As families across Barnsley will know, the Easter holidays are just around the corner.
Whatever your personal beliefs, I hope you’ll be able to find some time over the next couple of weeks to spend some quality time with your loved ones.
However, as a dad myself, I know that the school holidays can often be accompanied by one of the scariest phrases any parent can hear - ‘I’m bored!’
Fortunately, even if you are unlucky enough to hear that phrase - and you have my sympathies - there are lots of affordable events and activities taking place across our borough.
Of course, Easter wouldn’t be Easter without an ‘egg-citing’ egg trail.
This year, Barnsley folk are spoilt for choice when it comes to Easter trails. Between April 5-20, you can take part in Barnsley Council’s brilliant - and free - trail.
There are nine bunnies, each with part of a secret message - will you be able to find them all and complete the message? A big thank you to the nine participating venues!
Fantastic trails will also run at Elsecar Heritage Centre from now until April 21, and at Wentworth Castle Gardens between April 11-21.
A range of Easter ‘Healthy Holiday Clubs’ are also running between April 7-17, there’s football in Athersley, gymnastics in Carlton, swimming in Royston, and even virtual golf in Old Town, to name just a few! For more information, check out the council’s website.
The artistic and crafty will also be catered for across our borough this Easter. Barnsley College are running print-making workshops on April 7 and 14, the Cooper Gallery is hosting a ‘Blooming Marvellous Crafts’ event on April 9 and Experience Barnsley are holding a Cardboard Creations session on April 13.
If there are board game enthusiasts in your family, it’s also worth visiting Experience Barnsley on April 8 for their special (and free) ‘Brilliant Board Games’ event.
Want to get out in nature? There’s a lot of beautiful countryside to go around in Barnsley, so you’ll find lots to do this Easter. Cudworth Park and Monk Bretton Park are just two of the ideal picnic spots we have in our borough, and Mapplewell Meadows Farm has some exceptional views.
Similarly, Cannon Hall Farm is always worth a visit, and spring is arguably the best time of year to go because it’s lambing season.
There’s a special Easter event on, which promises to be fun for the whole family! Cannon Hall Museum also has a special Easter event: a scavenger hunt in a Victorian kitchen that will be both entertaining and educational.
I hope all this has given you something to bear in mind if the “I’m bored” moment comes your way.
Whatever you do this Easter, I hope that you find time to have a break and spend time with family and friends. Happy Easter!
