Science specials...

  • Brighton Science Festival
    Various venues, Saturday, February 15, to Sunday, February 23, various times and prices, brightonscience.com

     

Brighton Science Festival aims to inspire young minds with an interactive programme of half-term fun.

The Bright Sparks Family Science Days return to Hove Park Upper School, in Nevill Road, Hove, tomorrow and Sunday, with hands-on experiments for seven to 14 year-olds.

Through half-term week there’s a packed programme of edutainment, with the travelling Pocket Science Fair pulling up at Billinghurst Centre, in Roman Way, on Monday; The Hawth, in Hawth Avenue, Crawley, on Tuesday; and Uckfield Civic Centre, in Bellfarm Lane, on Thursday.

Brighton Latest Music Bar in Manchester Street is hosting robotics workshops using Lego on Monday and Thursday, Raspberry Pi workshops on Tuesday, a forensic science day on Wednesday, and Project Ear Drum, a comedy show about sound, on Friday. Also on Friday, Simon Watt of Channel Four’s Inside Nature’s Giants will talk about getting under the skin of some of the world’s largest animals in Dissections Uncut. Tickets from £3.

Meanwhile the Blind Tiger Club, in Grand Parade, has science-inspired war games from Monday to Wednesday, followed by fighting robot workshops on Thursday and a flavour experiment on Friday. Tickets start at £1.

In the free programme are paper magic workshops at The Marlborough, in Princes Street, from Monday to Wednesday; play sessions for over-threes at Emporium, in London Road, on Wednesday; papermaking at the Phoenix Gallery, in Waterloo Place, on Thursday; silhouette masterclasses at the Regency Townhouse, in Brunswick Square, on Monday and Tuesday; and investigations into Brighton beach on Friday at The Booth Museum, in Dyke Road.

Next weekend, the more adventurous can build their own handheld games console at BuildBrighton at Rodhus, in Hollingdean Road, for £45, while there are free activities at Brighton Youth Centre, in Edward Street; Lighthouse, in Kensington Street, and outside Churchill Square.

And don’t miss the return of Brighton’s chemistry extravaganza, Bigger Bang: Reloaded, at the Cockcroft Lecture Theatre, at the University of Brighton, in Lewes Road, on Thursday, February 20, at 2pm and 7pm, tickets £7.

  • Observatory Science Centre
    Herstmonceux Castle, Hailsham, Saturday, February 15, to Sunday, February 23, 10am to 5pm, £8/£6, family of four £24.70, 01323 832731

The Observatory will be hosting daily telescope tours at noon, 2pm and 4pm.

And during the week there are children’s workshops focusing on the heart on Tuesday (ages six to nine), chemistry for all age groups on Wednesday, and making a water-powered rocket on Thursday (ages ten to 13). Places should be pre-booked, prices from £9.95.

Open evenings to explore the night sky are on Saturdays from 6.30pm to 11pm.

  • Sundae Club
    Komedia, Gardner Street, Brighton, Sunday, February 23, 10.30am, £8.50/£6.50, family of four £25, 0845 2938480

Taking over both Komedia and the upstairs Duke’s cinema, Sundae Club has a science focus this month to coincide with the Brighton Science Festival. Expect a live science show and lots of space-themed activities.

  • Investigate the Iguanodon
    Booth Museum, Dyke Road, Brighton, Tuesday, February 18, 10.30am (under-eights), noon and 2pm (eight and over), £5/£4, 03000 290902

A chance to find out more about the dinosaur discovered in Sussex.

  • Nature’s Medicine Chest
    Birling Gap and Seven Sisters, Saturday, February 15, 10am to 12.30pm, £15/£7.50, 01323 423197

A mile-long walk with a medicinal herbalist showing how to make home-made herbal remedies from local plants.

Get creative...

  • Holiday activities
    Steven Pimlott building, Chichester Festival Theatre, Oaklands Park, Chichester, Tuesday, February 18, to Friday, February 21, from 10am, £8 to £28, 01243 784437

Fairy tales are at the heart of four workshops led by actors and writers this half-term.

In Tuesday’s Once Upon A Time, two to four-year olds are taken through an imaginary forest by youth theatre leader Luke Osborne in 75-minute sessions starting from 10am.

