WHAT'S ON AND THINGS TO DO THIS EASTER 2018
There’s plenty going on this Easter in north Norfolk, from rockpool rummaging, to Easter family events, to egg hunts, to lamb feeding. Here's a round up of what's on this Easter. For more events and ideas, see the what's on pages.
Wroxham Barns. There is a fun filled Easter planned at Wroxham Barns, with the lambs arriving at the Junior Farm. The daily bottle-feeding sessions take place at 11.00am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm until the end of June. The Big Top is also returning to Wroxham Barns with a brand new Foolhardy Circus Show this Easter called Whoops!, celebrating 250 years of circus. See the first-ever clown routine performed by Stone Age Man, an aerialist and rope dancer. There are twice daily performances at 12.00 and 2.00pm up to 15 April.
Bewilderwood. Hop along to Cedric's Chocolate Bunny Burrow at Bewilderwood, running until 15 April. Bounce through the Tricky Tunnels, bundle into a tree house, make bunny ears and catch the tale of the Pesky Bunnies at the storytelling stage.
National Trust’s Blickling Estate. Running until 15 April, at the 'Easter at Blickling Estate' event, visitors can explore the gardens and find out about the plants and animals of springtime, with a shortbread treat at the end of the trail. Discover secret tunnels, squishy trees and a sundial. There's plenty of fun to be had, from a family game of croquet by the lake, to planting seeds in the walled kitchen garden.
Holkham Hall. Easter at Holkham Hall runs from 30 March to 2 April. In the hall, visitors can go on a bunny trail, do arts and crafts, take part in the sniffing challenge and decorate an Easter cupcake. Then hop aboard the Easter Express for a free trailer ride over to the Walled Garden to the storyteller’s yurt and take part in a treasure hunt and Easter games.
The Wells & Walsingham Light Railway is hosting its White Rabbit Easter Trail, where visitors are invited to join Alice in Wonderland to hunt for clues down the line, with an Easter egg reward at the end. Standard fares apply (4s and under free). Easter weekend 30 March to 2 April.
Pensthorpe Natural Park. The Easter Eggstravaganza runs until 15 April. As well as its 700-acres of ancient woodland, wetlands, gardens, lakes and walking trails to explore, there’s an Easter trail to follow plus craft-making activities for all the family with a chance to create an Easter-inspired treat to take home. There will also be a daily Golden Egg Hunt, off-road exploring on the Pensthorpe Explorer, indoor and outdoor play areas and daily bird feeds. It’s the time of year to see ducklings waddling behind their mothers, crane chicks learning to walk and a new litter of red squirrel kittens.
Blakeney Quay. Terrific Tuesdays at Blakeney Quay, run by the National Trust team, provides a great opportunity to learn how to catch a crab, check out the birdlife, go bug hunting, explore the grassland at Friary Hills, and more. Explorers are to meet at Blakeney Quay on 3 April 11:00 to 16:00 and 10 April 10:00 to 16:00.
Brancaster Beach. The National Trust team is running Wild Wednesday events at Brancaster Beach. The ‘50 things’ themed family fun day involves kite flying, stone skimming, tracking wild animals, building sandcastles and bug hunting. Meet at Brancaster Beach (PE31 8AX, look out for flags and staff), on 4 April 11am to 4pm and 11 April 10am to 4pm.
West Runton Beach. Fascinating Fossils events at West Runton Beach (meet outside the beach café), run on 3 April (11.30 to 1pm) and 12 April (12.30 to 2pm). Discover the fossilised remains of some of the amazing beasts that lived on the beach millions of years ago.
Broads National Park. If you fancy doing something a little different, why not explore the Norfolk Broads aboard a Herbert Woods luxury picnic boat (up to 24 May). Sail along the tranquil waterways, getting up closer to nature and enjoying the changing landscape. Children will be given a Broads Explorer Log Book to jot down wildlife spotted as well as a captain’s log to log to complete along the way. Day boats can be hired by the hour from £18.
Broads Tours is running Easter Special Broads Boat Trips. Children can take part in a nature quiz and Easter egg hunt, while the live skipper provides clues! All children will receive an Easter Egg. Trips take places 30 March to 2 April, departure times 11:30am and 14:00, duration is 1½ hours.
Hindringham Hall once again opens its gates from Easter Sunday (2pm) to the private gardens. Explore the walled vegetable and fruit garden, daffodil area, water garden, medieval fish ponds and moat, which dates from 1150 and is one of only a handful of complete moats in Norfolk. The gardens will open again on Wednesdays from 10-1pm and Sundays from 2-5pm until 30 September.
Deepdale Spring Market. Marking the start of Spring, the annual Deepdale Spring Market (23 – 25 March, 10am to 5pm) will host over 50 Norfolk artisans and producers in two large marquees (Dalegate Tent and Orchard Tent), as well as the beach hut Pop Up Shops and many outside stalls. Deepdale Spring Market is part of the Deepdale Hygge, a collection of the things that brings happiness - live music, the great outdoors, meeting old friends and new, enjoying the best of the north Norfolk Coast.
Fakenham Racecourse. On Easter Monday (2 April), Fakenham Racecourse will be hosting a great family day out. There will be entertainment and rides for children (weather permitting) and with all children aged 17 and under admitted for free, it makes for a fun and affordable family day out.
Happisburgh Lighthouse. There will be a series of open days at the lighthouse which includes a full guided tour (minimum height restriction of 1 metre to climb the tower). Hear about the history of the oldest working light in East Anglia, and the only independently run lighthouse in Great Britain. From the top, on a clear day, there are 25 miles of coastal views. Tours run on 1 April 10:30 to 16:00, 2 April 10:30 to 16:00, 6 May 2018 10:30 to 16:00, 7 May 10:30 to 16:00, 27 May 10:30 to 16:00 and 28 May 10:30 to 16:00.
Houghton Hall & Gardens. A series of new paintings by Damien Hirst entitled Colour Space will be installed in the State Rooms at Houghton Hall for the exhibition Damien Hirst at Houghton Hall from 25 March to 15 July. The exhibition will also include a number of the artist's most celebrated sculptures which will be installed throughout the 18th-century house and gardens.
Felbrigg Hall. Between 30 March and 2 April, the Cadbury Bunny will be hopping around the West Garden and meadow leaving a trail of clues to be solved. Come up with the right answers along the Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt, and win a scrumptious chocolate treat.
Amazona Zoo. Head along to the Zoo on Easter Sunday and each child will receive a free cream egg! Enjoy seeing the 200 tropical animals, including birds of prey, jaguars, pumas, ocelots, monkeys, snakes, caimans, flamingos, tapirs and Tic-Tac the toucan. As well as the wide variety of animals and birds there is a well-equipped indoor play area Jungle Tumbles and Rainforest Springs, which has a variety of outdoor adventure play including two large outdoor jumping pillows and a picnic area.
