Happy Saint George’s Day! April 23rd each year is a day celebrating all things English – but like tea and the Queen, is he as English as everyone thinks?
St George was born in modern day Syria and worked as a knight for the Romans, who didn’t like his Christian beliefs and imprisoned then beheaded him. His tales of slaying dragons only appeared about 600 years after his death – but these stories have also been part of what makes him so popular!
He’s an incredibly busy saint as he’s the patron saint of Bulgaria, Malta, Montenegro, Palestine, Portugal, Ethiopia, Greece, Serbia, Slovenia, and Lithuania. He’s also, and probably most importantly, the patron saint of Georgia, where Saint George’s Day is celebrated twice a year, on May 6th and November 23rd. Many people believe that the name of the country in English is from their love of St George too!
He’ll be celebrated in Nottingham today too, with a parade from the Forest Recreation Ground to the Old Market Square. The parade, departing from the Forest at noon, will be headed by knights on horseback!
In the Old Market Square, there will be a performance by Carlton Brass and morris dancing by Ripley Morris Men and Ripley Green Garters between 11am and 2pm plus the chance to meet ‘St George’ when the parade arrives (probably between 12.30 and 12.45pm).
There will be another chance to celebrate St George’s Day, in the centre of Bulwell, on Saturday 22 April. Carlton Brass will be performing, ‘St George’ and the dragon will be there and there will be arts activities and face-painting on offer between 11.30am and 2.30pm.
Where The River Runstells the simple story of a stranger trying to cross a river, and what happens when water comes to life and starts a wild and wonderful journey. With stunning movement and spectacular lifts, this dynamic and beautiful story, set in the rain forest, will have children and families captivated and enthralled. Combining dance, comedy, acrobatics and the original music, this fun and energetic piece of dance theatre will be an extravaganza for young audiences in Nottingham libraries!
Tickets are just £2 per child with accompanying adults free Just call the number below or drop in to your branch to reserve your spot!
To see when the River flows through your local library then see the listings below: Wednesday 5 April10am, Clifton Library – 0115 915 2945 Thursday 6 April 10am, Bilborough Library – 0115 915 5795 Thursday 6 April 2.30pm, Bulwell Riverside Library – 0115 883 3500 Friday 7 April10am, Nottingham Central Library – 0115 915 2828 Friday 7 April2.30pm, Hyson Green Library – 0115 841 3896 Saturday 8 April 10am, Wollaton Library – 0115 915 2809
School’s out for Easter and there’s loads of exciting things for you to do in your 2 weeks and a day off! Here’s a few to get you started…
Theatre Royal
Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom – Live on Stage, Saturday 1 April, 1pm & 4pm; Sunday 2 April, 10am & 1pm
From the makers of Peppa Pig, comes this BAFTA award-winning television animation live on stage. Join Ben, Holly and their friends on this exciting, enchanting and magical musical adventure packed full of games, songs and laughter. Tickets from £14 (discounts for children and families)
Windmills on a Stick, Saturday 1 April, 11am to 2pm Make your own stick windmill and watch it blow in the wind. For ages 3+. £2
Easter Fun – Eggciting Easter Eggstravaganza, Friday 7 to Sunday 9 April, 10am to 3pm
Search for the hidden eggs during the Eggciting Easter Eggstravaganza. Explore the site and win some amazing prizes. £5
Make your own Easter-inspired cakes, Wednesday 12 April, 11am to 2pm
Delicious fun for children and adults. For ages 3+. £3
Bake your own Easter biscuits, Friday 14 April, 11am to 2pm
Which Easter-themed cookie cutter will you choose and will you save them for later or eat them straight away? For ages 3+. £4
Nottingham Castle and Brewhouse Yard
Experimenting with Colour, Saturday 1 April, 11am to 1pm Come and experiment with colour with artist Jane Stockley. See how colour changes when it is dripped, dipped or diluted. Make textural surfaces to squeeze, rub or brush colour on. Observe and play with the effects light has on colour. Suitable for a range of ages. Workshop is free but must be booked in advance and usual admission charges to the Castle apply.
Easter Egg-stravaganza, Saturday 1April to Tuesday 18 April, 10am to 5pm
Help King Arthur and his knights find the missing dragon’s Easter eggs, £1, or help decorate the huge Easter egg at the Castle or drop in to Brewhouse Yard and adorn the Easter egg Victorian-style. Usual admission charges apply.
Colour and Shape into Print, Saturday 8 April, 11am to 1pm In this workshop led by artist Elaine Winter, you will use your drawings as the basis to make print-making stamps and then make a series of still life prints. Suitable for accompanied children aged 8+. Workshop is free but must be booked in advance and usual admission charges to the Castle apply.
Creativity with Clay and Colour, Saturday 15 April, 11am to 1pm Ceramic artist Aimee Bollu will guide you in this hands-on clay workshop. Create test tiles and effectively apply colour, marks and texture by scratching through layers of clay. Suitable for ages 12+. Workshop is free but must be booked in advance and usual admission charges to the Castle apply.
Wollaton Hall and Deer Park
Daily tours of Wollaton Hall
Go behind the scenes on one of these guided tours, looking at the house from different angles: 12 pm – Prospect Room 1 pm – Tudor kitchen & Admiral’s bath 2 pm – Prospect Room 3 pm – Tudor kitchen & Admiral’s bath
£5 (under-fives free)
Dinosaur Easter Fun, Saturday 1 to Saturday 8 April, 10am to 4pm Hands-on activities to entertain the children over Easter. Pick up a dino egg trail and drop in to see the huge dino-themed Easter egg. Wait to see what hatches at Wollaton this summer!
