Half-term seems to come round quicker every year but don’t worry, we’ve some ideas on how to keep the kids happy from medieval mayhem and monsters to magic shows and outdoor skullduggery.
A Square World
New Wolsey Studio
Ipswich
February 10 11am
Daryl Beeton’s story of friends who enjoy the same routine day after day until an unexpected change is forced upon just one of them.
Looking at the unfairness of being left out in a world designed for everyone else but yourself, it’s aimed at ages three up.
The performance will be followed by a 10-minute playful session.
Knights and Princesses
Framlingham Castle
February 12-16 11am-3pm
English Heritage members free, adults £8.90, five-15 year olds £5.30, concs £8, family £23.10
Grab your toy sword, throw on your prettiest dress and head back in time for some medieval mayhem.
Become a knight or princess for the day with the help of courtly experts to teach you about heroic chivalry, swordfighting, weaponing handling and etiquette. Squire training will help young knights transform into noble Lords, while the mini warriors battle in the afternoon will give everyone the chance to test their new talents.
Rebecca Hornby, assistant events manager at English Heritage, said: “For those looking for something different to do with the children this half-term, Knights and Princesses promises to be something fun.”
The castle is also hosting the Early Man trail to celebrate the release of Oscar-winning Nick Park’s upcoming film of the same name.
Follow the clues, reach the end and receive a prize as well as entry into a special competition to win tickets to a VIP screening of the Aardman animation studios’ film at Stonehenge.
Early Man trail, February 10–18, 10am-4pm, £1 for every child, member and non member
Visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/framlingham
Suffolk Wildlife Trust events
February 12-16
Enjoy nest box building at Chantry Park, Ipswich; Lackford Lakes, Bradfield Woods, Carlton Marshes, Redgrave and Lopham Fen and Arger Fen, near Assington. There’s also bird box building at Foxburrow Farm.
There’s the super furry animals activity day for unaccompanied six-10 year olds at Redgrave and Lopham Fen, February 13, 10am-2pm where you can discover the mammals of the fen and enjoy activities, games and crafts.
The pancake, pancakes activity day at Foxburrow Farm, February 13, 1.30pm-3.30pm, also has trails and puzzles.
Visit Skullduggery, at Knettishall Heath, February 13, 2pm-4pm, to look for animal tracks and signs, identify skulls and bones and play games or enjoy bug related activities for four-seven year olds from 10.30am-12.30pm, February 14.
Pop by Holywells Park, Ipswich, from 10.30am-12.30pm, February 14, to make homes for its inhabitants at the wildlife homes and gardens drop in event.
There are plenty of winter warmers activities for eight-14 year olds at Bradfield Woods, Bradfield St George, 10.30am-2.30pm, February 14, including shelter building, whittling, cooking over a fire and woodland games. There’s more of the same for six-10 year olds at Carlton Marshes Education Centre, Lowestoft, 10.30am-2.30pm, February 15.
Lackford Lakes’ tracks and trails for eight-12 year olds, 10.30am-2.30pm, February 15, is a chance to exmaine tracks, make plaster casts and identify skulls and bones. There’s lots of fun to be had at the enchanted wood activity day for six-10 year olds, at Foxburrow Farm, Melton, 10am-2pm, February 16.
Visit www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org
Suffolk Libraries
February 12-16
There’s plenty going on at libraries across Suffolk, from Mr Bean’s Magic Show and balloon modelling at Ipswich County Library; a children’s drawing workshop at Shotley (Suffolk Libraries Local) with illustrator Emma Graham and a half-term Lego club at Lavenham Library including a special guest.
Visit www.suffolklibraries.co.uk
Craft week at Wyevale Garden Centres
February 12-16
Children will have the chance to exercise their creativity at Wyevale Garden Centres in Woodbridge this February half-term.
The events are for children aged three and eight years old - each session lasts 20 minutes.
Make a Bird Home
Monday, February 12
£2.50
Decorate a cosy bird box for your garden birds.
Terrific Terrarium
Tuesday, February 13
£2.50
Plant your own terrarium and give your plants a place to thrive.
Grown Your Own Mini Garden
Wednesday, February 14
£2.50
Plant your own mini garden with giant flowers, beehives and wild friends.
Flower Power Pot
Thursday, February 15
£2.50
Plant your own flower and decorate a pot and plant marker.
Feed the Birds
Friday 16th February
£2.50
Create your own feeder platform to entice more birds into your garden.
Monstersaurus
Haverhill Arts Centre
February 12 11am / 2.30pm
Young inventor Monty creates a world of wacky inventions and incredible monsters, but he has a problem - now he has made them all, what is he going to do with them? An energetic show full of thrills,spills, magic and mayhem for ages three upwards.
Visit www.haverhillartscentre.co.uk
The Princess and the Frog
Quay Theatre
Sudbury
February 12 3pm
A classical ballet aimed at two-nine year olds about a beautiful princess who must make friends with a very bouncy frog after she drops her favourite ball in his pond.
Crown Pools
Ipswich
February 12-16
Family Float Session
Have fun in a pool filled with floats.
Get fit and have a laugh as a family.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 11am-Noon / 2-3pm | Thursaday 2-3pm | Friday | 11am-Noon
On Friday there is also an inflatable slide 2-3pm.
On Wednesday you can go snorkelling but sessions need to be booked in advance. Snorkelling takes place Wednesday 2-2.40pm.
Tudor Dance Classes
Christchurch Mansion
Ipswich
February 13-15
Join our dance teachers to learn a Tudor dance fit for a King in the Mansion’s Great Hall.
Once you have practiced, it will be time to perform your dances for a very special royal guest.
Book online at www.ipswichregent.com
Animal Days
Ipswich Museum
13-15 Feb
Learn more about reptiles, insects and mammals from all over the globe, as we explore different areas of the planet on different days.
13 Feb – The Americas
14 Feb – Africa and Madagascar
15 Feb – Australia and Asia
Book online at www.ipswichregent.com
Ask the Expert
Ipswich Museum
February 14
10am-3pm
Free drop-in
Bring in your own treasured items, share your stories about them and ask questions to a variety of experts at our Ask the Expert day!
In connection with the You Are Here! The Making of Ipswich exhibition, this month’s Ask the Expert day will be focusing on local and social history.
A Tiger’s Tale
New Wolsey Theatre
Ipswich
February 14 11am
From a circus train in South Africa, to a steamboat on the Atlantic Ocean and onward to West Yorkshire, a ramshackle travelling troupe tell the unbelievable true story of a family of acrobats and their adopted tiger cub. Aimed at ages four plus.
Dear Zoo
Theatre Royal
Bury St Edmunds
February 17 1.30pm/3.30pm
February 18 11am-1.30pm
Rod Campbell’s best-selling classic children’s lift-the-flaps book is brought to life via puppets, original music and lots of audience interaction. It’s the story of a child who writes to the zoo asking them to send a pet. Ideal for pre-schoolers upwards.
The theatre is also staging youth theatre workshops on February 15-16, 10am, for six-11 year-olds.
Visit www.theatreroyal.org
Half-term events at TDC leisure centres
A host of sessions have been organised to take place at Tendring District Council (TDC) sports centres and pools at Brightlingsea, Clacton, Dovercourt, Harwich, Manningtree and Walton between February 12 and 16.
To see what is on offer visit the Facebook page here.
In addition, a great family day out awaits at the Thomas Wolsey: Ipswich’s Greatest Son exhibition at the Mansion and at the You Are Here! The Making of Ipswich exhibition at the Ipswich Art Gallery (next to the Museum). Both exhibitions are free.
Join EA Going Out on Facebook and start sharing your events.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here