Enjoy historic adventures with Cadw this Easter
Mwynhewch antur hanesyddol gyda Cadw y Pasg hwn
Cadw has announced an array of fun family events taking place at many of its historic sites this Easter bank holiday weekend (8–10 April 2023).
From Easter egg hunts at medieval abbeys to knight combat displays at historic castles, there are over 20 exciting events taking place at Cadw sites across Wales, offering entertainment for the whole family.
One of the highlights of the jam-packed bank holiday weekend will be the Medieval Easter Weekend at Beaumaris Castle (8–9 April), featuring living history displays, with knights combat and archery as well as other medieval activities, including a historical tented village with medieval cooking, trading, and medieval crafts.
On Easter Sunday itself (9 April), families can hop along to more than 10 of Cadw’s impressive monuments to take part in Easter egg hunts and trails, with chocolate prizes on offer for younger visitors.
The Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden, said: “Our spectacular monuments will be open to all across the Easter weekend providing exciting opportunities for people to use the bank holiday weekend to discover the best of Wales during the Year of Trails.
“With many of the sites offering a variety of lively events, including on Easter Sunday itself, families will be able to engage with their heritage in a fun and interactive way. We can be sure our historic monuments will live up to the expectations of history seekers heading to Wales this year”.
From meeting knights and squires at Harlech Castle to discovering the stories of Wales at Criccieth Castle, here are 10 of the best ways families can experience the sights, sounds and smells of historic Wales this Easter. To see Cadw’s full line-up of seasonal events visit cadw.gov.wales.
For those who fancy making the most of the events on offer, Cadw membership offers free event entry and unlimited access to over 100 historical sites across Wales.
Notes to editors
Event Listings:
Sunday, 9 April
Easter Egg Hunts at various Cadw sites
Prices and times will vary, please see www.gov.wales/cadw
Families can hop along to more than 10 Cadw sites on Easter Sunday to participate in Easter egg hunts. Easter prizes will be awarded to the first children taking part in trails at each site – so visitors are encouraged to get there early!
Participating sites include: Beaumaris Castle, Caerphilly Castle, Castell Coch, Raglan Castle, Blaenavon Ironworks, Denbigh Castle, Tretower Court and Castle, Harlech Castle, Rhuddlan Castle, Laugharne Castle, and Plas Mawr.
Visit www.gov.wales/cadw for more information.
South Wales
Saturday, 1 April – Sunday 16 April
Easter Egg-stravaganza at Castell Coch
11am – 3pm
Normal admission applies
Hop on down to Castell Coch for an Easter of craft-based fun. There will be a trail around the castle, as well as card-decorating and Aesop’s Fables storytelling.
Easter prizes will be awarded to the first children taking part – so visitors are encouraged to get there early.
Visit www.gov.wales/cadw for more information.
Saturday, 8 April – Monday 10 April
William Marshal’s Visit to Tintern Abbey
10am-5pm
Normal admission applies
The Household is encamped at Tintern, with its array of medieval crafts and characters. From soldiers and knights to monks and cooks, the Household will demonstrate the typical itinerant household under William Marshal, patron and benefactor of Tintern Abbey. An interactive introduction to medieval life, for all ages.
Visit www.gov.wales/cadw for more information.
Saturday, 8 April – Monday 10 April
Easter Egg Hunt at Tretower Court and Castle
10am-5pm
Normal admission applies
Gladys the Tretower Hen needs your help: one of her naughty chicks has hidden all her eggs, can you find them for her and reveal the name of the trickster? Tasty rewards for those who can.
Easter prizes will be awarded to the first children taking part – so visitors are encouraged to get there early.
Visit www.gov.wales/cadw for more information.
Sunday, 9 April – Monday 10 April
Easter Egg Hunt at Laugharne Castle
11am-4pm
Normal admission applies
Visit Laugharne Castle in search of the hidden coloured Easter eggs and you will be rewarded with a chocolate one.
Make sure you get there early to avoid disappointment. The first 50 children who take part in one of our trails will be rewarded with an Easter prize for taking part. Egg-citing stuff!
Visit www.gov.wales/cadw for more information.
North Wales
Friday, 9 April – Sunday 10 April
Beaumaris Castle’s Easter Egg-stravaganza
10am–5pm
Normal admission applies
Beaumaris Castle’s much-loved Easter event is back for a fun weekend for all. The castle welcomes warrior knights who’ll be portraying life as it was back in medieval Wales.
Across the Easter weekend, visitors can experience medieval life at Beaumaris Castle — with appearances from warrior knights, circus performers, medieval musicians, falconers, and much more.
There will be an Easter Egg Hunt on both days, followed by the chance to meet medieval characters, watch demonstrations of medieval crafts and trades.
Visit www.gov.wales/cadw for more information.
Friday, 7 April – Sunday 9 April
Find the Golden Sword at Conwy Castle
10am-4pm
Normal admission applies
On Good Friday in 1401, while the English were at church, Meurig – the Castle’s Welsh carpenter – snuck in with an armed guard and took the fortress for Owain Glyndŵr. The Welsh were eventually turned out, but not before Meurig had hidden five wooden swords around the castle, each with a clue that points toward the location of Owain Glyndwr’s golden sword…
Join us at Conwy Castle this Easter to follow Meurig’s trail, unravel the mystery of the golden sword, and learn about the siege of Easter 1401. All victorious sword-hunters will go home with a prize!
Visit www.gov.wales/cadw for more information.
Saturday 8 April – Monday 10 April
Medieval Easter Quest at Harlech Castle
11am-4pm
Normal admission applies
Travel back in time at Harlech Castle this Easter to meet medieval characters and join a quest for the chance to win a prize.
Visit www.gov.wales/cadw for more information.
Saturday 8 April – Sunday 9 April
Easter Egg-stravaganza at Denbigh Castle
10am-4pm
Normal admission applies
Families are invited to hop along to Denbigh Castle this Easter as the site’s Annual Medieval Egg-stravaganza returns for 2023.
The event will feature an array of fun family activities, including birds of prey displays — with talks about the role that birds of prey played in medieval Wales. Plus, visitors can enjoy an Easter Trail and even medieval combat displays — courtesy of the Princes’ Retinue Living History group.
Visit www.gov.wales/cadw for more information.
Sunday 9 April
Easter Fun at Rhuddlan Castle
11am – 3pm
Normal admission applies
Families are invited to hop along to Rhuddlan Castle this Easter, to hear local legends brought to life with music by musician and published author, Mair Tomos Ifans.
Make sure you get there early to avoid disappointment. The first 100 children who take part in one of our trails will be rewarded with an Easter prize for taking part. Egg-citing stuff!
For full Easter events listings, visit www.gov.wales/cadw, find Cadw on Facebook or follow @CadwWales on Twitter.
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