How to Entertain the Kids across the North East and Yorkshire this Easter
Everything you need for an egg-cellent Easter
Easter Holidays on the Farm
Easter comes early this year, but worry not – these farms are continuing the fun right through the holidays
Easter at Birchfield Family Dairies, Harrogate
23rd March–7th April, 10am–4pm
Birchfield Family Dairies’ spring arrivals including chicks, ducklings, piglets and – of course – lambs who you can bottle feed. Search around the farm and woodland for the answers to their Easter quiz sheet, and remember to collect your chocolate prize at the end. They also have guinea pigs to pet, go-karts to race and bouncy castles! Plus, if you visit between the 29th and 31st March, you’ll be joined by the Easter bunny. For more information, visit birchfieldicecream.co.uk.
Lambing Live at Cannon Hall Farm, Barnsley
23rd March–14th April, 10am–6pm
This spring, the folks at Cannon Hall Farm will be welcoming families to come and see the lambing season in action. If the farmers look a bit familiar, it’s probably because Cannon Hall Farm are the hosts of Channel 5 TV show Springtime on the Farm and have also made appearances on The Yorkshire Vet. For more information, visit cannonhallfarm.co.uk.
Holiday Fun at Monk Park Farm, Thirsk
23rd March–7th April, 10am–5pm
Giant Easter Egg Hunt over Bank Holiday weekend (29th March–1st April)
Visitors to Monk Park Farm over the Easter holidays will have the opportunity to take part in special themed Easter activities. Details are still being announced, but with activities that already include daily miniature pig races, rides on a miniature train, an indoor petting barn, bottle-feeding lambs, calves and kids (season-dependent) and riding in a barrel pulled by a vintage tractor through their deer and llama farm, we can’t wait to see what they come up with next! For more information, visit monkparkfarm.co.uk.
Learn About Lambing at Sledmere House, Driffield
Weekends only, 23rd March–7th April, 10am–4pm
This Easter, Sledmere House will be offering visitors the chance to learn all about one of the most important annual events at any farm: lambing season. Meet newborn lambs, learn about lambing from the farm team, watch footage taken from their lambing sheds and – if you’re lucky enough to get there for feeding time – you might even get the chance to give them a bottle! For more information, visit sledmerehouse.com.
Easter Egg-stravaganza at Piglets Adventure Farm, York
23rd March–14th April
From their Great Easter Egg Hunt to hilarious live shows, an indoor play barn, and meeting the sweetest baby animals, Piglets Adventure Farm has plenty to keep everyone entertained this Easter. For opening times and to book tickets, visit pigletsadventurefarm.com.
Hop to It
Put a spring in their step with our top picks from the Easter Bunny’s basket
Bunny basket, £22 Robinson’s Alnwick
Wooden chicken coop, £26 The Little Wardrobe Ne, Durham
Personalised Easter basket, £20 fredandarobin.com
Floral bunny clips, £6.50 Baby at the Bank, Corbridge
Peter Rabbit long-sleeve top, £14 Blade & Rose at Little Munchkins, Otley
Easter egg hunt jar, £13.99 Ask Mummy and Daddy at Fenwick, Newcastle and York
Bunny plush toy, £19.99 Bliss Gifts, Darlington
Wooden dinosaur eggs, £17.99 Janod at John Lewis & Partners, Leeds and Newcastle
Bashful Beige Bunny, £22.99 Jellycat at Strickland & Holt, Yarm
Nesting woodland animals, £22 Rosa & Bo at leoandlil.com
Cracking Days Out
Our pick of the North East’s best egg hunts, activities and all-out eggztravaganzas for Easter
Easter Bunny Garden Party at Raby Castle, Darlington
30th March, 1–2pm or 2.45–3.45pm
Attendees of this Easter eggs-travaganza in the grounds of Raby Castle can expect plenty of themed activities and an appearance from special guest Peter Rabbit.
