It's almost time for another school holiday, with the May half term break just around the corner.
Keeping the whole family entertained can prove a testing challenge, but it doesn't need to be an impossible task.
There's loads of family -orientated activities and events right on our doorstep, suitable for whoever you are bringing with you and whatever the weather.
And what's more, it doesn't have to cost the earth, either.
Whether you're local or visiting, we've rounded up some of the best purse-friendly events and days out for this half term week.
They're all geared specifically for families, and all in North Wales .
And all for less than £10 a head.
Don't forget, if you want to explore some new places, you can read our guide to secret spaces in North Wales here .
Or check out the 99 things you should do in North Wales at least once .
And if the weather ends up being a bit rubbish, we've got our ultimate guide of things to do in North Wales when it's raining here.
Events
Jurassic Farm
Manorafon Farm Park, Abergele
May 29 - June 2 from 10am - 5pm. Last entry 4pm.
The usually quiet and peaceful farm park in Abergele has been over run with dinosaurs! Mini paleontologists are invited to become a dinosaur explorer for the day. You'll learn how to train a dinosaur, come face to face with a roaming raptor, make your own discoveries at The Big Dig Zone and have a go at creating your own fossils in the Fossil Lab.
But don't worry, all the usual residents are safe and sound, and you can visit them and give them lots of treats while you're there. And if you time it right, you might even see the lambs battle it out to be crowned winner of the infamous Manorafon Lamb National.
Perfect day out for the family - and if you book online you get a discount on the gate prices making it purse friendly, too.
Tickets are £4.95 for adults and £5.95 for children. Kids under two go free.
You can book online here .
Festival of Discovery
Anglesey Showground, Gwalchmai
May 30 - June 1 from 10am - 5pm
This family friendly festival is a three day fun packed event located on the beautiful Isle of Anglesey. Join in bushcraft workshops, circus skills, science shows, bubble factories and folk music. There is something on every hour over the 3 day festival, we have a jam packed programme of family fun.
You can discover the Hidden world of Science with Bangor University in the Science pavilion, offering hands-on activities and demonstrations. Get stuck in with arts & crafts and cookery classes, have fun at the bubble factory, and even learn what it takes to be in a circus with a modern non-animal social circus.
They boast the festival will be "bound to keep you and the kids busy from breakfast till bed". It's dog friendly too.
Tickets are £10 for adults and £5 for children which allows access for a day. Under 3s go free.
You can book online here.
The Original Conwy Pirate Festival
Conwy Quay
June 1 - June 2 from 11.30am
The Original Weekend of Pirate Mayhem is set in the beautiful historic walled town of Conwy. See the Pirate ship attack the harbour and castle as it is docked on the quay.
Expect entertainment in the form of mermaids, a smugglers market, belly dancers, music, ship, sword fighting displays, cannon fire, fire performers, magic and comedy.
Running over two days across the whole town, the free family-friendly event will see a number of stalls lined around the square as well as a smugglers food festival along the prom.
Pirates can also watch musket demonstrations, pirate reenactments and sword fights and take part in treasure hunts
The extravaganza draws upwards of 10,000 pirate enthusiasts to the area for the fun-packed weekend, plus visits from pirates from across the UK
Free event
Prestatyn Classic Car Show 2019
Prestatyn High Street
May 27 from 10am - 4pm
It's the largest free classic car show in North Wales with over 350 cars and motorbikes from across the years making a special trip to the event.
This long-standing event draws crowds who come to see the cars which vary from the early 1900’s vehicles through to modern supercars, and this year will see the biggest collection of American Classics.
Alongside the exhibition of cars, there will be stalls, refreshments and a live Jazz Band playing in the old vicarage gardens and something for the whole family with bouncy castles, fairground rides , a Scalextric competition and face painting.
The car run on Sunday the 26th of May starts at county hall in Mold at 10am, with a lunch halt in the riverside car park in Llanrwst from noon. Cars arrive back at The Beaches Hotel (the run's sponsors) Prestatyn at 3.30
Entry is free.
Mayday Madness
Rhyl RFC, Tynewydd Fields, Rhyl
May 30, 1pm - 7pm.
A community engagement day where you can meet your emergency services in a fun-filled day out. There will be lots of games, have a go on the WRU's cage and bungee and RAPA's waterslide.
The day will be finishing off with the North Wales Police rugby boys taking on the Rhyl 2nd’s team.
Free entry.
