As the Easter holidays stretch before us you might be thinking about how to spend the days ahead. There are plenty of great events for all the family to enjoy in Wales during Easter 2023, including things to do that won't cost a penny.
Starting on Monday, April 3 and lasting until Friday, April 14 the Easter school holiday is two weeks long and there are activities for everyone - whether you're after Swansea Easter events, or Easter events in Cardiff, or perhaps Easter events in the valleys and Bridgend.
Here we round up of some of the best big events and activities to enjoy across Wales. You can keep up to date with the latest What's On news by signing up to the newsletter here.
READ MORE: I tried Easter eggs from Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Aldi, and Lidl and there was one runaway winner
Lido Ponty - Pontypridd
Lido Ponty is opening just in time for the Easter holidays. The Lido is free for children aged 16 and under, with tickets £3 for adults and those who wish to go on the inflatables need to buy an activity band for £2.50.
During the Easter holidays, there will be two early morning swim sessions in the main and activity pools, followed by six family fun sessions where all three pools are open and the inflatables/water zorb and pedal boats are out. You can book your tickets here.
Dino Discovery Trail - St David's Shopping Centre, Cardiff
From Monday, April 3 to Sunday, April 16 there will be 15 brick dinosaur beasts hidden in St David's shopping centre in Cardiff. From a 7ft parasaurolophus to a 12ft-long velociraptor, there are plenty of prehistoric creatures to spot and snap a selfie with.
You can collect your map and dino hat from Guest Service on the Upper Grand Arcade (between Bershka and Stradivarius).
Activities at the National Waterfront Museum - Swansea
The National Waterfront Museum in Swansea is hosting some great free activities this Easter. On Monday, April 3 the film Chicken Run will be shown at 11am for free.
On Friday, April 7 there is the Easter Eggstravaganza, where there will be crafts, live music and stories. On Thursday, April 13, Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15 you can make spring pop-up matchboxes and on Sunday, April 16 Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is showing for free from 2.30pm.
Cirque Du Silly - Blaenau Gwent
Roll up for Cirque Du Silly at Bedwellty House on Tuesday, April 11, and enjoy entertainment from clumsy clowns, amusing acrobats and the Ringmaster. The aim is to be silly, so children aged three to eight will have lots of fun during this adventure. Book online here.
Forage Farm - Cowbridge
There is a whole host of Easter activities happening at Forage Farm in Cowbridge. You can visit the lambs and alpacas on the farm from Friday, April 7 to Monday, April 10.
On Mondays, the petting zoo will be open from 12pm to 3pm and the Easter egg trail will be running during the Easter weekend. From Friday, April 7 to Monday, April 9 you can collect your worksheet from Forage Way and walk the scenic route hunt the eggs to discover a hidden word and claim a prize at the end as well as entry into a prize draw for an exclusive Forage Easter Hamper!
The two-kilometre route takes 40 minutes and wellies are advised. The trial costs £2.
Forest Feastival - Merthyr Mawr
An outdoor global food court will be coming to Merthyr Mawr this spring for six weekends, opening during the Easter weekend - Friday, April 7 to Monday, April 10. Guests can enjoy keeping warm at the communal fire pits, and eat tacos, churros, desserts, ramen, fried chicken and so much more over the Easter holiday. There are adult evening sessions and family-friendly afternoons on Saturday and Sunday - and children go free. Find more information here.
Swansea Street Food Festival - Swansea
The popular annual street food festival is returning to Swansea on Easter weekend - and this year it will be bigger than ever! There will be almost 30 food stalls to choose from - you can read a full list in a previous article here - as well as a bar serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and an entertainment area with live music and DJ sets.
Across the vibrant stalls and quirky food vans, customers will be spoilt for choice with an array of international cuisine represented, including Indian, Japanese, Moroccan, Greek, Thai and Jamaican food, as well as classic street food choices like fried chicken, mac & cheese and loaded fries - and there will be lots of sweet treats to sink your teeth into too!
The Street Food Festival is free to enter - but this year, people will need a ticket to gain entrance. There are also VIP packages available. To read up on all the ticket options, and to book your space, visit the Swansea Street Food Festival website here.
The Big Museum Easter Trail - across Wales
National Museum Cardiff and St Fagans National Museum of History are hosting an Easter Trail from Friday, April 7 to Monday, April 10. The trail features three challenges - counting eggs, spotting the difference between Easter bunnies and finding a golden egg for your child to enjoy.
The Big Museum Easter Trail costs £4 and is suitable for children aged four and above. It is available at: National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans National Museum of History, National Waterfront Museum, Big Pit National Coal Museum, National Wool Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, and National Slate Museum. Find out more here.
Easter Eggstravaganza - Bryngarw Country Park
Families can find over 7,000 chocolate eggs hidden around Bryngarw Country Park this Easter. The hunt starts with a creative craft activity in the visitor centre before taking on the huge egg hunt. The event takes place from Friday, March 31 to Monday, April 3 and tickets are £8.50. Find more information here.
