May Bank Holiday, and another half term week are coming up fast, which means finding more activities to do as a family with your kids.
We’ve found a variety of activities to take part in around Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole to keep you and the little ones entertained.
Half Term Crafts – Upton Country Park
Join the team at the Education Centre in Upton Country Park on Saturday 25 May for some fun arts and crafts.
£3 per craft, booking not required. For more information call 01202 262753.
Half Term at Brownsea Island
All half term week, the team at Brownsea Island are offering free trials of their activities including tree climbing, coastal creatures or nature rubbing.
You can also join in the fun at the natural play area or a family nature walk.
The event is free, but normal venue admission applies. For more information visit the website here.
The Great Wildlife Exploration – King’s Park
This event is back for it’s 5th year, this time at King’s Park in Boscombe on Saturday 25 May.
Wildlife experts will host guided walks showing you the wonderful moths, bumblebees, birds and more around the area.
Fun family activities, interactive workshops and craft tables will also be run throughout the day.
For more information, visit their website here.
Junior Rangers – Stour Valley
Suitable for ages 11-16.
Visit Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre on Monday 27 May for a day of practical conservation and a campfire lunch at one of the north Bournemouth Nature Reserves. (Vegetarians can be catered for).
Booking is essential, tickets are £5 each. Find out more here.
Minibeast Hunt – Hengistbury Head
Join the team at the Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre on Tuesday 28 May to search the reserve for the smallest creatures.
Discover fascinating beetles, bugs, and minibeasts all around the diverse habitat.
Suitable for ages 5+, booking essential. Tickets are £3 per child. Find out more here.
Around the World at Russell-Cotes
Take a journey around the globe and visit some of the continents Annie and Merton Russell-Cotes went to on their travels, by joining in with crafts, trails, garden games and competitions at the museum.
Activities run every day for the week, from Monday to Sunday, with pre-bookable craft sessions for £3 each on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Find out more here.
Meet Paw Patrol’s Chase and Rubble – Adventure Wonderland
The characters Chase and Rubble from popular kids’ show Paw Patrol will be around at intervals throughout the day on Wednesday 29 May.
Ride on all the great rides and attractions including Jungle Falls log flume, Wild Bill’s Runaway Train, The Ghostly Galleon and the Dance with the Stars marquee.
For more information and entrance prices, visit the park’s website here.
Spring Ranger Day – Brownsea Island
Join the Outdoor Centre rangers at Brownsea Island on Wednesday 29 May to discover how to conserve nature and to learn some bush craft skills.
There will be a break for lunch, but bring your own as it is not provided.
Recommended for ages 8+, but all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets cost £20 for children and £7 for adults, but spaces are limited, so book asap if interested. Find out more here.
Junior Safety Inspector – Bournemouth
Join SafeWise Bournemouth and its partners for their Summer Junior Safety Inspector family event on Thursday 30 May.
Children can discover how to stay safe, build confidence and learn valuable skills for life in SafeWise’s interactive learning village,
Partners include RNLI, fire service education team, road safety team, Network Rail, ESET and others, helping families discover the best way to stay safe this summer, in all situations.
Plenty of hands on activities, with a self guided treasure hunt, to keep everyone entertained.
The event is aimed at children 5-10 years old, but all ages are welcome.
Tickets cost £5 per person, but under 4’s go free. Spaces are limited so booking is highly advised.
Find out more here.
The Sound of Music – Regent Centre
The hills are alive with the sound of music this half term, as Bournemouth Musical Theatre Productions brings the classic family favourite to the Regent Centre in Christchurch from Wednesday 29 May to Saturday 1 June.
Come in costume to win the ‘best dressed’ competition running every performance, or go along for the sing-a-long shows on the Friday evening and Saturday matinee.
Tickets are £18.50, or £16.50 for concessions. For more information and to buy tickets visit the website here.
ETO: Waxwings – Lighthouse
English Touring Opera brings their latest opera for children ages 2-5 to Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts on Wednesday 29 May.
This highly interactive, and multi-sensory opera is set in a school run by a mythical monster, and focuses on a boy and a girl who discover an injured waxwing bird.
For more information and tickets visit the Lighthouse website here.
One Duck Down – Lighthouse
This family show is inspired by the true tale of 7000 rubber ducks caught in a storm, that was seen on Blue Planet II.
It is packed full of music, clowning and puppetry, and the set and props are recycled from the lost and found of rubbish both on land and at sea.
Join in the fun on Wednesday 29 April and Lighthouse, for more information and tickets, see their website here.
ETO: Paradise Planet – Lighthouse
The English Touring Opera for slightly older children (7-11 years), a collection of ocean stories for families and children comes to Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts on Friday 31 May.
The interactive performance uses song, live musicians and sound-design wizardry to inspire children, and show them they have the power to change the world.
For more information and tickets visit the Lighthouse website here.