Deganwy Prom Day
Deganwy Promenade, Conwy
June 1 from 11am - 4pm
Family fun day with lots of activities, stalls, food and refreshments and lots of music - all on the sea front.
Free admission
Abergele Food & Craft Festival
Pentre Mawr Park, Abergele
May 25 from 11am - 4pm
A celebration of food and craft set in Pentre Mawr Park in the historic town of Abergele. The event officially opens at 11am with mini dog show to start at 12pm. A stones throw from the sea, in a beautiful local park with active pondlife, there's plenty to see and do while you're there.
There will be over 150 stalls from Wales and into the English border, showcasing the best producers in the area. There is also a children's area full of activities to keep the whole family entertained.
Free entry.
Pirates Weekend
Rhyl Miniature Railway, Marine Lake
May 25 - May 27 from 10.30am
It's time for the annual pirates weekend at the miniature railway. The popular family event features children's entertainment, magic shows, face painting, fairground attractions and you might even meet the notorious villain Captain Hook. Fancy dress is encouraged, with a best dressed competition each day at 2pm. Of course, there will be trains galore too, with rides around the lake on the steam trains.
Usual fares apply. The train fare is £3.00 per adult and £1.50 per child, ages 2-14. Children under the age of 2 are carried free of charge. Museum and toilets free of charge. Dogs are carried free of charge providing they are in the care of their owners.
Survival skills
Llanbedrog Beach, Gwynedd
May 26, from 12pm - 4pm
Practise your survival skills on Llanbedrog beach, and tick off some of your 50 things to do before you're 11 checklist.
Activities will include den-building, cooking on a campfire and raft building, everything you need to survive on a desert island. Booking not needed.
Free event.
Music at the Musuem
National Slate Museum, Llanberis
June 2 from 1pm
See three of Wales’ most exciting bands rock the Foundry. The acclaimed blues rock duo Alffa from Llanrug will headlineas they celebrate the release of their new single ‘Pla’. Their last single Gwenwyn received 2 million streams on Spotify, becoming the most streamed Welsh language song in history.
Gwilym, a band from Anglesey and Caernarfon are winners of 5 awards at this year’s Gwobrau’r Selar, will also play a set, along with Lewys, an emerging 18-year-old artist from Dolgellau who has drawn the nation’s attention with his recent singles and energetic live performances.
Tickets to the gig are £8 each, but access to the museum is free.
FunPlay Friday
RSPB Conwy, Llandudno Junction
May 31, from 11am - 3pm
A drop in session with loads of stuff to play with - cardboard, sticks, logs, chalk, bubbles, hoops and den building branches. Join in any time and get creative in the outdoors. The event is aimed at children aged 3 - 8 and their families.
The event is weather dependant. Free entry but standard reserve charges apply if you go round the trails.
Craft Club: Mark your place with Mai Thomas
Ruthin Craft Centre
May 30, from 10.30am - 12.30pm
The workshop will be inspired from the Under Your Feet exhibition of rugs to make your very own place mats using recycled paper and coiling techniques. This is an opportunity to transform bare table tops and dull walls, roll and turn and let your ideas grow.
Suitable for children aged 5 - 11 who must be accompanied by an adult. £5 per session.
Colours and Camouflage
RSPB Conwy, Llandudno Junction
May 29 and June 1 from 2pm - 3.30pm
Head down to the RSPB reserve and find out how nature uses patterns and colours to survive. You'll discover how different animals use camouflage and enjoy a colour hunt out on the reserve itself. Suitable for children 5 to 8 years. Booking essential - call 01492 581025 to book.
Tickets are £4.00 members, £6.00 non-members, £2.00 for accompanying non-member adults.
Tŷ Mawr -Bee Happy
Tŷ Mawr Country Park, Wrexham
May 29, sessions from 11am - 4pm
Bee happy with an afternoon of bee-related activities - including a bee discovery trail and other fun activities. Suitable for all ages. While you're there you can enjoy a walk alongside the River Dee and enjoy a picnic, and see magnificent views of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. There's also a cute farm where you can feed the pigs, the rabbits, chickens, goats and donkeys.
Free admission to the country park, prices for the activities vary.
Techniquest Glyndŵr - slime event
Techniquest Glyndŵr, Wrexham
Silme event runs May 25, 26 and June 1 - 2 between 11am and 4.30pm.
Fantastic fluids take the stage in this gooey, gungy extravaganza! Explore the amazing properties of slime and find out why it behaves in such strange ways. See slime you can squeeze, punch, pour, stretch and splat.
