Spring has sprung and Easter is here, which means you may be on the hunt for seasonally appropriate activities. Well, Daily Info has you covered with 16 days worth of events and places to visit to keep you busy throughout the period.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Aylesbury Waterside
The Easter break starts with the closing night of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Aylesbury Waterside. The beloved musical about a fantastical flying machine is sure to be heaps of fun on the Waterside stage, propelled along by a score from the Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins).
Lambing Festival at the Earth Trust
With the arrival of Spring, the Earth Trust are opening the gates of their working farm for a pair of lambing weekends. And the second of these is on the 1st & 2nd April. With a chance to meet the newer residents of the farm, enjoy a tractor trailer ride and take in stalls from local companies, this is sure to be a great way to spend a few hours this Easter. You can read our interview with the Earth Trust team in preparation for this.
Wild Escape Family Fun Day at the Museum of Oxford
Come rain or shine, the Museum of Oxford is the place to be this holiday, with several days dedicated to family friendly activities. On the 3rd there’s The Wild Escape Family Fun Day with crafts to take part in and local experts on hand to talk about Oxfordshire’s wildlife. Plus Zoolab are bringing several animals along to the museum. Other events include an eco friendly art workshop, a session on the science of hot air balloons, and Little Edens, a community play based on the 1934 Florence Park Rent Strike.
Fossil Fascination at Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Surrounded by the wonderful artefacts and specimens in the Museum of Natural History, fossil fans can take in an afternoon of activities on the 3rd & 4th April. In this drop-in session you’ll be able to touch fossils of prehistoric creatures and take part in some crafts inspired by them. Plus you can take in the rest of the museum whilst there.
The Addams Family at the Oxford Playhouse
Since their comic debut in 1938, you’ve never been too far away from the Addams Family, both on the big and small screen. And this Easter the stage musical, written by Andrew Lippa (Big Fish, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown), is being put on by the Musical Youth Company of Oxford at the Oxford Playhouse.
A trip to the cinema
A perfect holiday activity is the trip to the cinema. And this year we’ve got a pair of gaming adaptations to delight. First up is Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, a star-studded comedic take on the fantasy epic game played with a 20 sided dice. This will followed up by The Super Mario Bros. Movie, an animated adaptation from the team behind Despicable Me. Both promise a delightful time in the cinema, one of Daily Info’s favourite places to be.
The Great Covered Market Easter Egg Hunt
This Easter (until 8th) The Great Covered Market Easter Egg Hunt is back, with letters hidden throughout the market. Find all the letters and return your entry card (collectable from The Garden, Jemini Flowers or Wicked Chocolate) and you will be entered in a prize draw with the chance to win a giant 3kg egg(!).
Mozart’s Requiem
Mozart’s Requiem is a piece of music synonymous with this time of year, and the Orchestra of St John's will be performing it into two locations in Oxfordshire. On the 7th they will be in the resplendent Dorchester Abbey, whilst on the 8th they will be at the beautiful SJE Arts.
Easter Sunday
With most places closed on Easter Sunday, there are several open air locals one can explore. Waddeson Manor have an Easter Adventure Trail (on until 10th), which takes participants around the garden with a chocolate egg for each completed one. And High Lodge Farm own Easter Trail (also running until the 10th), with a secret password hidden along the 1.2km woodland trail.
The Easter Ceilidh at the Tap Social Movement
The Ceilidh Tree are back at the Tap Social, following on from their toe-tapping Burn’s Night edition. You’ll be spinning and cheering across the dancefloor to a soundtrack of fiddles and accordions, with plenty of refreshments on hand to keep you fuelled up.
North Wall Theatre Workshops
The North Wall have several workshops in the second half of the Easter break, with three day sessions on puppetry (for 8 to 11 year olds) and stage combat (for 12 to 17 year olds) plus half day workshops for both age groups on illustration. Perfect entertainment for the creative and theatrically minded.
Hill End Outdoor Centre
At Hill End Outdoor Education Centre in Eynsham, there are family forest days run on the 11th, 12th and 13th April with wood craft rails, pond dipping, campfire marshmallows and a BBQ lunch. So as the weather improves, why not get in touch with nature? The 12th also includes a walk (roughly 5 miles in total) to Wytham Woods and back again.
Ridgeway Adventure
For those age 11 to 15, Ridgeway Adventure are running activity days with five separate activities to take part in. These include axe throwing, archery tag, airsoft shooting and their laser maze heist experience and are sure to be a blast for all participants.
Rocket Folly at the Old Fire Station
The 15th is also the last day to catch Andy Owen’s impressive Rocket Folly at the Old Fire Station. Take in the impressive central structure, with activities for younger members of the audience to make their own rocket.
Millets Farm Centre
Running until 15th April, Millets Farm Centre (just past Abingdon) has quiz trails across the woodlands, courtyards and castle of their Farmer Carters Courtyard. Plus there’s go-karts, pedal tractors, sand pits and family games, which will no doubt keep the younglings entertained throughout the day.
Fairytale Farm
Throughout the year Fairytale Farm offers activities to entertain the young and this Easter they have new interactive Easter displays. There’s also crafts to take part in, a scavenger hunt to complete and garden games, including an Easter-themed obstacle course. This all runs throughout the Easter holidays until the 16th April.