Easter events you won't want to miss
Lancaster City Council is inviting everyone to make the most of the district this Easter by pulling together a whole host of events and activities for all the family.
On April 12, you can head into the city for ‘Lancaster & the Chocolate Factory’ when the city centre will be transformed into a Charlie and The Chocolate Factory themed wonderland complete with roaming characters, chocolate stalls, chocolate making workshops, Wonka Trail, fairground rides and more. This event will also launch a ‘golden ticket’ campaign, where people spending money at participating Lancaster city centre businesses will receive golden tickets that will be put into a prize draw to win £250 to spend in a local shop of your choice.
No Easter holiday would be complete without an Easter egg hunt and what better place to enjoy this traditional activity than the city’s beautiful Williamson Park. From 5 – 23 April, hunts will take place daily from 5 – 23 April.
Families can pick up their free worksheet from the park’s gift shop before setting off on an expedition around the park, ticking off the eggs that are uncovered as you go.
Williamson Park will also be running the ever-popular ‘Meet the Keeper’ sessions, as well as other workshops including ’Fantastic Freshwater Beasts’ which dare you to delve deep into British pond life by taking a look at the kinds of critters living in these habitats.
On April 20, Happy Mount Park in Morecambe is staging an Easter Eggstravaganza when children can meet the Easter Bunny and enjoy fun activities throughout the afternoon, including egg and spoon races, Easter bonnet competition and egg painting workshop.
The city museums have a jam-packed programme this spring with lots of workshops and activities, including an Easter egg hunt at the recently reopened Judges’ Lodgings along with a chance to create your own springtime masterpiece inside Lancaster’s oldest townhouse.
Down on the quayside, there will also be an opportunity for children to get crafty at Lancaster’s Maritime Museum or to make some noise with a funky clucking chicken making workshop. You’ll also be able to design your own Charlie’s Choco Bars or build and take away your own crazy kites – ready for that perfect windy day. Alternatively, check into Lancaster’s City Museum with your children to create your own bug hotel or let them make their own Easter goody bag to keep their chocolate treats safe.
If exhausted from all the egg hunting and craft making, don’t miss the chance to sit back and catch The Dukes’ The Tiger Who Came to Tea. This musical play which runs at various times on 12 and 13 April is an adaptation of the children’s favourite book written by Judith Kerr.
Along with some great family events to enjoy, the Easter holidays also present a chance to enjoy the great outdoors as the days get warmer.
RSPB Leighton Moss near Silverdale is offering families a self-guided ‘Wild Challenge’ trail to find out more about the weird and wonderful creatures that live in and around Morecambe Bay, and how you can help preserve their precious habitats. Whilst at the reserve, you can go pond-dipping with ‘What Lives Beneath’ on April 9 and discover the hidden aquatic world.
For thrills and spills, Warton Stock Cars roar into life at their forthcoming race meetings on 7 and 21 April, or for more tranquil enthusiasts, jump on-board, sit back and take in the views on a Lancaster canal boat trip with various themed cruises.
If you are up for exploring more of Morecambe Bay’s stunning landscape, then let an electric bike take the strain. Hire an electric bike from Morecambe Bay’s new Electric Bike Network – the perfect way for you to explore our local city, town, villages, countryside and coastline.
All information, events, dates, admission and details can be found at the visitor information centres in Lancaster or Morecambe or on the council’s visitor websites www.visitlancaster.org.uk and www.exploremorecambebay.org.uk
Last updated: 26 March 2019