National Museums Liverpool has a jam-packed programme of fun events and activities to keep the kids entertained this half term.
Explore ethereal realms of fairies, folklore, wizards and witches in the new exhibition, Magic Worlds at World Museum, which opens on 18 October. The exhibition contains more than 150 objects, including Harry Potter’s broomstick, Sooty and his wand and the Cottingley fairy photographs. Continue the magic at home with the enchanting collection of magic sets and dressing up costumes available at World Museum gift shop.
Budding artists can get involved with the Big Draw at the Walker Art Gallery (22, 23, 24 Oct) and create a masterpiece inspired by water. Big Draw events are also on offer at Sudley House and Merseyside Maritime Museum.
Explore the Big Draw theme, ‘Draw Tomorrow’ and draw the future at Sudley (22 Oct); then capture the beauty of the waterfront at the Maritime (22, 23 Oct) and create an artist’s impression to add to the Museum’s identity parade wall at Seized! Border and Customs Uncovered (19, 20 Oct).
At the Museum of Liverpool children can take part in Meccano activities (21, 22 Oct) and make their own Meccano masterpiece to take home. Then kick back in the storytelling tent to unwind at the end of the week (24 Oct).
Music lovers can enjoy interactive African music sessions at then International Slavery Museum. Participants will learn about African musical instruments and have a go at playing them (21, 22, 23 Oct).
Get ready for Halloween with spooky crafts at the Lady Lever Art Gallery and Sudley House. Prepare a spooky costume by making a wizard or witch’s hat at the Lady Lever (23 Oct) and a monster mask at Sudley House (27 Oct).
Then, after a busy week, refuel in the Maritime Dining Rooms, located on the fourth floor of the Merseyside Maritime Museum. Children up to the age of 12 can eat free when one adult main meal is purchased. This offer is available on 26 and 27 Octoberand tables can be pre-booked by phoning 0151 478 4065.
Details of all the events can be found at: www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/
October half term listings
Walker Art Gallery,
Free entry
Open daily from 10.00 – 17.00
William Brown Street, Liverpool
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/
Hands-on activities
The Big Draw
22, 23, 24 October 2013
Take part in drawing activities inspired by the Walker’s new exhibition, David Hockney: Early reflections.
Drop in, no booking required.
Stephen Taberner’s Liverpool Choir
20 October 2013
16.00 – 16.30
Stephen Taberner’s Liverpool Choir perform together just once a year to explore some of the city’s most notable locations. This year they will bring an exciting performance of their repertoire to the Walker Gallery.
Drop in, no booking required.
Sudley House
Free Entry
Open daily from 10.00 – 17.00
Mossley Hill Road, Liverpool
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/
Telephone 0151 724 3245
Hands-on activities
The Big Draw
22 October 2013
13.00 – 16.00
Discover your creative side and get involved in this year’s Big Draw exploring the theme ‘draw tomorrow’.
Drop in, no booking required.
Monster masks
27 October 2013
13.00 – 16.00
Come along and make a mask to scare your friends with!
Drop in, no booking required.
Lady Lever Art Gallery
Free Entry
Open daily 10.00 – 17.00
Port Sunlight, Wirral
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/
Telephone 0151 478 4136
Art play for under fives
28 October 2013
10.00 – 11.30
Bring along the little ones for messy and creative play activities led by Wirral Children’s Centres.
Drop in, no booking required.
Halloween Lanterns
22 October 2013
13.00 – 16.00
Make a stained glass style lantern for Halloween.
Drop in, no booking required.
Wizards and Witches
23 October 2013
13.00 – 16.00
Make a witch’s or wizard’s hat to wear at Halloween.
Drop in, no booking required.
Spooky masks
24 October 2013
13.00 – 16.00
Make a spooky mask to frighten your friends with!
Drop in, no booking required.
Museum of Liverpool
Free Entry
Open Daily 10.00 – 17.00
Pier Head, Liverpool
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/
Telephone 0151 478 4545
Meccano Comes Home
21, 22 October 2013
14.00 – 16.00
Be inspired by the Meccano creations on display and make a model to take home. Each event will culminate in a team challenge at 3.30pm
Drop in, no booking required.
Make and learn
23, 24 October 2013
14.00 – 16.00
Bring along the little ones and be inspired by the Museum’s collections and make a creative masterpiece.
Drop in, no booking required.
Tales from the tent
24 October 2013
14.00 – 16.00
Kick back and enjoy a story from the Storytelling Tent!
Drop in, no booking required.
Merseyside Maritime Museum
Free entry
Open daily 10.00 – 17.00
Albert Dock,Liverpool
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/
Telephone 0151 478 4499
Hands-on activites
The Big Draw
22, 23 October 2013
13.00 – 16.00
Join in with the national Big Draw event and use the Merseyside Maritime Museum and Liverpool waterfront as your inspiration!
Drop in, no booking required.
There be pirates! crafts
24 October 2013
13.00 – 16.00
Make a fearsome pirate mask, treasure chest or parrot.
Drop in, no booking required.
