Hiding in a garden border somewhere near you... Photo: Anra Kennedy

Along with the ever-popular egg painting and Easter bunny hunts, 2005 sees plenty of special events happening at museums and galleries throughout the holidays.

So, here we go with a quick run down of just a few of them…

Artist Juliana Capes and storyteller Judy Paterson help bring paintings and sculptures to life with Doodles and Tales on March 27 at Edinburgh’s National Gallery with activities running from 2pm until 4pm, suitable for young families.

Also in Scotland, St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art in Glasgow is celebrating the diversity of the spring festivals from April 4-14. Activities include Jewish storytelling, Easter egg painting, making Sikh Vaisakhi cards and more.

Don't be a dunce and get down to Wigan Pier for their Easter celebrations. Courtesy Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

Over in Wales, Cosmeston Medieval Village is holding a Living History Event on March 27-28, where you can see what life was like for both rich and poor more than 600 years ago in the days of the 14th century. Villagers will perform different crafts and visitors can try on armour and have a go at archery.

Caldicot Castle in Monmouthshire will have the sights and sounds of an army training for battle at its English Civil War Battle Gathering on March 27-28. The Sealed Knot will be there to provide the action with artillery demonstrations, an exciting skirmish and traditional cookery displays. Roundheads and Cavaliers will be around to talk to so visitors can find out about their harsh way of life.

Wigan Pier is hosting packed afternoons of Bonnets and Bunnies on March 25 and 28. Those brave enough can make their own bonnet and then wear it during a special Victorian schoolroom lesson. After that the Kittywake canal boat takes passengers off down the Leeds-Liverpool canal.

Do eggs grow on trees? Get down to the Grosvenor Museum in Chester on April 7 to find out and create decorative Easter egg trees.

Caldicot Castle - 28 bedrooms, stunning views, but may need central heating. © 1998 Alison D Martin, courtesy of www.castlewales.com

Across the Pennines in York Castle Howard is seeing a series of gruesome goings on. Running until April 3, adventure trails and storytelling will explore Myths and Monsters, The Wild Wood and Seeking the Servant, along with bouncy castles, fearsome face painting, and a rare appearance from the Easter Bunny himself.

Eureka! in Halifax is staging Atishoo, an innovative puppet show for children under six on March 25, 26, 28 and 29, and Taking the Plunge, for 5-11 year-olds, which explores the science of water on March 30 and April 1.

Belfast’s W5 centre sees the return of Egg-streme Egg Racing this year, every afternoon from 2.30-4pm until April 3. Visitors can decorate their own egg then race it over the obstacle course to try to poach victory.

Experience the Spring Fair Day at the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh, with the sights, smells and sounds of a typical market day from the late 19th century.

Bubonic plague and a diet of potage does wonders for your complexion. Photo: David Warren

Tamworth Castle in Staffordshire is re-enacting life in the 1300s with Pustules, Plagues and Revolting Peasants on March 27-28. You can see how peasants cooked in the days before the spud had been discovered, find out the etiquette of a medieval banquet, help the wise woman discover some peculiar remedies and lots more.

Or how about hunting for fossils at Cross Hands Quarry, meeting at Warwick’s St John’s House Museum on April 7, starting at 4pm?

In Loughborough visitors can find out about the history of chocolate at Charnwood Museum. See displays of early chocolate advertisements, packaging, scrapbook figures and collector’s cards until April 17.

East Anglia sees the ‘Eostre’ Gathering at West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, near Bury St Edmunds, on March 26-28. It will show how many of our modern Easter traditions are based on pagan customs and hosts the Dark Ages Games with spear throwing, archery, and the more obscure kayles and tip cat.

Native Americans bring the colours and rhythm of their traditional music and dance to Bristol's Empire Museum.

Celebrate Easter Crafts and Customs at the Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey, Cambridgeshire. Easter themed activities include decorating the biggest egg in East Anglia on March 27-28.

PuzzleMania at Bristol’s Explore centre presents a baffling array of puzzles, cryptic challenges and gigantic games in this new attraction opening on March 25.

Also in Bristol the Native American Festival is running from March 25 until April 10 at the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum. It features puppet workshops, woodcarving shows, tepee painting, storytelling and authentic Native American music and dance.

Will you be Victorious as a flag detective in Portsmouth? Photo: Jon Pratty © 24 Hour Museum

Over in the South-East, the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum near Chichester has a whole range of Easter Fun and Festivities from March 25-28, including candle rolling, storytelling and trails, a local produce market and Tudor and Victorian games.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard has Craftscene running from March 25 to April 10 where visitors can make sand statues and plaster models, and kids can become flag detectives for the day, inspired by the display of the Trafalgar Sail.

In London the Pimlico Library and the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms are inviting you to Animate History. These free animation workshops for families will explore the history of Westminster during the Second World War and results will be posted on the Internet. It’s at Pimlico on March 31 and April 30, and at the Churchill Museum on April 2, 9, 16 and 23.

Back to the land with the Children's War exhibition. © Imperial War Museum

The Imperial War Museum’s popular Children’s War exhibition has the Silent Witnesses communal art project running until April 3 that looks at the experiences of children in wartime and the loss of childhood.

On top of all this, many venues are holding traditional egg hunts and Easter games and crafts. Check with your local museum or gallery to find out what’s going on. Times may vary, so please contact the venue to confirm details.