Busy Events Programme for Half-term

READY, Steady, Read! sits at the heart of an exciting programme organised by Tameside Council for the spring half-term holiday.

The reading festival, organised by Tameside Libraries, comprises four free events – two dealing with comics and two offering a chance to “meet the author”.

On Tuesday, February 21, the fun begins at Dukinfield Library when artist Marc Jackson hosts two hour-long comics workshops demonstrating how to draw your own cartoon characters. They take place at 10am and 1pm and are ideal for children aged six and over.

The following day it’s “Creating Comics” at Ashton Library. Jim Medway will be explaining the basics for drawing your own comic strips and stories. Starting at 1.30pm this 90-minute event is for young people aged 12 and over. Book at tamesidelibraries.eventbrite.co.uk

Author Sean Perkins will be at Hattersley Library on Thursday, February 23, at 2.30pm to read one of his stories and lead some activities based on his Oscar and Ben books.

Ready, Steady, Read! concludes on Friday, February 24, at Denton Library (10.30am) when author Andrea Bowker leads a storytime and crafts session based on her Rab the Rainbow Crab books.

There’s no need to book for either of the author events. For more information call 0161 342 2031 or visit www.tameside.gov.uk/libraries/halfterm

Ashton Library is the venue for “The Adventures of Pirate Bonnie” on Monday, February 20, a piece of family theatre that’s bound to appeal to children aged three to eight (and their grown-ups).

There are shows at 11.30am and 2.30pm and tickets (£3.50 per child with one accompanying adult free) are available at www.ticketsource.co.uk/tameside-mbc or by calling 0161 342 4144.

On Saturday, February 18, Armchair Adventures is an interactive art installation and music theatre workshop for all the family at Stalybridge Civic Hall (11am to 1pm) based on the award-winning children’s podcast “Armchair Adventures”. There are 30 spaces available for children aged six to 10. Tickets available are available via eventbrite.

Portland Basin Museum will be hosting its popular Make, Do and Play sessions between 11am and 3pm on February 21 and 23. For £1.25 children can join artist Jack Doyle to make something arty and crafty.

On February 22, Tommy Atkins is back to let people learn first-hand about the equipment and conditions British soldiers fighting on the First World War’s Western Front would have known.

If something a little more scientific is required, children aged seven to nine can become a maths grand wizard at a fun workshop at Ashton Library on February 25 (10am to noon). Book your free place at tamesidelibraries.eventbrite.co.uk

Cllr Sangita Patel, Tameside Council’s assistant executive member for culture, heritage and digital inclusivity, said: “Our culture and libraries teams have yet again come up with an exciting and varied programme of events for the school half-term holiday. Whatever your interests, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy.”