Easter Peak District 2024: family events and things to do

Easter in the Peak District is a magical time; spring is in the air, the buds are in bloom, it’s lambing season, and with the rise in temperatures and longer daylight hours, it’s a great time to get out on a family walk or family bike ride.

However, the weather can actually be quite hit or miss. The Peak District has had deep snow this time of year, yet there can also be warm and bright sunny days with your kids running around in shorts and T-shirts! As always, layers are key, and make sure you pack the wellies and hiking boots. Check out our guide for what to take to the Peak District.

It is free for all local businesses to be listed in this Peak District Easter what’s on guide if they are hosting a family event. Please email by Monday 18th March if you would like your event included.

Do also check out our top things to do in the Peak District with kids for more general ideas to keep your little ones busy over the Easter holidays.

1. Easter Adventures at Ilam Park

Saturday 23rd March to Sunday 14th March (10.30am– 3pm)
£3 per child. This includes trail activities, pencil, bunny ears, activity leaflet to take home and a chocolate egg, or vegan and free from chocolate egg.
Click here for more information

This year National Trust’s Ilam Park will be busy with bird themed games and activities for all the family throughout the Easter holidays. Make your way along the trail and find 10 fun and creative bird inspired activities located around the stunning parkland.

Build a giant bird’s nest and measure your own wingspan. Test your aim and try throwing the right food shape into the right bird’s mouth at our Giant Baby Bird Feeding Station. See how far you can fly compared to a swallow.  Go on an egg hunt, win the egg and spoon race and much more!

The price of the trail is £3 per child and includes the trail activities, pencil, bunny ears, activity leaflet to take home and a chocolate egg, or vegan and free from chocolate egg. Both eggs are made using Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa (find out more at www.rainforest-alliance.org).

2. Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out at Buxton Opera House

Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st March
Click here to book tickets
Duration: 1hr 20mins
Price: £15-£18

Join Peppa, along with her family and friends as they go to the zoo and also the beach for a special party- it’s going to be an exciting and fun packed day.

Prepare to sing and dance with colourful scarecrows, feed the penguins, build big sandcastles, and even swim in the sea! Packed full of songs, dance and muddy puddles. Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out guarantees giggles and snorts for all Peppa fans and is a perfect introduction to theatre.

3. Easter Fun at Matlock Farm Park

Friday 29^th March to Sunday 14^th April
Click here for more information
Click here for our Matlock Farm Park review and tips for your visit

Spring is in the air and it’s such a special time at Matlock Farm Park. Nearby farms donate their cade lambs which need lots of dedicated care, in the form of bottle feeding and some gentle nurturing. Join us for our ‘meet the Lambs’ sessions where you can learn all about the cade lambs, see them being fed and gently pet the.

There’s also all the usual fun of the farm park with sheep racing, meerkat feed, small animal handling, wallaby encounter, ferret race and our special Easter Treasure Trail! 

Easter weekend events include:
Good Friday 29^th March – The Snow Sisters
Easter Sunday 32st March – Circus Skills & Bubble Fun
Easter Monday 1^st April – Learn to be a Pirate

PLUS Good Friday through to Easter Monday there will be a daily Easter Egg Hunt with special appearances from the Easter Bunny!! Keep your eyes peeled for the Giant Golden Egg and you could be in with a chance to win a special prize!

4. Family activities at White Hall Outdoor Activity Centre

Check this Eventbrite page for dates and to book online
Click here for our review of White Hall Outdoor Centre

Looking for something different for the kids during the holidays? Why not book one of the activity days at White Hall Outdoor Centre running throughout the Easter holidays?

Courses range from one-day to five-day adventures filled with fun and challenge. Children aged 6–18 years old are welcome.

There are also family activity days where parents can join in activities with their children, as well as SEND family activity days specifically designed for families and children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Activities on offer include:

• High and low ropes
• Zip wires
• Climbing walls
• Mountain biking
• Orienteering
• Artificial cave
• Problem solving
• Shelter building
• Canoeing
• SUP
• Caving
• Abseiling
• Stream Scrambling

Prices start at £34.05 per person. Each day begins at 9:30 a.m. at White Hall Centre. With pick-up at 4:30 p.m.

5. Easter Eggstra at Crich Tramway Village

Friday 29^th March to Monday 1^st April (10am – 4.30pm)
Also open throughout the Easter holidays
Click here for more information
Read our guide to Crich Tramway Village

Help Mr Rabbit to find all his friends and win an Easter themed prize (£1.00 per child for the trail).

Join in the seasonal fun making rabbit’s ears, egg rolling, Easter shows and meet some live rabbits and cuddly animals from White Post Farm.

