Steph Smith, who manages the Hale, Altrincham and Sale area for Mums in the Know, chooses five great things to do with the kids over the next week.
1. Sale Gang Show at Altrincham Garrick (until Saturday February 21st)
The 2015 Sale Gang Show is presented by Sale Scouts and Guides, and there’s lots of fun to be had at this traditional annual event! There are still performances left on Friday and Saturday evening (start time 7.15pm) with a matinee on Saturday at 2.15pm.
Tickets: Full Price: £8.00; Concessions: £5.00; All matinee tickets: £5.00. There is an additional £2.00 transaction fee for each individual payment made by telephone or online.
Altrincham Garrick Playhouse, Barrington Lane, Altrincham, WA14 1HZ. Book online or call the box office on 0161 928 1677.
2. Scarecrow Festival & Henry VIII at Tatton Park (until Sunday February 20th)
Tatton Park has lots to offer for a family visit, not least the fantastic adventure playground and the farm. Sometimes, the gardens are overlooked on a family visit but they are a great place for the kids to explore and run off some energy. This weekend, at the Scarecrow Festival, your children can discover over 30 scarecrows in the gardens and find some in the farmyard.
There’s also another special guest at Tatton today (Friday 20th) – Henry VIII is coming to town! If you have children aged between 5 and 11, this sounds like lots of fun! There will be an interactive storytelling session, followed by Tudor living history activities. You can go behind the scenes of a Tudor Royal Tour and learn all about the sports, games and entertainment enjoyed by King Henry VIII himself. Children can then experience what life was like in Tudor England through a range of hands-on activities. Normal entry charges apply; £5 car entry charge applies.
Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN
3. Join in the Chinese New Year Celebrations (Friday February 20th to Sunday February 22nd)
There are some amazing family events being held across the city centre to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2015 this weekend!
The city-wide event will culminate in a weekend of activities taking place to celebrate ‘The Year of the Ram’. Thousands of traditional red Chinese lanterns currently decorate the city’s streets and there is a delicious Chinese Food Market running until Sunday, showcasing the best cuisine from Chinatown’s top eateries including Yang Sing, I am Pho and Pearl City. The Legend of Nian: A Circus Caravan will also be performing a mythical Chinese tale in St Ann’s Square and there will be Tai Chi lessons in Manchester Arndale today (Friday 20th).
The celebrations reach a grand finale with the Dragon Parade from Albert Square to Chinatown on Sunday. A 175ft dragon will dance its way from Albert Square (at approx 12.30pm) until the parade reaches Chinatown’s NCP car park at 1pm. Here you will find traditional lion dancers, martial arts displays, spectacular Chinese acrobatics, arts and crafts, workshops and a funfair with over 20 rides on Charlotte Street! The day will end with an amazing fireworks display at 6pm.
For more information on the Chinese New Year celebrations in Manchester, please click here.
4. 20% Discount at The Crocky Trail (valid until Sunday February 22nd)
Around a half hour drive from Altrincham, located near Chester, is the infamous Crocky Trail. If you’ve not braved it yet, we have a 20% discount voucher that is valid until Sunday February 22nd – use the code MITKHTERM when booking online and you will receive a lovely 20% discount (NB this is only available when booking online).
For the uninitiated, The Crocky Trail might be best described as a mile-long adventure of pure adrenaline! The whole family can get involved but I’d say it’s most fun for those aged four and older. There’s a pushchair-friendly path so it’s fine to take babies along although it may be a bit tricky to keep daring toddlers in check! All in all, The Crocky Trail is messy and wild but so much fun and a fine way to round off half term.
To find out more and book your tickets, just click here and read a review from Mums in the Know’s visit here.
5. Discounted Family Films at Altrincham Cinema
Along with the current family blockbusters like Big Hero 6 and Shaun the Sheep, Vue Cinema runs Kids AM movies at weekends making a trip to the cinema a great value family outing! The film of choice this weekend (Saturday and Sunday at 10.10) is Tinkerbell & the Legend of the Neverbeast and tickets are just £2 for all. Also showing, as part of the Disney Days season showing Disney classics at a special discounted rate of £2.95 for all tickets, is The Princess & the Frog (9.50am Saturday and 10am Sunday).
Vue Cinema, Denmark Street, Altrincham, WA14 2WG
