4 April 2025
As families across Barnsley will know, the Easter holidays are just around the corner. Whatever your personal beliefs, I hope you’ll be able to find some time over the next couple of weeks to spend some quality time with your loved ones.
However, as a dad myself, I know that the school holidays can often be accompanied by one of the scariest phrases any parent can hear – “I’m bored!”
Fortunately, even if you are unlucky enough to hear that phrase – and you have my sympathies – there are lots of affordable events and activities taking place across our borough.
Of course, Easter wouldn’t be Easter without an ‘egg-citing’ egg trail. This year, Barnsley folk are spoilt for choice when it comes to Easter trails. Between the 5th and 20th of April, you can take part in Barnsley Council’s brilliant – and free – trail. There are nine bunnies, each with part of a secret message – will you be able to find them all and complete the message? A big thank you to the nine participating venues!
Fantastic trails will also run at Elsecar Heritage Centre from now until the 21st April, and at Wentworth Castle Gardens between the 11th and the 21st of April.
A range of Easter Healthy Holiday Clubs are also running between the 7th and 17th of April. There’s football in Athersley, gymnastics in Carlton, swimming in Royston, and even virtual golf in Oldtown –to name just a few! For more information, check out the Council’s website.
The artistic and crafty will also be catered for across our borough this Easter. Barnsley College are running printmaking workshops on the 7th and the 14th of April, the Cooper Gallery is hosting a Blooming Marvellous Crafts event on the 9th of April, and Experience Barnsley are holding a Cardboard Creations session on the 13th of April.
If there are board game enthusiasts in your family, it’s also worth visiting Experience Barnsley on the 8th of April, for their special (and free) Brilliant Board Games event.
Want to get out in nature? There’s a lot of beautiful countryside to go around in Barnsley, so you’ll find lots to do this Easter. Cudworth Park and Monk Bretton Park are just two of the ideal picnic spots we have in our borough, and Mapplewell Meadows Farm has some exceptional views.
Similarly, Cannon Hall Farm is always worth a visit, and spring is arguably the best time of year to go because it’s lambing season. There’s a special Easter event on, which promises to be fun for the whole family! Cannon Hall Museum also has a special Easter event: a scavenger hunt in a Victorian kitchen that will be both entertaining and educational.
I hope all this has given you something to bear in mind if the “I’m bored” moment comes your way.
Whatever you do this Easter, I hope that you find time to have a break and spend time with family and friends. Happy Easter!