family £30.40, under 5s free, or free for Cadw members
Discover and play the historic board and dice games that would have been played during the medieval period.
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Castell Coch
Saturday 10-Sunday 11 August, 11am-3pm
Adult £9.50, children £6.70, family £30.40, under 5s free, or free for Cadw members
Explore the meaning of local wildflowers, and enjoy some hands-on crafts and nature-themed activities. Spend the day exploring your surroundings and getting your hands dirty with hands-on crafts and nature-themed activities. Advisable to book in advance due to limited capacity.
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Chepstow Castle
Tuesday 13 August, 10am-4pm
Adult £9.50, children £6.70, family £30.40, under 5s free, or free for Cadw members
Have a go at making a patch of maille (chain mail) to take home with you. Learn how traditional maille was made, and see the tools and techniques for making the rings from a piece of wire. Learn how the rings were ‘woven’ together, and have a go at linking and riveting rings for yourselves. Replicas of mail from different historical periods will be on show, and you can try on a mail shirt to see how it would feel to wear one.
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Let’s Discover… The Printed Word
Chepstow Castle
Tuesday 20 August, 10am-4pm
Adult £9.50, children £6.70, family £30.40, under 5s free, or free for Cadw members
Printer Francesca Kay demonstrates how to set type and print the old-fashioned way. Francesca will make you a letterpress print with her vintage table top printing press, explaining how this ancient skill changed the world. She will also explain how some common phrases come from the letterpress printing world.
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Tintern Abbey
Saturday 24-Bank Holiday Monday 26 August, 10.30am-5pm
Adult £8.55, children £6.03, family £27.36, under 5s free, or free for Cadw members
Celebrate the life of one of Tintern Abbey’s greatest patrons by welcoming William Marshal and his wife Isabel to Tintern for the 801st anniversary of her death. Living history, medieval re-enactment, displays and talks will transport the abbey back to its earliest days, to honour the life of Earl Marshal and his influential spouse as the Greatest Knight returns.
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Caerphilly Castle
Saturday 24-Sunday 25 August, 11am-3pm
Adult £10.90, children £7.60, family £34.90, under 5s free, or free for Cadw members
Lots to do for families including crafts and activities about knights and castles, a chance for children to decorate their own armour; face painting; traditional Punch and Judy shows and lawn games throughout the day; as well as tours of the castle.
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Raglan Castle
Sunday 25-Bank Holiday Monday 26 August, 11am-4pm
Adult £9.50, children £6.70, family £30.40, under 5s free, or free for Cadw members
A multi-historical period weekend of living history, displays and family-friendly activities. See living history groups from many eras go about their daily lives and immerse yourself in times past.
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Let’s Discover… Herbs and Heritage
Chepstow Castle
Tuesday 27 August, 10am-4pm
Adult £9.50, children £6.70, family £30.40, under 5s free, or free for Cadw members
Learn all about herbs and their uses during the Middle Ages, plus the opportunity for children to make something to take home with them.
Castell Coch
Saturday 31 August-Sunday 1 September, 11am-3pm
Adult £9.50, children £6.70, family £30.40, under 5s free, or free for Cadw members
Crown making, a traditional Punch and Judy show, castle tours, fun games for the family and face-painting at Castell Coch’s fun day. Advisable to book in advance due to limited capacity.
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Events at museums
National Museum Cardiff
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Museum Sleepover: Dinos
National Museum Cardiff
Saturday 20-Sunday 21 July
£70-£95 per person; age guidance 6-12 years old
Discover what goes on after dark in an action-packed night at the Museum. Take a torch lit tour to explore Wales as it was 200 million years ago, meet some friendly dinosaurs in a show to remember, get creative in a craft workshops inspired by fossils, footprints and bones from the Museum’s collection, settle down for a film before, camp under the museum’s dome to dream of ancient lands filled with fabulous beasts. Wake up bright and early for breakfast before joining a gentle family workout class with DanceFit Wales, and explore the museum’s galleries.
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National Museum Cardiff
Saturday 27-Sunday 28 and Tuesday 30 July-Thursday 1 August, 11.30am-1pm, 2pm-3.30pm, 4pm-5.30pm
£15 per person, age guidance 3+
Join Dinomania and Ranger Chris and dive into the world of prehistoric creatures as Ranger Chris takes you on an educational journey through time. Listen to fascinating facts, showstopping stories, and become a dinosaur expert yourself. From size and behaviour to extinction, you’ll learn it all. Explore fossils, replicas, and more – plus brace yourselves for a jaw-dropping encounter with Dinomania’s walking dinosaurs. Get up close to these life-sized creatures, from the mighty T-Rex to the majestic Triceratops, and meet some adorable baby dinosaurs.
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National Museum Cardiff
Saturday 16 March-26 January 2025, 10am-5pm
Pay what you can, minimum ticket price £1
Is a self-portrait the original selfie? Amgueddfa Cymru’s new exhibition Art of the Selfie explores and asks this question, looking at how artists through time, from Rembrandt and Van Gogh to Bedwyr Williams and Anya Paintsil, see and represent themselves. Van Gogh painted no fewer than 35 self-portraits and so became arguably one of the most recognizable faces in Western art. This exhibition will feature Van Gogh’s Portrait of the Artist (1887), which is on loan from Musée d’Orsay, Paris. Joining Van Gogh will be a selection of artists from the national collection of Wales, including Rembrandt, Brenda Chamberlain, Francis Bacon, Bedwyr Williams, and Anya Paintsil. Together they showcase a wide range of different methods and artistic approaches to the concept of the self-portrait.
