FAMILIES looking for half-term activities have a rich choice of options across York, North and East Yorkshire.

Adventure days, sword fighting, snail racing and dog displays are among the events being put on to appeal to fun-seekers.

Special family activities will accompany a new exhibition at York Castle Museum marking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo when battle swords and military clothing worn by Matthew Grimes, from Thornton-le-Dale, who guarded Napoleon on his death bed, will be among the items on show.

Activities include creating wallpaper using block printing techniques, exploring artefacts from the military and costume collection, and learning about Georgian coffee culture.

Criminals, including members of the infamous Gregory Gang, Guy Fawkes and Dick Turpin, will be part of an interactive show at the York Dungeon.

Visitors to York Minster will be among the last to see at close range the restored, 600-year-old stained glass panels from the Great East Window. Five medieval masterpieces are on show in the cathedral’s Orb attraction, which closes on May 31, so York Glaziers Trust can return the glass to the window.

Sarah Brown, director at York Glaziers Trust, said: “It takes between 400 and 600 hours to restore each stained glass panel and the Orb has given people the chance to appreciate this level of intricate detail and understand the decisions we’ve taken during the process to conserve this immense work of art.”

Beningbrough Hall is holding a Water Day today, with activities to show what lives in a pond and how to build a raft. On Sunday, visitors will be able to search for creepy crawlies and build a home for a wild animal, while Monday’s Adventure day will include bird watching and how to geocache.

In Ryedale, the Malton Food Lovers Festival is this weekend with Levi Roots, Prue Leith, Diana Henry, William Sitwell, Peter Sidwell and Valentine Warner among the line-up of chefs. Venues include the town hall, Milton Rooms and the Market Square.

The crowd-pulling Duncombe Park Country Fair in Helmsley is on Bank Holiday Monday.

At Castle Howard, near Malton, visitors with dogs are invited to take part in a sponsored walk for Guide Dogs for the Blind at 11am on Monday. There will also be a dog show/gun dog and fly ball displays, guide dog demonstration and tombola/raffle.

CBeebies Star Mr Bloom, the singing gardener, will perform live at Stockeld Park near Wetherby on Sunday, May 31, at the end of a week of fun, including snail racing, roller skating, go karting, electric scooters, Enchanted Forest, Yew Maze, craft zones, inflatable slides and various creatures.

Scarborough Castle is holding a Knights event all week until Sunday, May 31, while Whitby Abbey is holding a Viking Raiders and Invaders event from today to Monday featuring medieval sword skills, a Viking encampment, hands-on activities, and a battle.

May 27, 2015 Burnby Hall Gardens in Pocklington is hosting a bear-themed children’s day with craft activities, large games in the marquee and a Teddy-themed trail.

York by artist John Grant will feature at Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, inspired by his big fascination with the ruins and the landscape.

There will also be a trail to find hidden clues in the grounds, and there will be crafts on offer.