We've compiled a superb list of Easter activities this year!
With daffodils a plenty and lambs adorning our fields; spring has definitely sprung in Lancashire and we can’t wait to welcome you. This time of year, is ideal for a visit to our county with its perfect blend of countryside and coast. Make the most of the great outdoors with time on the farm or in our nature reserves to see what wildlife you can spot or why not explore Lancashire’s two National Landscapes; areas of outstanding natural beauty that teem with new life and activities. It is also the time when a number of our world-famous attractions such as the Blackpool Tower and Blackpool Pleasure Beach reopen for the season,. offering thrills and entertainment for all ages.
The long Easter weekend is a perfect time to explore the area, with plenty going on across the four-day weekend such as Easter Weekend afternoon teas, egg hunts and not to forget the city of Preston’s annual egg-rolling event which has been taking place for over 150 years.
Whether you are looking for traditional Easter festivities or something a little different, Lancashire has it all. Take a look at a selection of great events, new attractions and more below, or head to visitlancashire.com for more information.
Enjoy an age-old Easter tradition
1st April
Egg Rolling at Avenham Park
Preston, Lancashire
Price: free
A Preston staple which goes back more than 150 years, you can’t beat egg-rolling on Easter Monday. Fun for all the family, Avenham and Miller Parks will host workshops, street theatre and live music to celebrate Easter. Be sure to bring your own Easter eggs and roll them down the hill along with hundreds of others in this weird and wonderful Preston tradition. Egg rolls take place on the hour throughout the day from 11am until 4pm, and the modern day take on the event involves chocolate eggs now rather than chickens eggs. Plucky the Giant Hen will be out for photo opportunities, there will be Easter bonnet workshops which will cumulate in the Best Bonnet in Show, plus food and drink stalls, children's entertainment and more.
While in the city why not make the most of what it offers and join in the fun at Level Preston, an entertainment venue with laser tag, mini golf, bowling and more! Alternatively you could ride part the historic Guild Wheel thanks to Leisure Lakes Bike Hire, visiting the nearby Brockholes Nature Reserve, or head to the Ribble Steam Railway and Museum to enjoy a heritage train experience. The city is also home to some fantastic shops and a wide variety of places to eat such as Bistrot Pierre . 1842 and Michelin-listed Aven on Winckley Square.
Make a weekend of it: Stay at Samlesbury Hall, just a short drive away form the city. The Hamlet Shepherd’s Huts make for a cool and quirky stay during the easter weekend, with ensuite glamping options sleeping up to 2 adults and 2 children in the grounds of this historic house.
9th March – 19th May
Lambing Live at Mrs Dowsons Farm
Ribble Valley, Lancashire
Price: From £10.79
No matter what your age, you can have loads of fun on the farm this spring. Mrs Dowsons Farm hosts a Lambing Live event throughout the spring where visitors can see hundreds of expectant mothers ready to give birth. It’s the most exciting time on the farm with babies arriving all the time, you may even spot a new arrival coming into the world. Visitors are invited to help bottle feed some of the orphan lambs, or those whose mother welcomes multiple lambs and can’t keep up with demand.
The farm is also home to goat kids who have also been orphaned and require bottle feeding. Be prepared to welcome some bouncy, hungry lambs and get ready for what could be a messy feed. Not only can you bottle feed the lambs and kids, if visiting with children your ticket includes access to one hour of fun in the indoor play area plus access to the farm park, to meet all of your favourite farm friends. The farmers also love to teach all of the mini farmers that visit the farm about their animals with their daily timetable of talks and activities from meet rabbits to walking with the wallabies.
Mrs Dowsons is one of Lancashire’s most famous destinations for ice-cream. Be sure to visit the café on site to check out an amazing selection of ice cream, made on site using milk from the farm’s cows.
Between 28th March and 14th April, there is an ‘Easter at the Farm’ event for the Easter school holidays. Guests are invited to explore the farm and complete the easter egg hunt, unlocking clues to Bunny's secret password. Once all clues are unlocked you will be rewarded with a prize and meet the easter bunny and his friends. Make a weekend of it: Samlesbury Hall is just a stone’s throw away and the Hamlet Shepherd’s Huts make for a cool and quirky stay during the Easter weekend, with ensuite glamping options sleeping up to 2 adults and 2 children in the grounds of this historic house.
