Here we are again with the school holidays just around the corner! And if you’re wondering how to keep the kids happy over the Easter break here’s a flavour of what’s going on in and around Maidstone to entertain and amuse the whole family!
The Hop Farm at Beltring is holding a Hopper’s Easter Eggstravaganza from Saturday 9th April – Monday 25th April inclusive! As well as all the usual attractions, this Easter the Hop Farm is offering a range of “eggciting” activities to welcome the Spring and celebrate Easter! There will be an Easter Egg hunt every day during the holidays and there will also be lots of opportunities to meet baby lambs and brand new fluffy chicks on the animal farm. Meanwhile, at the Pottery Centre, you can get creative and make your own Easter Bonnet. So hop along to the Hop Farm for an eggcellent day out! A family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children costs £47.50 (£41.40 online/in advance); 2 adults and 3 children is £60.30 or £52.10 online/in advance. Adults: £14.90 (£12.80 in advance); children 3-15yrs £12.80 and £10.80 in advance; Senior Citizens £8.70. For more details visit http://www.thehopfarm.co.uk
Leeds Castle will “Spring into Easter” between Friday 22nd April and Monday 25thApril (Good Friday to Easter Monday) offering the “perfect spring weekend for the whole family”. In addition to visiting the beautiful grounds and gorgeous castle with their families, for an extra £2.50 each children will be able to follow a special trail through the castle grounds to the Bunny Burrow where they can collect an Easter egg. In a marquee near the maze a variety of creative activities will be available including aviary, Easter and scarecrow crafts. For more information visit http://www.leeds-castle.com
Maidstone Museum has events running every day between Monday 11th April and Monday 25th April as listed below: (cost is £2.50 per drop in session - unless otherwise stated and booking is not necessary)
Monday 11th April 10.30am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-3.30pm
Wonderful Wings – visit the River Safari gallery and become inspired to create your very own pair of butterfly, bumble bee or dragonfly wings
Tuesday 12th April 10.30am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-3.30pm
Crazy Grass Heads – Create a head with a funny face and then watch its hair grow before styling it in the latest hair salon fashion!
Wednesday 13th April 11.00am-3.00pm FREE
Farmyard Animal Petting – Come and see some cuddly animals from Nepicar Farm among which will be a guinea pig, rabbit, lamb, goat, sheep dog, duck, chicken and goose
Thursday 14th April 10.30am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-3.30pm
Victorian Peg Dolls – Take this opportunity to make your own peg doll or soldier just as a Victorian child might have done.
Friday 15thth April 10.30am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-3.30pm Pop Up Easter Cards – Make a gorgeous Easter card to surprise that special person!
Saturday 16th – 10.30am-4.30pm & Sunday 17th April – 11.30am-3.30pm Special Event £1 per person Easter Egg Hunt
Monday 18th April 10.30am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-3.30pm
Sock Hop Bunnies – Make your very own Easter Bunny from socks!
Tuesday 19th April 10.30am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-3.30pm
Easter Egg Cosy – Create an egg cosy to keep your boiled egg warm for your soldiers!
Wednesday 20th April 10.30am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-3.30pm
Bouncing Bugs – think of your favourite insect and then make your very own bouncing bug!
Thursday 21st April 10.30am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-3.30pm
Bonnie Baskets – make and decorate your very own Easter basket – eggs included!
Easter Weekend – Good Friday 22nd April-Easter Monday 25th April Inclusive 10.30am-4.30pm (except Easter Sunday – 11.30am-3.30pm) Special Event £1 per person
Easter Egg Hunt
Visit http://www.museum.maidstone.gov.uk for full details
Museum of Kent Life – Saturday 9th April –Monday 25th April Inclusive – 10am-6pm (last admission 5pm) At the Museum of Kent Life this Easter you can have a real hands-on experience of life in the Kentish countryside. Come and meet the new born piglets and calves; try bottle feeding a lamb – you may even get to see one being born – and see if you can discover where the fluffy little Easter chicks live! Take time out to watch the time-honoured stringing of the hops (9th & 10th only) before retiring to the newly-refurbished Tea Room for a light lunch or hearty tea! Meanwhile the kids can take part in the wooden chicken hunt and get a delicious treat by finding them all! And with the paint-a-pot studio, a choice of indoor soft play area or outdoor adventure playground they will be fully occupied and very, very tired! A family ticket costs £25.95; adults £8.95; children 4-15yrs £6.50 (under 4s FREE); concessions £7.75. Visit http://www.Kentlife.org.uk for further information and full details
This Art of Mine will be open every day from Monday 11th to Saturday 23rd April inclusive from 10am-5pm. Booking is not necessary and it’s OK to drop into the studio to design your own t-shirts and bags or to paint your own pottery. There will also be some afternoon workshops being run during the Easter Holidays for which you do need to book and which cost £10 per person, see details below:
Monday 11th April 1.30pm-3pm – Ceramic Egg painting
Tuesday 12th April 1.30pm-3pm – Ceramic Sun & Moon painting
Wednesday 13th April 1.30pm-3pm – Make your own rabbit hand puppet
Thursday 14th April 1.30pm-3pm – Make your own Shrinky jewellery
Monday 18th April 1.30pm-3pm – Beaded flower window charm
Tuesday 19th April 1.30pm-3pm – Design your own t-shirt
Wednesday 20th April 1.30pm-3pm – Make your own rabbit hand puppet
Thursday 21st April 1.30pm-3pm – Make pom pom chicks for Easter
To book a place on a work shop please call Gemma on 07792541149 or email gemma@thisartofmine.co.uk for full details about This Art of Mine visit http://www.thisartofmine.co.uk
Have a great Easter holidays!
Until next time
India J