Have you planned child-entertaining activities for the Easter holidays yet? There are some cracking Easter events taking place for kids in Bristol this year – from egg hunts to animal encounters, an immersive Van Gogh art exhibition, crafts and theatre performances, just take a look at this egg-cellent lot…
Easter events for kids in Bristol
Easter egg trails
Park Street Easter Egg Hunt (15-16 April)
Explore Park Street and find giant letters painted by a selection of famous Bristol artists, with a special Easter Egg reward at the end. From 11am to 4pm, six bold, bright and brilliant letters will be dotted in six different locations along one of Bristol’s steepest streets. Find all six letters, fill in stickers on a bespoke Easter map and see vibrant art from Marta Zubieta, Sophie Long, Molly Hawkins, Cheba, Kid Crayon and Ejits.
Families can collect their map from the Easter Hub at City Hall on College Green, return to collect an Easter treat from the same spot.
Easter at Bristol Aquarium (9-24 April)
Delve into a sandpit to discover items from beaches around the UK, hear talks about creatures from the deep and take part in a marine Easter Egg hunt at Bristol Aquarium.
Easter egg hunt, Wapping Wharf (9-24 April)
Join in the (free) hunt for brightly coloured cut-out eggs amongst Wapping Wharf’s eclectic mix of independent shops and eateries on Gaol Ferry Steps and CARGO 1 & 2.
Add up how many Easter eggs you’ve spotted, then enter the number online to vote for your favourite egg and be in with a chance of winning an egg-cellent Easter prize!
The Magnificent Meerkat Trail, Bristol Shopping Quarter (9-23 April)
Maps showing meerkat locations will be available from John Wesley’s New Room in Broadmead (opposite Boots) and all participating venues. You can also download a copy here. Following the trail, all the meerkats will be displayed in John Wesley’s New Room for one week from 26 April.
Giant Easter Egg Hunt, Penny Brohn Gardens, Pill (13 April)
Head to the beautiful grounds of Penny Brohn UK for a fun, socially distanced, outdoor Easter Egg Hunt (£8 per child, 10am-12pm or 12-2pm). Seek out the eggs in 6 acres of gardens, meadow and woods to win a chocolate prize. Bring a picnic to enjoy in the gardens! Time slot booking in advance essential.
Easter egg hunt at Tyntesfield (9-24 April)
This family-friendly trail has fun, nature-inspired activities for you to do along the way and a chocolate reward at the end! Non-members can still book tickets and it’s well worth the entrance fee to the gorgeous Tyntesfield grounds.
The house is now open, and you’ll also find a couple of cafes, acres of gardens and a natural wood playground for little ones to run free.
Discover more National Trust near Bath and Bristol: days out with kids
Easter duck trail, WWT Slimbridge (9-24 April)
‘Quack the case’ this Easter and find the bright yellow ducks hiding around Slimbridge wetlands to win prizes, discovering more about Slimbridge’s real life ducks on your way.
As well as the Easter Duck Trail there’s lots of other quack-tastic activities taking place at the Wetlands centre over the Easter holidays.
Willsbridge Mill duck race (16 April)
Ready, quack, go! Head to Willsbridge Mill for the popular Duck Race and Easter Bunny Trail -there are prizes to be won! There’ll also be live music, an Easter Bunny Trail, cafe specials and more.
Easter family Fun at The Wave
As well as surf sessions and lessons, the popular Play in the Bay (book in advance) will be returning this Easter! Plus there’s a new outdoor family Discovery Trail to take part in from 9 April, a play park and space for scooting and skateboarding. Refuel in the Clubhouse Restaurant where there’s a special free Easter activity for every children’s meal purchased during the Easter Holidays (9-24 April).
Easter trail at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm
Pop on your detective hat, seek out the hidden eggs to crack the code and you might just win yourself a special treat!
On your way round, you’ll able to get your fill of cuteness with leaping lambs in the Farm Barn. Don’t miss the daily Rare Farm Breeds talk at 2pm to find out about the farm animals and how the Zoo are helping to protect the future of each of these rare native breeds.
Easter Extravaganza at Old Down Country Park (9-24 April)
See the animals, go on an egg hunt and meet Peter Rabbit (on selected dates) at Old Down Country Park. Complete the Easter trail around the new maturing maze to win an Easter treat, take part in some Easter crafting and paint an Easter-themed pottery masterpiece (£16 including entry to the park from 11-12 April) to be fired and ready to collect the following weekend.