29th March – 1st April
Easter Surprise 2024
Lowther Pavilion & Gardens, Lytham, Lancashire
Price: free
Celebrate the Easter weekend with a host of fun and games in Lowther Pavilion. This free to enter event will include theatre performances, live music, creative crafts and more. With plenty of food and drink stalls, fun fair rides and characters doing the rounds, guests can expect to spend a few hours in the historic Lowther Gardens throughout each day. Friday activities include a “win the 12.5kg egg” competition, musicians, games and activity pack, Saturday will see plenty of options to join in with crafts, Sunday will include a tombola and Easter bonnet parade and competition.
Lowther Gardens is a historic parkland situated close to Lytham Green and the town of “leafy Lytham”, with plenty of beautiful walking routes and the opportunity to explore the Lytham Windmill to find out more about the town’s history. Nearby Fairhaven Lake provides paddleboarding and watersports hire, mini golf and a fantastic play area too with St Annes Splash Park just a short distance away as well, the area is perfect for a sunny Easter Weekend.
Stay for longer: The brand new Offshore Hotel in St Annes offers a cosy inn-like experience with an array of pet friendly and family friendly rooms. With the bar and restaurant overlooking the sea, it’s a great place for a traditional family seaside break.
29th March – 10th April
Easter at Penny Farm
Penny Farm World Horse Welfare, Blackpool, Lancashire
Price: free
Head to Penny Farm World Horse Welfare this Easter to meet the ponies undergoing rehabilitation in the undercover barn, then stroll around the paddock to meet more horses, ponies and wild birds and animals too. During the Easter Holidays there will be a series of great rails to follow, quizzes and crafts to join in with too.
You will also find a lovely coffee shop which serves light lunches and a great selection of homemade cakes, including their infamous cream scones!
This dog friendly venue will be open all of Easter Weekend and on Wednesday 3rd and 10th April for Easter fun.
Make the most of the holidays: Nearby Ream Hills Leisure Park offers a huge array of accommodation perfect for a self-catering stay in the area, including farmhouse rooms, holiday cottages, camping pods, touring pitches, geodesic domes and even a helicopter! Ideal if you want to explore the Fylde coast for longer.
29th March to 14th April
Where’s Woolly
Windmill Animal Farm, Ormskirk, Lancashire
Price: Event included in farm admission; starting from £14.95
This Easter Farmer Matt and the Windmill Animal Farm team need your help. Can you, your family and friends help find Woolly the lost lamb? Search the farm, meet the amazing array of adorable animals and find clues to unlock the location of Woolly and gain a tasty treat for helping out. The lambing barn will also be bursting with new life ready for you to meet and feed too.
Windmill Animal farm is home to lots of friendly animals, an indoor play area, restaurant, ice cream lodge, pedal tractors and carts, electric trucks, train station and more, so be sure to leave a few hours free to really explore!
Stay nearby: The farm is home to a unique and beautifully converted Windmill which offers self-catering accommodation for up to 8 guests. Windmill on the Farm is an 18th century mill offering traditional countryside style accommodation.
29th March – 14th April
Dinosaur Takeover at HAPPA
HAPPA Shoes Hey Farm, Burnley, Lancashire
Price: Entry to HAPPA starts from £6 for a group of 6, the dinosaur trail is free, with craft activities starting from £4 each, the Dinosaur show day starts from £20 per child and £12 per adult. Pony grooming costs £3pp and an own your own pony day session is £35 per person.
This Easter HAPPA will be taken over by dinosaur fever with planned activities and events across Shores Hey Farm.
Try the Dinosaur Trail to learn more about dinosaurs or join the team for dinosaur crafting on dates throughout the holidays. On Friday 5th April there will be a special Dinosaur Day with highly trained rangers and dinosaurs appearing! Visitors will get to meet and learn all about Trevor the T-Rex and his friends in a special show. Entry to the show includes dinosaur glitter tattoo, dinosaur crafting and dinosaur trail for every child.
In addition to the dino-tastic events, visitors can find everything that the farm usually offers with the opportunity to get up close and personal with a HAPPA horse or pony with 15 minute Pony Grooming on Tuesdays or during the Own a Pony Day on Wednesdays when children and teenagers can learn all there is to learn about taking care of a horse or pony of their own during a 4 hour session.