Wednesday’s Mixed Up Tales is aimed at reception to Year Two children, who are asked to think what would happen if characters left their own fairy tales and turned up in someone else’s.

Children in Years Three to Six can create their own fairy tales with actor and playwright Simon Cotton on Thursday, while stage and screen writer Josie Melia leads a writing workshop for Year Six to Year 11 students on Friday.

  • In The Frame
    Petworth House And Park, Petworth, Monday, February 17, to Wednesday, February 19, 11am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 3.30pm, £14/£7, plus £5 for activities, 01798 342207

Climb through a giant picture frame and get creative in the same house that inspired great artists Turner and Constable.

  • Cut And Paste
    Brighton Museum Art Room, Pavilion Gardens, Wednesday, February 19, 1pm to 4pm, £4, 03000 290902

Graphic designer Tristan Manco leads a workshop in creating fanzines for 15 to 24- year-olds. Ticket price includes admission to the unmissable Subversive Design exhibition.

  • Hunt The Rainbow
    Hove Museum, New Church Road, Hove, Sunday, February 16, to Sunday, February 23 (except Wed), 10am to 5pm, Sun 2pm to 5pm, free, 03000 290900

Find all the colours of the rainbow in this fun hunt around the museum for under-eights.

The museum is also hosting two free rainbow-themed craft workshops on Monday and Thursday at 10.30am and 1pm for three to eight-year-olds.

The Argus:

  • Kids’ Club
    Duke Of York’s Picturehouse, Preston Circus, Brighton, Saturdays, and Duke’s@Komedia, Gardner Street, Brighton, Sundays, 10.30am, £1 members, £3 non-members, £4 membership, 0871 9025728

Something of a Brighton institution, Kids’ Club shows children’s favourites every weekend at 11am, preceded by interactive activities and a craft workshop from 10.30am, all in a safe space where unaccompanied adults are not allowed.

This weekend sees a 2D screening of Walking With Dinosaurs (U, 87 mins), set in a world millions of years before man.

Look out for Jim Henson’s final Muppet movie The Muppets Take Manhattan (U, 94 mins) next weekend.

  • Big Art Club
    De La Warr Pavilion, Marina, Bexhill, Tuesday, February 18, to Thursday, February 20, 10am to 4pm, £70, 01424 229111

A three-day puppet-making workshop for eight to 12-year-olds.

The De La Warr is also screening the Monsters Inc prequel Monsters University (U, 104 mins), which sees Mike and Sulley learn their trade, on Friday, February 21, from 2pm, tickets £4.

Theatre...

  • Peppa Pig’s Big Splash
    Theatre Royal Brighton, New Road, Wednesday, February 19, 1pm and 4pm, and Thursday, February 20, 10am and 1pm, from £14.50, 0844 8717650

While some may be upset about the recent bad weather, Channel Five favourite Peppa Pig is loving jumping in muddy puddles.

But the nursery roof is leaking with all the rain, so Peppa and her friends are clubbing together and need the audience’s help to launch a fundraising fete.

Peppa will be dropping in at Churchill Square on Sunday, February 16, for photo opportunities and story time at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 4pm.

  • Bin Men
    Brighton Dome Studio Theatre, New Road, Tuesday, February 18, 11.30am and 2.30pm, £7/£5, 01273 709709

Like The Wombles, bin men Don and Sam want to save the world by finding a use for the things we throw out.

This York Theatre Royal production, aimed at children aged five and above, uses puppetry and live music to deliver a recycling message.

The morning session of Bin Men is followed by a Playmakes craft event in the Dome’s cafe-bar at 12.45pm, costing £5 per child.

  • Dinosaur Zoo
    The Hawth, Hawth Avenue, Crawley, Friday, February 14, 4.30pm, and Saturday, February 15, 11am and 2pm, from £13.50, 01293 553636

The dinosaurs may have died out millions of years ago, but Australia’s Erth has brought back some life-size prehistoric creatures for an interactive children’s show.

From cute babies to giant carnivores, it’s a chance for the dino-obsessive to get up close to the creatures, as well as learn valuable advice about dealing with modern-day wild animals.

