February Half Term in Wakefield

Bring maps from the past to life with mini robots at Pontefract Museum this February half term! Discover how Pontefract has changed with magnificent maps and travel through time from the 1600s to the present day. Bring the maps to life with mini robots and chart a course for them through history. Join in making a shared map of the town with the places that are important to you.

 Pontefract, WF8 1BA
Wednesday 18 February, 10:30am – 3pm
Free, no booking required
More information.

February Half Term at the National Coal Mining Museum runs for the whole of half term. Be transported through the centuries as you are taken through almost 200 years of mining history thanks to state-of-the-art technology in the Time Tunnel, discover how welfare above ground gave miners and their families support through interactive storytelling, get creative with a family weaving workshop, explore the darkest corners of the Museum to discover the story of an adventurous pit pony and much more!

 Wakefield, WF4 4RH
Saturday 14 – Sunday 22 February (please note, the museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
 Free, some activities incur a small charge
Click here for more information.

Join the team at Wakefield Museum for Let’s Sow Rhubarb Seeds!, a hands-on workshop exploring why rhubarb is so important to Wakefield’s local history! Get crafty painting your own plant pots and take your own rhubarb seeds home to plant and grow yourself!

 Wakefield, WF1 2UP
Friday 20 February, 10am – 12pm and 1pm – 3pm
£2.50 per child (accompanying adults free), book here.
More information.

Head to Anglers Country Park this half term and join in on some Valentine’s themed crafting! Take part in the usual painting, cutting and sticking as well as making your own cards. The team provide all the materials (including glitter and paint!) so little ones can create cards for loved ones to show their appreciation.

Wakefield, WF4 2EE
Monday 16 February, 10:30am – 12:30pm and 1:30pm – 3:30pm
£5 per child, call 01924 860280 to book

Once upon a time, a little old lady lived all by herself in her cosy cottage, but she wasn’t happy – her house felt just too small. Whatever could she do? Will the wise old man’s solution of bringing in a flappy, scratchy, greedy, noisy crowd of farmyard animals work? Come and enjoy the heartwarming and hilarious adventure, A Squash and a Squeeze, full of beautiful puppets and enchanting songs at Theatre Royal Wakefield. Written and illustrated by the unparalleled picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, and adapted for the stage by Olivier-nominated duo, Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane.

Wakefield, WF1 2TE
Saturday 14 February, 4:30pm – 5:30pm and Sunday 15 February 12pm – 1pm and 3:30pm – 4:30pm
From £10
More information.

Space is amazing! Get to grips with our solar system at Pontefract Castle this February half term. Go on an intergalactic trail to discover more about our solar system and discover what medieval people knew about the stars and planets. Plus, get cosmically crafty in the Activity Centre.

Pontefract, WF8 1QH
Wednesday 18 February, 10am – 11am* and 11am – 3pm
Free
 More information.

* Wednesday 18 February at 10am – 11am is a bookable SEND version of this event.

Wrap up and head outdoors this half term for a springtime adventure at Nostell. Become a nature detective and pick up the Signs of Spring family trail, designed to get little explorers moving, looking and listening as winter begins to fade. Wander through the gardens and woodland, stopping to spot snowdrops, listen for birdsong, and search for the tiny clues that tell us spring is on its way. Follow the trail at your own pace, with plenty of space to run, play and explore and don’t forget to make time for the woodland play area along the way.

Nostell, WF4 1QE
Saturday 14 – Sunday 22 February, 11am – 4pm
The trail is free, normal admission fees apply
 More information.

Get ready for a wild round of fun crazy golf – perfect for everyone aged 4 and up – at Castleford Market! With putters in all sizes, it’s free to play and suitable for the whole family. Bring the kids, gather your friends, and enjoy the wackiest game of golf Yorkshire has to offer. Once the kids have had their fun, explore and support your friendly local market traders.

Castleford, WF10 1BE
Saturday 14, Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 February, 10am – 3pm and Wednesday 18 February 10am – 1pm
Free
 More information.

