How to keep the family entertained this holiday weekend
If you are looking for things to do during the Easter holidays that won’t break the bank, we’ve rounded up some fab family activities that will ensure you and the kids have lots of fun.Whether it’s Easter-related or simply a visit to the museum, here are
1 Go on an egg hunt in a museum
Where: National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.
When: Until April 23, 10-4pm. Explore the nooks and crannies in the galleries to track down the hidden eggs in the Easter trail.
There is also a family fun day featuring crafts, live music and a quirky gallery trail today.
2 Have a go at pond dipping
Where: Bodnant Garden, Tal-yCafn.
When: Until April 23, 10am - 4pm. It’s a strange world under water. Go along and discover some of the weird and wonderful things that live in the lovely pond at Bodnant Garden.
The event is ideal for children. Remember to wear suitable clothing and footwear for the weather, preferably clothes you don’t mind getting grubby.
Booking not needed, just turn up on the day.
It’s a free event but admission charges do apply.
Call 01495 650460 for more info.
3 Go on a spring time family trail
Where: National Museum Cardiff When: April 14 - 17. 10am-4pm.
Explore the Museum for signs of spring with our family trail. Pick up your free copy from Clore Discover Centre.
4 Or a family Easter trail
Where: St Fagans National History Museum
When: April 14 - 17. 11am-2pm. Solve the riddles and follow the trail around the site, then it’s back to the start to claim your egg-citing prize!
No advance booking needed for this event - just turn up and pay on the day. Head to Kennixton Barn (the red house) to begin the trail.
Suitable for children age 4+
5 Get crafty with a Roman soldier
When: April 14-17, 11-4pm (2-4pm Sunday) Where: National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon
Hop up the M4 to join a Roman solder in the Barrack Room as he tells all about life in the Roman Army.
You can also have a go at making a traditional Roman decoration for a tree, known as an ‘oscilla.’
6 Take part in the Penrhyn bee hunt
Where: Penrhyn Castle, Bangor. When: Until April 22, 12pm-4pm. Venture inside the castle and try and spot all the Penrhyn bees. Perfect for wet weather days. Some of the new Walled Garden residents at Penrhyn have flown a little far from the hive and are lost around the castle. Can you help find them all hidden around the furniture and walls of the building?
A fun family trail inside Penrhyn Castle. Meet at the Grand Hall before starting the hunt.
This event is free but normal admission charges apply.
For more details visit the National Trust website .
7 Have some animal-loving fun
Where: North Clwyd Animal Rescue, Holywell.
When: Today, 11am - 3pm. A must for all animal lovers. The sanctuary’s open day aims to be a fun family day out. There will be stalls selling fresh produce and crafts, along with a raffle, tombola and refreshments will be available from the café serving lots of tasty treats.
You will also get a chance to visit the animals at the centre so don’t forget to bring along some gifts for them.
For more information call 07145 560 546 or visit the website
8 Go for an alfresco swim
Ponty Lido opens for the first day of the year Where: Lido Ponty. When: Until Sunday, April 23.
The ever popular Lido in Pontypridd is back open for Easter before re-opening fully in May for the summer 2017 season.
As well as the opportunity for lane swimming and more relaxed swims, and a splash pool for the little ones, there will once again be a whole host
of activities on offer from fun inflatables to Aqua Scooterz, Aqua Peddlerz and Water Walkerz.
While it’s still free for children, it’s now £1 for adults.
9 Visit a farm
Where: Bodafon Farm Park, Llandudno.
When: Open from 10am-6pm. If you want to see farm animals, red and fallow deer, lamas, goats, shire horses and ponies, plus birds of prey, then take a trip to Bodafon.
There are loads of Easter activities happening too.
For more details call 01492 549060.
10 Make a puppet
Where: Fforestfach Library, Swansea.
When: April 19, 11.30-12.30pm. Can a pig really become a princess? There’s been a dreadful mix-up in the royal nursery.
Join the librarians for the story of the Princess and the Pig and make an ingenious puppet to use to retell the story at home.
11 Make some sock bunnies
Where: Oriel Mostyn Gallery. When: April 20, 11am-12.30pm. Have some Easter holiday art and crafts fun.
12 Join in a family dance festival
Where: Glanfa Stage, Wales Millennium Centre.
When: April 21 and 22. Take your little ones and watch their eyes light up as they witness amazing dancers twisting and turning, sliding and tumbling.
In an entertaining and jampacked one-hour programme, you’ll get to see four short pop-up dance pieces, including the award winning National Dance Company Wales’ new work Animatorium which premiered at Green Man Festival 2016.
Go to coreocymru.com
13 Hear about a pirate’s adventures
Where: National Wool Museum, Llandysal. When: April 22, 11.30-3pm. Meet the dastardly pirate Black Bart and be wowed by his tales of the high seas. It’s part of 2017 Year of Legends.
Call 0300 111 2333 for more details.
14 Raise funds for Kidney Wales with a charity walk
Where: Bute Park, Cardiff (it starts and finishes at the Secret Garden)
When: Sunday, April 23. The Walk for Life remains one of Kidney Wales’ longest occurring events and is an event for all the family.
It continues to bring communities together and encourage everyone to join Kidney Wales in the great outdoors to walk and vital raise funds.
What better way to end the Easter hols with a healthy walk and a good turn.
15 Go and see some newborn lambs
Where: St Fagans National History Museum
A record number of lambs have been born at the Welsh outdoor museum and many of them are still wandering around the fields looking super cute.
16 Do a spot of Dolphin spotting at Cardigan Bay
There are plenty of paid for boat trips which go out into Cardigan Bay to say hello to the resident dolphins, porpoises and seals – as well as exotic visitors like whales and harmless sharks. Or you could just sit on a clifftop somewhere – Mwnt, for example – and watch them glide through the waters beneath you.
17 Go deep underground at Big Pit, Torfaen
Where: Blaenafon. When: Open daily from 9.30am 5pm. Last admission 4pm. Underground tours 10am - 3.30pm.
Take a tour of the pits, but book ahead - this free attraction gets very busy in school holidays.
More info: museum.wales/bigpit/
18 Make shopping a bit more fun
Where: McArthurglen Designer Outlet, Bridgend When: Until April 23. Children visiting the centre will receive an Easter themed activity book, inviting them to spot Easter images in store windows as they walk around the centre, and be in with a chance of winning a Lindt chocolate treat at the end of the trail.
The activity book will feature a colouring competition and word searches to keep little ones entertained too. McArthurGlen Bridgend is also offering parents the chance to win a £150 gift voucher to spend at the centre.
To enter the prize draw, all they need to do is share a photo of their Easter Trail Adventure on Facebook or Instagram, using the hashtag #HopandShopBridgend.
19 Decorate your own egg and hunt for more
Where: Chepstow Museum When: Until April 23 This year’s egg hunt has been laid to make young visitors look ‘eggstra’ hard at the displays in Chepstow Museum. It will take keen eyes to spot where the eggs have been cunningly camouflaged amongst the exhibits.
They’ve also devised some Easter puzzles to take home and unscramble. And this year there’s a special competition to create a design for a decorated egg.