6. Family Day Rock Climbing

Family sessions running throughout the Easter holidays
Click here for more information and to book

Spend quality time with your family, discover stunning locations in the Peak District, and create memories to last a lifetime with a family session run by Peak Lines who offer private 1/2 a day and full day climbing experiences in the Peak District.

The sessions are friendly, encouraging, and aimed to get you working together as a family. You will have a go at climbing and abseiling, learn how to hold each other’s ropes and even learn some of the techniques essential to climbing independently. The session will be tailored to you and your family based on experience, age, and fitness level. Top-of-the-range safety equipment is provided.

The cost for 1/2 a day is £150 and for the full day it is £220 and includes all of the equipment and up to 6 people.

7. Abseiling, caving and mining

Running throughout the Easter holidays
Click here to book

Peaks and Paddles are running abseiling, caving and canoe sessions over the Peak District Easter holidays and beyond!  

There’s a 10% discount at checkout for booking 4 or more people abseiling or Devonshire Mine underground sessions -ENTER CODE ‘kids10%’

This is available to children aged 5+. Click here for our full review.

8. A Day Fit for a Prince or Princess at Heights of Abraham

Saturday March 30^th to Monday April 1^st for ‘A Day Fit for a Prince or Princess’ (10am to 5pm)
Open every day over the Easter holidays
Read our guide to Heights of Abraham

Head for the Heights of Abraham and join in the regal celebrations this Peak District Easter holidays.

Queen Victoria visited the Heights of Abraham when she was a young princess, so this Easter weekend will be a regal extravaganza, perfect for princes, princess and knights of the realm! Come along in fancy dress for a special Easter gift and an audience with Queen Victoria herself, plus a few tricks and jokes from her personal Jester!

And whilst you’re enjoying the regal vibes, take a visit to the show caverns, ride the cable car, and go crazy in one of the two adventure playgrounds!

9. Lambing at Blaze Farm

Open from Friday 29th March to Sunday 14th April.
Closed on Tuesday 2nd, Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th May.
45 minutes slots at 10.15am, 11.15am, 12.45pm, 1.45pm, 2.45pm or 3.45pm.
5 per adult and children from 2 years old, £2 for children under 2 years old – no concessions. Maximum of 30 people per session.
Click here to book and more info

The annual lambing experience at Blaze Farm is about seeing at first hand the wonder of a ewe giving birth to her lambs and observing how she cares and feeds her family thereafter.

Please note that there are no opportunities to feed a lamb. Baby lambs are much better off being cared for by their mother’s, which is natures way. The only lambs that are hand fed are the ‘Kade’ lambs (lambs waiting for new mummies) and they get fed by the farmers using the multi-feeder whilst they’re waiting.

However, handling of the lambs is possible. Please be calm and patient, wear a disposable apron, take a seat, and a lamb will be handed to you by one of the vet students or helpers. Wash hands thoroughly afterwards using the hand washing facilities provided (hand sanitiser is not an adequate substitute).

Please refer to the Blaze Farm website for safety information. It is recommended that you wash your wellies before entering the lambing shed. Also, if you’re pregnant or think you might be pregnant, you must not enter the lambing shed or come into close contact with any animal that is giving birth or has recently given birth. Furthermore, dogs are not allowed on the Blaze Farm nature trail in the month of April.

10. Easter egg hunt at Longshaw Estate

21st March to 14th April (10:30 to 15:00)
Click here for more information

Make your way along the trail and find nature-inspired activities for the whole family. The trail takes place between Saturday 21st March 2024 and Sunday 14th April, from 9:30 to 15:00, so come along and explore the beautiful Longshaw Estate. 

Prices are £3 per trail which includes an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears and dairy or vegan and Free From* chocolate egg.

11. PlayLAND at LEVEL Centre, Rowsley

Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
11 January to 12 April 2023, and open over the Easter holidays
Tickets are FREE
Click here to book

PlayLAND is the new exhibition by Derby-based PlayLAB artist John Whall. A fun interactive installation, PlayLAND brings the world of outdoor play inside LEVEL Centre building, inviting you to play, sense and immerse yourself in a playful relaxing world. Step inside, to take a giant step outside, and into the world of PlayLAND!

And the best bit… it’s FREE!

Plus, on April 10th they are holding a Spring Open Day (FREE and no need to book). Everyone is welcome to attend this indoor event with fun activities happening from 11am to 3pm. These include:

• Creating mystical creatures drawing activity
• Spring cardboard creations… have fun building a Springtime cardboard world
• Pom-pom making workshop
• Create a “dream poster” activity

12. Easter holiday activities with Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust

Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust is putting lots of events on this Easter holidays.

