Local Events

20 half term activities across the city – Including FREE ones

There are loads of events and activities happening across Stoke-on-Trent during the February 2020 half term – and many of them are FREE! Make sure you don’t miss out. Here’s a rundown of a few amazing opportunities for families that are available in the city from February 17 to 21st 2020. For more information, visit https://www.stoke.gov.uk/schoolsout

Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

Ozzy Owl’s Superhero Trail, all half term: Help Ozzy Owl to find 12 objects in the museum that link to a superhero or villain. The activity costs £1 per trail and includes a free pencil.

PDSA Dickin Medal – Extraordinary Animals in Action, all half term, FREE: This new exhibition is interactive and family friendly. The PDSA Dickin Medal is awarded to animals who have shown life-saving bravery in military conflict. Known worldwide as the animals’ Victoria Cross, it is the highest honour an animal can receive. Come and learn about the 72 incredible animal heroes who displayed outstanding devotion and heroism, from the messenger pigeons of World War Two to the military working dogs who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and even a very clever Royal Navy ship’s cat. Exhibition runs until April 19.

Patrolling Peregrines and Pigeon Post, Monday February 17, FREE: Visitors can learn about the remarkable story of birds during the Second World War. Find out how falconry became a rather unusual military service for the first time in British history, why the British National Pigeon Service had to train pigeons to parachute and which other birds became important military mascots to our brave troops. The drop-in event runs from 11am to 3pm.

Family Pet First Aid, Monday February 17 to Wednesday February 19, FREE: Would you know what to do to help your pet in an emergency? Have a go at some family-friendly pet first aid activities with the veterinary charity the PDSA and find out how to prevent serious situations. Discover the effects of heatstroke, hazards and poisons and have a go at bandaging and CPR. Perform a ‘real’ operation on poorly pooch Henry, who has eaten something he shouldn’t have. Free activities 10.30am to 11.20am, 11.30am to 12.20pm and 1.30pm to 2.20pm. There are limited places and advance booking is recommended. To book, call 01782 232323. Unfortunately no pets are allowed at the event except guide dogs or assistance dogs.

Craft activity – superheroes, Tuesday February 18 to Thursday February 20: Does your child want to make a superhero from clay? What super powers will they have? Drop in from 10.30am to 12.30pm, and 1.15pm to 3pm to create your own amazing characters. This activity costs £1.50. Groups of 10 or more – please book in advance on 01782 232323.

Exhibitions and galleries, all half term, FREE: The museum also has exhibitions including the world’s best collection of Staffordshire ceramics and the Leekfrith Torcs – the earliest Iron Age gold ever discovered in Britain, as well as galleries including fine and decorative arts, costume, local history, archaeology and natural history. Opening times – Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, Sunday, 11am to 4pm.

Gladstone Pottery Museum

Litterbugs clay activity, Tuesday February 18: Create your own clay creature using recycled materials in a drop-in workshop from 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1.15pm to 3pm. This activity costs £1 plus museum admission.

Half Term Pottery Painting, Tuesday February 18 to Saturday February 22: Visitors can paint a piece of pottery and create a unique souvenir of their visit to Gladstone, from £1 plus museum admission.

Make a lolly stick magnet – Wednesday February 19: Learn how to create your own magnet with a lolly stick. Join the drop-in craft workshop, from 11am to 3pm. Included with museum admission.

Bottle top bugs – Thursday February 20: Create some fantastic creatures using bottle tops. Join the drop-in craft workshop, from 11am to 3pm. Included with museum admission.Fabulous Flowers – Friday February 21: Make amazing floral creations during half term. Join the drop-in craft workshop, from 11am to 3pm. Included with museum admission.

Clarice Cliff trail – Tuesday February 18 to Saturday February 22: Can you find the art deco plates hiding around the site? Solve the clues and follow the trail between 10am and 4pm. And there’s a free gift and entry into a prize draw for everyone who takes part. This activity costs £1 plus museum admission. It’s on from Tuesdays to Saturdays during February.

