Easter in Gloucestershire

Celebrate Easter in Gloucestershire and find out exactly where the bunnies will be, with SoGlos.com's guide to Easter events and egg hunts in 2012.

Across Gloucestershire this Easter, the busy bunnies will set to work burrowing-away their seasonal treats and we don’t want the county’s children, or parents for that matter, to miss out.

Whether you want to look high and low for Easter treats or attend a family event in the county, find out where to go during the Easter school holidays in Gloucestershire with SoGlos.com’s ‘cracking’ guide.

Easter in the Cotswolds 2012

Venue: Westonbirt Arboretum
What’s happening?: During the first week of the school holiday children will be able to enjoy an Easter Challenge, following the trail of clues for a sweet reward, while the second week will see a series of Jurassic plants workshops get underway, with the chance to see trees once nibbled by dinosaurs and one that inspired the samurai!
When?: The Easter Challenge takes place from Tuesday 3 to Friday 6 April 2012, and the Jurassic plants workshops from Tuesday 10 to Thursday 12 April 2012.
How much?: Normal admission charges apply.
For more info: See Easter Challenge at Westonbirt Arboretum and Jurassic plants workshops at Westonbirt.
To book: Call Westonbirt Arboretum on (01666) 880220, email westonbirt@forestry.gsi.gov.uk or visit forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt directly.

Venue: Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford, OX18 4JP
What’s happening?: Cotswold Wildlife Park will be home to an ‘Eggs-stravaganza’ Easter trail with the chance for kids to win an enormous ostrich-sized chocolate egg and a penguin encounter, there are egg-themed talks and animal enrichments, the chance to explore the beautiful gardens, not to mention falconry flying displays, throughout the bank holiday weekend.
When?: Friday 6 to Monday 9 April 2012
How much?: Normal admission charges apply.
For more info: See Easter at Cotswold Wildlife Park
To book: Call Cotswold Wildlife Park on (01993) 823006, email info@cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk or visit cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk directly.

Venue: Abbey Home Farm, Cirencester
What’s happening?: Abbey Home Farm will be holding a three-day Easter holidays camp, where kids can harvest vegetables, collect eggs and more.
When?: From Tuesday 10 to Thursday 12 April 2012
For more info: See Easter at Abbey Home Farm

Venue: New Brewery Arts
What’s happening?: Kids can enjoy a song writing workshop and families a new rock theatre show during the schoool holidays, in Cirencester.
When?: Tuesday 10 April 2012
For more info: See Music and theatre fun day at New Brewery Arts

Easter in Cheltenham 2012

Venue: Everyman Theatre
What’s happening?: The Everyman Studio Theatre is playing host to the charming show Travels With Granddad, which sees evocative sound, light, objects and exquisite puppets bringing stories to life, in a play said to be fit for all the family.
When?: Wednesday 11 to Saturday 14 April 2012, with shows at 11am and 2pm each day.
How much?: Tickets cost £7.50 for adults, £6 for concessions and £20 for a family ticket – valid for four people.
For more info: See Travels with Granddad at Everyman Studio
To book: Call the Everyman Theatre box office on (01242) 572573 or visit everymantheatre.org.uk directly.

Venue: Parabola Arts Centre
What’s happening?: Scamp Theatre company will be taking over Cheltenham’s Parabola Arts Centre for one day only during the Easter holidays, hoping to bring joy to the children of Gloucestershire in the form of their latest Tiddler and other Terrific Tales show.
When?: Saturday 14 April 2012 at 2pm and 4pm.
How much?: Tickets cost £10, £8 for concessions, £5 for under 12s and £25 for a family of four
For more info: See Tiddler and other Terrific Tales in Cheltenham
To book: Call the Parabola Arts Centre box office on (01242) 707338 or visit parabolaartscentre.co.uk directly.

Venue: The Playhouse
What’s happening?: The Playhouse will be offering children from the age of four the chance to make new friends, learn the art of musical theatre and perform.
When?: Sunday 1 to Wednesday 4 April 2012
For more info: See Easter Holiday workshops at The Playhouse

Venue: Bacon Theatre
What’s happening?: There will be a family-friendly Easter film screening of Hop, including a special treat from the Easter bunny.
When?: Monday 2 April 2012
For more info: See Hop Easter family film at Bacon Theatre

Venue: Pittville Park
What’s happening?: Pittville Park’s annual hunt for Easter eggs is free of charge and expected to attract families from miles around.
When?: Wednesday 4 April 2012
For more info: See Easter egg hunt at Pittville Park

Venue: Sudeley Castle
What’s happening?: Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe will be hosting its special annual Easter Egg Hunt.
When?: Sunday 8 April 2012
For more info: See Easter Egg Hunt at Sudeley Castle

Easter in the Forest of Dean 2012

Venue: Dean Heritage Centre
What’s happening?: Dean Heritage Centre is celebrating the launch of a brand new Gruffalo Woodland Trail, with a rare chance to meet the official Gruffalo character at the start of the Easter holidays.
When?: Saturday 31 March and Sunday 1 April 2012
How much?: Normal admission charges apply.
For more info: See Meet the Gruffalo at Dean Heritage Centre
To book: Call Dean Heritage Centre on (01594) 822170, email info@deanheritagecentre.com or visit deanheritagecentre.com directly.