Arkwright the Duck Storytelling and Crafting

Monday 8th April (10am and 11am)
Buxton Crescent’s Assembly Rooms
£5.00 per child (price includes a delicious Jake’s Peak Bakes duck biscuit for each child)
Accompanying adults are free
Click here for more information

Join Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust for a cosy morning of stories and crafts with Sue Wilkins, the local Derbyshire author of the popular children’s book Arkwright the Duck.

Sale

Arkwright the Duck

• Wilkins, Sue (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 32 Pages – 04/01/2016 (Publication Date) – Bannister Publications Ltd (Publisher)

£3.39

Buy on Amazon

For the first 15 minutes of the session Sue will read her delightful tale of an adventurous duck and then you will get the opportunity to make your own special duck. You’ll also have a chance to ask Sue questions about her books and get your copies signed.

Open to all families with children aged 3-11 years old. Booking is required and spaces are limited so book early to secure your spot. Don’t miss this duck-tastic opportunity to meet a wonderful local author and have some creative fun!

Crescent Crafts

Monday 8^th April (1pm – 4pm)
Assembly Rooms, Ensana Buxton Crescent Hotel
Free – donations appreciated

Drop-in family activities and simple crafts in Buxton’s beautiful Assembly Rooms.

Spring trail and simple crafts for ages 3 to 11

Thursday 28^th March to Sunday 14^th April (10am to 4pm)
Buxton Pump Room and Visitor Information Centre
Free –  donations appreciated

Discover the whimsical rubber ducks adrift in the windows of Buxton’s shops and cafes. Collect your trail from the Pump Room. Prizes to be won.

13. Houdini’s Great Escape

Tuesday 9th April 7.30pm
Pavilion Arts Centre
Age Guidance: 10+
Price: £23
Click here to book

Featuring a hard-working cast of four playing multiple roles on an almost harder-working set, this show will have you laughing and gasping throughout at the magic of theatre and the ‘real’ magic of illusions designed by TV’s Pete Firman (BBC One’s The Magicians).

14. Buxton Cinema

There are two beautifully heart-warming, family-friendly films playing at Buxton Cinema this Easter holidays. A great option for a rainy day in the Peak District!

Soul (PG)

Tuesday 2nd April, 1.30pm
Price: £7 (Students/Children £5)
Click here to book

Witness Pixar’s Soul on the big screen. Joe Gardner (voice of Jamie Foxx) is a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town. But one small misstep takes him from the streets of New York City to The Great Before – a fantastical place where new souls get their personalities, quirks and interests before they go to Earth. Determined to return to his life, Joe teams up with a precocious soul, 22 (voice of Tina Fey), who has never understood the appeal of the human experience. As Joe desperately tries to show 22 what’s great about living, he may just discover the answers to some of life’s most important questions.

Luca (U)

Thursday 11th April, 1.30pm
Price: £7 (Students/Children £5)
Click here to book

Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, Disney and Pixar’s original feature film Luca is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca (voice of Jacob Tremblay) shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, Alberto (voice of Jack Dylan Grazer), but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface.

15. Severn Trent Easter Trails

Severn Trent are organising Easter Trails at Carsington Water and Tittesworth Reservoir from 1st April to 16th April (10am to 4pm).

Carsington Water

Saturday 23rd March to Sunday 14th April (10am to 4:30pm)
Click here for further information

The Easter Bunny has left a trail of eggs and needs your help to find them all. Follow the trail to find all the eggs and answer the questions to collect a prize (non-chocolate alternative prize available).

No need to pre book, just come to the Visitor Centre to buy your activity sheet. £3 per trail sheet, each completed trail sheet will receive one prize.

Combine your visit with a bike ride around Carsington Water or the classic Carsington Water walk.

Tittesworth Reservoir

Saturday 23rd March to Sunday 14th April (10am to 4pm)
Click here for further information

The Easter Bunny has also left a trail of eggs around the Foster’s Trail at Tittesworth Water. Follow the route to find the eggs and answer the questions. Once completed return to the Visitor Centre to receive your prize! (Non-chocolate alternatives will be available.)

No need to pre book, just come to the Visitor Centre to buy your activity sheet. £3 per trail sheet, each completed trail sheet will receive one prize. The trail follows Foster’s Trail which is a 3km (2 mile) loop which is pushchair friendly. The trail runs daily from 10am to 4pm.

Combine your visit with the pram friendly Tittesworth Reservoir walk or The Roaches walk is not too far away.

16. Thornbridge at Easter

29th March to 14th April (10am to 4pm)
Tickets are £8 for adults and £4 for children under 3’s FREE
Click here to pre-book and for more information (20% discount for pre-booking)
Tickets can also be bought at the Emporium on the day
Read our guide to Thornbridge Gardens

Thornbridge invite you to a 2-week long celebration of family fun and entertainment for all. Join in the festivities and experience an unforgettable Easter adventure!  

