Dozens of events are taking place this half term. Here’s a round-up of the highlights.
English Heritage has listings throughout February and into March:
• Olaf the Viking – Victory and Defeat will go ahead from Saturday, February 14, to Sunday, February 22, between 11am and 4pm at Clifford’s Tower. Tickets range from £2.60 to £4.30. Family tickets £11.20.
• Victorian Valentine Weekend is happening at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens on Saturday, February 14, and Sunday, February 15. Tickets from £3.70 to £6.10.
• Children’s Gruesome History Week is happening at Whitby Abbey from Saturday, February 14, to Sunday, February 22, between 11am and 4pm. Children’s tickets are £1, adults up to £6.60.
• After Dark Hall Tours at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens will be held on Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14 from 8.30pm. Bookings only, with tickets between £13 and £15.
• Victorian Mother’s Day is going ahead at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens on Sunday, March 15 from 10am to 4pm. Tickets range from £5.80 to £9.70.
• Victorian Fairies Week is being held at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens daily from Saturday, February 14, to Sunday, February 22, between 10am and 4pm. Entry fees begin at £1 for children up to £6.10 for adults.
Yorkshire Museum, open daily from 10am until 5pm with free entry for children and admission for adults costing £7.50, is holding a number of events:
• Buried Treasure – Pieces of Eight Trail will go ahead every day during normal opening hours at a cost of 50p per trail.
• Craft Dragons is happening between 10am and 5pm on Saturday, February 21.
• A metal detecting workshop is taking place on February 18 and 19 from 11am to 1pm and again from 2pm to 4pm.
• Viking Longboats talks will happen every day during normal opening hours.
• A film screening of How to Train Your Dragon will take place on Saturday, February 21, at 3pm.
Tickets are £5 at reception and museum admission is additional.
Looking forward to the screening of How To Train Your Dragon at the Yorkshire Museum is Georgie O’Farrell
York Castle Museum, open daily from 9.30am until 5pm with adult admission fees of £10 and children free, has two events:
• Votes for Women will take place every day, on Kirkgate, between 10am and 4pm.
• Create The Castle will also go ahead every day from 10am until 5pm.
The Jorvik Viking Centre is holding six events:
• The Ultimate Viking Banquet is going ahead on February 14 at Merchant Taylor’s Hall from 7pm to 11pm. Tickets cost £65 per person.
• Viking Steading will also take place on February 14, between 10am and 4pm.
The event is free and being held at York’s Viking central camp on Parliament Street.
• Beowulf by Candlelight is happening each day from February 18 to 21, between 7.30pm and 9pm at St Helen’s Church. Adult tickets £4, concessions £5 and children £4.
• The Best Beard Contest is going ahead on February 21 between 3pm and 4pm.
• Olaf’s Tales of Battle is happening at Clifford’s Tower every day from February 15 until February 22, between 10am until 3pm. £4 for adults, £3.80 concession, £2.50 children.
• Viking Warrior Challenge for Children is taking place at DIG in St Saviourgate on February 16, from noon until 4pm.
Barley Hall has four events taking place:
• A Ruth Keggin concert is taking place on February 16 from 7pm until 9.30pm.
Adult tickets £14, concessions £12.
• Poo Day Activities are going ahead on February 17 between 11.30am and 3pm.
Adult tickets £6, concessions £4.50, and children £3.
• Archaeology at the Speed of Light will take place on February 19, from 10am until 3pm. Adult tickets £6, concessions £4.50, and children £3.
• Forensic Archaeology will take place on February 20 between 10am and 3pm.
Adult tickets £6, concessions £4.50, and children £3.
York Dungeon:
• York Dungeon is launching its new show, Grave Robbers, daily from February 14 unti February 22.
The Moors National Park Centre, Danby.
• On Tuesday, February 17, children can find out the difference between rabbits and hares on arts and crafts sessions.
There are sessions at 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm.
• On Wednesday, February 18, make a bird feeder and nest box at 10.30am or create a nest and eggs from a variety of materials at 1.30pm.
• On Thursday. February 19, at the Splendid Sunflowers event at 10.30am, children can plant sunflower seeds in decorated pots and make paper flowers to brighten their home.
At 1.30pm, children can learn bee facts and make a bee hotel or crafts with beeswax.
• From February 14 to 22 there are bird nester trails.
Children can look for signs in the grounds to find which nest belongs to which birds.
Sewerby Hall and Gardens also have a number of half-term events, costing £2.50 for adults and £2 for children, unless otherwise stated.
• Every day between Saturday, February 14, and Sunday, February 22, romantic afternoon teas will be served in the Clock Tower Cafe between 11am and 3pm. The teas cost £16 per couple
• Between Monday, February 16 and Friday, February 20, costumed interpreters will greet visitors, with Meet the Butler/ Housekeeper sessions for children at 1.30pm. This must be booked.
• Victorian Valentine’s Day card-making and cupcake decorating drop-in sessions take place on Saturday, February 14.
• Edwardian pancake demonstrations will be taking place in the house on Shrove Tuesday, February 17, between noon and 3pm, and pancakes will be on sale in the Orangery.
• A pre-booked Meet The Curator session is available in the house on Friday, February 20 at 1.30pm.
• Classical pianist Mark Howley will perform romantic classics on Sunday, February 15, at 1pm.
• Jazz musicians RevRay Music will perform on Thursday, February 19, at 1pm.
• Singing group The Middle 8 Singers will perform on Sunday, February 22, at 1pm in the Orangery.
• Free sporting activities, including family archery, multi-skills and volleyball will take place on Friday, February 20, between 1pm and 3pm.
• Valentine’s Day-themed activities Professor Crackpot’s Barmy Brainstorms: The Devotion Potion! and The Sweetheartometer! take place on Monday, February 16 and Wednesday, February 18. Both activities cost £5 for one child and an accompanying adult. Times are 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2pm.
At Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, near Ripon:
Snowdrops at Fountains Abbey. Picture: NTPL
• Build bird boxes at workshops between Tuesday, February 17 and Thursday, February 19, for £5 per box plus normal admission.
• Take part in a digital treasure hunt, using the National Trust estates’ GPS units.
• Follow a trail of clues around the estate to find out more about birds at the site.
Winter at Flamingoland is open throughout the half term, and each weekend until March 15, between 10am and 4pm.
New attractions include a wallaby walkway and a lemur enclosure, with free keeper talks at animal feeding times.
Novotel Hotels around the region will host Superheroes Day on Saturday, February 21, with free entertainment for children and adults.
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