January has finally come to an end but as the short dark days stay with us you might be looking to make the most of the daytimes with your kids this weekend.
Whether you fancy getting out and about to get some daylight, or would rather stay indoors and keep warm, there's lots of stuff happening for the whole family.
We've been taking a good look at what's happening across Greater Manchester and beyond this Saturday and Sunday...
GoFest, SportCity
Family sports festival GoFest is taking place at SportCity this Saturday , giving kids the chance to have a go at 18 different activities.
From school yard favourites such as netball and basketball, to more adventurous activities like fencing and korfball, there's bound to be something the kids will take a shine to.
It's not just for the kids either, as the festival is encouraging families to 'have a go' together - so stick on your gym gear and get stuck in.
Find out more about what's on at the festival here .
Tickets can be booked online and cost £15 for adults, £10 for children and £42.50 for a family.
Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester
The ever-popular Pi: Platform for Investigation returns this Saturday .
Kids can explore how the places we live, play and travel are constructed with engineers from the Institution of Civil Engineers, who will be on-hand to help and chat.
The free workshop is recommended for children aged eight plus and runs from 10.30am to 3.30pm.
And while at the museum there's still chance to catch the Robots exhibition which is running until April.
Featuring more than 100 robots, it illustrates the key moments in humans’ 500-year quest to recreate ourselves in mechanical form.
Families can find out when we first started building humanoid robots and what the future might look like – plus make friends with a few of the interactive exhibits.
Museum of Science and Industry, Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4FP.
I Spy the Bridgewater Canal, Salford
Families are being encouraged to join in a new trail along the famous Bridgewater Canal.
Today the canal is busy with wildlife and nature but look closely and you can still see traces of its industrial past – some things you can see go all the way back to 1761 when it first opened.
Get your explorer’s hat on and set off on a journey of discovery along this intriguing waterway to spot as much as you can.
You can download a trail online , with each page offering new things to discover.
Duke's Drive, Parrin Lane, Monton, Salford.
£5 cinema tickets, Vue
If you fancy catching a film this weekend then Vue cinemas still has its £5 ticket deal running at The Lowry and Printworks .
All 2D films, even new releases, are £5 a ticket all day every day.
Films on this weekend include the new Early Man film, as well as Coco and Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle.
Vue's Mini Mornings also run every Saturday and Sunday morning around 10am, plus every day in the school holidays.
Tickets cost £2.49 each for children and adults.
You can book online (and select your seats) for a £2.25 booking fee, or just turn up on the day but showings can get very busy so get there early.
This weekend's offering is The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature, which is on at both cinemas at 10am and My Little Pony: The Movie, which is on at the Printworks at 9.45am.
Access All Areas at Z-arts
A FREE family fun day is taking place on Sunday for children and families with disabilities.
There will be drop-in activities for kids of all ages to enjoy at Z-arts between 10am and 3pm on Sunday .
The event, with an environmental theme, includes dance, drama, music, arts and crafts and sensory space.
Visit the website to book tickets and find out more.
Z-arts, Stretford Road, Hulme, M15 5ZA.
Welly Walks at The Whitworth
Whatever the weather you and the kids can head along to The Whitworth and join in a Welly Walk.
The event is aimed at toddlers and their grown ups but there's no age restriction.
It's all about getting muddy and discovering art and nature in the Whitworth Park.
You can download a free Welly Walks guide to enjoy the walk that has been specially designed to support your toddler’s inquisitive nature.
For more details email learning.whitworth@manchester.ac.uk .
Artist Sundays also take place weekly from 11am to 4pm at the gallery.
Artists have created quirky activities and creative challenges to do together with your family.
Call into the learning studio and collect a specially made family bag and head off to the galleries to explore and have fun.
The Whitworth, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6ER.
FREE steam train rides for kids at the East Lancashire Railway
It's your last chance to make the most of FREE kids' rides at the East Lancs Railway this Saturday and Sunday.
The attraction is running the offer on weekend trips between now and February 9.
It means that any child between the ages of five and 17 can enjoy the steam train experience without spending a penny.
They just have to be accompanied by a paying adult and must download a voucher here before booking their tickets. Under fives are always free unless there's a special event on.
Admission prices are subject to change but start around £15.50 for an adult. Only one voucher per person and per transaction.
To make a day of it you can also take advantage of free entry to the nearby Bury Transport Museum , which houses old buses, original artifacts and interactive exhibits to help your family explore the lives and jobs of people in the early 20th Century.
East Lancashire Railway, Bolton Street, Bury, BL9 0EY.
Family Sunday at Ordsall Hall
This fun family event takes place on the first Sunday of each month.
Families can drop in and have a go at a range of fun, hands-on activities that span the history of Ordsall Hall from the 1300s up until the present day.
The event, at 1pm, is suitable for children of all ages and costs £1 each.
Ordsall Hall, Ordsall Lane, Ordsall, Salford, M5 3AN.