The Carriage House is being transformed into an ‘Easter Fun Zone’ so the whole family can delight in a whole host of activities. There will be an indoor bouncy castle, a soft play area and a film club. Arts & crafts tables, games and more will keep you entertained all day long including an Easter Egg trail in the gardens, where you win a prize for finding all the decorated eggs and of course our Duck fountain.

All this is included with standard garden entry!

17. Lego build sessions at Brick Corner, Buxton

Click here for session times and to book

If your kids are Lego fans, then a visit to the family-run Brick Corner café in Buxton is an absolute must. Here there are boxes galore of Lego for your kids to play with and let their imaginations go wild, whilst parents sit back with a coffee and slice of cake in peace (although by all means, there are no age limits if parents want to get involved!)

And over the Easter holidays, there are Lego robotic and coding sessions to get involved in. These are 90 mins (approx.) sessions where kids follow a guided Lego build, and then code their build to move!

This is one of our top things to do in Buxton with kids.

18. Easter in the Chatsworth Estate farmyard

28th March to 14th April
Included with your farmyard ticket
Click here for further information

READ: Tips for visiting Chatsworth with kids

Events taking place at Chatsworth Farmyard over the Peak District Easter holidays include:

• Get crafty (10.30am-4pm) – Get hands-on and creative with spring-themed crafts in the Oak Barn.
• Animal handling (11.30am, 2pm & 4pm) – Little adventurers are invited to handle some smaller furry friends and learn more about them.
• Animal feeding (all day) – Meet the Chatsworth farmyard animals up close and feed them a snack while you’re here. Pick up your animal feed bag on entry (small charge for feed applies).
• Tractor & trailer rides (2nd to 14th April, various times each day) – Enjoy a tractor and trailer ride through the park (small charge applies).
• Easter egg hunts (28th March to 1st April, timed tickets on arrival) – Join the hunt for hidden chocolate eggs; maybe you’ll find a golden egg and win a special prize! Easter egg hunt tickets are included in the price of admission to the farmyard and playground for visits from 28 March to 1 April. Tickets for the egg hunt are available on a first-come, first-served basis and given out when you arrive at the entrance to the farmyard and playground.

Due to wet and muddy ground conditions in the farmyard fields, we strongly recommend you wear sturdy footwear for the Easter egg hunts.

But do remember, there is so much to explore of Chatsworth for free! Check out our guide to visiting Chatsworth with kids and maybe include our Chatsworth pram-friendly walk or the Chatsworth Hunting Tower and Aqueduct walk with your visit to the farmyard over the Peak District Easter holidays.

19. Spring Spectacular at Gulliver’s Kingdom Matlock

29th March to 14th April
Tickets from £20 per person if booked in advance, online (children under 90cms are FREE)
Click here for full details

Click here for our top tips for visiting Gulliver’s Kingdom Matlock

Gulliver’s Kingdom Matlock is a top attraction in Matlock Bath and a fantastic theme park for younger kids.

The Easter Bunny and Candy Crew will be getting up to some mad-cap antics during the Easter holidays, and there will be a host of brand-new family games and attractions, all with a candy-themed twist. Special guest stars include Lampo and Milady, from the hit children’s TV show 44 Cats, and they will be appearing at intervals each day during the Easter holidays.

20. Easter at Alton Towers

READ: Alton Towers for kids aged 6-10
Click here to pre-book tickets

On Saturday 20th March, there is the final day of Alton After Dark, a new extended opening hours event where guests can ride their favourite rides up till 8pm. As the sun sets, feel the rush on the Wicker Man, where wooden coaster meets blazing flames in the darkened skies. Face the sheer vertical drop of Oblivion in the pitch black and jump aboard the Runaway Mine Train to navigate the twists and turns under the stars.  

Plus, throughout the Easter holidays, Bluey (the loveable, Blue Heeler dog from Australia), will be available for guests to meet at the UK’s only CBeebies Land which is also celebrating its 10^th anniversary!

21. TrYumphant Easter Holiday Camp

Tuesday 2^nd – Friday 5^th April 8:30am-4pm with optional half-days and extra time until 6pm
Baslow Sports Field
From £29.75/day
Click here for more information

Join the TrYumphants for their ever-varied mixture of creativity and craftiness, movement and messiness, sports and silliness!

This is open to all kids, whether you live locally or are visiting on holiday. There are five days available and you can book in for all four days or just one; whatever suits you and your family.

Use code PDK10 to get 10% off Or get 50% off with code FSM if you qualify for free school meals based on benefits. 

Contact Becky on info@tryumphinlife.com or 07855943236 if you have any questions.