Salford is packed with fun events and activities for the whole family this Easter.
From quacktastic duck racing in Spinningfields and on The Quays to exciting Easter egg hunting, lots of fun events are on offer for everyone to enjoy.
Looking further ahead, we are keen to encourage new people to take part in Salford’s Family Orchestra. Regardless of age or ability, everyone can get involved in BBC Philharmonic’s fantastic project who are hosting a taster day on Sunday 17 April – more details below.
Another exciting highlight next month is a festival at The Lowry – Week 53 – aimed at the compulsively curious as they challenge convention and celebrate creativity. Find out more below…
See below to find out what else is happening in Salford.
Salford Family Orchestra
Sunday 17 April, 10am to 4pm
BBC Philharmonic Studio
Everyone from age 8 – 80 + is welcome to get involved with the Salford Family Orchestra – a BBC Philharmonic Orchestra project that brings together enthusiastic musicians and their families who live or work in Salford.
Beginners and experienced players are all welcome to join as long as they live, work or attend school/college in Salford. The family orchestra and chorus will be creating a new celebratory piece of music to perform and record for BBC Music Day 2016, an annual event which takes place across all BBC media platforms on Friday 3 June.
Everyone is welcome whether they play an instrument or not. Our youngest members are 8 years old (and always accompanied by an adult). If you do not have an instrument of your own, don’t worry, we will probably encourage you to either sing or play a percussion instrument (which will be provided).
Please join us for a ‘taster day’ on Sunday 17 April from 10am until 4pm at the BBC Philharmonic Studio at MCUK to find out more and to meet other families who share your love of music.
For more information and/or to request an application form, please visit www. bbc.co.uk/philharmonic or call 0161 836 1302 or email philharmonic@bbc.co.uk
Week 53
Thursday 28 April – Sunday 8 May
The Lowry
Week 53 is a festival of innovative, provocative national and international work in a series of spaces including areas of the building normally off-limits to the public. It’s about rewarding the compulsively curious as they challenge convention and celebrate creativity.
A major commissioning project for The Lowry, it brings together contemporary dance, visual arts, music and theatre in interactive installations, exhibitions and performances. Book tickets now to sign up for a free Festival Pass which provides exclusive offers and access to Week 53.
The Witches – Roald Dahl
Monday 21 to Saturday 26 March, £19
The Lowry
Roald Dahl’s scariest book is brought to life in a tremendously terrifying treat for the whole family.
The Witches features a hugely talented cast of actor-musicians, original music and mind-boggling illusions!
Chocomania
Friday 25 – Monday 28 March, 10am to 6pm daily, Free
Lowry Outlet
Immerse yourself and the whole family in a world of pure imagination over Easter Weekend.
Tantalise the senses in the immersive ‘Chocolate Factory’ experience with fantastic technicolour, full of sights, sounds and smells, with fun challenges for all the family and surprises along the way. Free entry by ticket only, available to visitors who have hunted for the missing tickets scattered around the centre in the Golden Ticket Trail.
The Manchester Duck Race!
Friday 25 March, 11am – 4pm
Leftbank, Spinningfields
The Manchester Duck Race is back for its seventh year on Good Friday!
The fun begins at 11am with ducky craft workshops, an urban petting zoo, fairground rides and street food from some of Manchester’s favourite traders at The Kitchens.
The rubber ducks swim their little hearts out at 2pm, with loads of great prizes up for grabs in both the family and corporate races.
The Quays Duck Race!
Friday 25 March, 12.30pm – 4pm
Helly Hansen Watersports Centre
The quays quacktastic Easter Quays Duck Race is back for a third year and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever!
As well as the races, started by CBBC’s Katie Thistleton, there will be stalls, games and entertainment for all the family to enjoy.
Walkden’s Easter Eggstravaganza
Saturday 26 March, 12pm to 4pm, 50p to join in the hunt
ParrFold Park, Walkden Road, M28 7EA
Join the Easter Bunny for a family friendly Easter Hunt in the park. With inflatable super slides, arts and crafts activities and yummy chocolaty prizes!
Dress for the outdoors and wear your bunny ears
Walking Tours of Ordsall Hall
Sunday 27 March 2016, 2pm, £2
If you would like to find out more about the fascinating history of Ordsall Hall why not join one of our volunteers for an informal walking tour of the house at 2.00pm every Sunday?
Tours don’t run on the first Sunday of the month or if there is another event taking place at the Hall.
No booking required
Easter Egg Hunt
Sunday 27 March 2016, 1pm to 4pm, £1 per quiz
Have a go at our special Easter Sunday quiz, find the eggs and solve the clues to get a small prize.
No booking required
Peppa Pigs Surprise
Wednesday 30 to Thursday 31 March, £17- £23
The Lowry
Enjoy fun, games and of course, surprises in this charming, colourful new show with new songs and new life size puppets, Peppa Pig’s Surprise promises to be the perfect theatre show for all pre-schoolers!
Ghost Night with Haunted Happenings
Saturday 2 April, 9pm to Sunday, 3 April, 3am. £65 per person
Ordsall Hall
Ordsall Hall is a truly haunted house with a phenomenal reputation for activity. We have experienced truly spectacular activity on ghost hunts at Ordsall Hall, with responsive bangs, people being grabbed and even poltergeist activity on many occasions.
An overnight ghost hunt at Ordsall Hall can be a daunting experience and only the bravest should attempt a vigil in the attic space. What will the many ghost cameras around the building capture during your ghost hunt? Join Haunted Happenings and discover what lies within.
Booking required
Pop-in Workshop
Saturday 2 April, 1pm to 3pm, free
Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Join Venture Arts for a family friendly art workshop and help to add the finishing touches to our installation in the gallery.
Forming part of their current exhibition Heart and Sold, this is an opportunity to get creative adding clay, fabric and porcelain to the art installation.
No booking required
Through the Ages… Live!
Sunday 3 April, 1pm, £1 per child
Come join us at the Hall for Ordsall Live! Our monthly family fun day packed with arts, crafts and activities, held on the first Sunday of every month.
Lark Hill Place Sweet Shop
Sunday, 3 April, 12.30pm, free
Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Join us on the first Sunday of every month and visit Mr Tomlinson’s Sweet Shop on our recreated Victorian street, Lark Hill Place and pick up some sweet treats!
