March 2014

Whether you need some ideas on how to spend Mother’s Day, or looking for usual activities for your family, there is plenty to do in March – from treacle market in Macclesfield to steam train rides in Manchester, from ‘Baby Moves’ run by National Football Museum to ‘Tudor New Year’ celebrated in Little Moreton Hall.

For list of current events in March for kids and families please click here.

till 2 March

The Fairy Experience
Dawber Photography will be transforming our studio into a magical make-believe fairytale wonderland to photograph girls (0 – 14 years) and boys (0 – 10 years) dressed up as fairies and elves in our fabulous costumes.
£25 session fee with no obligation to purchase; prices start from £45 for a 10″ x 8″ beautiful colour print
Dawber Photography, Stockport
Tel: 0161 483 3114
http://www.dawberphoto.co.uk/fairy-experience-photographers/

1, 8, 15, 22, 29 March 11am – 12.30pm

Free Saturday Playhouse
Saturday Playhouse now takes place every Saturday morning in our new family space The Lookout space for families, offering a range of exciting art activities for young artists and their families. From drawing and print making to model making, each time there is always something new to do!
Suitable for ages 5 – 11.
Free
The Lowry, Salford Quays. Manchester
Tel: 0843 208 6000
www.thelowry.com

4, 18 March, 10.30 – 11.15am, 11.30am – 12.15pm, 1 – 1.45pm

Baby Explorers

Sensory play and interactive story sessions for babies who aren’t walking yet. Every other Tuesday (except half term school holidays when there are drop-in sensory play sessions)
Free
Manchester Museum
Oxford Road Manchester
Tel: 0161 275 2648 (book from a week before)
www.museum.manchester.ac.uk

6, 13, 20 & 27 March, 11am – 11.45am

Storytime at the Hall
Settle on our cushions and let the magic of the Hall transport you to another place as you listen to some stories. There will be a different one each week so you can come back again.
Suitable for ages 2 – 4
£3 per session or £10 for all four. Adults free (maximum of two per child)
Booking Essential
Bramall Hall, Bramhall, Stockport, Cheshire
Tel: 0161 474 2020

7, 14, 21, 28 March 10am – 10.45am & 11am – 11.45am

Under 5s First Steps
Join us for this active weekly workshop where your little one can explore their creativity and have tons of fun! In this season we will wriggle, jiggle and jump as we explore stories, rhythm and music through our bodies. Everyone welcome, come and have a go!
Suitable for ages 2½ – 4½.
Tickets £3.50 (£1.75 Salford residents)
The Lowry, Salford Quays. Manchester
Tel: 0843 208 6000
www.thelowry.com

7 March, 10.15-11am, 11.30-12.15pm, 1.15-2pm, 2.30-3.15pm

Baby Art Club
Use all your senses to explore our artist’s space. For babies who aren’t walking yet, with an adult carer.
Free, with limited space
Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3JL
Tel: 0161 235 8888
www.manchestergalleries.org

7 March, 10:00am – 11:30am

Experitots: Senses
These popular activity sessions for under 6s take place in hands-on science gallery, Experiment, with a different topic each month. Fun, creative activities, puppets and storytelling help toddlers get the most out of this gallery.
£3 for one adult and one child
Limited place, booking recommended
Museum of Science & Industry
Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester
Tel: 0161 832 2244
msimanchester.org.uk

8 March 2014, 1.00pm – 3.00pm

Baby Saturday
Use all your senses to explore our artist’s space. For babies who aren’t walking yet, with an adult carer.
Free, drop in session
Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3JL
Tel: 0161 235 8888
www.manchestergalleries.org

8 March, 1.00pm – 3.00pm

Family Art Club

Create together in our special artist led workshops for 5-11s.
Free, though places are limited
Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3JL
Tel: 0161 235 8888
www.manchestergalleries.org

14 March, 10.15am – 11.15am

Mini Art Club
Make friends, make noise, make a mess! For families with children aged 1-4.
Free event, bookings one week before the event.
Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester
Tel: 0161 235 8888
www.manchestergalleries.org

15 March 10.30am – 3.30pm

Design Your Future
Join us for National Science and Engineering Week and discover how you could design your own future. Try your hand at binary code, make some pixel art and be inspired by local scientists, engineers and mathematicians, as they bring all sorts of topics to life with fascinating demonstrations, fun hands-on activities and informal chat.
Free
Museum of Science & Industry
Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester
Tel: 0161 832 2244
msimanchester.org.uk

15, 16 March, 11am – 12.30pm and 3 – 4.30pm

Camouflage Critters
Be inspired by the world of camouflage. Use colourful shapes, templates and stickers to create a scene that disguises some critters and exposes others. Get drawing and invent your own critter to blend into the background.
Free
www.iwm.org.uk

17, 31 March, 14, 28 April 10.30 – 11.30

Let’s Play Toddler
Join us for our brand new Toddler sessions for 2014. Sessions consist of physical activity and imaginative movement with songs.
The sessions are suitable for toddlers who are confident at walking,
£3 per child.
National Football Museum
Urbis Building
Cathedral Gardens, Manchester
Tel: 0161 8718 145 or 0161 605 8200
www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/whatson/lets-play-toddler

20, 24 March sessions start 10.30am and 1.30pm run for approx. 60 min

Baby Moves
This fantastic play and movement session is a fun way to help your baby’s physical, communication and language development. Using music, movement and lots of sensory items this is a chance for babies and carers to play, learn and develop new skills together.
Children 0-12 months old
£2 per baby – all children must be accompanied by an adult.
National Football Museum
Urbis Building
Cathedral Gardens, Manchester
Tel: 0161 8718 145 or 0161 605 8200
www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/whatson/baby-moves

21 – 30 March

Manchester Histories Festival
Manchester Histories Festival is back to town with a lot of different family friendly events and activities. The history on offer stretches back to the Romans right
up to events that some of us might think too recent to be history, like
‘Madchester’. Events are not always about learning but contributing our own
histories also. And there are games too!
Check out the list of some family events at the festival.

