Forget the dismal wet and windy weather battering we have received this winter – it’s time to look forward to a very warm and welcoming Easter in Cardiff this spring!

This year promises to be a great Easter for events and activities in Cardiff, with plenty on offer no matter what you are looking for, we have something so suit all tastes and age ranges.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the exciting events planned this year:

If you have a very young family, then why not thrill and delight them with a visit to CBeebies Live! The Big Band. This is being hosted at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, on Monday 14^th April at 1.30pm and 4.45pm, and also on Tuesday 15^th April at 11am and 2pm. The show is a celebration of music and invites the children to come and make music alongside their favourite CBeebies stars in this brand new show. Any parent who watches CBeebies with their children will recognise Justin Fletcher who will be entertaining the kids along with ‘Mister Maker’ and gardener extraordinaire ‘Mr Bloom’, Rastamouse and the ZingZillas - plus many more well-known faces from CBeebies. For more information see: http://www.livenation.co.uk/ or telephone 0292 002 4488.

Cardiff Castle, on Castle Street, is rolling out some great events this Easter. For the kids they are hosting the Cardiff Children's Lit Festival on April 12^th and 13^th this year, and promise to deliver some dynamic presentations from popular children’s authors and illustrators.

They are also running an Easter Workshop where kids can decorate their own Easter bonnets or crowns, from 11am on Wednesday 16^th April. Tickets are £6 per child but do include a bonnet in the price, and all other materials and decorations are provided.  There are also other Easter related family workshops running during the week, so if bonnets are not your kid’s thing, then they can go to the craft workshop and make collages and decorations, take the Easter Trail for just £1, or come along for the castle’s Easter Fun Day on Saturday 19^th April from 11am to 4pm. The Fun Day will include Easter-themed treats, egg and spoon races, colouring competitions, egg rolling and much more!

Who doesn’t love Scooby Doo? Both adults and children enjoy the antics of Shaggy, Scooby and the gang, so why take in ‘Scooby Doo! The Mystery of the Pyramid’ at the New Theatre, Park Place, Friday 18th April, 2.30pm & 6.00pm or Saturday 19th April, 11.00am and 2.30pm. For more information and booking: 02920 878889. http://www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk/what%27s-on/scooby-doo-the-mystery-of-the-pyramid/

For something more spectacular, why not treat the family to a breath-taking show of Disney on Ice at the Motorpoint Arena. All your favourite Disney moments will come to life in their ‘Worlds of Fantasy’ ice show, full of action-packed stunts, featuring four Disney stories – CARS, The Little Mermaid, Pixie Hollow and Tinker Bell, and the Toy Story gang! With a dazzling mixture of skating and special effects, this show will create memories for your children that will last a lifetime. For more information Telephone: 029 2022 4488 or visit http://www.livenation.co.uk/event/455324/disney-on-ice-presents-worlds-of-fantasy-tickets

If you are passionate about Welsh pottery, then ‘the Story of Welsh Porcelain 1813-1826’will really interest you. Cardiff Castle on Castle Street is holding a lecture by Andrew Renton on Thursday April 10^th at 6.00pm. Some of the finest ever produced will be illustrated in this lecture. For more information telephone: 02920 878100. Tickets cost £7.50 per person.

For those who love the great outdoors and everything equestrian, then Sunnybank Equestrian Centre, Cardiff, will be the place for you for their Easter Fun Show Jumping event. Open to the public, this event will be held on Tuesday 1^st April. Check here for more details, or in case of bad weather http://www.horseeventsuk.com/horse_event?url_countyid=78&url_eventid=25422

If you fancy a bit of high-end culture to your Easter break, then what about attending the ballet? The Northern Ballet will be staging their version of ‘Cinderella’ at the New Theatre, Park Place, between the 8^th April and the 12^th April. This new interpretation of the classic fairy tale showcases all your favourite characters from the story, including the cruel stepmother and sisters, and love blossoms when Cinderella meets her Prince Charming. The show features breath-taking winter scenes and opulent stage sets to really absorb you into the story. You can choose between evening performances at 7.30pm or take in a matinee on Thursday or Saturday at 2.30pm. Tickets are just £8.50 per person. Telephone 029 2087 8889 for bookings and enquiries.

What if music is your passion? If you have a love of live music, and still enjoy being outdoors in the fresh Welsh air, then you can combine the two with the Cardiff Coffee Concert:  Enjoy the Piatti Quartet, who are one of the country’s leading young string quartets as the play live at Cathay Park, Cardiff on Sunday 6^th April, 11.30am. Tickets available to book in advance £8.90 per adult and £6.70 concessions. Tel: 02920 397951. Limited availability on the door for £10.00.