  • Hugless Douglas
    Clair Hall, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, Friday, February 21, 2pm, £9.50, 01444 455440

Blunderbus Theatre Company combines music and puppetry to bring David Melling’s best-selling tale of a lonely lovable bear in search of a big bear hug, in a show suitable for three to seven-year-olds.

Blunderbus is also behind How To Catch A Star, which has two sold-out performances at the Connaught Studio, in Union Place, Worthing, on Sunday, February 16. For returns call 01903 206206.

Outdoor events...

  • Brighton Half Marathon
    Brighton seafront, Sunday, February 16, from 9am, free, brighton halfmarathon.com

Entries are closed for the Brighton Half Marathon 2014 but the runners will appreciate support for the 13-mile race which starts and finishes in Madeira Drive.

The route takes in the Old Steine up as far as St Peter’s Church, before returning to the seafront, taking in the promenade as far west as Hove Lagoon and east past Brighton Marina. There are also youth races from 9.15am.

Anyone who has been running along the seafront recently will know how tough the going is, so bring the family, drink in the atmosphere and show support for the charity runners.

  • Half-Term Trail
    Bodiam Castle, Bodiam, near Robertsbridge, Saturday, February 15, to Sunday, February 23, 10.30am to 5pm, £7.95/£4, 01580 830196

As the castle staff prepare for the Dallingridge family’s return after a long winter it’s a chance to meet the Bodiam household, from the porter to the baker.

Youngsters can also take part in a trail around the 14th-century castle to find items lost over the winter break.

  • Fab Feb Holiday Fun
    Standen, West Hoathly Road, East Grinstead, Saturday, February 15, to Sunday, February 23, 11am to 4pm, £10.50/£5.25, extra activities from £2, 01342 323029

Enjoy self-led trails in the house and garden, or take part in one of two activity days during half-term – a craft day on Monday or sweet pea planting on Friday.

  • Shapes And Patterns Trail
    Nymans, Handcross, near Haywards Heath, Saturday, February 15, to Sunday, February 23, 10.30am to 3.30pm, £10.50/£5.50, plus £2 for the trail, 01444 405250

Win a prize by completing the new trail through Nymans’ huge gardens.

The Argus:

  • Love Your Bike Week
    Circus Street Bike Hub, Circus Street, Brighton, Friday, February 14, to Saturday, February 22, various times, free, brightonbikehub.org

Groundwork South has joined forces with the Cathedral Group to create a new bike hub in the centre of the city.

And to launch the new hub they are hosting a week of bike-related activities, including maintenance sessions from Tuesday to Friday at 11am to 3pm, and group rides.

The concluding event is The Spin on Saturday, February 22, from noon to 4pm, featuring stunt riders, performance artists and a bike assault course.

After this week cyclists can drop in on Thursdays and Saturdays between 11am and 5pm with their bikes.

Sport...

  • Half-term Wrestling Spectacular
    Worthing Assembly Hall, Stoke Abbott Road, Worthing, Monday, February 17, 7.45pm, from £8, 01903 206206

It may have been unceremoniously booted off teatime television in the 1980s, but live wrestling is still a family favourite.

Winner of the Worthing Trophy, Zack Sabre Jr returns to grapple with Dangerous Danny Garnell, with Wonder Kid Jonny Storm, James Kenna and Hit Man Jon Ryan also on the line-up.

  • Brighton Rockers Roller Derby
    The Dolphin Centre, Pasture Hill Road, Haywards Heath, Saturday, February 15, 2.30pm, £10/under-12s free, brightonrockers.com

As the Brighton Rockers celebrate their fourth anniversary, they meet the Rainy City Rollergirls from Manchester for their first match of 2014.

Expect birthday party fun at half-time alongside the all-female full-contact action on the track.

  • Roller-Skiing
    Brighton Bandstand, King’s Road, Thursday, February 20, 11am to 12.30pm, free, www.roller-skis.com

Inspired by the Winter Olympics to try skiing, but don’t have the cash to travel to where the snow is?

The SkiFIT Club might have the answer with roller-skiing, and is holding trial sessions on the seafront on Thursday with special guest 2018 Winter Olympic hopeful Fern Cates.