Libraries
Aspley Library
Where’s Wally? Easter activities, Monday 10 April, 2 to 3pm
Celebrate 30 years of Where’s Wally? with an Easter Wally hunt and more free activities suitable for all children.
Bilborough Library
Where the River Runs, Thursday 6 April, 10am to 10.50am A magical, high-quality dance performance for children aged 5+ and their families, telling the simple story of a brave adventurer trying to cross a river. Booking advised. £2 (accompanying adults free)
Bulwell Riverside Library
Recycled art workshop, Saturday 1 April, 10am to 12pm
Make mini-fish from recycled bags with artist Anna Roebuck. Free Where the River Runs, Thursday 6 April, 2.30pm to 3.20pm
A magical, high-quality dance performance for children aged 5+ and their families, telling the simple story of a brave adventurer trying to cross a river. Booking advised. £2 (accompanying adults free)
Central Library
Where the River Runs, Friday 7 April, 10am to 10.50am
A magical, high-quality dance performance for children aged 5+ and their families, telling the simple story of a brave adventurer trying to cross a river. Booking advised. £2 (accompanying adults free)
Clifton Library
Where the River Runs, Wednesday 5 April, 10am to 10.50am
A magical, high-quality dance performance for children aged 5+ and their families, telling the simple story of a brave adventurer trying to cross a river. Booking advised. £2 (accompanying adults free)
Hyson Green Library
Where the River Runs, Friday 7 April, 2.30pm to 3.20pm
A magical, high-quality dance performance for children aged 5+ and their families, telling the simple story of a brave adventurer trying to cross a river. Booking advised. £2 (accompanying adults free)
Meadows Library
Where’s Wally? Easter activities, Monday 10 April, 10.45am to 12pm
Celebrate 30 years of Where’s Wally? with an Easter Wally hunt and more free activities suitable for all children.
Sherwood Library
Where’s Wally? Easter activities, Tuesday 11 April, 2pm to 3pm
Celebrate 30 years of Where’s Wally? with an Easter Wally hunt and more free activities suitable for all children.
Sneinton Library
Where’s Wally? Easter activities, Wednesday 12 April, 2.30pm to 4pm
Celebrate 30 years of Where’s Wally? with an Easter Wally hunt and more free activities suitable for all children.
St Ann’s Valley Library
Where’s Wally? Easter activities, Thursday 13 April, 2.30pm to 4pm
Celebrate 30 years of Where’s Wally? with an Easter Wally hunt and more free activities suitable for all children.
Wollaton Library
Where the River Runs, Saturday 8 April, 10am to 10.50am
A magical, high-quality dance performance for children aged 5+ and their families, telling the simple story of a brave adventurer trying to cross a river. Booking advised. £2 per child (accompanying adults free)
Parks
Broxtowe Country Park
Bat walk, Saturday 1 April, 7.30pm
Join this free evening walk to discover which bats are living in your local park.
All our leisure centres will be offering family swimming sessions and lessons during the holidays. Find out more about your local leisure centre here!
School’s Out
School’s Out returns from Monday 3 April to Thursday 13 April at Clifton Leisure Centre, John Carroll Leisure Centre, Southglade Leisure Centre, the Portland Centre and Minver Crescent Sports Hall for just £1 per day (plus an additional charge for swimming).
Activities, from 9am to 4pm, will include football, hockey, tennis, basketball, cricket, rounders, table tennis, dodgeball, arts and crafts.
Places can be pre-booked at all sites except Minver Crescent the week before by contacting the relevant centre: Portland Centre – 0115 859 9968 (not Tuesdays) Clifton, John Carroll and Southglade Leisure Centres – 0115 876 1600
National Ice Centre
Ice skatingseven days a week, Saturday 1 to Friday 21 April
There’s morning, afternoon and evening public skating sessions, morning parent and toddler sessions, afternoon family party sessions, evening club sessions and the famous Easter Sunday afternoon family foam party! Click here for more info!
Nottingham Contemporary
Photo booth family portraits, Saturday 1 April to Monday 17 April, 11am to 3pm
Families come in all shapes and sizes. Share the things you love about your nearest and dearest in our family photo booth. Free!
intu shopping centres
intu Broadmarsh
Kids’ Club, Monday 3 April to Friday 7 April Monday 3 April – channel your inner Half-shell Hero, make your own mask and join in the ninja games. Tuesday 4 April – Shimmer and Shine with Genie Jen, who will be teaching genie magic, and make your own friendship bracelet. Wednesday 5 April – create your own Monster Truck using mega blocks and make your own Blaze and the Monster Trucks number plate. Thursday 6 April – make your own PAW Patrol mask and join in the fun and games. Friday 7 April – make your own mask and join in the colouring station. All free!
intu Victoria Centre
Kids’ Club, Monday 10 April to Friday 14 April Monday 10 April – channel your inner Shimmer and Shine to transform yourself into a mini-genie, with face-painting, hair braiding and the works. Tuesday 11 April – come along to the pizza parlour and create a crafty pizza the Half-shell Heroes would be jealous of. Wednesday 12 April – create your own Monster Truck using mega blocks, make your own driving licence and dress up in our Blaze and the Monster Trucks dress-up station. Thursday 13 April – meet Chase and Marshall from PAW Patrol. Friday 14 April – to celebrate the Dinosaurs of China coming to Wollaton Hall this year, there’ll be a giant dinosaur roaming the centre. All free!