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FREE The Valleys
National Museum Cardiff
Until 3 November 2024
What do the Valleys mean to you? From Ammanford to Pontypool, artists from across the world have been inspired by the south Wales Valleys since the 18th century. The Valleys showcases the work of some of the artists from the national collection to highlight the stories of the area. With more than 200 artworks in a wide range of media including painting, photography, film and applied art, the exhibition reveals how the lives and landscape of the Valleys and the people who lived and worked there were transformed by iron and coal, and how these communities made a vital contribution to the modern world.
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FREE The Fossil Swamp
National Museum Cardiff
Until 2 March 2025
This exhibition reveals a snapshot in time from 300 million years ago – when a vast tropical swamp covered what is now Wales. The Fossil Swamp had monster plants, giant insects, thunderstorms and floods.
Beautifully preserved fossils tell us about these ancient tropical wetlands. See the remains of strange plants which lived millions of years before flowers and fruits ever evolved. The prehistoric animals were also very different to those living today. Learn about the experts who figured out how these prehistoric plants lived plus see how the story of the fossil swamp links to the fossil fuel and climate problems we face today.
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St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff
St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff
Until 15 September 2024
After the First World War, nearly 400,000 women in Wales signed a peace petition and presented it to the women of the United States of America. They demanded a future without war.
A century later, the Women’s Peace Petition and the chest were rediscovered and gifted back to Wales. The petition and chest, on loan from the National Library of Wales, is among the highlight objects of this exhibition.
Also on display are the iconic protest banners from the 1980s Greenham Common peace camp, which are part of Amgueddfa Cymru’s collection. Discover more about some of the inspirational women who have played an important part in the campaign for world peace.
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FREE Wales is… talking about empire
St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff
Open daily
What do the museum’s collections reveal about representation in Wales? How can the museum foreground marginalised histories and experiences to reflect Welsh life? Whose voices or narratives are most powerful? St Fagans is working with to explore these and other questions in this new display as part of the Perspective(s) project. Artist Nasia Sarwar-Skuse and arts organisation Ways of Working are working with the museum’s collections and communities to explore the themes of colonialism and museums as complex institutions that represent a particular system of Western knowledge. A collaboration between the Arts Council of Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru, and supported by the Welsh Government, it seeks to change how the visual arts and heritage sector reflects the cultural and ethnic diversity of our society.
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Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon
FREE Streic! 1984-1985 Strike!
Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon
Until 1 March 2025, 9.30am-4.30am
On 1 March 1984 the National Coal Board announced the closure of 20 mines with the loss of 20,000 jobs. The year-long strike that followed changed the political, economic, and social history of Wales forever. The exhibition includes the stories and experiences of people whose lives were touched by the Strike in different ways, including striking miners, managers, miners’ wives and children, politicians, and police officers.
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Big Pit National Coal Mine Museum, Blaenavon
Explore the hobbies, past-times and sports of mining communities in our summer series of fun family activities.
More to Life than Work – Boxing
Monday 22 and Wednesday 24 July 2024, 11am-3pm
Make your very boxing belt inspired by Wales’ boxing champions.
More to Life than Work – Hiya Butt! Bay
Monday 29 and Wedneday 31 July, 11am-3pm
Crafts, messy play and opportunity to learn about the ‘Miners’ Fortnight’
More to Life than Work – Pin the tail on the Colliery Horse
Monday 5 and Wednesday 7 August, 11am-3pm
Create your very own ‘pin the tail on the colliery horse’ game, inspired by the two weeks that a Welsh Colliery Horse would spend on the surface each year during the ‘Miners’ Fortnight’.
More to Life than Work – Brass Bands
Monday 12 and Wednesday 14 August, 11am-3pm
Discover the history and sounds of Brass Bands in the Welsh Coalfields and construct a wind or percussion instrument inspired by them.
More to Life than Work – Wrestling
Monday 19 and Wednesday 21 August, 11am-3pm
Get creative and design and craft a wrestlers’ mask
More to Life than Work – Pigeon Racing
Monday 26 and Wednesday 28 August, 11am-3pm
Fancy yourself as a premier Pigeon racer? Explore the pigeon racing pastime of Welsh miners and construct origami pigeons to race.
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FREE Big Pit’s Big Bash
Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon
1 September, 10am-4:30pm
A day full of music, food and fun to bring the summer to an end. Enjoy a selection of food and craft stalls courtesy of Green Top Markets, live music throughout the day, family activities and crafts, appearances from Butty Bear mascot, plus the underground tour, pithead baths exhibition and more.
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National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon
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National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon
Monday 22-Friday 26 July, 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm, 2.30pm
£2.50 per child
Join the Second Augustan Legion. Meet the Centurion, take a look at some armour, weapons and military equipment from the Roman army and find out what life was like for a Roman soldier on the edge of the empire. Try on Roman armour and learn to march with the Centurion using Latin commands. The sessions on Monday and Tuesday will be delivered in both Welsh and English language.
FREE Quiet Hour
National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon
Sundays 28 July, 11 August and 22 September, 10am-11am
Public spaces can be overwhelming and stressful for individuals with additional needs and disabilities, which in turn can cause sensory overload. By taking away certain barriers, noise and bright lights we can produce an environment that is inclusive, calm and safe for people to explore. Come to the National Roman Legion Museum and explore the museum during our Quiet Hour. Sensory packs available from the front desk, accessible toilets available. Visual story: A trip to Roman Caerleon, may be useful when planning your visit.
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FREE Meet a Roman Soldier
National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon
Monday 29 July-Friday 2 August 2024, 11am-1pm, 2pm-4pm
Chat to a Roman soldier and find out more about his life in Isca.
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National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon
Wednesdays 7, 14, 21 and 28 August 2024, 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm, 2.30pm
£2.50 per child, book on arrival
2000 years ago Gladiators were some of the biggest sports stars in the Roman Empire. They were both loved and hated and watched by people from all parts of Roman society, including the soldiers in Caerleon. This is a chance to visit the ludus, a gladiator training school, where gladiators will train you to fight and tell you about the equipment and lives of these impressive warriors. The sessions will be delivered in both Welsh and English language on August 28.