Superworm Trail at Westonbirt Arboretum
Pick up an activity pack from reception (£3.50 on top of entry fee) and ta da, your kids miraculously have the ability to walk for at least an hour, once Julia Donaldson’s characters are involved! This self-led trail around the Old Arboretum features Superworm and friends (following the BBC’s latest Christmas adaptation).
Spring gardens
Easter Sculpture Trail at University of Bristol Botanic Garden (15-18 April)
Entering this beautiful oasis is like stepping into a secret garden, behind whose door hides a mixture of tropical climes, Jurassic Park-style palms and English country garden vibes. Seek out a dinosaur skeleton, sculptures, medicinal plants, an African Rondavel, annnnd after a two year hiatus, a whole host of exciting structures as part of the Sculpture Festival!
Visitors will also get to enjoy demonstrations of willow weaving, pottery and woodworking, and take a tour of the garden which will be bursting with spring flowers.
Animal attractions
Easter family trails, Bristol Zoo Gardens and Wild Place (9-24 April)
Giant eggs have been hidden around Bristol Zoo Gardens and Wild Place Project with stickers for all taking part, and the chance to win a prize! On your way round, Eggsplorers spot incredible animal species, hear free daily talks and watch feeds taking place.
Feathered Friends, Bristol Zoo, The Downs (14 April)
8-12 year olds can have fun learning to identify and discover more about our feathered friends, then make an amazing bird mask to take home. Drop off children at 10am and pick them up at 3.30pm.
Windmill Hill City Farm
Roll your dough, choose your toppings and then cook up your own mini pizza in the wood-fired oven. Suitable for ages 5+, 15 minute activity. £3 per mini pizza. No need to book, just drop in – but be aware the sessions are popular and you may have to wait a while.
Windmill Hill City Farm are also running a drop-off Farm Club Morning on 12 April where over 6s can pet the animals and take part in an Easter activity. £12.50 per child – buy tickets here.
Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park
See the South West’s largest collection of animatronic dinosaurs! As well as getting up close to farm animals and adorable small furries, tickets for the dino-mite day out include a self-guided trail and quest, Dinosaur Research Lab, Dinosaur Live Shows throughout the day, a raptor encounter (!), fossil excavation activities, a Toddler dinosaur area with photo props and the chance to build your very own Dinosaur Valley Soft Toy.
Family fun doesn’t stop there though, there’s also a Mini Jeep Safari, Chair-O-Planes ride, Miniature Railway, Massive Jumping Pillows and outdoor playgrounds.
Art and craft
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience at Propyard (9 April-4 September)
Awarded as ‘The Best 2021 Immersive Experience’ by USA Today, this exhibit will bring the life and works of Van Gogh to Bristol in an all-new way. The 360 degree digital art experience invites visitors to step into more than 300 of Van Gogh’s sketches, drawings, and paintings by using floor-to-ceiling digital projections, made possible by state-of-the-art video mapping technology.
Crafty Cathedral, Bristol Cathedral (12 April)
Join Bristol Cathedral to make your own spring crafts. There’s no charge, but they’re grateful for any donations you are able to give.
Easter Holidays cookery classes for children at Cooking It! (12, 13, 22 April)
Got some budding GBBO contestants in your household? Send them off to learn how to make traditional Easter bakes (12 April) or ice cream (22 April)! There’s even a class a baking class for tiny ones (13 April 3-6 years old). The classes are hands-on and kids will learn new skills as they create their own culinary masterpieces.
Easter in the Woods, Oodle Doodle Art (9 April)
Oodle Doodle Art are offering woodland craft, fun and games, marshmallow toasting, hot chocolates and Easter goodies in the woods at Woodland Makery on 9 April.
There are two sessions available from 10-12 and 1-3. £12 per child. Email oodledoodleart@gmail.com for more info.
Make a Gromit, Filwood Community Centre (21 April)
Get creative with Aardman Animations in this fun, hands-on family workshop. All the materials you need will be supplied (plus coffee, tea and biscuits!) and you can take your own model Gromit away with you. Suitable for children age 6 and upwards.
Easter theatre for kids in Bristol
Vixen, Bristol Old Vic (13-16 April)
An original story by Matt Grinter about a young girl who is turning into a fox. Saffi is 11 and she lives on an estate with her Dad. After being scratched by a vixen in the Raincoat Man’s garden, she begins to transform and dreams of running away to live with her fox family.
