Summer Half Term Events & Activities For Families In Manchester

The sun has been out, but there's still loads going on this half term if you want to spend some time indoors! Here's a round up of some of what you can find for families in the Manchester area this May/June holiday. If you have anything to add, please drop me an email. We like free or very affordable best of all, so don't forget your local park and library!

Z-Arts, Hulme, Manchester

Z-arts is blasting off with a space-themed half-term 26th May to 3rd June. A free family fun day and a Space Race themed theatre show by Oxford Playhouse provide something for the whole family to enjoy

Wednesday 30 May explore Space, the Galaxy and aliens at The Milky Way Fun Day. The event is free and suitable for the whole family, but booking is required. Z-café will be open for hot drinks, snacks and lunch. Z-arts are also delighted to host the Daresbury StarLab mobile planetarium as part of the fun day, where children can explore the Solar System and learn about the other planets, or view the night sky and see the many different constellations. Time slots to view the planetarium will be available on the day.

Saturday 2 June, Oxford Playhouse’s One Small Step arrives for a fast and full-throttled trip to the moon.  One Small Step recounts history’s greatest adventure, the race between the United States and the Soviet Union to send the first man to the moon, An action-packed show that crams 50 years of history into an intergalactic 60 minutes. Suitable for everyone aged 7+, this thrilling voyage to the Moon is an adventure not to be missed! Tickets are £6 - £9.

For more information on any of the shows, events and activities, drop into Z-arts, visit the Z-arts website  or call Z-arts Box Office on 0161 232 6089.

Waterside Arts, Sale, Manchester

26th May sees the return of the ever-popular ComedySportz, loud, lively and interactive.
ComedySportz4Tots 3pm, best for age 6 and under. £5/£3, 45 minutes
ComedySportz 6.30pm, age 7+, £7/£5, 2 hours

30th-31st May
Michael Rosen's Chocolate Cake
11am and 2.30pm, age 4-9, £11/£9 (£6 Family Club Members), 50 minutes.

1st June - it's the cinema
Paddington 2, 2pm
The Greatest Showman 6pm
£5 (£2.50 Family Club Members).

2nd June
Ballet Cymru present Cinderella
7.30pm, £14/£12

For more details contact 0161 912 5616 or check out the Waterside Arts website. 

Museum Of Science And Industry, Manchester

May 26th and 27th - MakeFest
Science and craft collide with the Museum of Science and Industry’s all-ages celebration of making,  Visitors of all abilities can get involved in DIY tech, engineering, craft and creativity at this two-day event.
The museum’s Explainer team have created a special Printing Workshop where you can put your own stamp on things. Find out how we used to print designs on cotton and take home your very own printed piece of material.
Admission to MakeFest is free, however there may be a small charge for some activities.

From Bank Holiday Monday onwards throughout the half term there will be a host of family-friendly events, shows and workshops including pinhole camera making, Early Years engineers and engine demonstrations.
For adults and older children Space Descent VR with Tim Peake allows visitors to fly through space and pilot a capsule back home using the latest state-of-the-art Samsung Gear VR technology. Tickets cost £6 and the VR is available only to ages 13 and over.

There is also a host of permanent displays and exhibitions, from the world’s only replica of Baby, the first ever stored-programme computer, to the huge Shackleton spy plane in the Air and Space Hall and the machinery that powered the mills that made Manchester a global success story. Visit the world’s first station platform, complete with a lovingly restored first class waiting room, marvel at the buildings that have stood since the very beginnings of the Industrial Revolution and get to grips with science in the Experiment! gallery.

Visit www.msimanchester.org.uk for the latest programme updates and information.

King Street Festival

2-3 June

Food, drink, music and merrymaking at the annual festival. Walking tours, a History Board Trail, the Conversation Stage and even a sneak peek at one of the Manchester Bees who will be in place this Summer. There's absolutely loads going on, and you can find out all about it on the Visit Manchester website.

East Lancs Railway, Bury, Greater Manchester

26-28 May
1940s weekend
A glamorous event that is sure to keep the whole family in a swinging mood. Enjoy live music, entertainment and battle re-enactments, browse vintage stalls for fashion and antique knick-knacks, see military vehicle displays and much more! (£18/£11 per person per day, family and weekend tickets available).

30th May
Children's Craft Workshop
The Bury Transport Museum’s drop in craft workshop gives children the chance to design and build their very own hot air balloon (no hot air or burning gases involved). No pre booking required. 11am-3pm, £1 per child.

Check train times, when steam trains are running and find out more on the East Lancs Railway website. 

Manchester Museum

28th May - 1st June
Museum Treasures. Create your very own clay treasures inspired by the Museum’s collections. Free, drop in, suitable for families. Open 11am-4pm (Photo was the closest I had and in no way represents the event - unless you take your own LEGO and a tree, and choose a similar museum piece).

Find out more on the Manchester Museum website.

Photo Courtesy of my mate Brett

The Greater Manchester Police Museum

Tuesday 29th May and Thursday 31st May are Open Days.
Find out about the history of policing in Manchester and the UK. Special guests will also make an appearance. They expect to be busy, so may ask you to return later as it's a very small museum. Open 10.30am-3.30pm, Free entry.

Find out more on the GMP Museum website.

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Trafford Centre

26th May to 3rd June 
LEGO Ninjago Event Days. Meet and greets, take part in the new miniland scavenger hunt and collect special pop badges. If you can't make it, you can Spot The Ninja here...

Find out more on the Discovery Centre website.

If you fancy something a bit further afield:  

The Lego Brick Animal Trail & Workshops are back at Martin Mere until Sun 24 June. We loved it when we visited last time. Find out more in my Martin Mere review post and on the Martin Mere website.

If you'd like me to add your event - please send me an email to thebrickcastle at gmail dot com.