February

It is half term time. Whether you’ll choose open air fun at Scarecrow Festival in Tatton Park or indoor activities for children and their families at The Lowry, we are certain that your kids will enjoy it.

3, 10, 24 February 2026, 10.30am – 11am
Baby Book Club
This is a great weekly session for parents and carers to introduce their babies to the wonderful world of libraries, books, and storytelling. Expect stories, songs, bubbles, sensory toys, and puppets! A fun and relaxed session especially for non-walking babies and their families.
Suitable for ages 0+
Free, booking required
Z-arts Library
335 Stretford Road, Hulme
Manchester M15 5ZA
Tel: 0161 226 1912
www.z-arts.org

6 February 2026, 10.30am – 2.30pm
Art Baby at Whitworth
Sensory play sessions in the beautiful surroundings of the gallery, especially for non-walking babies and their grown-ups. It is a warm, welcoming and supportive environment where you can meet, play and talk with other parents and carers. These sensory play sessions are also specially designed to help develop your baby’s physical and social skills. With loads of space to crawl and explore, and lots of new things to look at, the gallery is a great place to play and bond with your baby.
The Whitworth,
The University of Manchester,
Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6ER
Tel: 0161 275 7450
www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/getinvolved/families/artbaby/

6, 13, 27 February 2026, 4.15pm – 5pm
Lego Club
Bring your little ones for LEGO Club, where they’ll be able to play with all the available LEGO and build whatever they like!
Requirements: parents need to stay and supervise their children throughout the session.
Suitable for all the family
Free, booking required
Z-arts
335 Stretford Road, Hulme
Manchester M15 5ZA
Tel: 0161 226 1912
www.z-arts.org

13 February 2026, 10.30am – 2.30pm
PLAY days at Whitworth
A space for under 5s and their grown-ups to come together to play, be curious and be creative with simple, open-ended play resources. Whitworth’s School of Creativity space will be packed full of huge tubes and pipes, big boxes, crates, large reels, tyres, and lots more, creating a world of endless possibilities to explore and create.
The Whitworth,
The University of Manchester,
Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6ER
Tel: 0161 275 7450
www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/getinvolved/families/playdays/

14 February 2026, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm
Stoller Story Sounds with Robot!
The world is huge—and Robot can’t wait to explore! What will Robot discover? Who will Robot meet? What new sounds will Robot hear on the journey? Come along and find out!
Join us on our story, exploring the world around us. With storyteller Emily Capstick, illustrator, Lizzie Finlay, and musicians Gemma Ashcroft and Ryan Breen, these interactive music sessions feature live music and illustration, storytelling, and more!
Age recommended: 3-5 years olds.
£8 per child, £8 for parent and child, £5.5 for additional adult, baby in arms free, booking required
The Stoller Hall,
Hunts Bank, Manchester M3 1DA
Tel: 0333 130 0967
www.chethamsschoolofmusic.com

14 February – 1 March 2026
Sports Day Scarecrow Festival
Visit the Gardens and Farm during February half term and spot sporty scarecrows. There’ll be rowing and throwing, curling and serving, kickflips, backflips, high kicks, and wickets.How many will you find?
Also meet Aunty Mary and the miller and hear them tell their tales at weekends down at the Farm.
Normal Garden and Farm opening times and entry fees apply.
Tatton Park
Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN
Tel: 01625 374400
www.tattonpark.org.uk

18 February 2026
Wonderland Adventure
You’re late, you’re late, for a very important date! It’s time to take a tumble down the Rabbit Hole for a curious adventure through Wonderland with Alice and her friends.
During this weird and wonderful interactive experience you’ll meet the surreal inhabitants of this bizarre place.
Your adventure includes a steam train ride from Bury to Rawtenstall and back and a roughly two-hour Wonderland experience with colourful characters and themed activities.
Pre-booking required
Bury Transport Museum
Bolton Street Station, Castlecroft Goods Warehouse, Bury BL9 0EY
Tel: 0333 320 2830
Booking Office: 0161 876 2015
www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

19 February 2026
The Wizarding Adventure
It’s time to sign up to our spellbinding school of sorcery as you take a wacky and wonderful whistle stop tour of the Wizard Academy and learn to become a master of mystery and magic.
During this magical interactive experience you’ll take lessons in the basics of broomsticks, practice your potion making, be instructed in incantations and learn to tattle and talk with a tawny owl.
For students age 5 – 12 recommended, but anyone is welcome to enrol.
What’s included:
– One return trip from Bury to Rawtenstall hauled by a genuine steam (and spell) powered train
– An approximately two-hour wizarding experience with the region’s most pre-eminent enchanters.
– Wizard themed activities and plenty of photo opportunities.
– Make your day complete with a trip to Bury Transport Museum, sited just across the road from Bury Bolton Street Station.
Food and drink will be available to purchase from our café on Platform 3/4 at Bury Bolton Street Station and from the Rawtenstall Buffet.
The East Lancashire Railway
Bury Bolton Street Station,
Bolton Street, Bury, Lancashire BL9 0EY
Tel: 0161 764 7790
www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

