Thursdays have the X-tra Factor this summer at the Curragh’s Wildlife Park.

‘Additional events and attractions will make a visit to the park extra special on Thursdays during the school summer holidays,’ said David Cretney MLC, Member of the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture with responsibility for the park.

Each Thursday will have a different theme, with a train day (July 30th), a falconry day featuring Phil Gibbons and his birds of prey (August 6th), Superhero Day (August 13th), Fun in the Park with Cookie the Clown (August 20th) and a Teddy Bears’ Picnic (August 27th).

‘Brief Encounters’ will give visitors the chance to get closer than usual to some of the park’s animals for ?10 per person. Different encounters will be on offer each day depending on the weather and availability and age restrictions may apply.

Most days during the school holidays there will be additional talks, touch tables, crafts and creepy crawly encounters, run by the park’s excellent team of volunteers.

The Orchid Line miniature railway, run by the Manx Steam and Model Engineering Club, will run on Thursdays as well as Sundays during the school holidays.

Visit www.curraghswildlifepark.im and click on ‘events’ to keep up to date with each day’s activities.

Mr Cretney said: ‘With six weeks to fill, parents are always looking for something to do with their children that is fun, active and good value. Thursdays have the X-tra Factor proved so popular last year we are bringing it back and adding new events, too, in the park’s 50th anniversary year.’

The park is open daily from 10am to 6pm all summer. Tickets and memberships can be purchased online in advance via the website, enabling visitors to beat queues at busy times.

A family ticket for two adults and two children costs ?26, while an annual family membership for two adults and two children costs just ?95 and gives year-round admission, 10% off in the shop and 10% off hot food and drinks in the cafe. Additional children and grandparents can be added to memberships.