Techniquest Glyndŵr is the only place in North Wales you will find live science shows, 65 hands-on interactive activities and a science garden. The science discovery centre offers a self-guided tour through all the exhibits and all the exhibits are from the world of science and illusions, great for hands-on interactive play and education, for all.
Entry to the museum is £6.35 for adults, £5.45 for children and concessions and under 3s go free.
Greenfield Goodies Vs Valley Villans
Greenfield Valley Heritage Park, Holywell
May 25 from 11am - 3pm
Dress up in your best fancy dress and meet some iconic characters. There will be lots of challenges and activities - but you need to decide if you're a goodie or a baddy.
Alongside the event, you can also enjoy the regular attractions, including 70 acres of woodland – with lakes, streams, monuments, historic factories around every corner. Kids can also explore the adventure tree house, the tunnel maze and make a splash with water games. Toddlers can have fun in the soft play tractor heaven barn and children of all ages can try to find their way out of the Mega Tower maze.
Entry for adults is £6.70, children £3.90 and under 3s go free.
Attractions
Dwyfor Ranch Rabbit Farm and Animal Park
Llanystumdwy, Porthmadog
Open daily, 10am - 5pm
For over 30 years the farm has welcomed visitors to interact with a wide range of farm animals including some rare breeds.
Under adult supervision, the children are allowed to handle a selection of different types of animals including rabbits, guinea pigs and puppies, as well as hand-feeding many of the larger animals such as pigmy goats, alpacas, rhea, donkeys, ponies, pigs and lambs. You may see a wide variety of newly born animals or be lucky enough to witness a birth
Pili Palas Nature World
Menai Bridge, Anglesey
Open daily 10am – 5.30pm (Last admission 4.30pm)
Located on Anglesey, the butterfly farm is has something to do for the whole family. And it's not just butterflies either, there's meerkats, a petting farm, creepy-crawlies, snakes and lizards and lots of birds.
Toddlers can play around in the indoor play area while older children can have fun on the bouncy castle, play barn or adventure playground. An ideal family activity for when the sun isn't shining.
Tickets are £8.75 for adults, children and concessions £7.75. Children under 3 go free.
Bodafon Farm Park
Bodafon, Llandudno
Open daily 10am - 5pm
A genuine working Welsh farm attraction with fantastic views across the bay. There's lots of animals to meet, including sheep, pigs, llamas owls and more. The resident pony also offers children rides across the grass.
Bodafon Farm park is pretty big, and there’s so much more to see out in the fields and paddocks – and the trailer rides around the farm will make sure you see everything. The farm is disabled friendly with a ramp up to our cafe and up to look at the owls and birds
There's also mini tractors to ride in the courtyard and a huge wooden fort to conquer, alongside a challenging trim trail. Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome on the farm, too.
Entry to the farm is free, but they ask you don't consume your own food on the premesis. Additional charges for some activities - animal feed £1, pony ride £2, tractor trailer ride £2.
Sygun Copper Mine
Beddgelert, Gwynedd
There are miles of deep underground winding tunnels and large, colorful chambers to get around. The magnificent stalactite and stalagmite formations and copper ore veins which contain traces of gold, silver and other precious metals. The kids could even strike lucky when you’re panning for gold in the caves.
Admission is £10 for adults and £7.50 for children. Under 3s go free.
SeaQuarium
Rhyl Promenade
Open daily from 10am
Featuring species from around the world on show in 9 different zones, the SeaQuarium is a popular attraction. This state-of-the-art exhibit gives you a fantastic underwater view of our seals in their 33,000 gallon pool. Daily shows and talks to be seen, and you'll be able to see the superstar African fur seals in action as they show off their natural abilities in their twice daily shows. There's also a touch pool, feeding demonstrations and a whole host of sealife related activities. Not forgetting the only underwater tunnel in North Wales.
The new Phobias Zone has daily educational and entertaining presentations about creatures such as creepy crawlies and rats who have had a bad reputation for giving people a fright. A fab rainy day activity.
Prices are £9.75 for adults, £8.75 for children. Under 3s go free. If you book online you can save 10% on the admission price over half term. These discounted pre-paid admission tickets can be used on any day during the season when they were purchased.
Foel Farm Park
Brynsiencyn, Anglesey
Open daily 10.00am - 5.30pm
A great family visit to experience the sights, sounds and smells of a real working farm. All visitors are invited to meet, touch and feed the animals.