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FREE Hands-on the past
National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon
Fridays 9, 16, 23 and 30 August, 10.30am-12.30am and 1.30pm-3.30pm
Find out about family life in the fortress this summer and handle some real Roman objects.
Drop in sessions, no need to book. The sessions will be delivered in both Welsh and English language on August 23 and 30.
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FREE Roman Soldier in the Barrack Room
National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon
Saturdays 10, 17, 24 and 31 August 2024, 11am-1pm, 2pm-4pm
Meet the Roman soldier in the Barrack Room to find out more about the life in Isca. Also a great chance for children and adults to try on some replica armour.
Museum of Cardiff, The Hayes, Cardiff
Until 31 August, 10am-4pm
An exhibition by CAER Heritage featuring the art and finds from the archaeological dig at Trelai Park in 2022 and 2023.
FREE Craft Wednesdays
Museum of Cardiff, The Hayes, Cardiff
Wednesdays 24 July-28 August, 11am-3pm
Visit the museum every Wednesday throughout the summer holidays for some creative and crafty fun for all the family, with a different craft theme every week.
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FREE Family crafts
Newport Museum
Wednesdays 24 and 31 July, 7, 14, 21 and 28 August, 11am-3pm,
Join community artist Nathan Sheen for free crafts based sessions at Newport Museum and Art Gallery. Suitable for ages 3 to 10.
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The Royal Mint Experience, Llantrisant
Wednesdays, Saturdays and August Bank Holiday, from 31 July to 26 August, 11am-1pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm
Come face to face with a crew of pesky pirates as they cause shenanigans across The Royal Mint Experience. Take part in a bounty of activities, belly laugh together during live pirate shows and dive into maritime history in new exhibition, Coins and the Sea. Plus get 40% off a tour of The Royal Mint Experience on the same day.
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The Royal Mint Experience, Llantrisant
Friday 26 July-Bank Holiday Monday 26 August, 9.15am-4.15pm
£5 per person for an exhibition-only ticket
Discover what it takes to become a professional athlete, come face to face with medals and artefacts from The Royal Mint and Commonwealth Games Wales and explore the fascinating stories from nearly 100 years of competition. Available to see with an exhibition-only ticket or tour admission ticket.
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Aircraft and aviation displays
South Wales Aviation Museum, St Athan
Saturdays and Sundays 10am-4pm
Adults £10, concessions £7.50, children 3-14 £2.50 (one free child per paying adult)
Visit an array of aircraft as well as exhibition rooms with artefacts and memorabilia The museum encourages a hands-on experience with several aircraft cockpits open for you to take a seat in. There’s also a Sea King walkthrough where you can walk through the inside of our Sea King and several simulators for you to take a seat in.
Special events over the summer include:
FREE Mini In The Hangar – Cardiff Mini Club Summer Run Out
Saturday 28 July, 9am-3pm
Expect a lot of cars as the Cardiff Mini Club show off their collections of Minis from all eras at the museum.
Summer Fayre
Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 August, 10am-3pm
£1 entry per person
An array of arts and crafts, delicious cakes, exciting games, and a lively raffle.
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Arts, crafts and books
FREE Craft your own upcycled jellyfish
The Senedd, Cardiff Bay
Monday 22 July-Monday 1 September, 10.30am-4.30pm
Age guidance: 4+
Make a colourful jellyfish using upcycled materials. Choose tentacles and add accessories to bring your jellyfish to life. All materials will be provided. Suitable for all skill levels.
You can also see more examples of upcycling on show in Hooked (24 July-1 September), an exhibition of Ella Jones’s fluffy interactive sculptures, plus find out about the importance of protecting sea creatures and our oceans in Mike Perry’s Land/Sea exhibition, on display until 1 September in the Senedd and Pierhead.
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Roath Church House, Waterloo Road, Cardiff
Adults £16, children £12, family £52
A series of paint-a-long family art workshops, each featuring a step-by-step live tutorial from local artist Rachel Anne Rasmussen. Use five colours and three bushes to create your very own masterpiece to take home with you. Suitable for all abilities, age guidance 5+.
Paint Winnie the Whale
Thursday 25 July, 10.30am-12.30pm
Lonzo the Lama
Thursday 1 August, 10.30am-12.30pm
Gee Gee the Giraffe
Monday 5 August, 10.30am-12.30pm
Paint a princess castle
Thursday 13 August, 10.30am-12.30pm
Izzy the Iguana
Thursday 29 August, 10.30am-12.30pm
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Insole Court, Cardiff
Various dates and times; prices dependent on activity
A range of arts and crafts workshops over the summer, for different age groups.
Workshops range from painting with nature, woodland peg people and mindful water colour, to bug hotels and inky insects, friendship badges and bracelets and silver jewellery making, and lots more. Book early to avoid disappointment as these often sell out fast.
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Cardiff Children’s Book Week
Waterstones Cardiff
Monday 22-Sunday 28 July
Children’s events are free but must be pre-booked. YA events £3 per person.
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Emma Norry author talk
Monday 22 July, 11am
A talk from the author of the magical middle-grade book series Fablehouse.
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Catherine Fisher author talk
Tuesday 23rd July, 11am
Meet Catherine Fisher, author of the much-loved series The Clockwork Crow, to discuss Welsh myths and legends.
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Lex Croucher in Conversation
Tuesday 23 July, 6.30pm-7.30pm
£3
A chance to hear Croucher, author of Gwen and Art Are Not in Love, discuss their popular YA books.
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FREE Storytime with Peter Rabbit
Wednesday 24 July, 11am
The mischievous rabbit will be making an appearance for this special story time.