20 February, 11am, 12noon for toddlers, 13.45pm, 14.45pm for babies
Music Makers
Monthly music and sensory play sessions for babies and toddlers.
For parents with both baby and toddler, babies may attend toddler sessions. The same does not apply in reverse, as toddlers tend to be more boisterous and we want to keep the baby sessions more relaxed.
Tickets: £4.00, 1 ticket admits 1 child plus accompanying adult
Barbirolli Room,
The Bridgewater Hall,
Lower Mosley Street,
Manchester M2 3WS
Tel: 0161 907 9000
www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk

20 February 2026
The Dino Adventure
Have you ever wanted to pet a pachycephalosaurus, get together with a Triceratops or tickle a T-Rex under the chin?
Now’s your chance. Come on an adventure of Jurassic proportions to The East Lancashire Railway and get the opportunity to get up close and personal with their baby dinosaurs.
You’ll get to learn all about these adorable dinosaurs from our expert handlers in this fully interactive experience that is both educational and entertaining for all the family. Come along an earn your diploma in dino know how and begin your training as a palaeontologist of the future.
What’s included:
– One return trip from Bury to Rawtenstall hauled by a dino-proofed steam train.
– An approximately two hour dinosaur experience with expert rex wranglers and triceratops tamers.
– Dinosaur themed activities and plenty of photo opportunities.
Make your day complete with a trip to Bury Transport Museum, sited just across the road from Bury Bolton Street Station.
Age recommended: 5 – 12 and anyone is welcome to join the fun.
The East Lancashire Railway
Bury Bolton Street Station,
Bolton Street, Bury, Lancashire BL9 0EY
Tel: 0161 764 7790
www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

21 February 2026, 10.30am – 1.30pm
Outdoor Art Club at Whitworth
Play-based outdoor workshops for all the family, but particularly brilliant for two to eight year-olds – encouraging children to play freely while exploring nature.
Wear suitable clothing, waterproofs and wellies, especially during the winter months.
Free, drop-in
The Whitworth,
The University of Manchester,
Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6ER
Tel: 0161 275 7450
www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/getinvolved/families/outdoorartclub/

21 – 22 February 2026, taster sessions at 12pm, 1pm and 2pm
Pancake Weekend at the Farm

Come down to the Farm for some flipping fun and celebrate the humble pancake!
Discover more about where your pancake ingredients come from.
Learn about the chickens that will have laid the eggs, move into the Mill to learn about the flour you need, and then see the fresh milk straight from the shippon.
You will be able to see how we make pancakes and we have taster sessions at 12pm, 1pm and 2pm, each taster session will finish with a have a go pancake flipping competition.
Standard parkland and farm entry times and charges apply.
Tatton Park
Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6QN
Tel: 01625 374400
www.tattonpark.org.uk

22 February 2026, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Quiet Mornings at Whitworth
Quiet and calm open-ended play sessions for families with additional needs.
There will be open-ended play objects to explore, created by The Sensory Toolkit, as well as a creative making activity. The sessions are designed so that children lead the way, moving around in their own time and at their own pace.
Free, drop-in
The Whitworth,
The University of Manchester,
Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6ER
Tel: 0161 275 7450
www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/getinvolved/families/quietmornings/

26 February 2026, 10.30am for 0–1, 11.30am for 1–2
Babies Playtime
These classes are led by a professional early years practitioner and are an opportunity to have fun, sing, dance and make new friends. Classes last 45 minutes and are free for all. All attendees must book a ticket (including accompanying adult).
Suitable for ages 0 to 1 and 1 to 2.
Free, booking required
The Lowry, Salford Quays. Manchester
Tel: 0333 320 2838
www.thelowry.com

27 February 2026, 10.30am – 11.15am, 11.30am – 12.15pm
Uder 5’s Little Creatives
A weekly creative session for toddlers and their adults! Includes music making, storytelling, dance and creative play. Sessions are 45 mins, are free for all and all attendees must book a ticket (including accompanying adult).
Suitable for ages 2-5.
Free, booking required
The Lowry, Salford Quays. Manchester
Tel: 0333 320 2838
www.thelowry.com

27 – 28 February 2026
After-hours with the Mermaids
Come and meet the magical SEA LIFE mermaids at SEA LIFE Manchester!
Tickets: £28 adult, £24 child, £5 passholders
Pre-booking is essential
SEA LIFE Manchester,
Trafford Palazzo, Trafford, Manchester M17 8AS
Tel: 0161 749 2875
www.visitsealife.com/manchester/explore/events/after-hours-with-the-mermaids

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(for Manchester & Cheshire area, please)