Family Musical Picnic at Symphony hall
For mini movers and shakers: Serving up a banquet of banging sounds and hilarious harmonies for children and their grown-ups whatever the weather, Saturday’s FREE picnic also hosts James, Dave and Hannah who have run away from the gloriously goofy Gifford’s Circus so expect much musical mayhem and a cacophony of antics as well as the usual sublime sounds inspired by anything from classical through folk and world music. There’ll be familiar tunes for the family, some new sounds to discover and plenty of audience participation. In association with Mubu Music. Sat Apr 9, Symphony Hall Cafe Bar, 10.30am
See: www.thsh.co.uk

Arts & Crafts Workshops at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Art-lovers and crafty little beggars should hot foot it down to BMAG before the holidays end with free arts and crafts sessions daily from 11am-4pm. Create a self portrait, digital, traditional or modern style, or magic up an artistic mask to scare the neighbours and adorn your wall. Hosted in the fabulous Learning Zone there are also free themed family trails around the gallery available and if you miss the holiday session, be sure to check out the regular Saturday arts Club for children aged 5 -11 and ever-evolving timetable of one-off events such as this weekend’s Booby Trap Workshops.
See: www.birminghammuseums.org.uk

Botanical Gardens
For the wild child: all children under 16 get in free when with a fee-paying adult or member these Easter holidays. The fun starts on Easter Sunday with an egg hunt and appearances from the Easter Bunny, games on the Main Lawn, Arts and Crafts in the Gallery and Pond Dipping. Bibbledy Bob the clown will be causing mischief on Easter Monday and on Tuesday March 29 and Thursday March 31, there will be a chance to meet Rocky the Bearded Dragon, Kaa the Sand Boa and Jovi the Tenrec. There will also be face painting, arts, crafts and other creative activities each day throughout the week from 11am – 3pm, up until April 1.
See: www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.

Think Tank
Creative kids and proto-professors who like to think outside the box should head on down to the Think Tank’s science garden. Free from 3pm til close (5pm) every day and full of creative activities, physically challenging scientific experiments and loads of room to explore and stretch the legs – as well as the mind. On April 6 the Think Tank also ups sticks to Birmingham Library to host a free day of experiments, animals and much more…
See: www.birminghammuseums.org.uk

Arley Arboretum
Free ranging children are being offered free entry for two weeks during the Easter hols with a special Easter Bunny trail open every day until 10 April (extra cost £2). The dinosaur, fairy and new pre-school Woodland Animal Trail will also be open to explore or the more adventurous might try to conquer the maze to reach the castle and play in the adventure playground. Also sample Easter themed treats and try your hand at the colouring competition in the Garden Tea Room.
See: www.arleyarboretum.co.uk

Ikon Gallery and Cafe Opus
Smarty arty pants will head down to the Ikon gallery and Cafe Opus during the Easter holidays for all sorts of enticing treats. Kids eat free at Cafe Opus with every adult meal from Friday 25 March until Sunday 10 April. Catch the last bit of the brilliant Mendehlson exhibition featuring a Birmingham of old until April 3. See our feature here. There’s also Family-friendly Art Explorer Friday on April 1 1pm-4pm which invites kids and their chaperones to drop in, collect a bag and take a special trail around the exhibitions with Ikon’s Learning Team followed by Family Saturday on April 2 with an afternoon of creative activities to ‘engage, challenge and delight’ using the current exhibitions as inspiration to make original artwork. Both are free events, with an optional £2 donation. On Thurs 31 Mar Ikon also hosts a free Sky Spotters Guide, Launch and workshop at Sheldon Country park.
See: www.ikon-gallery.org

Parklives in parks across the city
Sports-mad minis and active kids should take advantage of the plentiful free offerings over Easter across the city’s best parks from Birmingham’s Parklives scheme. Take part in special free Family Fun sessions, football, rounders, badminton, cricket, archery, tennis and other games at Smallheath, Handsworth and Calthorpe Park amongst many others. Look out for free Zumba, running, Tai Chi and athletics for the grown-ups too. For a full timetable of events see their website.
See: www.parklives.com

Cadbury World
No end to the sugar highs in sight? Give the chocaholics the run-around at Cadbury World’s fantastic free adventure playground (open to the public) where the resident ventriloquists, magicians and kids’ entertainers provide even more free family fun until 17 April. And if you haven’t had your fill of the stuff yet, the world’s biggest Cadbury shop on site offers crazy discounts and big bulk buys too…
See: www.cadburyworld.co.uk