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Eggcellent Easter Holidays
Join us across our sites for heaps of holiday fun for tots to teens!

From our annual Dragon Egg Week, to Brilliant Birds, Springtime Tots and The Castle Chocolate Factory, there's something for all the family.
Ilbert the Dragon and a knight pointing towards a large green egg at Pontefract Castle

Dragon Egg Week


Saturday 23 March to Monday 1 April
Trail available 10am to 4pm daily
Pontefract Castle
Free entry
Some extra activities have an additional cost

The Easter Dragon Egg Hunt at Pontefract Castle is back for another year, and better than ever!

Help Ilbert the Dragon find all his eggs on a special trail. The free trail sheet is available daily.

Join in with different dragon activities throughout the week, including craft activities, storytelling and games.

Additional activities include:
All the info for Dragon Egg Week
A nest with two bright blue eggs in it

Brilliant Birds


Mon 25, Tues 26, Thurs 28* March and Tues 2, Thurs 4 and Fri 5* April
10am to 3pm
Castleford Museum
Free - no booking required

Calling all little nature lovers! Our fascinating flocks of birds have lost their eggs in the Museum.

Become a nature detective and help our brilliant birds find their missing eggs.

Make your own egg hangers, bird masks and neat nests to carry on the adventure at home.

*Thursday 28 March and Friday 5 April are SEND sessions:

SEND groups are always welcome at all of our sessions.

We are also running these SEND sessions for visitors who benefit from a more relaxed atmosphere.

The sessions will be run with more sensory activities and more focus on independent learning.

There will also be a lower light level. A sensory tent and ear defenders will be available.
Visitor information for Castleford Museum
A child and adult visitor looking and pointing at a display case containing mining objects

Family Fun - Mining March


Saturdays 9, 16 and 23 March
11am to 3pm
Castleford Museum, Pontefract Museum and Wakefield Museum
Free - no booking required

In March we're shining a lamp on the mining heritage around our district.

Join us at our museums for a different mining-themed activity each week.

What will you make?

Free, all activities provided – and we’ll tidy up afterwards!
Visitor information for our sites
Bunting with bright floral patterns hung outside on a sunny day

Let's Sew Springtime Bunting! (Ages 6+)


Wednesday 3 April
10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm
Pontefract Castle
£2.50 per child, accompanying adults free

Let’s celebrate the start of spring with some beautiful bunting!

Explore what plants are growing around the Castle this spring.

Work together to create your own colourful spring-themed bunting using simple sewing techniques. 

Don’t worry, no previous sewing experience is required!
Book Let's Sew Springtime Bunting!
A flower made out of pages from a book

Flower Power


Wednesday 3 April
10.30am to 3pm
Pontefract Museum
Free - no booking required

It’s springtime and fabulous flowers are beginning to bloom!

Flowers have long been used to decorate objects and delight loved ones.

We’re feeling floral and being inspired by Michelle’s Flowers in our Ladies who Launch exhibition.

Explore the Museum to find the flowers and plants hidden in everyday objects. Learn how to make different types of fancy flowers from items in your home.

Craft your own posy of paper flowers to take home – or give to someone special!
Visitor information for Pontefract Museum
A large pile of cocoa beans

The Castle Chocolate Factory (ages 12 to 16)


Thursday 4 April
10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm
Pontefract Castle
£2.50 per teen, accompanying adults free

Did you know that chocolate literally grows on trees? Find out more at our pop-up Castle Chocolate Factory! 

Discover how cocoa beans are turned into chocolate. Have a go at grinding cocoa nibs to make a chocolate liquor (not a boozy one!) 

Explore what makes white, milk and dark chocolate different.  

Best of all, make your own tasty treats to scoff over the holidays! 

Please let us know of any allergies when booking.
Book The Castle Chocolate Factory
An adult pouring seeds into a child's hand

Springtime Tots (ages 2 to 5)


Friday 5 April
11am to 12pm and 1pm to 2pm
Wakefield Museum Learning Zone
£2.50 per child, accompanying adults free

Sing your way into spring!

Join in with a special springtime story, rhymes and songs.

Use your senses to sort fabulous flowers and herbs. Explore nature in the Museum on a spring-themed trail.

Take home your own set of seeds to grow at home!

Please let us know of any allergies when booking.
Book Springtime Tots
Steps leading up out of the dungeon at Pontefract Castle

Dungeon Tours (5+)


Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 10.45am
Bonus tours on Monday 25 March and Monday 1 April at 10.45am
Pontefract Castle

Until 31 March: £4 adults, £2.25 children (5+)
From 1 April: £4.15 adults, £2.40 children (5+)

Join us for a tour of the castle dungeons!

Soak in the atmosphere of this eerie underground space.

Discover the history of the dungeon and see where Civil War prisoners left to languish scratched their names into the rock.

Please note: From April 2024 our tour prices are increasing by 15p due to inflation.
Book Dungeon Tours
A volunteer guide showing a family around Pontefract Castle

Castle Explorer Tours


Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm
Bonus tours on Monday 25 March and Monday 1 April at 2pm
Pontefract Castle

Until 31 March: £3 adults, £2 children (5+), under 5s go free
After 1 April: £3.20 adults, £2.15 children (5+), under 5s go free

Enjoy a tour of Pontefract Castle as our friendly guide takes you around this historic site!

In years gone by, Pontefract Castle was one of Britain’s most important castles. It was known as The Key to the North!

Discover who built and lived in the castle and learn about history where it happened.

Tour is suitable for wheelchair users and visitors with pushchairs.

Please note: From April 2024 our tour prices are increasing by 15p / 20p due to inflation.
Book Castle Explorer Tours
An old photograph of 8 children sat on a gate and 15 children sat in front of the gate outside a colliery

Mining March: Pit Village Life by Jack Hulme


Saturday 23 March
11am to 3pm
Castleford Museum
Free - no booking required

Jack Hulme was a hairdresser and talented amateur photographer from Fryston. His photos are a unique record of a mining community in the mid 1900s. 

In March, Castleford Museum will unveil an updated display of Hulme’s work. It will feature old favourites and previously unseen photos from the archive.

Join us on Saturday 23 March to celebrate the new display and meet with our curator.

Flick through Hulme's fantastic photographs. Help us to fill in the gaps by telling us about any people or places you spot in the photos! 

There will also be fun family crafts inspired by our mining heritage to keep the kids entertained.
More info - Mining March: Pit Village Life by Jack Hulme
Explore all of our events over the next month
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