Family friendly things to do this half-term across North West

School's out and the May half-term holidays are here already.

If you want to take your little ones out - and off their tablets - in the north-west of England there is everything from Pokémon trails to a fake poo factory.

Other highlights include a Roman Day and a top secret Mystery Mission.

So, if you are looking for fun activities to keep the kids entertained - here's a selection of just some of the events you can check out.

Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire is staging Pokemon-inspired trails to encourage more families to explore the great outdoors together.

The Pokemon TCG Mega Evolution Trails at 14 National Trust sites invites families to search for ten Mega Evolution Pokemon across ten trail points.

Each trail point features a simple physical or creative challenge inspired by different Mega Evolution Pokemon.

Children go free at Chester Racecourse's Roman Day on 30 May.

Highlights include Roman stunt shows, Gladiator bootcamps and Roman artefacts and activities with Chester Heritage Festival.

A top-secret message has gone missing at Beeston Castle and Woodland Park – and need you to find it before it falls into the wrong hands.

The Mystery Mission if you choose to accept it, is to follow the trail, track down the clues and crack the codes to uncover the secret message.

Keep your eyes peeled for the mysterious secret agent who will be roaming around at the English Heritage site and might help you.

The Mystery Mission runs daily between 10:00 and 17:00 until 31 May.

Or dive into the world of sharks at Chester Zoo which hosts live stage shows from CBBC's Deadly 60wildlife presenter, Steve Backshall, from 23–31 May.

He promises to take you on a jaw‑dropping journey into the lives of some of the planet's most powerful predators and describe some of his real-life encounters with them.

You can go loco in Lancashire over the bank holiday weekend with a chance to ride behind one of West Lancashire Light Railway's restored Bagnall steam engines at its site in Hesketh Bank.

Sunday is carnival time in Preston as the 52nd Caribbean Carnival takes place at Moor Park with a celebration of culture, music, and community.

The parade leaves Moor Park at 13:00 and will dance, drum and wind through Deepdale Road, Meadow Street, St Paul's Road, Sedwick Street, North Road, Garstang Road before returning to the park.

Meanwhile, Skinny Banton is headlining the Moor Park Party which starts at 13:15 and continues until 19:30 with Singcere and Mento P also performing alongside fun children's activities, rides and inflatables and stalls with Caribbean and international foods.

Sundays' free live music is back at the Bandstand at Blackpool's award-winning Grade II-listed Stanley Park.

Circus and One Knight Only are on this Sunday between 13:00 and 16:30 while on 31 May Elvis Rocks the Park and Prime Movers will be performing.

If you want something fun and messy - look no further than the Fake Poo Factory at Blackpool's Showtown Museum on Wednesday.

The workshop celebrates the resort's surprising claim to fame as the birthplace of fake poo.

Visitors can create their own realistic fake poo to take home while discovering the hilarious story behind one of Britain's best-loved novelty gags.

The Harris museum in Preston has a special exhibition opening later The World of Martin Brown: Horrible Histories and Other Dazzling Drawings in Gallery One which runs until 31 August.

To celebrate the launch, you can meet the Horrible Histories illustrator in person between 13:00 and 15:00 on Saturday.

RHS Garden Bridgewater in Manchester is staging the Great Garden Game-a-thon every day of the half-term holiday.

Marks, get set and go for a week of fun, laughter and friendly competition in the great outdoors between 10-00 and 18:00 every day until 31 May.

You need to pre-book a time slot to enter the garden.

Get on board with Manchester's Science & Industry Museum's mini steam railway. Take a ride from 23-29 May on the mini railway and journey among the newly landscaped planters in its historical Upper Yard.

Join artist Toubie Jack at HOME Manchester where families can build their own miniature cardboard creature world.

Design and create playful creatures and the tiny worlds they live in using recycled cardboard, colourful craft materials and plenty of imagination.

From jungle hideaways and magical caves to underwater kingdoms and imaginary planets, every young maker can invent an animal, build its habitat and bring their ideas to life. No booking required.

The Co-operative Fair is taking place across the Grade I-listed Rochdale Town Hall and Town Hall Square later.

The event to celebrate Rochdale's role as the birthplace of the co-operative movement runs between 10:00-16:00 and includes a banner making session between 10:00-12:00, games and stalls as well as a banner parade down the Broadfield Park Slopes at 12:30.

Wander through the deer park at National Trust's Dunham Massey in Altrincham, explore the historic house and take part in Speechly's house trail or help him deliver the Pineapple Post around the estate.

Also, there is floral fun for all the family as the free Manchester Flower Festivalreturns over the bank holiday weekend. This year's theme is Green Manchester highlighting the city's expanding green spaces and vision for a more sustainable city.

Speke Hall, Merseyside, like Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire, also has a Pokemon-inspired trail.

Meanwhile, a free Shaun the Sheep interactive trail is taking over Liverpool ONE.

Download the Shaun the Sheep: Fun with the Flock AR Trail app and enter the unique location code 0508 then track down nine markers across Liverpool ONE.

At each location, enjoy selfie moments, unlock animated scenes and complete Bitzer the dog's checklist of fun challenges as well as interact with CBBC's Shaun and his farmyard friends in unexpected places.

There is also free Writing on the Wall children's storytelling at the Palm House in Sefton Park, Liverpool, on Wednesday between 11:00 and 12:30.

The Writing on the Wall team will spark young imaginations, celebrate cultural heritage, and introduce children to the magic and power of stories brought to life in one of Liverpool's most stunning venues.

Through captivating tales and creative expression, young listeners will be inspired not only to listen but to dream up adventures of their own.

Explore your creativity as a family and make a marvellous masterpiece to take home at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool plus explore Big Art and all the wonderful resources for yourself.

Art Sparks sessions take place at 14:15 this Saturday, then from Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 30 and 31 May.

Also, for all you foodies the Southport Food and Drink Festival takes place on 29-31 May.

Read more stories from Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X.