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FREE Supertato activities and storytime
Thursday 25 July, 11am
Celebrate one of the most beloved children’s book series, Supertato.
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House of YA Summer Road Trip
Thursday 25 July, 6.30pm-7.30pm
£3
House of YA is going on the road to celebrate a summer of love. Join a panel of superb writers, including Bea Fitzgerald, Molly X. Chang and A.B. Poranek. Beth Reekles will be chairing this event.
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Storytime with Peter Rabbit
Friday 26 July, 11am
A reading of the classic children’s story, as well as having the opportunity to meet Peter himself.
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Happy Birthday, Gruffalo!
Saturday 27 July, 10am-12pm
A morning celebrating one of our most beloved children’s book characters, The Gruffalo, for the 25th anniversary of Julia Donaldson’s classic. To celebrate this quarter of a century milestone and the publication of Happy Birthday, Gruffalo! (a lift-the-flap book with a pop-up ending), head to Waterstones for some special activities, followed by a Gruffalo-themed storytime.
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Writing Workshop with Helen Comerford
Sunday 28 July, 11.30am-12.30pm
Age guidance 7+
Have you ever wanted to write your own story? Join Helen Comerford in this creative writing workshop. Helen will share insights from her writing journey and guide the group through the starting stages of creating their story. From generating ideas to pinning down the major plot points, participants will leave the workshop with a story that’s ready to write.
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Outdoor attractions
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Dyffryn Gardens, St Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan
Saturday 20 July-Saturday 31 August, 10am-6pm
Adults £13.20, children £6.60, family (2+3) £33, family (1+3) £19.80, Gift Aid prices, or free for National Trust members
Hop, skip and jump your way to being the Dyffryn Games champion. Visitors can take part in several games and sports around the gardens to help families get outdoors and play together this summer. Who will win the hurdles? Who will be the family table tennis champion? And who will take the prize at archery? Who will stand in first place on the Dyffryn Garden Games podium? Part of the National Trust’s Summer of Play initiative, included in regular admission charges.
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Tredegar House, Newport
Saturday 20 July-Sunday 1 September, 10.30am-4pm
Adults £13.20, children £6.60, family (2+3) £33, family (1+3) £19.80, Gift Aid prices, or free for National Trust members
Experience a summer of play during school holidays with games in the gardens, inspired by Evan Morgan’s menagerie of animals. Evan Morgan kept his own zoo, or menagerie, of animals in the Orangery garden in the 1930s and 40s. Discover more about Alice the Honey Bear, Bimbo the Baboon and Somerset the Kangaroo among others with a series of fun and playful games and activities. Play games outdoors and indoors, or don a costume to create your own playful performance. Included in regular admission charges.
Tredegar House, Newport
Wednesdays 31 July-Wednesday 25 September
Craft a poppy and contribute to a breathtaking display ready for Remembrance Day. Join the team of dedicated Make Do and Mend volunteers as they guide you through creating your own poppy. Add a personal touch by leaving a note on the back of your poppy, honouring those who hold a special place in your heart. Each poppy will contribute to a stunning commemorative display incorporating the beautiful willow sculpture of Sir Briggs, for Remembrance in November to pay tribute in a meaningful way.
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Mountain View Ranch
Daily over the summer holidays
£8 per person aged 2+
Join the Ranch family adventure trail, including the famous Gruffalo trail. Explore and discover all these and much, much more; two jumping pillows, guinea pigs, pygmy goats, ponies, straw bale obstacle course, soft archery, double zip wire, fairy forest, roly poly hill, tree houses, The Vomit Comet, The Big Big Swing, Hobbit Hill, and of course The Gruffalo.
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Fonmon Castle, Vale of Glamorgan
Adults £12.50, children £12, under 3s free
The Magic Candle, Saturday 20-Sunday 21 July 10am-4pm
Pirates v Fairies, Saturday 27-Sunday 28 July, 10am-4pm
Ice Princesses, Saturday 3-Sunday 4 August, 10am-4pm
Under The Sea, Saturday 10-Sunday 11 August, 10am-4pm
Each event will feature three magical shows a day and meet and greets with the characters. Plus all the other usual attractions, including the dinosaur trail, medieval village, story trails and more.
Film Weekend, Saturday 17-Sunday, 10am-4pm
Live performances featuring Pink Doll. See the Teenage Mutant Minja Turtles close up, and get a pic with beloved Cars character Lightening McQueen.
Superhero Weekend, Saturday 24-Bank Holiday Monday 26 August.
Meet and greet the superheroes.
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Pick Your Own Strawberries and raspberries
Vale Pick Your Own
Tuesdays to Sundays 10am-5pm (check social media updates as they will close if low on fruit)
Pay for the fruit you pick, with charges per kilogram.
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Various locations
Various dates
A full programme of events for families, including fossil hunting, crab conservation, beach crafts, sandcastle competition and more. See website for details.
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Newport Wetlands
Pond dipping
Tuesday 23, Wednesday 24, Monday 28, Tuesday 30, Wednesday 31 July; Monday 5; Tuesday 6; Wednesday 7, Monday 12, Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14 August, 10.30am-1pm
£5.50 RSPB members, £6.40 non-members
Discover the underwater life at Newport Wetlands with the knowledgeable team 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. Age guidance: 4+.
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Stargazing and wildlife at night
Thursday 25 July, 5.30pm-11.30pm
RSPB members £10 children, £17 adults; Non-members £11.80 children, adults £21
An evening event combining a stargazing experience alongside wildlife walks and family activities. Start the evening with a hot meal (additional cost £7 adults, £5 children), head to the fire pit for marshmallows and nature tales, before an evening of hands-on activities including pond dipping, willow weaving and crafts. A moth expert will show how to set up the moth trap for a reveal later in the evening. Usk Astronomical Society will give an indoor planetarium presentation before heading out onto the reserve to watch the sunset. We will then head out on a bat walk using our detectors to see what species come out during the dark and as we make our way back to the centre, we will see what our moth trap has to offer.
