Your guide to keeping the kids entertained this half term

CRAFTERNOONS

Warrington Museum and Art Gallery hosts regular craft sessions for youngsters and there are some extra dates during half term.

There is a different theme at each free event with tiger masks on February 15, hand print dinosaurs on February 19, sunflowers on February 21 and snappy crocodiles on February 22.

The drop-in sessions run between 1pm and 3pm with last admission at 2.45pm. No booking is required but children must be accompanied by an adult and the recommended age is three and over.

MICRODOT AT ALDERLEY PARK

THE creators of the award-winning Bluedot Festival are hosting a day of family-focused fun this weekend, marking the launch of Glasshouse at Alderley Park.

Bruntwood Sci Tech has announced details for Microdot at Alderley Park this Saturday from 9am to 4pm – a day of family activities designed for budding scientists and tech buffs alike.

Gaia – the huge Earth installation by artist Luke Jerram – will be the centrepiece of the day. Measuring seven metres in diameter, Gaia features highly detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface and will provide a unique opportunity to see our amazing planet on this scale.

Early morning yoga classes by Everybody Sport and Recreation will take place directly underneath the award-winning installation. Families are invited to help bring tech to life with fun interactive shows such as Who Wants to be a Superhero and Music to Your Ears hosted by Science Made Simple. 

Cheshire-based Skills Supply will also be on hand for some fast-paced drone racing action, teaching families to fly ultra-stable drones and pit their skills against other racers around custom-made courses.

Adventurous kids are invited to join Sharky and George in a science-themed treasure hunt too. See alderleypark.co.uk/microdot

KIDS HALF PRICE AT KNOWSLEY SAFARI

Take the strain out of the school holidays with a full day out to entertain the whole family this February half term at Knowsley Safari – and children go for half price.

The offer can be claimed between February 15 and 23 for youngsters up to 15 with an entry fee of £6.75 instead of £13.50.

You can take your mini adventurers on the five-mile Safari Drive as many times as you like where you can see the likes of white rhino, African lions, European bison, wildebeest and camels.

Entry also includes the foot safari to discover Amur tigers and Iberian wolves. You can book at knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk

TRAFFORD CENTRE

• Jawsome quest at Sea Life - help the professor in his mission to locate the missing cards and place them in the correct order. Along the way, learn fun facts about species of sharks and other amazing creatures. For more details and to book, visit intu.co.uk/traffordcentre/events/join-the-jawsome-quest-at-sea-life
• The Upside-Down House - a topsy-turvy experience which gives you the chance to take ‘zero gravity’ selfies. Find it outside the Great Hall
• Pokémon card trade day at Waterstones this Sunday - to celebrate the launch of Pokémon Sword and Shield expansion cards, Waterstones is hosting its first trade day where everyone is welcome to swap their Pokémon cards in-store. The first 50 people to visit the store will receive some free goodies, including a three-card sampling pack. This free event will take place from 12pm – 6pm.
• Read, wriggle and rhyme with Acorn Wood at Waterstones on Tuesday, 10am - bring the little ones for a morning of storytime and crafts. Listen to favourite Acorn Wood stories Fox’s Socks, Postman Bear and Rabbit’s Nap, as well as lots of singing and dancing to favourite nursery rhymes.
• Half term fun at Selfridges - enjoy complimentary face painting, a craft station and ‘happy hunt'. Bring the family to search for smiley faces around the store from Thursday to Sunday, 2pm to 6pm. Then free face painting will be available on February 22 and 23 from 12pm to 6pm as well as a craft station on February 22.

ACTIVITY TRAIL

Notcutts Rivendell Garden Centre in Widnes is encouraging children to get outdoors with a free horticulture-themed activity trail around the garden centre.

From February 15 to 23, children of all ages can join the hunt for friendly gardening characters including Walter the Watering Can and Roger the Rake.

Every young explorer who finds all the characters and unscrambles the hidden word at the end of the trail will receive a free packet of giant sunflower seeds to grow at home.

Notcutts will also be hosting free sessions from 11am to 2pm between February 18 and 20 where families can meet the garden centre’s friendly animals in the Pet Centre.

SCARECROW FESTIVAL

SPORTING heroes is this year’s theme for Tatton Park’s Scarecrow Festival in celebration of the 2020 Olympics and the Rugby League World Cup 2021. 

Tatton Park’s gardening, visitor experience and farm volunteer teams have put together a family fun scarecrow trail throughout the gardens and the farm over February half term.

Strike a pose with scarecrows car racing, playing basketball or swinging a cricket bat or play alongside scarecrow sports stars and enjoy children’s activities and games inspired by sporting heroes.

Schools have come together with Tatton Park’s education team to create five sporting hero Scarecrows of Rugby League players to celebrate the tournament being hosted in northern towns and cities during October and November 2021.

The schools would like to thank Jodie Cunningham and James Simpson for donating some of their kits to the project, to Ada Hills for donating the boots he wore to beat the Wire Flyer and to Warrington Wolves and Saints RLFC for donating kit for the scarecrows.

Michelle Culliford, deputy head at Croft Primary School said: “It has been a wonderful project, which the children have been really keen to work on.

“They are all looking forward to visiting Tatton Park’s Scarecrow festival during half term to see their scarecrows in the gardens.

“We are so grateful to the Rugby League clubs, players, World Cup ambassadors and staff at Tatton Park for their support with this project.” 

You’ll find other sports stars in among the orchards and walled kitchen gardens and the return of some familiar straw faces, scattered throughout 50 acres of Tatton Park’s gardens. 