Farmer Copleys are in need of extra magical power to help their tulips grow in time for their world famous Tulip Festival – and they need you and your imagination! Bring your cloaks and lightening scars, enrol in one of the Brick Magic Interactive Workshops and become an Imagination Farmer. Participants will build their own wand, a marble maze to show off puzzle solving skills and their very own minifigure before taking part in the graduation ceremony. You even get to keep your wand, minifigure and certificate!

Pontefract, WF7 5AF
Monday 16 –  Wednesday 18 and Friday 20 February, 9:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm
£19.95 (free entry for one adult, extra adults are £5)
More information and booking.

Come to Castleford Museum for a February half term activity with a difference! Learn about codes and ciphers then solve puzzles hidden in the museum, then create your own codemakers and send secret messages.

The session on Friday 20 February is a special SEND session, for visitors who benefit from a more relaxed atmosphere.

Castleford, WF10 1BB
Monday 16 – Tuesday 17 and Thursday 19 – Friday 20 February, 10am – 3pm
Free, no need to book
 More information.

Join the team at Yorkshire Sculpture Park for an artist-led, gelli-printing workshop inspired by the immersive Of the Oak installation in the Chapel. In this family workshop you will discover the wonder of trees and learn the skills needed to make your own printed artworks. Each session will end with a creative printmaking session at YSP Learning, where you’ll create printed artworks to take home inspired by the trees at YSP.

Wakefield, WF4 4LG
Saturday 14 February, 10am – 12:30pm and 2pm – 4:30pm
Free for under 18s, adults from £7 per person
 More information.

Wrap up warm and enjoy the great outdoors at Blacker Hall Farm with the Muddy Farmers Course complete with balance beam, cargo net, tyre stepping and welly wanging! Admission also includes entry to the Little Farmers’ area where you can meet some adorable baby animals. Once you’ve enjoyed all there is to offer on the course and in the Little Farmers’ area, why not treat yourself to something delicious in The Barn Kitchen?

Wakefield, WF4 3DN
Saturday 14 – Sunday 22 February
£8 per child (adults £3 to enter the Little Farmers’ area, free entry to the Muddy Farmers Course)
 More information.

Discover the forms, patterns and shapes in the Elizabeth Fritsch: Otherworldly Vessels exhibition at The Hepworth Wakefield through creative looking and drawing activities. In the Clore learning studios experiment with block printing to make repeat patterns and create your very own printed paper pot to take home.

Wakefield, WF1 5AW
Sunday 15, Tuesday 17, Wednesday 18, Thursday 19 and Sunday 22 February, drop in between 11am – 4pm
Free with exhibition ticket (exhibition is free for Wakefield district residents)
 More information.

Diggerland in Castleford is a fantastic day out, where children and adults alike can ride, drive and operate REAL diggers, dumpers and other full- size construction machinery! Get to grips with real JCBs and Komatsu excavators, take a head-reeling turn or two on Spindizzy, rise to lofty heights and enjoy the views on the Skyshuttle, enjoy an off-road ride on the Groundshuttle or have a go on the Dodgems and Go-Karts!

Castleford, WF10 5NW
Saturday 14 – Sunday 22 February, 10am – 4pm
Various
More information.

The Rhubarb Festival is the place to be for a full weekend of FREE family fun with street entertainment and fun activities! Keep an eye out for Ruby Rhubarb, Ruby and Barb, and the Rhubarb Fairy – see if you can get a photo with them. Pop in to WX Wakefield Exchange and take part in free rhubarb-themed crafts or get your face painted. On the Saturday, have a go and screen printing with rhubarb or on the Sunday try your hand at darkroom printing with a rhubarb developer at The Art House. Over at The Ridings Shopping Centre, meet characters from Star Wars (courtesy of Phoenix Squad) and have your photo taken in the Little Shop of Horrors Pop-Up. Pick up a scavenger hunt sheet from Wakefield BID (or participating business), look out for rhubarb stickers in shop windows or hidden inside, fill in the sheet and return for a chance to win prizes!

Wakefield, WF1 1HG
Friday 20 – Sunday 22 February, various times
Free
More information.