There’s an egg-citing range of activities and events in Bristol during the Easter season, from traditional Easter egg hunts to Funderworld Theme Park and even a dragon visit at Berkeley Castle
Easter events:
Experience the sights, sounds and smells of a Victorian metalworking at SS Great Britain’s Kingdom Forge Easter event (12 – 22 April). At Berkeley Castle, they are mixing things up with a traditional Easter bunny and egg trail, as well as their Dragon extravaganza (19-22 April). For a more outdoors experience, Arnos Vale Cemetery are running Easter activities at their Forest Fun for Little Ones sessions (10 April) and University of Bristol Botanic Garden has their Easter Sculpture Festival to explore (19-22 April). Decorate Easter baskets and hanging decorations at Family Fun Day (18 April) at Somerset Rural Life Museum, or there’s free Fry’s chocolate for every child who visits Avon Valley Railway this Easter, to mark the return of the old Fry’s chocolate factory steam locomotive (19-22 April). Thornbury Castle is hosting a day of Easter Egg making, followed by Afternoon Tea on 11 April, or visit the UK’s largest mobile theme park and try some of the 50 rides and attractions at Funderworld Theme Park on Durdham Downs (5-28 April). Or for a look at the traditional roots of Easter, discover the story of Holy Week and Easter at Bristol Cathedral’s interactive storytelling trail (5-14 April).
At We The Curious this Easter, there’s a focus on positive actions for a better world with games and fun activities amongst the interactive exhibits will explore the air we breathe, the food we eat and the people who can make a difference. The Box Gallery space celebrates the synergy between art and science, and features exhibitions and artists that occupy the exciting space where art and science meet.
Join Aerospace Bristol as they celebrate Concorde’s 50th anniversary this Easter by watching the nose of the Concorde droop for the first time in 15 years (13 April), or hear a talk from a former Concorde pilot about what is was like to experience flying at supersonic speed (9 and 16 April).
WWT Slimbridge Wetlands Centre have this Easter (30 Mar- 6 May) a trail of 14 giant Dusty Ducks designed by celebrities including Joanna Lumley, Steve Backshall and Kate Humble on display on their farewell tour before being auctioned off.
Easter egg trails:
There are several Easter trails and egg hunts including The Gibbs Family Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt at Tyntesfield (6-22 April) where you can take part in Victorian activities as part of the trail, or the Easter egg trail at Wapping Wharf where treats are on offer to winners (8-26 April) and there’s more chocolate rewards on offer at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm Giant Easter Egg Hunt (6-27 April). Visitors to Bristol Zoo can discover egg facts hidden amongst exotic animal houses and award-winning gardens and there will be free Easter crown making craft sessions in the Zoo’s Activity Centre (6-28 April).
On a slight tangent, Bristol Shopping quarter is hosting a Calmer Llama Trail (6-22 April) followed by chocolate treats and Easter crafts at The New Room, and Cheddar Gorge & Caves is hosting a different kind of Easter trail underground, where the challenge is to find all the glow in the dark eggs (6-22 April). For an Easter-themed day out in the countryside, there’s the Big Spring Adventure at Bowood (6-22 April) and an Enchanted Easter at Avon Valley where unicorns are available for meet and greets alongside the egg hunt (5-23 April).
Other events:
When too much chocolate has been consumed, there are alternative activities this Easter including Big Bear Sculpture trail (6 April – 1 Sept) to explore at Wild Place Project, in advance of the Bear Wood opening this July, as well as Bristol Aquarium celebrating 10 years of opening. The hugely popular Tattoo: British Tattoo Art Revealed exhibition continues at M Shed (16 Mar – 16 June) or catch Bristol City FC play Reading FC on Good Friday (19 April) at Ashton Gate Stadium.
Venture to Bristol Museum and Art Gallery to see Banksy’s Devolved Parliament – Banksy’s largest canvas painting - on display (28 March – 4 Aug) to mark ten years since the Banksy vs Bristol Museum event. Or get creative at RWA, where visitors of all ages and abilities are welcome to make their own sculpture at their Sculpture Lab, free with adult exhibition entry over the Easter holiday.
Theatre round-up:
Award-winning musical Rock of Ages is at Bristol Hippodrome, promising a night of sing-along classic rock hits and laugh out loud moments (16-20 April). The Wardrobe Theatre has The Jurassic Parks showing over Easter (2-13 April), with an unconventional take on Spielberg’s classic film for an evening of nostalgia and hilarity. For children, there’s Shh…Bang! at Tobacco Factory Theatres (11-16 April) where silence and sound are explored and played with by the two characters in this dance-theatre performance, or go on an interactive journey exploring the creatures of the oceans with The Deep Sea Seekers at The Wardrobe Theatre (17-22 April).