Family fun this half-term

Rain or shine, indoors or outdoors, there’s plenty of fun to be had this half term. B24/7’s Film, Art, Theatre and Lifestyle editors mark your cards.

FILM
Big Hero 6, various cinemas
Disney’s Frozen follow-up is set in the futuristic East-meets-West city of San Fransokyo, where nerdy teen Hiro Hamada and his pals team up to take on an all-purpose baddie. Humour is supplied by Hiro’s squishy inflatable healthcare robot Baymax. See our review here.
See Film>What’s On section for screenings.

Shaun the Sheep the Movie, various cinemas
In his big-screen debut, Shaun joins force with the rest of the flock, plus Bitzer the sheepdog, on a mission to rescue the Farmer from the Big City. Go here for our full review, and here for our feature on the film.
See Film>What’s On for screenings.

Peppa Pig: The Golden Boots, various cinemas
In which everyone’s favourite puddle-jumping porker looks for her missing boots and, er, finds them. Oops! Given away the ending. For cinema details and trailer, see here.
See Film>What’s On for screenings.

Paddington, various cinemas
Ben Whishaw voices Michael Bond’s creation’s live action/CGI big-screen debut. The starry cast also includes Nicole Kidman, Sally Hawkins, Peter Capaldi, Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters, Michael Gambon and Imelda Staunton. See the trailer here.
See Film>What’s On for screenings. 

DAYS OUT
At-Bristol
Little ones can investigate vital medical techniques, and try out some specialist equipment, in At-Bristol’s Live Lab. Elsewhere, don’t miss Fairytale SOS II, where science helps some fairytale characters in distress. Don’t forget that the Planetarium closes on 16 Feb to begin its conversion into the UK’s first-ever digital 3D planetarium.
www.at-bristol.org.uk

Bristol Zoo
Help create a giant flower collage, try out some flower pot decorating and follow the flower trail during Bristol Zoo’s Petal Power week. You can also learn how to turn your garden or local green space into a spring wildlife and flower paradise. Download a special voucher from the website so kids can get in for £5.
www.bristolzoo.org.uk

The Wild Place Project
Half term is Explorers Week at The Wild Place Project near Cribbs Causeway. Activities include an explorers’ trail, crafts, mini-beast hunts with magnifying glasses, animal talks and a colouring competition. Book your tickets online to receive a 20% discount. 
www.wildplace.org.uk

Avon Valley Railway
Half-term train rides, Feb 14-22, 11am-4pm. Take the family on a ride on the railway’s Heritage Diesel Railcar.
www.avonvalleyrailway.org

Curious About Bristol self-guided walks
From Bathurst Basin to College Green, or College Green to Cabot Tower, these accessible walks reveal Bristol from a new viewpoint. Kids can match pictures to clues, navigating and finding answers to questions in the fun, fact-filled booklets. Buy, download and print the booklets, or get them posted to you for £1.50.
www.curiousabout.co.uk

Tyntesfield
The National Trust’s Tyntesfield estate will be open from 10am-5pm for activities including den building, welly-wanging and a ‘future’ fancy dress day. Four new play areas are opening just in time for half-term, while on Monday and Wednesday (10am-12.30pm and 1pm-3.30pm), Future Camp: Woodland Survival will have you honing your den-building skills, following clues left by other woodland survivors and creating your very own survival suits. 
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tyntesfield

Brunel’s SS Great Britain
The great Isambard himself will be on board the big, beautiful ship during half-term. Shipmates are invited to meet Mr Brunel and quiz him on the challenges he faced and how he dealt with them. 
www.ssgreatbritain.org

ART
Strange Weather (Feb 14, Arnolfini)
Part of Arnolfini’s We Are Family programme, In Between Time’s Strange Weather invites families to become a weather forecaster, create the sounds of a storm, make a pair of ‘Foggles’ and play Hide and Seek on the Fog Bridge. 1-5pm, free.
www.arnolfini.org.uk

Scribble and Sketch (Feb 14, RWA)
Artist Anouk Mercier leads these fun and informal morning drawing exercises. All of the family can join in – or just leave the kids to it and park yourself at the RWA’s excellent Papadeli café. Book in advance, or just come along on the day. 10.30am-1pm, free with exhibition entry.
www.rwa.org.uk

Bristol Rocks! (Feb 18, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery)
Geology-inspired family takeover day at the Museum. Includes dressing up, games and behind-the-scenes tours. Drop-in, 11am-4 pm, free.
www.bristolmuseums.org.uk

THEATRE
The Star Seekers (Feb 16-21, Wardrobe Theatre)
Astronomical show for ages 3-8, staged by Bristol’s ever-inventive Wardrobe Ensemble. Have you ever dreamt of flying to the moon? Visiting a space station? Becoming an astronaut? Join The Wardrobe Ensemble on a journey through the stars – and one where you take the steering wheel.
www.thewardrobetheatre.com

Detective O and the Cold Case Caper (Feb 16-21, Bristol Old Vic Studio)
Bristol theatre-maker Cori Bona presents this interactive, fast-paced children’s puppetry show, with its very own catchy soundtrack by Kid Carpet. Join the latest batch of rookie detectives in Detective O’s evidence room at the police department and earn your badge by helping her solve her toughest case yet. Ages 6+.
www.bristololdvic.org.uk/detectiveo.html

Red Riding Hood (Feb 17-22, Brewery Theatre)
Norwich Puppet Theatre promise a fresh twist to this much-loved tale, featuring original music and visual innovation aplenty. Stay alert – as events will unravel in ways you may not expect. Recommended for ages 4+.
www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/detail/red_riding_hood

A Little Man’s Holiday (Feb 17-22, Alma Tavern Theatre)
Exeter/Bristol-based PaddleBoat Theatre present this adventure for ages 4-12. Grab your treasure maps and prepare to set sail on the high seas with Little Man and his mother, in an adventure full of puppetry, storytelling, music and mime.
www.almataverntheatre.co.uk/theatre/what-s-on.html