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Meadow minibeast hunt
Monday 19, Tuesday 20, Wednesday 21, Monday 26, Tuesday 27, Wednesday 28 August 11am-12pm and 1pm-2pm
RSPB members children £.5.50, non-members £6.40
Help to build the best homes for the extraordinary bugs and beetles at Newport Wetlands. We will start by putting together an ideal home made from natural materials, then put your building skills to the test whilst hunting for beasties.
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Bat walk and wildlife night
Wednesday 28 August, 5.30m-11.30pm
RSPB members £10 children, £17 adults; Non-members £11.80 children, adults £21
An evening event combing wildlife walks and family activities. Start the evening with a hot meal (additional charge, adults £7, children £5) before heading to the fire pit for marshmallows and nature tales. Then get set for nature activities including pond dipping, willow weaving and crafts; and a moth expert showing how to set up the moth trap for a reveal later in the evening. Local bat ecologists will help identify and learn about these amazing creatures that come out at night, guiding you on a walk with bat detectors to see what species come out during the dark.
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FREE Moth Night
Cwmcarn Visitor Centre
Wednesday 31 July, 8,45pm-12am
Discover the joys of these beautiful, yet misunderstood creatures. Explore the vibrant colours and shapes of these special creatures and be amazed at the varieties of species within the forest which are attracted to the light traps. The night is a dedication to the life of Martin Anthony, Gwent County Moth Recorder who dedicated his life to recording the moths of the county.
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Outdoor Story trail Adventures with Looby Lou
Bedwellty House, Tredegar
Grab those imaginations and join the Louby Lou team for some storytelling fun this summer! This event is designed to encourage imaginative play in nature and takes place outdoors, so please make sure you dress for the weather on the day. The trails head out in all weathers, even in the rain, so please make sure this is taken into consideration before booking.
Louby Lou: Superhero Smash
Tuesday 23 July, 11am-12.10pm and 1.30pm-2.40pm
£8.50 per child
There’s a new villain in town with only one thing on his mind – to defeat all superheroes. Get ready to Kapow, Boom, and smash your way through a brand new storytelling adventure, as we work together to stop the evil Doctor Dark.
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Louby Lou: Egyptian Adventure
Tuesday 30 July, 11am-.12.10pm and 1.30pm-2.40pm
£8.50 per child
Forget Indiana Jones, there’s a new adventurer in town. With ancient artefacts still yet to be found, can you help our brave explorer locate them in time for the grand opening of the Egyptian Museum? Navigate through Pyramids, dodge crocs that lurk in the River Nile and watch out for booby traps along the way as we head off on this exciting brand new adventure.
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Farm parks
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Cantref Adventure Farm, Brecon
Saturday 20 July-Monday 1 September, 10,30am-5pm
£17 per person over 93 cm, £8.50 under 93cm; must be prebooked online
Pet handling, animal encounter, tractor and trailer rides, pony grooming, large indoor soft play, sledge ride, swamp boat ride, crazy golf and lots more.
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Amelia Trust Farm, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan
Feel Good Friday
Friday 26 July
£6.50 per person online/£7 on the door
Put down the devices and go back to basics – playing outside, seeing animals, exploring the woods, and chatting to friends and family. Enjoy a nature walk around the woodland, spend some therapeutic time with the small fluffy animals, experience the calming effect of music and sound waves with professional Sound Healer Sally Hall, get creative in the craft room, and enjoy rhyme and sign and fun story time with Barry Library.
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Bee Happy Day
Thursday 1 August
£6.50 per person online/£7 on the door
Find out more about the local animals and wildlife on your doorstep, and spend a few hours getting lost in nature.
Here’s what to expect during the day. Learn more about the farm’s small animals, join a guided woodland walk where you’ll find out more about the creatures that crawl, fly, and call the woodland home; take part in a nature themed craft; plus talks about bees and their lifestyles, plus the equipment and training needed to become a Beekeeper.
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Dog Show
Saturday 3 August
£4.50 per person, £3 per dog to enter
A range of competitions for dogs of all shapes and sizes, from best male and female and agility to best sausage catcher.
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Grandparent Day
Wednesday 7 August
£6.50 per person online/£7 on the door
Bring the grandparents along for a day at the farm – explore the open space, spot wildlife, find out more about the smaller animals, meet the donkeys, ponies, pigs and goats, plus a guided walk in the woodlands.
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Fluffy Friends
Thursday 15 August
£6.50 per person online/£7 on the door
Meet the rabbits, guinea pigs, and ferrets, an opportunity for children to participate in a mini vet experience with a qualified veterinary nurse, plus a meet and greet with Buddy the Shetland Pony.
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Teddy Bear’s Picnic
Friday 30 August
£7.50 per person online/£8 on the door
Bring your favourite teddies, pack your picnic, and head to Amelia Trust to see the animals, play in the park, and explore the woodland. Activities include face painting, tractor rides, a colouring station, lawn games, and the bees and butterfly trail.
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Family fun – on going through the summer
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Pontypridd
Free for children under 16, adults £3, activity passes £2.50 per person
The National Lido of Wales features three pools – a main pool, an activity pool and a splash pool. For £2.50 per person, visitors can also enjoy everything from fun inflatables to Aqua Peddlerz and Water Walker. For smaller visitors, the splash pool is complete with an umbrella water fountain. They can bring their buckets and watering cans and play in the warm water in this safe and happy environment. Sessions do sell out in advance, so there will ow be limited availability. Tickets until 30 July are on sale now. The lido will then be shut until 14 August due to the Eisteddfod. Tickets for the remainder of August go on sale on Monday 22 July.