Easter Extravaganza - Gower
Gower Fresh Christmas Trees are hosting an Easter Extravaganza from Saturday, April 1 to Monday, April 10. There will be a Roly Poly and Easter bunny, a crazy character game, the classic Easter Egg hunt, a petting zoo including meeting and feeding the reindeer, a mini fun fair with a virtual reality rollercoaster, giant games in the marquee, face paint and a giant dance party in the main barn. There will also be the Easter flower arch which is perfect for getting the best Instagram-worthy picture.
The event will run from 10am to 5pm every day and tickets cost £2.45 for adults and £9.95 for children aged six months to 12 years. Dogs are welcome on a lead but must be kept away from other animals and you can book your tickets here.
Dinomania - Merthyr Tydfil
Following the success of last year's event, the interactive dinosaur entertainment experience will once again be popping up in Graham Way, Merthyr Tydfil on Wednesday, April 5. Head down to the free event between 11am and 2pm for a chance to immerse yourself in a prehistoric playground that features realistic walking dinosaurs, small interactive puppets, animatronics, fossils and replicas. More information here.
Afternoon Tea with the Easter Bunny - Llantrisant Guildhall
Families can enjoy a delicious afternoon tea with the Easter Bunny at Llantrisant Guildhall. There will be cakes, sandwiches, treats, an Easter egg hunt, games, crafts and more to keep the little ones entertained. The event will take place on Sunday, April 9 (Easter Sunday) between 2pm and 4.30pm. It costs £15 per adult and £10 per child, For tickets, email info@llantrisantguildhall.co.uk.
Swansea Bay Rider Land Train - Swansea
A spring day out in Swansea is not complete without a trip on the hop-on, hop-off Swansea Bay Rider Land Train - and it relaunched on Friday, March 31, for the 2023 season.
This year, the land train will run every day during the Easter holidays. The train is suitable for people of all ages though it's particularly popular with families with young children. The train permits dogs, if they're on leads and under control, and is fully accessible to wheelchair users.
A hop-on, hop-off standard ticket is £6.50, a hop-on hop-off concession ticket (under 16s, students and senior citizens) is £5.50 and a hop-on hop-off ticket if you have a Swansea Passport To Leisure is £4. Under threes are free and a hop-on hop-off ticket for a family (two adults and two juniors) is £15.
Easter family fun day at Cardiff City - Cardiff
For lovers of the Bluebirds, the club is welcoming its supporters to watch the first team in training at the Cardiff City Stadium in Leckwith. Fans will also be able to take part in a Q&A session with the players as well as a chance to get autographs from the Bluebirds players.
The club said: "The lads will also be giving away plenty of prizes, with many other amazing Easter activities and competitions available for all the family to enjoy!"
Players from Cardiff City FC Women will also be attending to meet fans and give away Easter prizes. The Easter family fun day at the Cardiff City Stadium is free of charge on Wednesday, April 12 and can be booked here.
Easter events at Mumbles Pier - Gower
Loads is going on at Mumbles Pier during the school Easter holidays including a FREE Easter Egg trail, the return of Bunny Burrow, Easter Afternoon Tea, and an Easter Egg Adventures storytelling session.
Bunny Burrow offers the chance for your little one to meet the Easter Bunny and receive a chocolate egg. It's located on the land end of the Mumbles Pier, near the arcade, and is open daily from Monday, April 3, to Sunday, April 9. Booking in advance is recommended - you can do that here - and visits to the Burrow cost £5 per child.
As for Easter Afternoon Tea, this will be hosted in the Beach Hut Cafe and customers will enjoy homemade sweet and savoury treats. Each adult ticket includes a selection of sweets and savouries as well as tea or coffee, whilst child tickets include a selection of sweets and savouries as well as a ticket to Bunny Burrow and a chocolate egg to take home. Easter Afternoon Tea will be available daily from Monday, April 3, to Sunday, April 9. For an adult, it's £16.95 and for a child, it's £9.95. You can book in advance here.
Mumbles Pier is also hosting The Easter Egg Adventures: The Lost Golden Egg, an interactive play and storytelling session for children. The activity is running from Friday, April 7, to Monday, April 10, and it's £10 per child.
Gwrych Castle - Conwy
Gwrych Castle, which was the home of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! for two years, has some great Easter events. Running from Tuesday, April 11 to Sunday, April 16 there is the School of Magic when children will meet the wild and wacky interactive characters, take part in the Magic School Supplies scavenger hunt and will attend spellbinding challenges/lessons throughout the visitor route, where there is even broom flight school. Tickets start at £6.50 for children, £10 for adults and £35 for families.
There is also the Easter dragon egg hunt where hunters will receive a chocolate treat, dragon keepers manual, Easter puzzle book and will meet medieval characters. The Easter egg dragon hunt is taking place from Sunday, April 2 to Monday, April 10 and tickets cost £12.50 for children, £10 for adults and £55 for families. You can book your tickets for both events here.
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