Easter Bunny Adventure Weekend at South Causey Inn, Stanley
29th March, Brunch 10am–12pm, Afternoon Tea 1.30pm–3.30pm
With excellent food, an Easter egg hunt, pets corner and photo ops with the Easter Bunny (who will, of course, come laden with gifts), South Causey Inn have created a truly memorable Easter event for all the family (we particularly appreciate the offer of fizz for the adults).
Easter Eggztravaganza at Paxton House, Berwick
31st March, 10am–3pm
Head over to Paxton House to burn off some steam before your Easter lunch this year. Expect a fun filled day of bouncy castles, face painting, dance classes, arts and crafts and many more Easter-themed activities.
Easter Adventure Quest at Belsay Hall, Northumberland
23rd March–14th April, 10am–5pm
Every day of the Easter holidays, Belsay Hall will be running an Easter quest in their stunning gardens. Search for clues, track down Easter eggs and claim a chocolatey reward for your efforts.
Easter Activity Mornings at Wynyard Woodland Park, Stockton
3rd & 10th April, 10am–11.30am
The team at Wynyard Woodland Park will be running two mornings jam-packed with activities from Easter egg hunts and Easter-themed art to music, dancing and games.
Easter Baking Workshop with Creative Kitchen at Derwent Manor, Allensford
6th April, 10am–12pm
Creative Kitchen are a Consett-based company dedicated to getting kids into cooking. This Easter they’re at Derwent Manor to offer a special Easter workshop designed, as always, by a qualified secondary food and nutrition teacher. Tickets for the event include your own baked masterpiece, extra refreshments, crafts and an Easter egg to take home.
IN PRAISE OF PARKPLAY
Every Saturday morning in parks across the UK, multiple generations of families are getting together to stay active and have fun through play. The organisation making this happen is called ParkPlay, and they now have six groups in the North East, all of which are run by local people for their community. Sessions will include a range of games, from shorter warm up activities, playground style games, and sports-based games, all of which have been adapted to make sure that everyone can join in ‘no matter’ their age or ability. To find your local ParkPlay, register and find out more visit park-play.com.
EASY EASTER CUPCAKES
These fun cupcakes use marshmallows to bring the Easter bunny’s best features to life. Older children will love helping with the cupcake mixture and buttercream, while everyone can get involved in decorating (more abstract interpretations will taste just as good). Get the recipe here.
BOOK AHEAD!
Storytelling at Leeds Playhouse are running a series of storytelling sessions for children aged three to seven on the last Saturday of the month. In April, a professional storyteller will be taking children on an imaginative adventure up the beanstalk with Jack in a creative exploration of the classic tale. It’s worth putting this one in the diary and booking ahead – tickets are available a few months in advance and can sell out quickly. To book and find out more, visit leedsplayhouse.org.uk.
What Next?
Once Easter weekend has been and gone, most of us will still have two school-free weeks to fill. Here’s what to put in your diary
Dinosaurs Rule the Roost at Bamburgh Castle
29th March–14th April
This Easter holiday, head over to Bamburgh Castle for two weeks of discovering creatures that came long before any chickens, or their eggs (or the chocolate variety): dinosaurs. Activities include story time, arts and crafts, a pop-up exhibition and a dino safari complete with fossil hunting and cave painting. Activities vary across the holidays, so make sure you check the website for details.
The Little Prince at Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham
4th April, 2pm & 5th April, 11am
Lyngo Theatre will be returning to Queen’s Hall Arts Centre with a beautiful adaptation that uses puppetry and song to tell the beloved tale of the little prince and his travels around the universe.
Toys Come Alive at Theatre Hulluballoo, Darlington
11th–13th April, 11am
Join BalletLORENT as they recreate the magic of Margery Williams’ original tale of the Velveteen Rabbit. Young audiences can look froward to finding out what happens when toys find a life of their own in this captivating combination of storytelling, music and dance.
Bikes and Bugs at Quorum Park, Benton
4th April, 9am–3pm
Children eight years and up (or confident younger cyclists) are invited to join a free bike ride around a nature route as well as wildlife spotting and bug hotel making at Quorum Park. The event is being run in partnership with Bike4Health, so no worries if you don’t have your own bikes or helmet – they can provide them for you on the day!
