Great Yarmouth delivers half term fun for all ages
Family fun is on the menu for a busy half term in Great Yarmouth.
Everyone can join in to a raft of activities for all ages – dance at a pop party, revel in Captain Calamity’s mayhem, follow the trail of the world’s favourite bunny, Miffy, get close up to big cats, rare reptiles and sea creatures and marvel at the spills of banger racing .
If exploring the night sky is more your family thing or throwing yourselves into a musical adventure based on animation Madagascar, it’s all catered for, along with bracing beach walks and hot chocolates on the seafront.
The Hippodrome is adapting its Cabaret Extreme show to present a family friendly version from Friday February 20 to Sunday February 22.
The extreme stunt and contemporary circus show is designed to “amaze, shock and inspire” and is “where the bizarre becomes beautiful and the impossible becomes reality.” The over 18s’ show runs from Wednesday February 18 to Sunday February 22.
Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens will open daily from 10am with its tiger treetop walk where you can witness Raja, the two-year-old Sumatran Tiger, in his daily life as he awaits a female, who is expected to join him soon as part of the breeding programme for critically endangered species.
Learn about the reptiles in its swamp house and the primates and red pandas at play, all set in 250 years of landscaped gardens.
For an indoor activity, more than 1500 sea creatures including sharks, penguins and turtles and a 250,000 litre tropical ocean display tunnel are at the Sea Life Centre on Great Yarmouth Seafront, where its annual pass sale has just started and will run until March 1.
It’s full-on fun on tap at the Pavilion Theatre, Gorleston, and St George’s Theatre, Great Yarmouth, with parties, shows and workshops.
Billed as the ultimate family party show, best friends Pip and Joe present Wiggle and Giggle, a concert experience at the Pavilion Theatre, with pop hits, dance floor fillers, and childhood classics to create a combination of live music, dance, and comedy in the original Kidz Pop Party on Sunday (February 15).
Joe Ringer, Norfolk’s leading vocalist with his band the JRB, is joined by best friend Pip the lovable circus clown and Bethanie Newman for non-stop entertainment.
At St George’s Theatre, Captain Calamity is back with his Half Term Hullabaloo on Tuesday February 17 bringing comedy and magic and his Crazy Crew of misfits in a cacophony of bubbles, crazy custard pies and science stunts.
Get ready to “Move It, Move It” back at the Pavilion from Friday February 20 to Sunday 22 with Madagascar, a musical adventure based on the DreamWorks Animation film by amateur company Team2gether.
At St George’s Theatre’s pavilion on Monday February 16, a creative workshop, Exploring the Night Sky, will be run by the Norfolk Coast Protected Landscape team.
Investigate the shapes and stories above us with artist Kaitlin Ferguson and create simple toolkits to help you spot constellations after dark in two identical drop-in sessions between 1.30-3pm and 3.30 to 5pm.
At the Time and Tide Museum, there is a celebration exhibition for Miffy’s 70th birthday with Miffy’s Art Trail.
Pick up a trail and explore how Miffy was brought to life by Dutch artist Dick Bruna in more than 50 screen prints, drawings, paintings and stop motion models from the TV series Miffy and Friends and witness Bruna’s design process.
On Wednesday February 18, children can create a Miffy Story Box with creative practitioner Donna Thompson
On Friday February 20, a guided tour of the museum starting at the medieval wall outside gates will tell the story of the history of Great Yarmouth.
On the Golden Mile, Merrivale Model Village is open daily, as are many of the arcades
The thrills and spills of banger racing take over the Great Yarmouth Stadium on Sunday 15th February with Back to Basics Bangers.
The Marina Centre is open for swimming and other activities throughout the week.
Nathan Race, Chair of Visit Great Yarmouth, said it was testament to the creativity of businesses and organisations to see so many different activities and attractions available.
“Yarmouth and the surrounding area are most definitely open and ready for business. We are really excited for half term because we are a year-round destination and there’s plenty to keep holidaymakers and day trippers busy and entertained.
“It’s great to see museums, theatres and our attractions all thriving and full of family fun. We are expecting a busy and bustling week. “
“Our visitors and locals know that there will be plenty of activities and entertainment available here over the winter and early spring months.”
Asa Morrison, Visit Great Yarmouth’s Chief Executive, said the February half term was a key date in the all-year round tourism offer.
“It might be chilly but there’s plenty on offer, inside and out that is fun for all the family, educational, exciting and most importantly affordable.
“Our February Half term offer is growing each year, with plenty to see and do”
For details of what’s on across the Great Yarmouth area during half term from this weekend, see Visit Great Yarmouth’s website.
