Eggciting things to do in and around Preston for Easter 2024

Pink blossom on the Lancaster Canal at Preston on Thursday 1 April Pic: Tony Worrall — Pink blossom on the Lancaster Canal at Preston Pic: Tony Worrall

With the blossom coming out across Preston, it can mean only one thing yolks – Easter is just around the corner.

There’s plenty of eggciting activities going on across the four-day weekend and the half-term school break, both in and around the city.

Whether you’re looking for traditional Easter festivities or something a little different, Preston has plenty to choose from to ensure you won’t have to put all your eggs in one basket.

So why not get out of your shell, chick out our round up of what’s on, and hop along to one of the events on offer?

In Preston

Easter extravaganza at St Bernard’s Function Hall, Larches

The Smoke and Kane team will bring family party vibes to Ashton on Saturday 30 March from 1pm to 5pm. Featuring a line up of DJs including their youngest new resident, activities and games, it’s time to get the whistles and glow sticks ready.

Find out more: Smoke and Kane on Skiddle website

Easter special at Ribble Valley Steam Railway and Museum, Riversway

A Ribble Steam rail service in operation PicL Tony Worrall — A Ribble Steam rail service in operation Pic: Tony Worrall

All-day steam train travel tickets are available across the Easter weekend. There’s a superhero fancy dress theme, an egg hunt and a face painter (on Good Friday and Easter Monday), as well as the museum, café and playground.

Find out more: Ribble Steam website

Easter events at The Intact Centre, Ingol

Evenings with Intact have been a recent success. Totally free, they feature food and drinks, prizes and the chance to meet new people. On Monday 25 March from 4pm to 6pm is Easter bonnet making, while at the same time on Thursday 28 March there’s Easter bingo.

Find out more: Intact Centre Facebook page

Easter activities at Moor Nook Youth and Community Centre, Ribbleton

As part of the high school targeted Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme, Tuesday 2 April will see the centre host a BBQ party. The following week on Monday 8 April there will be a movie day from 12pm to 3.30pm with two films, bean bags, and mocktails.

Find out more: Preston Youth Zone Facebook page

Easter fun with Coach Gunn at Harris Primary School, Fulwood

Coach Gunn is running multi sports and activity days for children aged from four-years-old to 12-years-old. The cost is £24 for 9am to 4pm each day, with free 8am to 5pm extended hours. Available on Wednesday 3, Thursday 4, Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 April.

Find out more: Fun with Coach Gunn Facebook page

Fairtrade Egg Hunt, Preston City Centre

To celebrate 20 years of Preston being a Fairtrade City, 15 knitted Easter eggs have been placed at different businesses. Egg hunters can collect a map/entry form from the library and crack the puzzle between Saturday 30 March and Saturday 13 April for a chance to win a chocolatey prize.

Easter flag fete at Jalgos Sports and Social Club, Preston City Centre

This fundraiser for Preston Caribbean Carnival will take place on Saturday 30 March from 8pm until late. Featuring Shutdown Sound from Birmingham and The Mad Bull of Soca, DJ Toro, the club wants you to ‘blow the dust off your whistles and prepare to party’.

Find out more: Jalgos Sports and Social Club Facebook page

Easter fun at The Harris at the Guild Hall, Preston City Centre

There’s a variety of fun activities on offer during half-term including baby bounce and rhyme, craft workshops, interactive science shows, Lego WeDo model building and programming, and Viking storytime and craft sessions.

Find out more: Harris website

Lunch with Peter Rabbit at McDonald’s Fishergate Shopping Centre, Preston City Centre

Peter Rabbit is inviting people to join him for lunch on Friday 29 March between 11am and 4pm. The fluffy hero will be hopping around during regular intervals or you can join him at a special table when purchasing any food item at McDonald’s.

Find out more: Eat Lunch with Peter Rabbitt on the Visit Preston website

Painting workshop at Fishergate Shopping Centre, Preston City Centre

On Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 April between 1pm and 3pm, Fishergate will host a free mug painting workshop for little ones. Mini artists can pick their plain white mug, grab their paintbrushes, and let their imaginations run wild, before taking their finished piece home with them.

Find out more: Easter mug painting workshop on the Visit Preston website

Alice in Wonderland at Preston Markets, Preston City Centre

On Saturday 30 March between 11am and 2pm there will be a free Easter extravaganza at the Markets with an Alice in Wonderland themed treasure hunt, stilt-walkers, The Queen of Hearts and Alice in Wonderland herself.

Find out more: Preston Markets website

Egg rolling at Avenham Park, Preston City Centre

Preston’s ever-popular egg rolling event is back for 2024 with an eclectic mix of entertainment for all ages. There will be a medley of market stalls to browse, plus an array of artists, performances and fun interactive workshops – not to mention the annual Easter Bonnet Competition.

