Winter Warmer Family Fun Day University of Glasgow

Saturday 14 December, 2024, 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow, 11 Chapel Lane Glasgow G11 6EW

University of Glasgow (ARC) annual, free Winter Warmer Family Day, this year with a focus on Winter Stories.

A host of festive activities. All activities are FREE and most are drop-in. You’ll find extra booking links below for sessions that need to be reserved in advance.

Their wonderful café, The Western, will be open during the event for soup and sandwiches, coffee and cakes!

Fantastic festive music from the Byres Road Big Band, and Santa may even make an appearance!

This Family Day is part of the Winter Warmer festive programme. Check out other events in the programmeere.

Please note, children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

What’s On?

Bookable workshops

glass mosaic

Glass Mosaic Winter Workshop

10:00 – 12:00

Ages 14+

Adventures with Micro:bits

Session 1: 11:30 – 12:45

Session 2: 13:00 – 14:15

Ages 8+

crystral trees

Unseasonal Change: Creating Crystal Trees Workshop

Session 1: 11:30 – 12:15

Sesssion 2: 12:45 – 13.30

Ages 10+

sessional storytelling

Winter’s Tales: Seasonal Storytelling Through Text, Tale and Place

Session 1: 12:30 – 13:00

Session 2: 13:30 – 14:00

Session 3: 14:30 – 15:00

Ages 3+

Weathering Well: Crafting with Stories of SAD

13:00 – 15:00

Ages 18+

Winter Fun with the Robot Dog

Session 1: 13:00 – 13:30

Session 2: 14:00 – 14:30

Ages 8+

Making a Very Community Christmas

13:00 – 15:00

All ages

Tabletop activities

Drop-in any time between 12:00 and 15:00 to get stuck into a smorgasbord of Winter Stories.

Festive Glowing Science Everywhere

Join Glowing Science and discover how glowing proteins are lighting the way to new medicines! Led by the Centre for Translational Pharmacology, this hands-on experience dives into the dazzling world of fluorescence. From glowing jellyfish in nature to glowing nutrients in our food, you’ll see how fluorescence is all around us. In the lab, light-emitting proteins are powerful tools that help researchers reveal the hidden workings of living cells leading to innovative treatments and new medicines.

Science can sometimes feel distant or intimidating, but we’re here to change that! Race to find the labelled cells in the ball pit, discover everyday objects that are fluorescent and write Christmas cards with special hidden messages. Through hands-on activities infused with a touch of winter holiday spirit, we invite you to explore the glowing magic of science in a fun and approachable way.

Winter Wildlife

Explore this display talking about hibernating animals using photos from the habitat for hibernators session. There will be information about each local species including hedgehogs, mice, queen bumblebees, frogs, and toads. Take a look at our map showing migration routes of different species. You can also view a map, showing the results from the autumn CIVIS bioblitz and the promoter will talk about the birds found on campus and how we can help them during the winter by putting out bird seed.

Making Winter Wonders

Join illustrator Emma Melchor to use card, paper and special decorations to create tiny winter scenes for characters. Are they going on an adventure? Or are they heading home to get a hot chocolate? Let your imagination fly and build magical winter worlds to play with these holidays or to decorate your room with.

Partick Growing Project Tabletop

Come and join Partick Community Growing Project to create lovely baubles and snowflakes to bring some festive sparkle to your home this winter

My Voice, My Glasgow

‘My Voice, My Glasgow’ is a research project about language and identity, led by researchers at the University of Glasgow and the University of Sheffield, and pupils at two Glasgow schools. ARC Winter Warmer family day activities will be led by pupils from Hyndland Secondary School, who want to ask you about your relationship with your voice. Do you use different voices in different places? Do you have one voice for family, another for friends, and another on the phone? Are you like all of your voices, or do you wish you sounded different? Tell us what you think!

The Story of the Western Infirmary

In recent years, the University of Glasgow has undergone major campus redevelopment leading to the successful completion of four world class academic buildings. But what was there before?

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the official opening of the former Western Infirmary, a Victorian-era hospital that once stood on the University of Glasgow’s Gilmorehill campus. The Western Infirmary acted as a hub for ground-breaking advancements in surgery, pathology, chemotherapy, radiology, oncology, gynaecology, medical education, radiology, and more.

It’s demolition in 2015 has revealed some of the previously hidden architecture of John Burnet, such as the Alexander Elder Memorial Chapel, one of the few chapels in the world dedicated to the doctors and nurses who died in both World Wars. Discover the fascinating story of the hospital through a series of historical images and learn about the crucial role that the Infirmary played in the development of modern medicine!

Festive Clothes Drive

Glasgow Universtiy Environmental Sustainability Team (GUEST), are hosting their Festive Clothes Drive at the ARC this Family Day. Peruse donated clothing and gifts donated by Glasgow University Staff and Students wrapped up in gift paper for you to take away. Find some fun festive clothing, up for grabs for all attendees.

And there are even more FREE activities on the day! Explore the VR Virus Snowflakes, learn about winter temperatures, discover ‘Unseasonal Change’, and paint your face for the Peking Opera. Come along towhat is sure to be a festive day, full of fascinating Winter Stories.

This Family Day is part of our Winter Warmer festive programme. Check out other events in the programme.

This event is free, but ticketed. Reserve a spot at Eventbrite

Please note, children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

You are welcome to bring your own food, but please take any rubbish away with you.

If you have any access requirements, please email.

Please enter the ARC via the main entrance, as indicated on the map below.

map arc

Take 2: Wolfwalkers at GFT
The Old Govan Fair Christmas

This section: Christmas in Glasgow, Classes and Workshops, Community event, Events, Fairs, Festivals and Fundraisers, Free Events, Kids and young people

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Avatar of PatByrne Publisher of Pat's Guide to Glasgow West End; the community guide to the West End of Glasgow. Fiction and non-fiction writer.

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