The farm is home to the award-winning Café at HAPPA which offers a modern family friendly place to eat during your stay. During the Easter holidays visitors can treat themselves to a Golden Egg Afternoon Tea of tasty chocolatey delights.
Make the most of the school holidays: The Oaks Hotel on the outskirts of Burnley is ideally placed to explore all the area has to offer, what’s more this Easter you can take advantage of their spring and summer family break deal which includes dinner, bed and breakfast with free kidspass membership, and unlimited kids drink with every meal from just £109
30th March
Easter in Colne
Colne, Lancashire
Price: free
Easter in Colne is back and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever before. Head along to this beautiful market town in East Lancashire to enjoy a day of family friendly fun.
With a huge variety of entertainment on offer including donkey rides, face painting, crazy golf, rodeo sheep, archery, circus shows, punch and Judy, comedy magic shows and more, plus live music, easter goodies and of course an Easter Egg Trail it’s the perfect way to jump into the Easter weekend. What’s more; it’s all free!
A huge easter market with over 40 stalls will take over the town, joined by funfair rides and more.
Make the most of the weekend: Holgates Ribble Valley is a fantastic holiday park just outside the town, with stunning views across the Pendle countryside and cosy on site bar. While in the area head to The Alma Inn, full of character and charm this is a beautiful pub nestled in the Pendle Countryside which makes for a perfect evening meal or a delicious Afternoon Tea
30th March – 14th April
The Magical World of Chocolate
Affinity Lancashire, Fleetwood, Lancashire
Price: Free
As Lancashire’s only outlet shopping centre Affinity Lancashire boasts over 40 high street brands, is dog-friendly and offers free parking and a range of great places to eat and drink too.
On Easter Saturday, there will be a special ‘Wonkavision’ Cod club from 12-4pm PLUS you’ll have the chance to meet Mr Wonka and an Oompa Loompa when they appear at the centre on the hour between 11am and 3pm. You can also browse the local stalls on Easter Artisan Street which will be at the centre from 10am until 5pm.
The fun continues throughout the week with fun and games at the Wonka Pick & Mix Party, an Edible Chocolate Playdough Creation Station, the chance to meet the Golden Goose and have fun designing your own Easter Egg and even an amazing Edible Wallpaper Workshop during the first week of the two week school holidays.
The fun doesn’t end there though, with the second week of the holidays providing a petting zoo from Tuesday to Thursday, plus throughout the two weeks there will be a free Easter trail in the shopping centre, with the chance to win a SCRUMDIDDLYUMPTIOUS prize.
Where to stay nearby: Broadwater holiday park on the outskirts of Fleetwood offers a great family friendly base for your school holidays. A four star holiday park with indoor swimming pool, clubhouse, family room and sports bar, plus children’s fun club, playgrounds and arcades – plenty to keep the kids entertained.
31st March
Easter Circus Show at North Pier
Blackpool, Lancashire
Price: £10 per person
Fancy a fun-filled big top Easter celebration? Then head to Blackpool this Easter Sunday, sit back and enjoy the show!
Clown Silly Billy and Ringmaster Barry Barnum are ready to guide the crowds through a show featuring lots of laughs, songs and energetic dance routines. Expect whirlwind jugglers, amazing magicians and incredible acrobatics in this lively circus show, packed from start to finish with audience participation. Look out for our big cuddly circus mascots, Bertie the bear and Leo the lion together with the Easter Bunny.
Blackpool’s North Pier is close to all the action in the town; which is a great place to spend your Easter weekend. There is so much to do in the town from checking out the brand new Showtown museum, to being one of the first guests to brave the glass floor at the Blackpool Tower Eye as it re-opens for the 2024 season, not to mention Madame Tussauds, Pleasure Beach Resort and Sandcastle Waterpark, amongst the rest. Theres a brand new IMAX Cinema and American diner in the town too.
Make the most of the long weekend: Blackpool has a huge range of hotels right in the heart of the action. Why not check out the award winning Hotel Sheraton, with its 3 night Easter Weekend break which includes entertainment for the kids, and a half board dining option.
31st March – 13th April Easter at East Lancashire Railway Rawtenstall to Bury, Lancashire
Price: Prices vary per event. See website for details
Whether you are looking for a traditional bunny related Easter, or are a wizard in disguise there is something for everyone at East Lancashire Railway this Easter Holidays!