The scarecrow festival runs until February 23.

GAMES AND CRAFTS AT THE LIBRARY

Warrington's libraries are hosting a whole range of free drop-in events between February 17 and 23 as follows:

• February 17, 10.30am to 3.30pm, Birchwood Library – Craft and hunt session
• February 18, 10.30am to 12pm, Penketh Library – Lego session
• February 18, 1pm to 2pm, Burtonwood Library – Monster corner bookmarks craft session
• February 19, 2.30pm to 3.30pm, Penketh Library – Craft session
• February 19, 2pm to 4pm, Lymm Library – Flower craft session
• February 20, 2.30pm to 4pm, Stockton Heath Library – Animal craft session
• February 20, 2.30pm to 4pm, Culcheth Library – Spring-themed animal mobile craft session
• February 20, 10.30am to 11.30am, Westbrook Library – Owl craft session
• February 21, 2pm to 3pm, Warrington Library – Bookworm bookmark craft session
• February 23, 1pm to 2pm, Warrington Library – Parachute games and activities
• February 23, 9.30am to 12pm, Orford Library – Pirates and princess craft session

ROLLER DISCO

Head back to the 1980s at Walton Hall.

Because a roller disco is coming to this February half term.

Roller disco slots will be one-and-a-half-hours, starting from 10am each weekday of February half term.

You can hire skates or dig out yours from the loft.

Visit waltonhallgardens.co.uk/events/roller-disco/ for more information.

KIDS FREE AT DINO FALLS

Back by popular demand, the kids go free before 10.30am offer returns to Manchester's Dino Falls Adventure Golf from February 17 to 28.

It is available from Monday to Friday with one child going free for every paying adult.

Featuring 36 holes of dinosaur-themed adventure golf, including a new volcanic addition, Dino Falls is located at Trafford Golf Centre, the busiest driving range in the UK.

For more information visit dinofalls.co.uk.

NATURE ADVENTURES

Visitors to one of the county’s most historic places will be encouraged to reconnect with nature during the February half term.

Rangers and other members of the team at Quarry Bank, in Styal, will be helping families feel the healing benefits of being outdoors.

Sensory walks will give families the chance to think about what they can see, hear and smell all around them. Youngsters will be encouraged to put their imaginations to the test while playing games like pooh sticks and standing like a tree.

Visitors can also help the rangers plant trees on February 20 as part of the rangers’ plans to grow habitats and increase the estate’s biodiversity. People can simply drop in to help, but unfortunately the area is not wheelchair or pushchair accessible.

February’s half term event is part of the Natural History Museums’ ‘Natural History Adventures’ and is in the National Trust’s 125th anniversary year.

During the half term there will be a nature-themed indoor craft activity too, but most of the excitement will be outside.

All the nature adventures at Quarry Bank – including the tree planting – will take place between 11am and 3pm, from February 17 to 21.

HALF PRICE AT SUPERBOWL UK

The Golden Square alley has 50 per cent off bowling after 6pm on Tuesday this half-term.

Book a lane or ‘putt’ your best swing to the test and head for a round of golf at its 12-hole adventure course, Putters Adventure Golf. For the younger members of the family, there is the jungle-themed Crazy Club soft play zone too.

FLIGHT ACADEMY

Budding pilots are being invited to Manchester Airport's Flight Academy.

Kids can board a Monarch DC10 aircraft and learn about the different job roles in aviation at the airport's Runway Visitor Park.

There are separate sessions running for children aged four to seven and eight to 12, with dates available on February 18, 19 and 23.

The experience last 90 minutes and costs £7 per child but due to limited space on board the aircraft, a maximum of one adult per child is allowed (through the good news is that adults go free).

Also during half term children can climb aboard the iconic Concorde.

The short 20-minute tours of the plane are part of the 'Midweek Madness' events, with slots available on February 19.

Families can experience sitting in the luxurious leather seats where royalty and celebrities once sat, while hearing about what it was like to fly on the aircraft.

Tickets cost £5. Visit runwayvisitorpark.co.uk

DESIGN YOUR OWN SALT SACKS

CHILDREN will have the chance to design their own salt sacks in a creative printing session during half term.

Salt from the Lion Salt Works in Northwich used to be transported all over the world in specially-designed sacks, and next week children will be able to make their own.

The fun salt sack printing sessions will run on a drop-in basis, costing £2 and taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday from 10.30am and again at 2pm. 
Parking on site is free.

In its heyday, salt from Cheshire was exported via Liverpool throughout the world.
Special sacks were made for each country and children will have a chance of choosing somewhere in the world and designing a salt sack based on that country.

This activity is suitable for children aged four to 11 years old.

INFLATABLE ADVENTURE WORLD

The UK’s biggest indoor inflatable theme park is making its debut at the Exhibition Centre on Liverpool's waterfront from February 21 to 23.

A 60m-long ninja obstacle course is among the highlights at the three-day Inflatable Adventure World in Liverpool.

Altogether there will be 13 attractions including a 20m high slide, a monster truck, a 13m high helter skelter and a Nerf shooting range.

Aimed at kids between three and 14, there’s unlimited access to all the various inflatables during each two-hour session.

To book tickets visit ticketquarter.co.uk

THE SOOTY SHOW

The nation’s favourite magical bear is bringing his friends to Parr Hall for a fun-packed show.

Sooty, whose recent 70th birthday celebrations included meeting Prince Charles, will be at the Parr Hall with Sweep and Soo on Sunday, February 23, at 2.30pm

Visit parrhall.culturewarrington.org/whats-on/the-sooty-show