From shows at the Theatre Royal, in Bury St Edmunds, to celebrating the anniversaries of Wolverine and the Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles, there’s plenty of fun in Suffolk this half-term
Families looking to have some fun this half-term, look no further. Here’s a small selection of interesting and varied activities the whole family can enjoy.
CELEBRATE APPLE WEEK AT THE FOOD MUSEUM, IN STOWMARKET
The Food Museum is celebrating apples and the harvest with a week of exciting, family-friendly activities. Join in with apple juicing, baking workshops, delicious tasters and apple-themed fun for all ages.
Visitors will have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of apples and juices from local orchards, while discovering more about the fruit.
Each day, join in with hands-on apple pressing workshops, where you’ll help chop, mash, and press locally-grown apples using the museum's hand-cranked press. Participants will also bottle, pasteurize and label their own juice to take home.
Join family-friendly baking workshops on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 29-31. Using the museum's wood-fired bread oven, you'll learn to bake apple cakes and discover the best apples for cooking.
Take part in a guided orchard walk through the museum’s recently planted orchard on October 31. Explore the rich heritage of local orchards and gain a deeper understanding of apple growing and their uses.
Throughout the week, visitors can enjoy tempting tasters in the museum’s kitchen, including local heritage varieties and juice samples made from the finest apples. There will also be apple-based cooking and craft demonstrations in the kitchen and barn each day.
The museum is also working with the Suffolk Traditional Orchard Group to run apple identification on October 26, where growers can get their varieties identified by experts.
Booking is essential for workshops, starting from just £5.
For more information and to book, visit www.foodmuseum.org.uk/events/apple-week/
HALF-TERM SHOWS AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, IN BURY ST EDMUNDS
Based on the books by Tom Fletcher, There’s A Monster in Your Show (for ages two-plus) is a new, high-energy musical show.
A group of performers are preparing to start their show, but quickly discover they are not alone on stage. Little Monster wants to be part of the fun too.
With an invitation to his friends, Dragon, Alien and Unicorn to join him, expect comedy and chaos as they help to create a magical show, learning about the joy of books and friendship along the way.
Expect plenty of playful fun for your littlest ones as their favourite characters come to life in a show that is packed with interactive moments to enjoy together.
See it October 28- 30.
Top Secret: The Magic of Science (for all ages) fuses magic and science as the Theatre Royal is transformed into a laboratory and the audience gets to experience non-stop action-packed interactive magical science experiments in this fast moving, colourful magical science show filled with mystery, suspense, and lots and lots of mess.
For more information and to book, see www.theatreroyal.org
HOP ON BOARD THE HALLOWE'EN EXPRESS, AUDLEY END MINIATURE RAILWAY, OCTOBER 26-NOVEMBER 3
Experience a spooktacular Hallowe’en adventure at Audley End Miniature Railway.
Climb aboard the Hallowe’en Express for a journey deep into the spooky woods, where you'll meet a coven of witches and some familiar characters you’ll know and love.
The mischievous witches and their playful friends will dazzle you with their eerie little shop of horrors and after their spine-tingling show, every little one will receive a special treat.
The fun doesn’t end with the haunted train ride. You can also take a walk through the enchanting, spooky woods to the Craft Lodge, where you can make memories by capturing Hallowe’en-themed photos. Visit Belinda the Witch in the Fulfen Forest to craft your own potion pouch, then explore the Enchanted Fairy and Elf Walk to discover what the fairies are up to.
For even more entertainment, William the Magician will host an interactive stage show that the whole family can enjoy.
Be sure to wear your best Hallows Eve outfits.
Booking is required at www.audley-end-railway.co.uk
HIGH JINX MAGIC, ILLUSION AND CIRCUS SHOW, HAVERHILL ARTS CENTRE, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2PM
Jam packed with amazing magic, incredible illusions and crazy circus thrills, the show is presented by multi-skilled performer Michael Jordan and a supporting cast.
Direct from the iconic Blackpool Tower Circus and the prestigious International Festival de Magie, Michael blends mesmerising magic with awe-inspiring feats of juggling and daring stunts.
See www.haverhillartscentre.co.uk
ROARR! LENWADE, NR NORWICH, OCTOBER 25-NOVEMBER 3
Families looking for a host of Hallowe’en fun this half term should head to Dippy’s Hallowe’en Days, featuring ghostly tales and eerie trails as well as creepy quests and some hauntingly immersive hands-on educational experiences.
Dippy the Dinosaur and an array of unusual professors will blend entertainment with learning when they unveil the fascinating Weston-Smythe School of Dinosaurs and the Undead.
Youngsters can take part in a range of lessons, including dinosaur history with Professor Bloodlust and ghostly dance classes with Professor Crochet. Dippy and his friends Paris, Terry and Raz will all be on hand to help.
New for this year, Dippy’s Spooky Maze will be open to explorers who should be prepared to face ghosts, ghouls and creepy crawlies.
Alongside these, there will be special activities as well as dozens of attractions and experiences to enjoy. From the Swing-O-Saurus and Raptor Contraptor rides to the immersive and interactive Valley of the Dinosaurs, via the pulse-raising Predator High Ropes and Dinomite indoor adventure play area.
For more information and to book, see www.roarr.co.uk
SCI-FI AND ACTION EXHIBITION, MOYSE’S HALL MUSEUM, BURY, OCTOBER 26-JANUARY 26
If your youngsters love sci-fi and action heroes from the movies then this exhibition is bound to be a hit with its robots, costumes and memorabilia from classic franchises.
This year, this annual exhibition will be celebrating the anniversaries of key characters, including 50 years of Wolverine and 40 years of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Also on show will be screen-used props and memorabilia from blockbuster war epics, including Wonder Woman, The Monuments Men, Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers and more.
On the sci-fi front there will be items from Terminator 2, Buck Rogers and Star Wars among others.
And while you are there, take part in trails and and quizzes throughout the museum.
Admission: Adults £5, child/student £3 (6-16), concessions £4.50, under fives free.
Book at www.whatsonwestsuffolk.co.uk
BRANDON COUNTRY PARK’S MAGICAL HOLIDAY TRAIL, OCTOBER 26-NOVEMBER 3, FROM 10AM
Get outdoors, pick up a £1.50 trail sheet from the café and follow the trail, solving clues as you go along to find a special word, then return to the café to collect your prize