22 March

Francis House Children’s Hospice Sponsored Old Trafford Abseil
Sign up to our 140 foot sponsored abseil from the roof of the North Stand at the world famous Theatre of Dreams. Join us for a unique experience, walking along Manchester United Football Club’s roof and dropping down onto the edge of the pitch.
The registration fee is £25, you must be over the age of 16 to take part, and we do ask participants to raise sponsorship. Friends and family are welcome to come along and watch you take part too. Sponsorship raised from the Abseil will help Francis House continue to offer care to children and young people with life shortening conditions from across the Greater Manchester region.
Francis House Children’s Hospice
Tel: 0161 443 2200
www.francishouse.org.uk

22, 23 March, 11am – 12.30pm and 2 – 3.30pm

Open Studio: Planes
Be inspired by the Harrier Jump Jet on display in the Main Exhibition Space then soar to creative success and decorate your own mini plane to take home and fly.
Free
www.iwm.org.uk

22,29,30 March 12pm – 4pm

Steam Train Rides in Manchester
Take a ride behind our replica of Robert Stephenson’s 1830 Planet locomotive or the newly-restored Agecroft No. 1. It’s great fun for the kids…and the parents! Departing from outside the Power Hall at regular intervals.
Adults £2, Concessions £1
Museum of Science & Industry
Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester
Tel: 0161 832 2244
www.msimanchester.org.uk

22 March, 12 April, 24 May, 6.30pm

ComedySportz
This long-running, fast-paced improv comedy show will have you rolling in the aisles as teams battle it out for laughs.
Age 8+
£7/ £5
Waterside Arts Centre, 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, M33 7ZF
Tel: 0161 912 5616
www.watersideartscentre.co.uk

22-23 March, 11 am – 3 pm

The Reading Bug
Something for the whole family to enjoy, with storytelling performances, treasure hunt and craft workshops, as well as discounts in the shops.
Altrincham Retail Park
George Richards Way, Broadheath, WA14 5GR Altrincham

26-30 March, 11:00am to 5:00pm

A Merry March
Come and join us as we celebrate Tudor New Year. Plan a seed to grow at home and make something special for mother’s day
Free event (normal admission charges apply)
Little Moreton Hall, Newcastle Rd, Moreton, Congleton
Tel: 01260 272018
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/little-moreton-hall

27 March, 24 April, 29 May 10.30am – 11.30am

Under 5’s Story time
Join us in the storytelling corner of the Discovery Zone for a fun interactive story session combined with puppetry. These popular sessions are guaranteed to capture your child’s imagination, with stories including How Pickles Save The World Cup, Farmyard Footie and the story of how the balls found The Way Home. Each story includes the chance to explore the museum too!
Limited capacity – booking advised
National Football Museum
Urbis Building
Cathedral Gardens, Manchester
Tel: 0161 8718 145 or 0161 605 8200
www.nationalfootballmuseum.com

28 March, 25 April, 9 May 10am – 10.45am & 11.15am – 12pm

Under 5s Doodle Tots
Enjoy painting, sticking and making your own works of art in this colourful workshop. No skills or expertise needed in this relaxed and friendly atmosphere where you can spend time with your tot exploring a range of materials and having fun getting messy. Don’t worry, aprons are provided!
Suitable for ages 2½ – 4½.
Tickets £3.50 (£1.75 Salford residents) The Lowry, Salford Quays. Manchester
Tel: 0843 208 6000
The Lowry, Salford Quays. Manchester
Tel: 0843 208 6000
www.thelowry.com

29 March, 10 am – 4 pm

Spring Fair
Knutsford Explorer scouts have organised a fabulous Spring fair for the whole family, with waxhands, facepainting, crafts and many more! There will also be tombolas, many games, cakes, refreshments etc.
Entry is £1 for adults and children are FREE
Mobberley Victory Hall, Town Lane, Mobberley, Knutsford, WA16 7JQ

29 March, 10 am – 4 pm

Relaunch Festival
the Horse and Jockey is hosting a free day-long festival to celebrate the re-opening of their pub after a month long refurbishment.
The festival will see live bands and acts from Manchester perform in the new Horse & Jockey pub alongside the revamped farmers’ market and craft fair. The line-up is an eclectic mix of folk, gypsy jazz and electric dub punk all playing alongside our Farmers’ Market and Craft Fair. With spectacles and performances from Manchester Circus House.
Music from Becca Williams, The Rubber Duck Orchestra, Gypsies of Bohemia all before Age of Glass complete the night with their live set followed by a DJ set.
9 The Green, Chorlton, M21 9HS
tel: 0161 860 7794

30 March, 27 April, 25 May 10am – 3pm

Treacle Market
A bustling Arts, Antiques, Crafts, Food and Drink Market, held on the cobbles of the historic Marketplace in Macclesfield. With around 140 stalls of exceptional food &, drink, unique crafts and vintage finds, plus stalls and information from the Macclesfield community. Come for your lunch or even your breakfast, take a seat and watch the all day live music. It’s a fantastic day out.
Free
Market Place, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 6BA
Tel: 0794 1115480