Around Preston

Easter adventures at Brockholes Nature Reserve, Samlesbury

Visit Brockholes this Easter for hours of fun in nature, plus lots of wildlife-themed activities including a spring spectacular, dinosaur adventure, guided bat walk, woodland survival, wild spring adventure. Events are ticketed and take place across different days.

Find out more: Brockholes on the Wildlife Trust website

Easter experience at Lollipops Sweet Shop, Penwortham

Face painting, games, bouncy castle, Easter trail, treats and meet and greets with Peter Rabbit and The Easter Fairy are all on offer at Lollipops on Friday 29 March. The Flying Pig Pizza will be serving food and St Catherine’s will be there with a stall and tombola.

Find out more: Lollipops Facebook page

Prime sports camp at Middleforth Scout Hut, Middleforth

Enjoy a range of sporting activities including a mix of UV sports, football, cricket, dodgeball and a line up of indoor and outdoor games. Taking place on Tuesday 2, Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 April, kids can be dropped off between 7.30am and 9.30am for £15 per day.

Find out more: Prime Sports Academy website

Spring Fair at Dandy Brook Field, Lostock Hall

The fair, which will start at 11am on Saturday 13 April, is set to feature fairground rides, traditional games, stalls, a £2.50 rubber duck race with prize, plus much more. Attendees are encouraged to take along a picnic.

Find out more: Lostock Hall Village Team Facebook page

Market and outdoor theatre at Cuerden Valley Park, Bamber Bridge

On Saturday 30 March from 10am to 5pm the park will host a free-to-attend Easter Market full of local food, drink, and crafts direct from the producer and maker. Scenic Outdoor Theatre will perform the Nanna Rabbit Experience, a show suitable for all ages.

Find out more: Market and outdoor theatre on Cuerden Valley Park website

Forest Camp at Cuerden Valley Park, Bamber Bridge

Forest Camp will run from 10am to 3pm on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 11 April. The £25 sessions offer the chance for children to play games, make dens, have a camp fire with tasty treats, made objects out of wood and explore the nature in the park.

Find out more: Forest Camps on Cuerden Valley Park website

Easter programme at British Commercial Vehicle Museum, Leyland

Activities include entry to the British Commercial Vehicle Museum Pic: Google

Choose from workshops with hands on animals interactions including some extra furry friends to celebrate Easter; partying, singing and dancing with Alice and the Mad Hatter; and a live, interactive puppet show and games. Taking place on various dates.

Find out more: British Commercial Vehicle Museum Facebook page

Easter Bunny breakfast at Dobbies Preston, Clifton

On Friday 29 March and Saturday 30 March, Dobbie’s restaurant will host breakfast followed by fun with the Easter Bunny. Children can follow footprints to find the Easter Bunny, enjoy games, and plant their very own miniature wildflower meadow to take home.

Find out more: Dobbies Preston website

Easter at Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green

Between Thursday 28 March and Saturday 13 April, guests and day visitors can enjoy the holiday village’s Big Easter Hunt. Explore the site – which features a range of eateries – to find the hidden golden eggs hidden and even win an Easter treat on selected days.

Find out more: Ribby Hall Village website

Children’s Easter workshops at Barton Grange, Barton

Children aged over three-years-old can paint their own egg-shaped birdhouse on Thursday 4 April or paint their own wellington plant pot and sow seeds on Thursday 11 April. At a cost of £4 and £5 respectively, kids will be encouraged to get crafty and creative.

Find out more: Barton Grange website

Easter holidays family fun at Guy’s Thatched Hamlet, Bilsborrow

From Friday 29 March to Saturday 6 April, Guy’s will host fun for all the family with Peter Rabbit and the Easter Bunny. Activities include a fun house, rides, Easter bonnet parade, best decorated egg competition, and an Easter trail.

Find out more: Guy’s Thatched Hamlet Facebook page

Easter bounce and play at Longridge Civic Hall, Longridge

On Tuesday 9 April, Fun Valley will host two 90-minute sessions for children aged up to eight to play on an inflatable super slide, inflatable race track, soft play equipment, giant games, ball pits, slides, rockers, tunnels, bouncy castle and more.

Find out more: Fun Valley website

Easter activities at Bowland Wild Boar Park, Chipping

Daily activities are planned from Friday 29 March to Sunday 14 April, including an eggventure trail, crafts, meet the Easter Bunny, Bubble, face painting, fancy dress competition and colouring competition. Some activities are on select days only.

Find out more: Bowland Wild Boar Park website.

Easter festival at Catforth Village Hall, Catforth

The rural village hall will once again be hosting its annual Easter festival. The indoor/outdoor event will feature an egg hunt, stalls, tombola and raffle, and will take place on Saturday 30 March from 12pm to 4pm, all in aid of the village hall.

Find out more: Catforth Village Hall Facebook page

Further afield

To find out what else is going on around the county, go to the Visit Lancashire website.

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