There are tractor & trailer and quad bike & mini-trailer rides, pony rides, chances to feed and meet the farm animals, and even a Chocolate Workshop where you can see chocolates being made - something for children and adults alike.
The whole family can take a tractor & trailer tour of the farm to meet our shire horses and for the more adventurous we offer a thrilling mini trailer ride pulled behind the quad bike.
Airworld Aviation Museum
Caernarfon Airport, Dinas Dinlle
Open daily, 10am - 4pm
Located on the airfield of the former RAF Llandwrog, the museum has an impressive collection of aircraft and aviation memorabilia. The museum offers the opportunity to get close up to some historic aircraft. Set on an active airfield, the museum houses iconic machines such as the Hawker Hunter, D.H. Vampire, along with the only T2 BAe Harrier remaining worldwide.
Unusually, visitors may enter the cockpits of some of the aircraft and find out what it is like to sit in the narrow confines of a jet fighter aircraft. Part of the museum is devoted to the creation of the RAF Mountain Rescue Service, started at RAF Llandwrog in 1942, while other sections describe the wartime airfields of North Wales. Well behaved dogs are welcome too. Great all-weather activity and perfect for the little aviation enthusiasts.
Admission for adults is £6.50, children £5.00 and under 2s go free.
Gypsy Wood Park
Bontnewydd, Caernarfon
Open daily 10.30am - 5pm
This hidden gem is full of family orientated fun. You can enjoy a magical ride on Woody’s Train through part of the park, mini-diggers for you to test your skills on, a fun undercover play area plus in-ground trampolines. There's magnetic fishing, duck racing, an outdoor play area and a fairy hunt.
visit the ponies, alpacas, donkeys, pygmy goats, pot-bellied pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs and more.
At 1:30pm every day there’s the chance to meet some of the animals. You can get up close to some of our friendliest residents and touch, hold and even brush them. In peak season there are plenty of animal activities like donkey grooming and sheep racing.
Admission is £7 for children under 15, £8 for adults and £4 for walking toddlers. If you book online you can save 50p off each ticket.
Children under the age of 15 are not permitted without an accompanying paying adult.
Anglesey Transport and Agriculture Museum
Newborough, Anglesey
Open daily, 10am - 5pm
The Anglesey Transport and Agriculture Museum is the largest of its kind in Wales. A family run business with a large and much-loved collection of vehicles. They currently have over 100 vehicles on display, from motorcycles , tractors and cars. There's also a growing military section and a Hunter Hawker plane, with the backfrop of automotive memorabilia. There is an on site cafe which can be used without museum entrance .There is a play area for customers and even a replica of a 1940`s street with cobbled road.
Entry for adults £6.50. Pensioners £5.50. Children £4.00
Adventure Trail
St George, Abergele
Open daily, 10am - 5pm
Explore beautiful woodland and experience nature at its finest with more than 40 fun games and challenges along the trail. There are plenty of picnic areas along the way so, pack up a feast and enjoy fresh air and fun activities for a perfect family day out.
You’ll find plenty to do and fun is guaranteed as you tackle balance beams, tunnels, stilts, trains, chain beams, cargo nets, pirate stations, swings, see saws, the spider’s web, mazes, slides, climbing walls and more.
There's also a tribute area dedicated to the characters and props from the Harry Potter films and books. The majority of the trail is pushchair friendly and dogs on a lead are welcome.
Children aged 3 and above £8. Children under 3 go free.
Adults £4 but one adult goes free with every fee paying child.
DangerPoint - Safety Activity Centre
Talacre, Denbighshire
DangerPoint is an award winning interactive visitor centre and a great family day out. The Centre offers visitors the opportunity to learn about safety – but not in the way you might think. DangerPoint is full of fun and interactive activities to keep everyone entertained throughout a visit.
Designed like a film set, where children journey from the home to the beach, countryside, playground, farm & other settings, DangerPoint offers a safe environment where children learn about risks and how to keep safe, whilst most importantly, having fun.
Don't forget to fill in your detective quest booklet on the way round.
Standard admission is £5 and children under 4 go free.
Conwy Water Gardens
Rowen, Conwy
With the famous Dutch Pancake House, an Aquatic Centre, a Fish and Tortoise shop and plenty of Nature Walks. Just five minutes drive from Conwy. Set amidst a woodland valley you’ll enjoy walking through the tranquil surroundings discovering Pheasants, Capybara, lots of hens & ducks to feed. There's also a new woodland bird feeding station plus 100s of woodland birds to see & hear. Dogs are allowed too.
Entry is free.