With the Easter half-term holidays upon us, I hope the next couple of weeks will offer a welcome break for folk to spend some quality time together.
I know for many families the Easter break means balancing childcare with work and keeping the kids entertained.
Fortunately, there are lots of affordable events and activities taking place on our doorstep for all to enjoy whatever the weather.
Cannon Hall and Cannon Hall Farm are both firm favourites for my family, and we always love to pay a visit during the holidays.
You’ll have no doubt seen the farm on the TV, the petting farm is great for the kids and the hall itself is an accurate recreation of a Yorkshire stately home from the Georgian era to the First World War - they’ve created a ‘wonderland trail’ in their forbidden forest and an Easter trail in their Victorian Kitchens.
In keeping with the cultural theme, Yorkshire Sculpture Park combines outdoor space with world renowned artwork.
This Easter, the park is putting on a hop along trail, tasking kids to find all the rabbits along the trail to win a chocolate treat.
Alongside this, they’re holding an Easter afternoon tea with homemade chocolate treats, sandwiches and, of course, Yorkshire Tea!
You could also delve into our town’s proud history and explore fascinating exhibits in one of our incredible museums.
Experience Barnsley is free to visit and has lots to see, including the continuation of their magic of middle earth exhibit containing all things Lord of the Rings.
Meanwhile, Darfield’s Maurice Dobson Museum and heritage centre is an immersive experience, exploring life in the village through the ages, and Cawthorne’s Victoria Jubilee Museum displays Victorian-age memorabilia and much more besides, including a two-headed sheep!
Elsewhere, the Cooper Gallery’s collection of extraordinary art remains free to view, Elsecar Heritage Centre is hosting the Little Hummingbird Fair that will see a range of local businesses - including bakers, chocolatiers, and craftsman - set up shop, and Worsbrough Mill will be putting on their nature pinch pots where children can create a clay plant pot, decorate it with flowers, and take it home.
There’s also the excellent Pot House Hamlet in Silkstone who are always worth a visit during the holidays - particularly at this time of year.
If you’re wanting to explore the beautiful countryside that our borough has to offer, Mapplewell Meadows Farms has great views and is the ideal place to pitch up for a few nights camping.
We’ve also got a number of beautiful local parks holding community events, Easter craft sessions at Barnsley Metrodome and, for any amateur archaeologists or Jurassic Park enthusiasts, a velociraptor show at Barnsley Civic!
