The Easter bank holiday weekend does not have to be all about scoffing chocolate eggs. Here we bring you a whole host of fun things to do all over Suffolk over the long weekend and right through the two-week school break.
Easter fun fair on Felixstowe seafront
Families can enjoy the fun of the fair along Felixstowe’s seafront from March 25-28. There will be rides, stalls and sideshows. Admission is free but rides will incur individual prices. It will run 11am-10pm daily, depending on the weather. More information available hereEaster trail at Landguard Fort, Felixstowe
An Easter trail will be taking place daily at Landguard Fort from 10am-4pm from March 25-April 10. Families will have the chance to take part in a fun quiz around the fort. Normal admission charges apply and a trail sheet costs £1.50 which includes a Landguard Fort pencil.See their website for more.Gingerbread Trail, Woodbridge
After the success of last year’s Gingerbread Trail in Woodbridge, the Tide Mill Living Museum and The Cake Shop Bakery are organising another to keep families amused over the Easter holidays.
Families can buy a trail sheet for £1 at The Cake Shop Bakery from March 21 and from The Tide Mill from the March 25, and follow the trail to find the seven biscuits hidden around Woodbridge town centre. The trail clues prompt curious kids to seek out some interesting things along the way and if they gather all seven biscuit names they will win an Easter egg shaped biscuit baked by The Cake Shop Bakery using Tide Mill flour.
The event runs to April 15. See here for further detailsAnnual Easter egg hunt, Woodbridge
An Easter egg trail will take place on March 26 from 10am to noon, across the whole of Elmhurst Park, when children will have the chance to follow a series of clues in the hope of winning one of 500 chocolate eggs. Choose Woodbridge, Woodbridge’s business and tourism association, have improved the format of this year’s event, from feedback it received from attendees and the acquisition of some enthusiastic new volunteers who have helped to organise the event. There is no charge to take part - although the eggs, which have been kindly donated by the East of England Co-op, will be handed out on a first come first served basis. As well as the trail, there will be a face painter and a visit from Millie the Tide Mill Mouse, the much-loved mascot from Woodbridge Tide Mill.Want more information? See hereSpringtime walk in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds
Families can enjoy a scenic walk and at the same time test their knowledge of baby animals, daily from March 25 - April 10 at Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds. There may even be a chance to see some of the newborn animals around the park, while a completed quiz sheet will win a prize at the end. Pick up a quiz sheet from Nowton Park Cafe for £1. A series of Easter eggs hunts will also take place within Nowton Park maze on Saturday, March 26 during three sessions.
Guests are asked to meet at Nowton Park cafe and are advised that there is one kilometre walk to the maze. Booking is essential. Session one - 10am-11.30am, session two - 12.30-2pm, session three- 3pm-4.30pm
Spring craft parties at Suffolk Food Hall, near Ipswich
A series of Easter craft parties will be taking place at Suffolk Food Hall in April. The parties will take place on April 1, 2 and 8, 9 running from 10am-noon. The event includes lunch and two craft activities plus games, laughs and lots more. Visit the website for further detailsCastle adventure quest, Framlingham Castle
Adventurers can meet characters from the past and hear stories from times gone by, during a series of Easter adventure activities taking place at Framlingham Castle each day, from March 25-28 from 11am-4pm. There will be clues to crack and a chance to win a chocolate reward. Find out more hereArchery at Ickworth House
There will be something for the whole family to enjoy at Ickworth House near Bury St Edmunds, during the Easter holidays. A series of archery classes will run from March 25-April 3, when participants will have the chance to channel their inner Robin Hood. Classes will take place at the North Lawn and run from 11am-4pm each day and costs £3 for seven arrows. A Cadbury’s Easter Egg hunt will also take place from March 25-April 8 each day, from 11am-4pm. Guests will have the chance to explore the enchanting garden and magical park, in the search of the ultimate prize - Cadbury’s chocolate! More information can be found hereMusic, crafts and markets, Aldeburgh Music
A whole series of events will be taking place during the Easter weekend as part of Aldeburgh Music’s action-packed calendar from March 25-27. Visitors can enjoy an array of concerts at churches in Blythburgh, Aldeburgh, Orford and a concert in Snape Maltings, during the weekend. Plus that’s not all, an exciting time can be enjoyed at Snape Maltings, starting with the farmers’ market on March 26 from 9.30am-1.30pm. Families can enjoy a range of free events including, Easter crafts, storytelling sessions, face painting, pop-up performances from Delta Beltas blues and more also taking place also on Saturday from 10am-1.30pm. On Sunday, March 27 from 11am-1pm, visitors can enjoy an Easter egg hunt, crafts, more storytelling, face painting and Tuba Swingy, a New Orleans Swing Band from 11am-1pm. Visit their website for moreEaster speggtacular, Baylham House Farm
There will be chance to see the newborn animals at the farm during a special Easter long weekend from March 25-28. As well as plenty of piglets and lambs, there will be a number of opportunities for the little ones to handle some of the animals including Grace, Boy George and Gwendolyn, the Golden Guernsey goats, the Baylham Bunnies, and Tilly, who will also be on hand for cuddles and photo opportunities. Details available here
Easter egg hunt, Haverhill
The little ones can find the hidden tokens in East Town Park, Haverhill, during a special Easter egg hunt which takes place on March 26 at 2pm.
