THIS HALF TERM why not take advantage of the wide range of exhibitions and activities at Sunderland’s museums?
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, Monkwearmouth Station Museum and Washington F Pit will host a variety of events and activities for all ages between Saturday 24 until Saturday 31 October
A mixture of craft and design based family activities, tales and trails has been put together to encourage more people of all ages to come along and have some fun at their local museums.
Sunderland City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Public Health, Wellness and Culture, Councillor John Kelly, said: “With school holidays coming up it is great to see a wide range of activities, many of which are free for the young and young at heart, across the city. Sunderland has strong links with Lewis Carroll and many of the activities have a link to the 150th anniversary of the publication of the classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
“We continue to look at how best to deliver museum, library and heritage services across the city. With the half term holidays it is a fantastic time for everybody to make the most of the top class facilities we have here.”
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens:
Park Poetry Trail
Saturday 24 October – Sunday 1 November
Collect your trail at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Museum opening hours
Can you find the silver mirror of the moon, or the lion that purrs like iron? Pick up your free poetry trail from Museum reception to help you explore Mowbray Park. Bring your completed trail back to museum reception to claim a prize sticker.
(This ‘Alice is 150’ activity supports the Get Creative Family Arts Festival.)
Mad Hats!
Wednesday 28 October
11am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 3pm (drop in)
Make a mad hatter’s hat decorated with nonsense poems inspired by the Picture the Poet exhibition. Help Alice to make sense of all the nonsense through the rabbit-hole! Families not only get to design their own mad hat, but they get to decorate it with nonsense poems from the Alice books and work with staff from Explore Learning to explore the Alice books and further develop their literacy skills.
(This ‘Alice is 150’ activity supports the Get Creative Family Arts Festival.)
Dino Delights
Friday 30 October
11am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 3pm (drop in)
Make a dinosaur themed hat or flag to wear on an adventure in our Jurassic Garden! Join in some dinosaur inspired drama games with the Drama Lab.
Museums at Night: Jurassic Garden Party
Friday 30 October
6pm – 8pm (tickets £7 per head, available from the museum shop)
Join us for a special dinosaur themed party! Try handling live snakes and lizards, make a dinosaur mask, find out more about dinosaurs and fossils from our expert and visit the dinosaurs in the Jurassic Garden on a special explorer trail.
One World Party
Saturday 31 October
11am – 3pm (drop in)
Join us for a celebration of world cultures with stalls selling Fairtrade products, world music, food and family activities. This event is organised by the Sunderland Fairtrade Partnership.
Monkwearmouth Station Museum
Spooky Trail
Saturday 24 October – Sunday 1 November
Follow the spooky trail to find some creepy clues hiding in the Museum. Pick up your self-led trail from museum reception.
Messy Art Day
Tuesday 27 October
11am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 3pm (drop in)
Get creative in the Museum with messy painting and printing activities.
Halloween Party
Thursday 29 October
12pm – 2pm (drop in)
Join the Musical Monkeez for a spooky dance party. Come in your favourite Halloween costume.
Washington F Pit
Family Backpacks
Friday 30 October & Saturday 31 October
11am – 3pm (drop in)
Pop in to the Museum and borrow a family activity backpack filled with art activities and fun challenges! (Please note, a refundable deposit is required to borrow a backpack.)
For more information please contact the Learning Team on (0191) 561 2323 or e-mailmuseumlearning@sunderland.gov.