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Victoria Park, Cardiff
Saturday 25 May-Sunday 1 September, 7.30am-sunset
The splash pad in Victoria Park opens ready for half term, with 33 exciting features for children to enjoy.
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Cardiff Bay Family Fun Park
Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay
Saturday 20 July-Bank Holiday 26 August, 11am-8pm
Funfair attractions and family entertainment will fill the iconic Roald Dahl Plass once again this summer. Rides include dodgems, Funhouse, Runaway Train, Water Walkers, and Sea Storm, while younger children can enjoy rides with a suitably slower pace. Try your luck at one of the game stalls with a chance to win massive cuddly toy prizes, and then take a seat for the packed programme of free family entertainment. Expect exciting magic shows, princess sing-a-longs, character meet and greets, and more.
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St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff
Weekends and daily during the school holidays and on weekends,10.15am, 11.30am, 12.45pm, 3pm, 4.15pm, 4.15pm £20 per person
Tackle CoedLan’s 18 obstacles, including a balance beam, zig zag bridge, cargo net and a zip wire. No need to book in advance – buy your tickets in advance or on the day from the reception desk on a first come, first served basis.
Participants must be 110cm tall and aged 6 or over in order to take part. Children between 110cm and 130cm must be accompanied by an individual over 130cm and aged 12 years old or over. The maximum weight is 18 stone.
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St Donat’s Castle, Vale of Glamorgan
Saturday 3-Sunday 4 August
£8 adults, children free
The team behind the popular Forest Feastival and Street Food Circus present, in the words of their head honcho and ringmaster Matt The Hat “our most ambitious event yet”. He adds: “This is the culmination of everything we do – the best street food in Wales, gravity defying circus acts, nurturing local talent and supporting independent traders. All that plus a massive bouncy castle and a good old twmpath! It’s our biggest, most fantastic show yet, in a castle by the sea.”
Plus crazy golf, the World’s Biggest Bouncy Castle, the indie collectives makers market, a mobile sauna, and an outdoor lido swimming pool to take a dip, all taking place in the beautiful grounds of St Donat’s, a Castle by the Sea.
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St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff
Until Monday 2 September 2024
From £1, age guidance 2-11
Visit the rides and attractions at the Traditional Fairground and experience the magic of a bygone era.
The Royal Mint Experience, Llantrisant
Wednesdays, Saturdays and August Bank Holiday, from 31 July to 26 August, 11am-1pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm
Come face to face with a crew of pesky pirates as they cause shenanigans across The Royal Mint Experience. Take part in a bounty of activities, belly laugh together during live pirate shows and dive into maritime history in new exhibition, Coins and the Sea. Plus get 40% off a tour of The Royal Mint Experience on the same day.
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The Royal Mint Experience, Llantrisant
Friday 26 July-Bank Holiday Monday 26 August, 9.15am-4.15pm
£5 per person for an exhibition-only ticket
Discover what it takes to become a professional athlete, come face to face with medals and artefacts from The Royal Mint and Commonwealth Games Wales and explore the fascinating stories from nearly 100 years of competition. Available to see with an exhibition-only ticket or tour admission ticket.
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Parc Play, Cardiff
Monday 22 July-Monday 2 September
Mondays – event days. Pirates v Princesses, Really Wild Show Part I, Parc Birthday Party, Tiki Party, Superhero Training, Really Wild Show Part II
Funky Fridays 26 July and 23 August – Slide into the weekend with two early evening sets from our DJ, unwind, let the kids burn off some energy and kick start your weekend with us.
Longer weekday sessions (10am-12.30pm or 1.30pm-4pm), plus three ALN sessions a week. Advisable to book in advance.
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We Are Guardians/Skybound/Air and Flare
Techniquest, Cardiff Bay
Friday 19 July-Sunday 1 September
£2.50 per person per activity in addition to usual entry (£13 adults, £11 children, family 2+3 £45; Gift Aid prices)
We Are Guardians (age guidance 5+) is an immersive 360° Planetarium film that shows the beauty of our planet through satellite images, sailing across oceans and continents as we explore the way we are all directly connected with the ecosystems around the globe. Find out how the satellites orbiting our planet monitor the effects of our changing climate, and how the information they share can help us to protect our world for the future. Age guidance: 5+
Skybound (age guidance 5+) is a live science show exploring the world of flight. For centuries, humans have gazed at birds and dreamed of soaring through the skies. Discover how we can defy gravity and harness natural forces to solve the challenges of flying. Will the presenter soar to new heights or just be full of hot air? Find out in this thrilling live science show.
Air and Flare (age guidance 9+) is a hands-on lab workshop where you can unleash the power of air and explore the wonders of pressure in this hands-on workshop. Dive into a series of exciting experiments where you’ll make teabags fly with fire, create mesmerising mini tornadoes with dry ice, and launch projectiles using the power of chemical reactions. Plus, get ready to ignite your curiosity with vibrant, coloured flames as you uncover the secrets of fireworks.
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Celtic Manor Resort, Newport
Friday 19 July-Tuesday 3 September
A wide range of adventurous activities for families. Must be booked online in advance. Age and height restrictions apply.
Forest Nets – £20.00 per person (age 3+)
Low Ropes – £20 per person (minimum height 1.2m)
High ropes – £30 per person (minimum height 1.4m)
Laser Combat – £20 per person (age 6+)
All Bounced Out – £20 per person (6-15 years)
Archery – £20.00 per person (6+years)
Axe throwing – £20 per person (10+years)
Plus craft activities:
Petal Potters – design and decorate a plant pot, £12 per person
Ocean Arts – create your own unique ocean art and design a colourful fish craft, £12 per person
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St David’s Dewi Sant shopping centre, Cardiff
Daily 11am-10pm
Adults £10.90, Children (5 and under) £5, Family of 4 £33
Treetop Adventure Golf is home to two 18-hole mini golf courses where the whole family can test out their putting skills. Plus, free face painting and balloon modelling on Bank Holiday Monday 26 August, new kids’ meal deals, Jungle Shakes and new mocktails, freshly-made pizza.
Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs, Cardiff
Kayaking for a family of five costs £55, day camps are available for children aged 8 to 15 priced at £65 per day or £275 for a 5-day week package. Plus other taster sessions for paddleboarding, sailing, cold water swimming and more.
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Family fun – special events
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The Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay
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Natural Disasters science workshop
Thursday 25 July, 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm
£10 per child
Age guidance 4+; must be pre-booked
Celebrate the release of the new movie Twisters with Experimental Science with this hands-on science workshop exploring the science behind natural disasters including volcanoes, earthquakes and twisters to find out what really happens inside our volatile Earth.
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Crazy Chemistry
Thursday 1 August, 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm
£10 per child
Age guidance 4+; must be pre-booked
Explore the world of colour changes and chemical reactions. Children will watch an interactive and explosive mini science show before donning lab coats to create lots of colourful chemical reactions themselves. They will use lots of scientific equipment to complete several science activities and create their very own sweet smelling bath bomb to take home.
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Poké Play Day
Wednesday 7 August, 11am-5pm
Celebrate National Play Day with a themed event inspired by the famous franchise. Meet traders selling Pokémon, Magic, Yu Gi Oh, One Piece and other trading card games. They will have some amazing Plushies and Funko pop toys for sale on the day as well as some fun games and prizes up for grabs. Bring your fodlers and binders with you and visit the MGC Grading Table where you can get your cards priced and sent off for grading on the day.
Meanwhile dig deep to support our charity partner Ty Hafan, and spare a donation if you can while checking out our free activities between 12-5pm, including face painting, falconry, meet Pikachu and make a Pokémon mask to take home.
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Slimy Science
Thursday 15 August, 10am 11am 12pm 1pm
£10 per child
Age guidance 4+; must be pre-booked
Explore the world of slime with Experimental Science’s ultimate slime making workshop. Master the science of slime making by exploring different ingredients and techniques to create several pots of slime to take home. Explore fluffy slime, galaxy slime and floam with the use of scientific equipment to help create the stretchiest slimes around.
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The Dragons
Bank Holiday Monday 26 August, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm
Celebrate the fun of the Butetown Carnival with a vibrant showcase from The Dragons. This bright and colourful duo will veer between high-energy prancing and sculptural stillness, with their long tongues and lizard like movements. Look out as leap from one place to another – but beware! – they may take an interest in the contents of your bags, your pockets or even your sandwiches.
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Hollywood Bowl, The Red Dragon Centre
Friday 20 July-Sunday 1 September
Save 50% off standard bowling games at Hollywood Bowl this summer holidays, when you book to bowl before 11am! Use the code SCHOOLSOUT50 when you book and check out at www.hollywoodbowl.co.uk
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FREE Summer sessions
Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay
A series of live music events in Mermaid Quay.
Thursday 1 August, 4pm-6pm – Morwena Brown, Celtic harpist
Sunday 4 August, 11.45am-1.45pm – Morwena Brown, Celtic harpist
Sunday 4 August, 2pm-3pm – Technicolour Choir, remixing musical theatre with fresh sound, epic harmonies, mash-ups and glitter. The music of Broadway with the vibe of a festival.
Thursday 15 August, 4.15pm-6pm – Orchestral Beats. A blend of dance club classics with the grandeur of orchestral instruments, featuring a DJ, saxophone, bongos, and violin.
Sunday 25 August, 4pm-6pm – Orchestral Beats. A blend of dance club classics with the grandeur of orchestral instruments, featuring a DJ, saxophone, bongos, and violin.
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Cardiff Castle
Saturday 27 July, from 12pm
From £65
The final 500 tickets are on sale now for Depot at the Castle. International pop sensation Anne-Marie, famous for hits including Psycho and 2002, is headlining, with Tom Walker, Jax Jones, CVC, Ben Ellis, and Artful Dodger among those also performing at the one-day festival-style gig at Cardiff Castle. The family zone will be open from 12pm with face painting, flower crown making, balloon modelling and lots more.
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Tacoma Square, Mermaid Quay
Sundays 4, 11, 18 and 25 August, 12pm-4pm
Cardiff & Newport Face Painting will be offering free festival themed face and arm painting. Please note the face painting queue may close up to an hour before the advertised end time depending on how busy they are.
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Margam Park, Port Talbot
A full range of family events across the summer, from alpaca walking, arts and crafts, themed sessions, have a go archery, science workshops, slime workshops, animal encounters, Louby Lou interactive storytelling and lots more.
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Summer Family Day Out
Margam Park, Port Talbot
Sunday 21 July
Adults £18.77, children £16.10, family (2+2) £56.20
Featuring Peppa Pig and George, Paddington Bear and The Gruffalo.
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Romilly Park, Barry
Friday 26 July 2024, from 11am
Single tickets £17.50, family £55
Barry’s popular tribute festival kicks off a weekend of entertainment with a family day. Enjoy a day of live music featuring tributes to George Ezra, Harry Styles and Taylor Swift, plus rides and stalls, workshops, live magic, mascots and much more.
FREE ENTRY Summer Fete
Llanrumney Hall, Cardiff
Saturday 27 July, 11am-4pm
The annual Summer Fete at Llanrumney Hall is packed with family-friendly activities, including a petting zoo, live music performances, fairground rides, games from Cardiff City Football Club Foundation, bouncy castles, games such as knock the tin cans, hook-a-duck, whack a mole and more with prizes to be won, hair braid and glitter stall, face painting station, tombola, a range of food vendors, and lots more. This is a cash-only event.