Throughout the Easter break you can ride on traditional steam trains and access the fabulous Bury Transport Museum to learn all about the steam railway lines history and the vehicles of days gone by. But on selected dates, the station, trains and museum come alive with some of the nation’s favourite characters and worlds.
Start the holidays in the right way and head along to the Transport museum on Good Friday or Easter Monday to spot the one and only Peter Rabbit. In addition to a visit from Peter, there will be fun fair rides, face painting and crafts for everyone to enjoy, before you head off on an adventure on the rails through the Irwell Valley.
On Wednesday 3rd April, Bury St Station will be transformed into the Wizard Academy, where visitors will learn to become masters of magic and mystery. Learn the basics of broomsticks, practice potion making, be instructed in incantation and learn to talk with a Tawny owl.
Then on Thursday 11th April, don’t be late – it’s a very important date! It’s time to tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice and her friends. Meet the surreal inhabitants of Wonderland during a two-hour Wonderland experience with colourful characters, themed activities and plenty of photo opportunities.
Finally, closing the school holidays in style, is The Dino Adventure on Saturday 13th April. Have you ever wanted to pet a Pachycephalosaurus, get together with a Triceratops or tickle a T-Rex under the chin? Well now you can! Get up close and personal with baby dinosaurs, enjoy dino themed activities and steam through the Irwell Valley on a dino-proofed train, plus have the opportunity to talk to expert Rex wranglers and Triceratops trainers at this great interactive event. Stay in the area: Rossendale Holiday Cottages are a great base to use to explore East Lancashire and the Irwell Valley, with cottages and camping pods there are options to suit all families who want to escape to the countryside for their school break.
Where to eat nearby: Il Corso Bar and Restaurant is a relaxed dining experience within the Golf Kingdom site in Rossendale, with its combination of authentic Italian classics and favourite American dishes there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
31st March – 13th April The Dukes Family Festival Lancaster, Lancashire
Price: Prices vary per show. See website for details
Brand new for 2024, The Dukes theatre is introducing a fantastic series of family friendly stage shows for the Easter holidays. The festival promises two weeks of laughter, wonder and creativity for families of all shapes and sizes. The line-up includes the very well-loved Spot the Dog in Spot’s Birthday Party and big names like Shark in the Park. In addition there will be shows designed to get the audience involved like Claytime, where the audience get to request clay creations and see them come to life, and Les Enfants Terribles, a comedy gameshow pitting children against adults to find the more “awful” child. The city is home to a lot of history and museums such as the Maritime Museum and The Judges Lodgings with its museum of childhood. Kids will also love the nearby Williamson Park with abundance of green space, two play areas and views across Morecambe Bay and beyond. The park is home to a beautiful Butterfly House and Mini Zoo too. Enjoy the event for longer: Lancaster House is just outside the city and has a number of family rooms suitable for your stay and offering the luxury you want from your stay. The hotel is perfectly situated to make the most of countryside and city, as the surrounding area has so much to enjoy too Treat yourself to great food: The Borough has a great selection of dishes on their menu, as well as a kids menu, and is close to The Dukes for a pre or post theatre meal.
13th April – 9th June 2024
Elmer’s Big Parade Blackpool 2024
Blackpool, Lancashire
Price: Free
Head to Blackpool to encounter the fantastical, uniquely decorated, elephant sculptures.at key locations across the town. Elmer the patchwork elephant is one of the most iconic, well-known elephants from a series of children’s books that have entertained youngsters for over 30 years. Translated into more than 50 languages, delighting children around the world, the Elmer inspired trail is sure to delight children and adults alike. The trail will fundraise for Brian House Children’s Hospice and there will also be a trail of mini Elmers decorated by local schoolchildren.
The event starts just in time for the end of the Easter Break, so get in early to find as many of the beautifully decorated Elmers as possible! Where to stay nearby: The Big Blue Hotel on the south shore is ideal for a stay in Blackpool, especially with kids. The hotel has a great family feel and is a Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort hotel so can be booked with a package for the theme park too. Eating nearby: There will be something for everyone at Mr Basrai’s World Cuisines, an all you can eat restaurant, offering cuisines from around the world, right in the heart of the town.
Thanks to Visit Lancashire for the details of these events, for more details please go to visitlancashire.com. Information supplied by promoters was correct at time of issue.
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