Museum opens up for Easter and St George’s Day events
ALTHOUGH the weather doesn’t seem to agree with us, this month sees Hinckley leaping firmly into spring.
Coming into April, the town is full of Easter cheer and fun activities for all the family. This month also sees the re-opening of the beloved Hinckley & District Museum for the 2018 season, as well as plenty of spectacular shows at the Concordia Theatre.
Want to get involved? Here are some of the key dates for your diary this month.
Until April 4, Hinckley Town
Centre Hinckley BID Easter Bunny Hunt Families can still hop to it if they want to take part in the town’s annual bunny hunt. Little ones – with the help of parents! – can follow a series of clues to find the Easter bunnies, which are hidden around town centre businesses.
The simple quiz form is downloadable from www.hinckleybid.co.uk, as well as Wildkidz on New Buildings, the borough council Hub, Hubbard’s Toy Cupboard and Johnson’s on Castle Street. Everyone who submits a correctly completed form will receive a free Easter Egg, while a random prize draw will reveal one lucky winner of a voucher for £50 to spend in any town centre shop of their choice. Contact info@hinckleybid.co.uk for further details.
Easter Monday (April 2), Hinckley & District Museum
Museum Opening Hinckley’s long-standing and beloved museum will open its doors for 2018 on April 2. Residents, amateur historians and anyone wanting to learn about the town’s rich history are invited to browse the latest exhibitions, which include a display on Roman Hinckley (including a fullsized model of a Roman Chariot), Hinckley in the 17th century and the inspirational Ada Lovelace, who is credited with being one of the first ever computer programmers.
Wednesday April 4, 9.30am-12pm or 1pm-4pm, Hinckley United Reformed Church Easter Play Sessions Parents at a loss during the school holidays are being invited to send their kids (ages 5-11) for an Easter play session. Youngsters can take part in Easter Egg hunts, sports, crafts and facepainting, and drinks and snacks will be provided. The sessions are being run by HBBC play workers and cost 50p per session. Booking is essential. For more information, call Rebecca Ball on Hinckley 255937 or email Rebecca.ball@hinckley-bosworth. gov.uk
Wednesday April 4, 10.30am11.30am, Hinckley Library
Compost Safari Go on a Compost Safari searching for worms and small creatures that live in your compost bin, turning plant and food waste into compost. This event is for children 4-11 years and costs £1 per child. Spaces must be prebooked.
Children and grown-ups may also take photos of the creatures using their smart phone using one of the phone microscope attachments. For more information, call 0116 305 2500 or email hinckleylibrary@leics.gov.uk
Wednesday April 11, 1pm1.45pm, St Mary’s Church SMARTs Lunchtime Concert Audiences are invited to enjoy the rousing sounds of Julian Hellaby on piano as St Mary’s popular lunchtime concerts return for April. Admission is payable on the door and costs £4 for adults, and £1 for children and students.
Friday April 13- Saturday April 21, Concordia Theatre Hinckley Stanley Opera Presents Cinderella (La Cenerentola) Rossini’s sparkling comedy opera comes to Hinckley as Stanley Opera brings the most romantic story of them all to life. This spectacular performance promises to be the perfect show for the whole family. Tickets start at £11 for concessions. For more information, call Jane White on Hinckley 212416.
Thursday April 19, 7.30pm, Hinckley Great Meeting Chapel, Baines Lane Hinckley and District Museum Talk Budding historians are being invited to watch Dr John Sutton present a talk on crime and punishment in Leicestershire and Rutland. Talks take place in the upper schoolroom, with free car parking adjacent to the museum in Lower Bond Street and in the Druid Street car park opposite the chapel garden entrance. Admission is free with a 2018 Friends of Hinckley & District Muse- um membership card or, for nonmembers, tickets cost £3 at the door. For more information, email hinckleymuseum@hotmail.co.uk
Friday April 20, 12-1pm, Hinckley Library Listen While You Lunch On the third Friday of each month, join the Library for a series of talks on various subjects including history and local nostalgia. For more information, call 0116 305 2500 or email hinckleylibrary@leics.gov.uk
Saturday April 21, 10am-2pm, Hinckley Town Centre St George’s Day Event Celebrate our patron saint as Hinckley provides plenty of fun for all the family to enjoy. Highlights include the annual Scout’s Day Parade.
Thursday April 26 - Saturday April
28, Concordia Theatre Wendy Morton Academy of Dance The talented dancers from the academy will be entertaining audiences with an extravaganza of all-singing, all-dancing and all-acting fun.
Tickets start at £10 for concessions. For more information, call the Wendy Morton Academy on 077705 80871.