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Ynys Angharad Park, Pontypridd
Saturday 3-Saturdaty 10 August
From music to literature and from a full programme of competitions to Wales’ premier contemporary art gallery, get set for a taste of our language and culture at their best.
Ynysangharad Park will provide a focus for most activities and pavilions, with the town also playing an important role during the week, creating an urban, alternative and exciting Eisteddfod, combining the local area with the festival itself.
Penllyn, Vale of Glamorgan
Wednesday 7 August
Adults £20, children £5, family £40
The Vale of Glamorgan Agricultural Show returns. With more than 20,000 visitors each year, it is now the largest one day event in the Vale of Glamorgan. The day features livestock and horse showing, more than 200 trade stands on the main field, the food court selling produce, most of which has been grown or made in the Vale, a shopping mall and a large craft fair.
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FREE ENTRY Amgueddfa Cymru Food Festival 2024
St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff
Saturday 7-Sunday 8 September 2024
The Amgueddfa Cymru Food Festival returns to St Fagans with more than 80 food, drink and craft stalls nestled among the historic buildings. Enjoy a feast of family-friendly foodie activities, cookery demos, tasty treats and music from some of Wales’ finest producers. Watch out over the summer for announcements about the stallholders and festival activity programme.
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ICC Wales, Newport
Saturday 10-Sunday 11 August
From adults £29.70, children £11 per day (limited tickets available)
Comic Con Wales is one of the UK’s largest pop culture conventions, attracting more than 10,000 fans annually to the ICC Wales. The main attraction every year is the star guests, with a variety of exciting names from movies, TV, streaming, gaming, anime and sports entertainment. You can also get your picture taken with unique props and set builds; watch the fabulous cosplayers strut their stuff on stage (or join them); test your skills in our retro and modern gaming areas; or browse through the unique gifts in the trader and artist areas. Fans can also dress up and join the huge cosplay community.
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Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Saturday 17 August, 5pm
From £20
Witness the iconic sound of four 500cc Speedway GP machines going wheel-to-wheel under the iconic Principality Stadium roof, with a crescendo of cheers and air horns from the stands providing the ultimate backing track. The 2023 edition of the FIM British Speedway GP saw Slovakia’s Martin Vaculik top the podium – a year after Great Britain hero Dan Bewley wrote his name in Cardiff folklore by becoming the event’s first home winner since Chris Harris triumphed in 2007.
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Cardiff Arms Park
Saturday 24 August, from 10am
£2 entry
New kit launch, skills sessions with players, music, Q&As and more with the Cardiff Blues. Proceeds go to the Cardiff Blues Foundation.
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Heath Park Model Railway, Heath Park, Cardiff
Sunday 21 July, Sunday 25 August, Bank Holiday Monday 26 August, 1pm-5pm
Entry £2.80 per person, rides £2.80 (under 3s free)
Cardiff Model Engineering Society opens its doors to the public with miniature train rides – steam, diesel and electric – plus tram rides.
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Bedwellty House, Tredegar
Slimy Science
Wednesday 31 July, 11am-12pm
£12 per child, age guidance 4-12
Slimy Science is a hands-on slime workshop that promises a day of fun, creativity, and scientific marvels. Dive into the fascinating world of slime and explore the science behind its squishy wonders. Create your own customized slime masterpiece with a rainbow of colours and dazzling add-ins.
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Radical Rockets
Wednesday 21 August, 11am-12pm
£12 per child, age guidance 4-12
Unleash your inner rocket scientist with hands-on rocket building, launch your own rocket into the sky and learn the science behind rocket propulsion.
Caerphilly town centre
Saturday 31 August, 9am-8pm and Sunday 1 September, 9am-5pm
Taking place in Caerphilly town centre, get set for music acts, food and drink stalls as well as music workshops, craft sessions and small funfair rides for the children.
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Cinema
The focus here is on independent cinemas, film-related events, and cheaper family screenings rather than the current big releases at the multiplexes.
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Bute Park, Cardiff
The UK’s number one outdoor cinema shows come to Cardiff’s Bute Park. Pack a picnic and get ready for an experience like no other.
Thursday 1 August, 7.30pm, Bridget Jones’ Diary (15)
Friday 2 August, 1.30pm Toy Story (U); 8pm Grease Sing-a-long (PG)
Saturday 3 August, 1.30pm, Frozen Sing-A-Long (PG); 6.30pm Mamma Mia
Sunday 4 August, 11am The Gruffalo/Stick Man (U); 3pm Sing (U); 7.30pm Back to the Future (PG)
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The Meadows Wildlife Park, Caerphilly
Adults £12, children £10, family of 4 £40
Monday 22 July, 7pm – The Greatest Showman and Fire Act from Ember Collective
Tuesday 23 July, 7pm – Toy Story 2 and Disney Quiz Night
Wednesday 24 July, 7pm – Harry Potter and Magician Act from Stefan Pejic
Thursday 25 July, 7pm – Back to the Future and 50s/80′ cover band It Takes Two
Friday 26 July, 7pm – Hot Fuzz (adults night) and Comedy Act from Fit Rich
Saturday 27 July, 7pm Mamma Mia and Dance Act from AYDMS
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Memo Arts Centre, Barry
£6 adults, £5 concessions
Friday 26-Tuesday 30 July – Inside Out 2 (U)
Friday 26 July-Thursday 8 August – Despicable Me 4 (U)
Thursday 25-Saturday 27 July – The Bikeriders (15)
Saturday 3-Thursday 8 August – Fly Me to the Moon (12A)
Tuesday 13-Thursday 15 August – Kensuke’s Kingdom (PG)
Friday 16-Thursday 22 August – Harold and the Purple Crayon (PG)
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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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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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Summer holiday events Cardiff
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