4 minute read
Calendar
Building memories
12-27 FEBRUARY
Make up for last February’s lockdown half-term with a trip to Legoland Windsor for the return of Brick Week: the resort’s dedicated family event, which promises selected rides and attractions, plentiful LEGO build activities, the opportunity for youngsters to meet their favourite Legoland characters and much, much more. LEGO block fun with none of the tidying up after? We’re in. legoland.co.uk
Happy bunnies
12 FEBRUARY - 8 JANUARY 2023
Generations of children have been enchanted by the tales of Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin, Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddleduck. However, few of us know the full story of the woman behind these beautifully-illustrated books. The V&A’s new Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature exhibition will take visitors on a journey through the author’s life as a scientist and conservationist, while exploring the animals and countryside that inspired her beloved characters. vam.ac.uk
Straw and order
19 - 27 FEBRUARY
The annual Scarecrow Festival returns to Knutsford’s Tatton Park this half-term, promising lots of outdoor fun for family members of all ages. Enjoy the fresh air with a walk around the beautiful garden and 50-acre farm, as you hunt for Tatton’s array of straw-based friends. And be sure to pick up tips for crafting your own when you get home! tattonpark.org.uk
Forever young
9 - 20 FEBRUARY
The UK’s largest celebration of cultural family experiences, the Imagine Children’s Festival celebrates its 20th year in 2022 with a packed line-up of enriching events in the capital. From ZooNation’s hiphop-dancing workshops and Aurora Orchestra’s storytelling concerts to artist Anna Bruder’s family trails and poem-building sessions, your little artists have an endless array of opportunities to be inspired. southbankcentre.co.uk
Cover to cover
3 MARCH
Whether it’s Harry Potter or Wally, it’s time for your child to dress up as their favourite literary character again. And as this year marks the 25th anniversary of World Book Day, you can be assured that 2022’s occasion will be filled with lots of exciting activities, campaigns and interactive author events, which are still under wraps as we go to press. However, you can get into the spirit by engaging with Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell’s #PassthePen initiative to promote visibility for writers and illustrators of colour. worldbookday.com
Fizz, bang, pop!
6 MARCH
Want to inspire your budding Nobel prizewinner? Then we advise that you get tickets for Exciting Science at Bristol’s Redgrave Theatre and prepare yourselves for volcanic eruptions, vacuum-cleaner missile launchers and smoke blasters! While these live experiments will have kids itching to get back into the school lab, please don’t try them at home!
redgravetheatre.com
Sail away
6 MARCH - 17 APRIL
Timed perfectly for the Easter break, London’s Unicorn Theatre is raising the curtain on a modern retelling of Jonathan Swift’s masterpiece Gulliver’s Travels. A surreal tale of Lemuel Gulliver’s voyage to a world of strange islands and even stranger creatures, this inventively-told adventure of survival, self-discovery and friendship will enthrall audiences of all ages. unicorntheatre.com
Swashbuckling fun
10-12 MARCH
Ahoy landlubbers! It’s time to set sail with Jim Lad, Long John Silver and a host of other salty sea dogs to find out whether X really does mark the spot. This hilarious production of Treasure Island, which will enjoy a short run at York Theatre Royal, combines the talents of award-winning physical comedy company, Le Navet Bete, and one of the UK’s best theatre and BBC Radio 4 writers, John Nicholson.
yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
WORDS: LAURA SUTHERLAND. PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK/NITO100; ISTOCK/SURASAKSUWANMAKE Feel the beat
20 MARCH
Established by two mums with a shared passion for raving, Neoniño organises kid-friendly clubbing experiences across the UK, with visually-stimulating lights, interactive fun and a great atmosphere for the whole family to let loose and dance! XS Bar and Lounge in Stockport is the next venue to welcome little ones on to the dancefloor. Glowsticks at the ready, mum! neonino.co.uk
Wildlife through a lens
26 MARCH
Ideal for ages six to 10, the Zoo Photography for Junior Explorers at Colchester Zoo is a great creative outlet for young animal lovers. With an emphasis on teaching children how to observe their favourite species and their behaviour, hone their angles and recognise the perfect photo opportunity, they’ll learn to capture the perfect shot whether they’re using a top-of-the-range SLR or a camera phone. colchester-zoo.com
Save the planet
2 APRIL
Edinburgh’s Dynamic Earth is putting climate change firmly on its youth programme agenda, and this Dino’s Club event offers the perfect environment for future activists to learn how to make a difference. There will be three fun, interactive sessions throughout the day, during which each child will make their own eco-awareness poster.