Don’t forget to pencil in a visit to the world famous 2014 RHS Flower Show being held at Bute Park, Cardiff. This year the show celebrates its 10^th birthday, so will be an extra special one! Held between 11^th – 13^th April at Bute Park, Cardiff Castle, their influence spreads through the city each spring with its spectacular show of yellow daffodils. Featuring show gardens, floral displays, new features and expert advice for budding gardeners to more experienced hands. Telephone: 0844 338 7528 http://www.rhs.org.uk/Shows-Events/RHS-Flower-Show-Cardiff/2014

The National Museum Cardiff are offering a wide range of drop-in sessions and workshops for Easter, including ‘Spring Birds’ where you learn to recognise common bird calls and make craft bird’s nests, ‘Torn-Paper Landscapes’ taking inspiration from artist J.D. Innes, ‘Poppy Sowing’ where you are invited to sow poppy seeds in the new Urban Meadow,  ‘Easter Hunt’ and ‘Happy Easter bulb buddies!’ hidden around the museum – follow the trail and solve the clues! All these museum events and more can be found here: http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/whatson/?month=4&year=2014&site=cardiff

If you are a lover of live pulse-pumping music, then how about taking in ‘The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club at The Globe, 125 Albany Rd. Cardiff, on Friday 4th April & Friday 18th April 2014. Doors open at 8.00pm. These events are for over 18s only. You can buy a total maximum of 10 tickets for this event so why not get a group of friends together for a great night out? The Globe is a trendy live music hangout, and a favourite stop-off for touring bands and artists. Tickets: http://www.gigantic.com/the-craig-charles-funk-and-soul-club-tickets

Don’t forget to check out Cardiff International Arena for top-rated live music events. For example ELBOW will be performing here on Tuesday 8^th April, and doors open at 6.30pm. This performance is for over 14s only, so if you have teenage fans in your family you can grab a maximum of 6 tickets for the event and bring a couple of their friends along. For tickets: http://www.gigantic.com/elbow-tickets

Another big name you may be familiar with is coming to the Motorpoint Arena this year – do you remember the Harlem Globetrotters? I loved watching these guys perform on TV when I was growing up, and they are still going strong today! They will be performing on Saturday 12^th April, and doors open at 6.30pm. You can buy 10 ticket maximum for this event, so great for the whole family, including grandparents or cousins.

Amazingly, the original Harlem Globetrotters this year are celebrating their 88^th consecutive year, and are continuing to develop their famous ball handling skills and artistry with successive generations of players. For tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/36004B52962D1BD2

Talking of nostalgia, who remembers the ‘The Jam’? This cutting edge band had so many hits in the late 70s and early 80s, and had a big influence on lots of up and coming bands that drew inspiration from their raw style.

‘From The Jam’ are known as a tribute band, but actually is led by bassist/singer Bruce Foxton who was one of the original trio who made up The Jam, and gives the band it’s truly authentic sound. From The Jam perform acoustic interpretations of classic tracks such as Town called Malice, Start, Eton Rifles, and many more! From the Jam will be performing at The Globe, Cardiff, on Thursday 24^th April. Doors open at 7.30pm, and the event is for over 14s only. Tickets available online:  http://www.gigantic.com/from-the-jam-tickets

Everyone knows Gary Barlow, either from being the ‘Take-That’ frontman, from his solo career, or from TVs X-Factor show where he was the lead judge. Gary is kicking off a live tour of the country in April with his ‘Since I Saw You Last’ tour 2014, which is also the name of his first studio album in 14 years. He will be performing at the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff on the 9th April 2014.Tickets are available from the Box Office  - 02920 22 44 88.

Do you love live theatre? Then be sure to book your tickets early for Wicked! at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff. This award-winning hit musical is doing a UK tour, and will bring you the whole story about the Land of Oz. With brilliant performances, a captivating story, amazing costumes, and stunning high-tech live special effects, along with a phenomenal musical score – this is something you cannot afford to miss! To book tickets telephone: 029 2063 6464. http://www.wmc.org.uk/

If you enjoy getting away from the hustle and bustle of modern life, and find yourself drawn to more spiritual or meditative activities, then you will be interested in ‘Four Secrets That Can Change Your Life’ a  public talk by international speaker, Gelong Thubten. This talk will focus on the Power of Meditation, Mindfulness and Positive Thinking. He will also be discussing how Buddhism practices can help to unlock the hidden potential of the mind. The talk is being held at Chapter Arts on Market Road, Cardiff, Wednesday 23^rd April at 7.30pm. Entry fee is £7.00 per person.  For more information: Telephone (02920)228040. http://www.meditateinwales.net/