Music for the classes
25 October 2013
13.00, 14.00, 15.00
Find out about the music that would have been played aboard the Titanic in this interactive workshop.
Drop in, no booking required.
Talks, tours and performances
Titanic – fashions and fortunes
24, 25 October 2013
13.00 – 16.00
An interesting look at the fashions aboard the Titanic. Learn about the people that might have worn them and even give them a try yourself.
Drop in, no booking required.
Titanic storytelling
22 October 2013
13.00, 14.00, 15.00, each session lasts 30 minutes
Come and listen to the adventures of Polar the Titanic bear – based on a story originally written by Titanic survivor Daisy Corning Stone Spedden for her son, Douglas.
Drop in, no booking required.
Spotlight on the Titanic
20 October 2013
13:30, 14:30, 15:30, each session lasts 30 minutes
Join our demonstrator to hear the more unusual facts and myths that surround the sinking of the Titanic.
Drop in, no booking required.
All aboard the Shackamaxon
23 October 2013
At intervals between 13.00 – 16.00
Travel back in time with us to Liverpool in 1854 and discover the hardships faced by emigrants leaving the Liverpool port for a life in the New World.
Drop in, no booking required.
Titanic tales – stories through objects
19, 20 October 2013
At intervals between 13.00 – 16.00
Come and find out more about the world famous ship with a collection of replica handling objects
Drop in, no booking required.
Shipshape!
21 October 2013
At intervals between 13.00 – 16.00
Get hands-on with fun experiments to find out just why boats float and the discover more about the power of water.
Drop in, no booking required.
Shiver-me-timbers
24 October 2013
13:30, 14:30, 15:30, each performance lasts 30 minutes
Meet a pirate and learn more about a life on the high seas – was a swashbuckling life all it was cracked up to be?
Drop in, no booking required.
Titanic – the Quartermaster’s story
26 October 2013
13:30, 14:30, 15:30, each performance lasts 30 minutes
Robert Hichins was at the wheel when Titanic hit the iceberg – hear his fascinating account of what happened to him that night.
Drop in, no booking required.
Titanic – the night the lights went out
27 October 2013
13:30, 14:30, 15:30, each performance lasts 30 minutes
Meet first class passenger, Emily Broughton Williams who sailed aboard the Titanic. Hear her fascinating account of life on board and the horrors of the sinking.
Drop in, no booking required.
All hands on deck
27 October 2013
At intervals between 13.00 – 16.00
Discover more about Liverpool’s maritime past and where some of our most famous phrases and sayings actually come from!
Drop in, no booking required.
Border Force National Museum (Seized! Border and Customs Uncovered)
Free Entry
Open daily 10.00 – 17.00
Albert Dock,Liverpool
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/
Telephone 0151 478 4499
Mobile madness
23, 24 October 2013
13.00 – 16.00
Create your very own hanging decoration, using the museum’s collections as inspiration.
Drop in, no booking required.
Save Our Species
27 October 2013
13.00 – 16.00
Discover how endangered species are protected by Customs and then make a souvenir to take home.
Drop in, no booking required.
That felt good
26 October 2013
13.00 – 16.00
Have fun making your own creation from real sheep’s wool.
Drop in, no booking required.
The Big Draw
19, 20 October 2013
13.00 – 16.00
Little ones can create an artists impression of themselves to add to the Museum’s identity parade.
Drop in, no booking required.
International Slavery Museum
Free Entry
Open daily 10.00 – 17.00
Albert Dock
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/
Telephone 0151 478 4499
Hands-on activities
Capoeira club
19, 26 October 2013
14.00 – 16.00
Try at different work-out and join this friendly club to get fit and learn the African Brazilian art of Capoeira.
Drop in, no booking required.
Quilt code patterns
19 October 2013
13.00 – 16.00
Learn about the meaning behind quilt code patterns and how they helped African slaves on the road to freedom. Then make a paper and fabric pattern to take home.
Drop in, no booking required.
Faces of change
21, 22, 23 October 2013
13.00 – 16.00
Make and take home a badge inspired by the Museum’s wall of Black achievers.
Drop in, no booking required.
A taste of African music
21, 22, 23 October 2013
At intervals between 13.00 – 16.00
Learn about African musical instruments and have a go yourself.
Drop in, no booking required.
Adinkra patterns
24, 25, 26 October 2013
13.00 – 16.00
Discover the meaning behind Ghanian Adinkra Symbols and make your own symbols to take home.
Drop in, no booking required.
World Museum, Liverpool
Free Entry
Open daily 10.00 – 17.00
William Brown Street, Liverpool
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/
Telephone 0151 478 4136
Hands-on activities
Belemnites and ammonites
19, 20 October 2013
13.00 – 16.00
Discover more about ancient creatures that lived millions of years ago called belemnites and ammonites and make a model of one to take home.
Drop in, no booking required.
Day of the dead
26, 27 October 2013
13.00 – 16.00
Learn about ‘Día de los Muertos’ (Day of the dead) which is celebrated in Mexico on 31 October and make an unusual souvenir to take home.
Drop in, no booking required.