Expect to see beauty hidden in unremarkable places, friendships that don’t follow the rules, the things that unite us and a girl aching to belong.
The Grimm Sisters, The Wardrobe Theatre (11-12 April)
Dive headfirst into a weird world of poisonous parents, courageous quests and magic this Easter holidays with Scratchworks Theatre Company tale of Brunhilda & Mitzi, the true brains behind the Brothers Grimm books…
Suitable for ages 6+ and their families.
Much Ado about Puffin, The Wardrobe Theatre (15-19 April)
A funny tale about a man all alone, a friendly puffin, and a whole lot of fuss over nothing – presented by Open Attic Company for ages 3-8 and their families.
We Are Family Shadow Play, Arnolfini (12-13 April)
Inspired by Paula Rego’s Subversive Stories exhibition, Let’s Make Art are treating families to two activities in one workshop. Delve into your imagination and be your own storyteller by creating your own cut-out characters to be part of shadow puppet projections and transform black and white vintage posters into your own unique colourful artworks.
Zog and the Flying Doctors, Bristol Old Vic (19-24 April)
I’m sure Zog needs little introduction if you have young kids! Based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s bestselling sequel, Freckle Productions (Zog, Stick Man, Tiddler & Other Terrific Tales, Tabby McTat) bring the creative team behind Zog, Emma Kilbey and Joe Stilgoe, back together for this truly modern take on the classic fairy tale.
At one hour in length with no interval, it’s perfect for small ones.
Bristol attractions
Bristol is one of the best UK city breaks for families, with brilliant attractions and budget-friendly activities. Check out the 25 best family-friendly attractions to see in Bristol with kids here.
Some attractions are holding special Easter holiday events – if you’re family prefers a quieter environment, Brunel’s SS Great Britain are holding a calm sensory session on 19 April and a Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival performance from Michael Rosen on 21 April.
Days out from Bristol
Easter at Mendip Activity Centre, Winscombe (9-24 April)
Satisfy adrenalin junkies with tobogganing, glow caving, archery, axe throwing, frisbee golf and more!
Take part in an Easter-themed orienteering adventure around the woodland, finished off with hot chocolate and Easter eggs in the Alpine Lounge, win your score in mini eggs on the air rifles, pop an Easter balloon with a bow and arrow to win an Easter egg, seek out ultra violet dragon eggs in an underground cave and find hidden yeti eggs hidden in trees above ground!
Easter events at Berkeley Castle
Join Past-Times Living History in a unique time-travelling exploration show of the trials and tribulations of some of our greatest female monarchs on 10 April
From 15-18 April, travel back to 1642 with exciting arena displays, period music, have-a-go dancing and kids activities. Featuring The Wardour Garrison, Deverauxs Regiment and The Troop.
And if age-old battles are your thing, make sure you’re at Berkeley Castle on 24 April to try your hand at archery, witness the skill at arms of the master swordsmen and meet Lord William fresh from the Battle of Nibley.
Easter fun at Bowood House & Gardens (9-24 April)
Head off on a BIG Egg Hunt in the Arboretum, play Easter Bunny Hide and Seek in the Adventure Playground and take part in interactive Easter activities within the House.
Hedgehog Champions at Sudeley Castle and Gardens (9-24 April)
The animals of Sudeley are hatching a plan to help save their friend, the hedgehog. Pick up a free trail map on arrival, set off on an adventure around the castle gardens, and discover how you can help hedgehogs too.
Surrounded by striking views of the Cotswold Hills, Sudeley Castle’s award-winning gardens are full of spring colour at this time of year. There’s hours of fun for kids too at the huge fun fort, willow maze and adventure playground.
Out and about with kids in Bristol
Visit a different playground
Bored of your local playground, having visited it approximately 40,000 times during lockdown?! Why not take your kids to discover a new playground nearby – I’ve got a list of some of the best kids’ playgrounds Bristol has to offer here.
Buggy-friendly walks
if you want/need to get out and about for a ramble with little ones, don’t let having to take a buggy hold you back! I’ve written up a whole load of my favourite pram friendly walks around Bristol.
Discover more things to do in Bristol for kids:
Family-friendly pubs with playgrounds in Bristol
National Trust near Bath and Bristol: days out with kids
Family walks in Bristol: parks and open spaces to avoid the crowds
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