Lego Friends Launch at Legoland Discovery Centre
February, 10am - 7pm (last admission 5pm)
THIS month sees the launch of the Lego Friends area – a haven for girly girls. The newest range from Lego, created especially for girls, will be brought alive for visitors with a dedicated area home to a karaoke machine and much more.  Expect a day of dressing up and mini makeovers plus it's free entry for the girls – sorry boys.
Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester, Barton Square, The Trafford Centre, Manchester, M17 8AS, 0871 222 2662, www.legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk, suitable for children aged five upwards. For full ticket information visit the website.

Once Upon A Wartime Family Festival Imperial War Museum
Saturday 11 – Sunday 19 February, from 10am
IWM North mark the launch of Once Upon A Wartime, a major exhibition which explores much loved children’s books about war, with a series of events this half term. The festival will open with a fun day on Sunday 12 February, where visitors of all ages will be immersed in stories by the new National Storytelling Laureate, Katrice Horsley at 1pm and 3pm.

On Sunday 12 and Saturday 18, masked characters will be loose in the museum. Will you spot one of the characters? Inspired by the stories featured in the exhibition the characters are brought to life through the use of full face masks and physical theatre techniques.  The fun characters are created by visual theatre specialists Curious Cargo.  Book onto a free performance workshop on Monday 13, Wednesday 15 and Friday 17 at 2pm.
Every morning and afternoon during the week you can join in the storytelling sessions. Puppets and pictures bring to life tales of wartime animal bravery in the Animals and War activity – perfect for anyone who has just discovered the fictional novel about Joey the War Horse. There'll also be hands on activities and object handling in the Learning Studio in the afternoon from 1-4pm.
Imperial War Museum North, The Quays, Trafford Wharf, Trafford Park, M17 1TZ, www.iwm.org.uk, 0161 836 4000. Suitable for all ages. Free.

Sockywockydoodah! at The Edge Theatre
Wednesday 15 February, 3pm
ACCLAIMED author and illustrator Nick Sharratt (You Choose, Pants, Shark in the Park, The Foggy Foggy Forest, and books by Jacqueline Wilson and Jeremy Strong) presents Sockywockydoodah!
Meet Nick and a whole collection of characters in very crazy clothes. Look out for pandas in pants, cows in kung-fu outfits and all sorts of creatures in spectacularly silly socks. There’ll be drawing and rhyming and funny games to play. Nick will be sharing his favourite stories and presenting the brand new picture book ‘Socks’, so be sure to wear your jolliest pair. Event organised by Chorlton Bookshop.
The Edge Theatre and Arts Centre, Manchester Road, Chorlton, Manchester M21 9JG. 0161 282 9776. Tickets are just £1 (redeemable against the price of a book purchase on the day).

Open Day at Salford Quays
Saturday 18 February
THE Quays will host an extravaganza of activities for all ages. Coinciding with half term, all the venues on The Quays are opening their doors for behind the scenes activities and special events for the whole family.
BBC North, will be celebrating the tenth birthday of children's television with ten events including the chance to meet Blue Peter presenters and see performances from Mister Bloom. Click here to read more.
At the Lowry Outlet Mall children can ‘walk with a dinosaur’ by seeing a six foot animatronic Stegosaurus in its own Jurassic setting, and get up close to a Raptor and Triceratops model too.
Salford University building will play host to an array of digital installations and interactive games for those who want to check out some new technology.
Visit IWMNorth’s new free exhibition ‘Once Upon A Wartime’ which brings to life the drama of acclaimed novels about wartime for children and is accompanied by storytelling and creative craft activities. On display for the first time are objects straight from Steven Spielberg’s ‘War Horse’ film set.
Other attractions taking part are the Watersports centre where you can take a free powerboat ride around The Quays. A free link bus will also take people to meet the Tudors at nearby Ordsall Hall, open especially on this Saturday afternoon.
The Lowry is giving visitors a unique chance to watch the world-renowned Chinese State Circus warm up before their show.
For info on all events see www.thequays.org.uk/qod.