There will be a chocolate egg for every child plus lots of special prizes. Those wishing to take part can meet at East Town Park visitor centre. Tickets cost £1.50 but no booking is required. More here
Easter fun with the owls at Stonham Aspal
There will be flying displays and the meerkats will be out at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary in Stonham Aspal from March 25-28, to help celebrate the Easter weekend. As part of the fun, children can also take part in the S.O.S. Safari Quiz when there will be prizes and a great Easter egg hunt. Plus, free donkey rides will also be on offer for all young visitors on Good Friday. More details here
Cadbury’s Easter egg hunt, Melford Hall
This year, Cadbury has once again sponsored an Easter egg hunt which takes place daily from March 25-28. Visitors can come and solve the clues and claim an Easter egg prize from 12.30pm-4.30pm each day. They can also gain the chance to show off their skill in the egg and spoon races (for all ages) being held each day. In addition there will be drawing and colouring sheets to complete.
Visit: nationaltrust.org.uk
Eastertide, Kentwell Hall
There will be a chance to see 100 Tudors walking about the manor and in the grounds during the Easter weekend from March 25-28. Guests can celebrate Easter Tudor-style with music, dancing, hot cross bun making and more. There will even be the chance to attempt Kentwell’s infamous Impossible Quiz challenge for the whole family. The children can take part in an Easter egg hunt trail where they can find all the eggs and crack the code to win a prize, as well as the Heffalump Hunt down on the farm and the ever-popular Easter crafts in the barn (at an additional cost per child). Easter holiday family days will also run at the hall from March 29- April 1, daily from 11am-5pm. More here
Be an animal detective, Brandon Country Park
Brandon Country Park will be giving young animal enthusiasts the chance to enrol in its animal detective school on April 2. There will be a chance to discover the clues, examine the evidence and follow the trails, as they find out what, why and how the tracks have been made. The event is suitable for five plus years. Find out more here
Free rides at Ipswich Transport Museum
Guests are invited to see what the team at the museum have been up to during the winter and children can also follow a trail around the site to find the Easter eggs that have been stolen by Mr Fox on March 28 from 11am-4pm. There will be free rides on some of the vehicles. Find out more here
Steam into spring at the Museum of Power in Maldon
Transportfest takes place at the Museum of Power in Maldon on Easter Sunday, March 27, from 10am. The theme of this year’s event is retro cars and you will be able to see classic vehicles from the 1950s to the 1990s. ‘Marshall’ the Lilleshall pumping engine will be running on steam and other oil and diesel engines will be running on the day. The miniature steam train will be open for rides, with an extra charge applicable. There will also be live music, craft stalls and children’s activities including an Easter egg hunt, plus the tearoom will be open for refreshments. Entry costs £6, £5 for concessions, £2 for children aged five to 15 or free for the under fives. More here
Days out with Thomas at The East Anglian Railway Museum
The museum will be open from Good Friday, March 25 to Easter Monday, March 28, from 10am, with trains running between 10.30am and 4.30pm.
After being welcomed by the Fat Controller, you can enjoy unlimited rides on at least four character trains.
There will be lots of other activities taking place throughout the weekend, including story time with the Fat Controller and interactive reenactments with Thomas and other characters. Tickets on the door cost £14, £10 for two to 15-year-olds or free for the under twos. Or you can book online.
Create an Easter bonnet at Hollytrees Museum in Colchester
Craft sessions run at the museum on Tuesday, March 29, giving chidlren the chance to make an Easter bonnet.
The special workshops, called Crowning Glory, will be held at 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3pm.
They are suitable for ages four and over. Places cost £3 and must be booked in advance by calling 01206 282941.
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