Venue: Harts Barn Cookery School
What’s happening?: Harts Barn Cookery School will be helping children of all ages whip up Easter chocolates and biscuits during the Holidays.
When?: Monday 2 April 2012
For more info: See Children's Easter cookery classes

Venue: Gloucester Cathedral
What’s happening?: Children of all ages can hunt for hidden chicks on a new ‘Treasury Hunt’ trail at the Cathedral this Easter, with the re-launch of tower tours also expected to be a big hit with families during the school holidays.
When?: From Saturday 31 March to Saturday 14 April 2012, with the trail open between 10.30am and 3.30pm, and tower tour timings varying.
How much?: The Treasury Hunt trail is free of charge, while tickets for the tower tours cost £4 for adults and £1 for children.
For more info: See Easter at Gloucester Cathedral
To book: Call (01452) 528095 or visit gloucestercathedral.org.uk directly.

Venue: Severn Vale School, School Lane, Quedgeley, Gloucester, GL2 4PR
What’s happening?: Gloucester-based Education Through Sport is hosting another one of its popular Soccer Academies, this time giving children aged from eight to 12 the chance to enjoy anything up to seven days of football skills development, led by FA Football Coaches. Training will gear up to matches of the day, and there will even be presentations too.
When?: From 8.30am to 3.30pm from Monday 2 to Thursday 5 April 2012, and from Tuesday 10 to Thursday 12 April 2012.
How much?: Soccer Academy places cost £15 per day.
For more info: See Easter Soccer Academy in Gloucester.
To book: Call (01452) 542590/541023, email ryanm@trainandrecruit.com or visit etsport.co.uk directly.

Venue: Gloucester Quays Outlet, St Ann Way, Gloucester, GL1 5SH
What’s happening?: Three days of jam-packed entertainment make this the ultimate Easter event in Gloucestershire. Catch demos from David Domoney, Diarmuid Gavin and Carol Klein, browse 50 stalls featuring everything food to fashion, and enjoy live music performances from the likes of The Choir Factor, Swing From Paris, the Ukeholics, Sons of the Delta and The Roving Crows. You can even save 70 per cent at the range of Gloucester Quays outlets to boot.
When?: From 10am on Saturday 7, Sunday 8 and Monday 9 April 2012.
How much?: Free of charge
For more info: See Gloucester Quays Garden Party.
To book: There’s no need to book, just turn up and enjoy the fun. And for a fuller preview of what’s in store, visit gloucesterquaysgardenparty.co.uk directly.

Venue: Dearmans Restaurant at Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall
What’s happening?: The Upton St Leonards hotel and restaurant will be the setting for a traditional Easter celebration this year, when families will be able to enjoy a Sunday carvery lunch complete with all the trimmings. There will be a children’s entertainer and face painting for the little ones, plus there’s also the chance to burn off those extra roast potatoes with an Easter egg treasure hunt around the venue’s lovely 12 acres of landscaped grounds.
When?: Sunday 8 April 2012
How much?: Lunch costs £20 for three courses or £17.50 for two courses, while kids eat free.
For more info: See Easter Lunch and Egg Hunt at Bowden Hall.
To book: Call Bowden Hall on 0844 815 9077, email events.mercuregloucesterbowdenhall@jupiterhotels.co.uk or visit mercure-gloucester-bowden-hall.com directly.

Venue: St Augustines Farm
What’s happening?: St Augustines Farm in Arlingham will be celebrating Easter with a series of egg hunts around the farmyard.
When?: Sunday 1 to Sunday 15 April 2012
For more info: See St Augustines Farm Easter egg hunt

Easter in Stroud 2012

Venue: Slimbridge Wetland Centre
What’s happening?: A jam-packed fortnight of activities will celebrate the life of the Nene bird, also known as the Hawaiian Goose – with daily chances to meet the birds, wigwam building, special labels on the birds to explain more about them, crafts and a display. There’s also a focused weekend event including a talk with duckery warden Phoebe Young and the chance to feed the beautiful feathered friends.
When?: Saturday 31 March to Sunday 15 April 2012
How much?: Normal admission charges apply.
For more info: See Easter holidays at Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
To book: Call Slimbridge Wetland Centre on (01453) 891223, email eleanor.wise@wwt.org.uk or visit wwt.org.uk/slimbridge directly.

Venue: Newark Park
What’s happening?: Take the little ones along to Newark Park’s Easter trail, where you will find games on the lawn, cakes in the tea room, and as well as a Cadbury Easter egg trail.
When?: Friday 6 to Monday 9 April 2012
For more info: See Easter trail in Wotton-under-Edge

Venue: Dr Jenner's House and Garden
What’s happening?: On Sunday and Monday children can embark on a special Easter egg hunt, while from Tuesday to Friday a drop-in Easter craft workshops will be held in the afternoon.
When?: Sunday 8 to Friday 13 April 2012
For more info: See Easter Weekend at Dr Jenner's House

To get your event or venue included in Gloucestershire's most popular Easter guide, call Melanie Jones on (01242) 210330 or email melanie@soglos.com for details.