The Easter holidays have arrived but before the egg hunting and chocolate feasting there is a week of activities leading up to the long weekend. Attractions across the county are hosting Easter-themed events but there are also the first lambing season days and the arrivals of children’s TV heroes like the Fat Controller and Fifi Forget-Me-Not. Children can dance at workshops and get close to farm animals in the coming week. Let the holiday season begin!

Dover Castle

Come to the aid of Roland, King Henry’s court jester, as he tries to keep his job in the medieval Great Tower from Sunday, April 1, to Sunday, April 15. Based on the real life Roland the Jester, children must help him as he must unseat the surly upstart Steward FitzAudlin, who is planning to steal his position. The 12th century Roland did keep his job as he was given a manor in Suffolk with 30 acres of land in return for his services as jester.

Then families can fool around as much as they like as they help Peterkin the Fool peel back the centuries in some historical learning over the Easter weekend. From Good Friday to Easter Monday, they can joust, learn to be a knight, juggle with all manner of circus skills from spinning plates to balancing on unicycles, take part in plays and enjoy puppetry with a host of characters from Alf the Elephant to Dido the Dinosaur.

Admission £16.50, concessions £14.90, children £9.90, families £42.90. Call 0870 333 1183.

Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne

Build a Spitfire model to take home at a Make and Paint Day at the National Memorial to The Few. Introduce little ones to the world of Airfix kits on Saturday, March 31, and Sunday, April 1, putting together and painting plastic scale models. Then watch a real Spitfire overhead as a Mark Vb soars above onlookers. Battle of Britain veteran and former Hurricane pilot, Wing Commander Bob Foster, will also be at the site on the Saturday.

Airfix Make and Paint Days are free. Call 01303 249292.

Bluewater

Able golfers will have a chance to win the captain’s booty at the Pirate Cove Adventure Golf course throughout the Easter holidays. Anyone who can get a hole-in-one with an Easter egg-shaped golf ball will be entered into a draw to win prizes such as a £250 Bluewater gift card and £150 leisure pass to Pirate Cove. There are two 18-hole golf courses at Pirate Cove, as well as an aerial assault course with a zip wire, pirate pedaloes and remote-controlled galleons.

Prices for different attractions vary. Details atwww.piratecove.co.uk.

Sissinghurst Castle

Children can follow clues, answer questions and complete challenges across the estate on the Easter Trail. Running along the lakes and through the woods, children will pick up a chocolate egg prize on the trek, running from Monday, April 2, to Sunday, April 15. Afterwards explore the famous garden by Vita Sackville-West, with its several rooms with different planting schemes, colours and scents.

The trail will run from 11am to 4pm and will cost £2 per trail. Call 01580 710700.

Farming World, Faversham

Stroke a snake, cosy up to a lizard or conquer that fear of spiders, below, at the Creepy Crawlies Days on Wednesday, April 4 and 11. Families can get up close to many of the animals at the park’s Animal Day on Thursday, April 5. Families can visit the animals including heavy horses, Shetland ponies, pigs, sheep, pygmy goats, llamas and rabbits. Guests might be lucky enough to see some lambs, calves and kids as lambing season arrives. There are two large adventure play areas, a climbing area for older children and toddler area with sandpit. If the weather is inclement the indoor soft play area provides shelter and entertainment. There is a craft and activity room and Bee World.

Admission £6.50, children and seniors £5.50. Call 01227 751144.

Folkestone Racecourse

The kmfm Easter Superhero Family Day on Thursday, April 5 will see Humungousaur from Ben 10’s Alien Force arrive at the track. As well as the usual races, there will be a running race for dads dressed as their favourite superhero. Children can also enjoy face-painting, balloon modelling and a fancy dress competition. There will also be a Wii Entertainment Tent.

Gates £12.10pm, first race 2.10pm, last race 4.40pm. Tickets from £14. Call 01303 266407.

The Brook Theatre, Chatham

Two one-day workshops have been organised for young people aged from eight to 16. The first is based on One Direction and is suitable for female fans and future boy band members. Dance to the hits and perform a routine for family and friends at the end of the day on Monday, April 2. Then the original Broadway choreography of Hairspray will be taught on Tuesday, April 3.

Both workshops £14 per person or £24 for both. Call 01634 338338.

Brockhill Park Performing Arts College, Hythe

Lambing season has arrived and the new-born flock will be the centre of attention at the school’s annual lambing day on Sunday, April 1. As well as petting the new arrivals, a fair will entertain families with children’s rides, traditional games and sideshows. Kentish produce will be on sale from Biddenden Vineyards, Pure Kent, Friday Treats, Kentish ice cream and Faversham Fudge. There will also be a barbecue. Invicta Arachnid Club will be showing off their creepy crawlies including tarantulas and snakes.

Admission £2.50, children £1. Call 07825 397230.

Drusillas Park, East Sussex

The Fat Controller will be causing a lo-commotion when he alights on Tuesday, April 3 . Then a spell will be cast over the animal park when Ben Elf and Princess Holly from the Little Kingdom return on Wednesday, April 4.

Admission £62 for a family of four. Call 01323 874100.

Walmer Castle

The family fun trail around the grounds will keep children occupied in the opening week of the Easter holidays. Quiz sheets with Easter themes including flowers and bunnies will be available to suit different age groups. After earning a chocolate reward, children can burn off the calories round the gardens while mum and dad enjoy a stroll round the herbaceous borders, through the woodland walk and the working kitchen garden, before admiring the tranquil Queen Mother’s Garden. The family fun trail runs from Monday, April 2, to Monday, April 9.

Admission £7.30, concessions £6.60, children £4.40, families £19. Call 01304 364288.

Kent & East Sussex Railway

Fifi Forget-Me-Not and her best friend Bumble from Fifi and the Flowertots will pull in to the station with their new Rock with the Tots sing-along show. Children can then meet Fifi and Bumble. Families attending will also get two 25-minute steam train trips. Then from Monday, April 2, to Thursday, April 5, and Tuesday, April 10, to Friday, April 13, families can travel on an Easter ticket for £35 instead of £42.

Fifi show on at 10.15am and 3.15pm. Ticket £13.50, children £10.50. Call 01580 765155.

Hempstead Valley shopping centre, Gillingham

The Easter Gift Fair runs from Monday, April 2, to Saturday, April 7, selling handmade crafts and chocolates. Children’s activities will run from Monday, April 2, to Good Friday, including a bunny treasure hunt on Monday and a balloon modeller on Tuesday. Children will be entertained with stilt walking, unicycling, juggling and circus skills on Wednesday and Thursday before the Easter Bunny arrives on Good Friday.

Admission free. Call 01634 387076.

Smallhythe Place, Tenterden

Head through the swathes of gold and cream narcissi in the orchards on the Smallhythe Place Easter trail. It runs from Monday, April 2, to Friday, April 13, from 11am to 4pm.

Costs £1.50 per trail. Call 01580 762334.

Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks

At the weekends throughout the holidays, visitors at Port Lympne, near Hythe, can take part in decorating eggs, which will then be given to animals as part of an Easter-themed enrichment. Meanwhile at Howletts, near Canterbury, self-guided trails and talks by the education team will introduce the new arrivals at the park. During the weekends, visitors can make papier mache eggs and then watch the animals as they eat the nutritious treats inside. Head of communications Carole Thomas said: "Easter is such a lovely time at the wild animal park. Not only will there be lots of cute new borns to meet, but this year visitors can join the education team and provide some egg-themed enrichment for some of the animals."

Admission £22.95, children £17.95. Call 0844 842 4647.