Other displays and activities, Tuesday February 18 to Saturday February 22: At Gladstone you can discover how bone china tableware was made in the original workshops and giant bottle kilns of the former Gladstone China Works, now preserved as the last complete Victorian pottery factory in the country. Visitors can also see regular demonstrations of traditional skills and try your hand at throwing a pot, making a bone china flower or painting pottery for a small extra charge. The opening hours are Tuesdays to Saturdays and bank holidays, 10am to 4pm (October to March). Entrance: adults – £7.75, children – £5.40 (four to 16 years old inclusive), concessions – £6.20, family ticket – £23 (two adults, two children). Or you can get Gladstone’s annual pass: adults – £11.50, children and concessions £9.50.

Leisure centres

Half term fun £5 day pass, Fenton Manor Sports and Leisure Complex, Monday February 17 to Friday, February 21: There’s a fantastic day pass for £5 per child. This includes pool fun sessions with the inflatable, indoor go-karts, badminton, table tennis, football, basketball and netball. The pool fun sessions take place from 10.15am to 11.45am and 1.30pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Children aged 0-8 years must be accompanied by an adult (16+). Children aged 0-5 years must be accompanied in a ratio of one adult to two children. Those aged 5-7 years must be accompanied in a ratio of one adult to three children with one child able to swim unaided. Call 01782 233222 or email [email protected]

Aquatots, Fenton Manor Sports and Leisure Complex, Monday February 17 to Friday, February 21: In the teaching pool, there will be Aquatots (under 7s) from 10.15am to 11.45am, Monday to Friday. Sessions are subject to availability. Children aged 0-8 years must be accompanied by an adult (16+). Children aged 0-5 years must be accompanied in a ratio of one adult to two children. Those aged 5-7 years must be accompanied in a ratio of one adult to three children with one child able to swim unaided. Call 01782 233222 or email [email protected]

Teaching pool leisure swims, Fenton Manor Sports and Leisure Complex, Monday February 17 to Friday, February 21: In the teaching pool, there will be a leisure swim from 12pm onwards. Sessions are subject to availability. Children aged 0-8 years must be accompanied by an adult (16+). Children aged 0-5 years must be accompanied in a ratio of one adult to two children. Those aged 5-7 years must be accompanied in a ratio of one adult to three children with one child able to swim unaided. Call 01782 233222 or email [email protected]

Dimensions Leisure Centre, Monday February 17 to Friday, February 21: There’s lots of half term fun for just £4.50 per child (5-16 years), £1.50 for under-5s and £6 for adults – including the splash pool, dragon slide, water rapids, fountains and hot spas. Family ticket 1 adult/2 children – £13.20, family ticket 2 adults/2 children – £17.50, family ticket 2 adults/1 child – £14.70. The leisure swim times are: Monday 10am-6pm, Tuesday to Thursday 9.30am-6.45pm, Friday 9.30am-8pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-6pm. Sessions subject to availability. Newborn to 12 months one adult per one baby. Children aged 0-7 years must be accompanied by an adult (16+). Children aged 1-4 years must be accompanied in a ratio of one adult to two children. Those aged 5-7 years must be accompanied in a ratio of one adult to three children. Children under the height of 1.4 metres are asked to complete a water competency test to see if they require armbands in the rapids area at Dimensions. Call 01782 233500 or email [email protected]

Libraries

Play With Clay – Monday February 17 + Friday February 21, FREE: Get creative at these sessions, run by Creative Flamingo. These latest free drop-in activities are available on a first-come, first-served basis. They take place at Bentilee Library, Monday, February 17, from 10am to 12 noon; Stoke Library, Monday, February 17, from 2pm to 4pm; Tunstall Library, Friday, February 21, 10am to 12 noon; City Central Library, Friday, February 21, 2pm to 4pm.

Planefest – Monday, February 17, Meir Library, FREE: Families can learn to build amazing paper planes like the shark, the hammer and the condor – and test them in the library. This free Meir Mayhem drop-in session takes place at Meir Library on Monday, February 17, 2pm to 3pm – available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Borrowbox e-audiobook launch – Wednesday, February 19, Stoke Library, FREE: Celebrate the launch of the new Borrowbox e-audiobook service with free drop-in activities from 10am to 2pm including Story Bears at 10.30am to 11am, fun family craft and photo activities, and the chance to be the first to download and use the free Borrowbox app.

For more details, visit www.facebook.com/stokeontrentlibraries or https://www.stoke.gov.uk/libraries

All above information provided by Stoke on trent City Council

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