Local museums set to make half term a success
Another half term, another week of trying to figure out what on earth to do with the kids for all that time.
Museums across the West Midlands, including the Thinktank and popular heritage sites, are hosting a range of events to take the kids along to this half term. Here are the events you can’t miss…
Thinktank – Saturday May 27 – Sunday June 4
The Thinktank are hosting a range of activities to get involved in during half term. Everyday activities will include The Obvious Elephant Storytelling for under 8s, wildlife arts and craft sessions and object handling where the kids will be able to get up close with some fascinating artefacts.
Visitors to Thinktank during half term will also be amongst the first people to experience Totality. Totality is a large rotating mirror ball, created by artist Katie Paterson, that illuminates and sparkles with over 10,000 images of nearly every solar eclipse documented by humankind.
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery – Monday May 29 – Friday June 2
A free family trail will take place at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery this half term. The trail will lead to the portrait studio, where family and friends and get dressed up as characters from myths and legends or even one of the museum’s paintings.
There will be storytelling with Cleopatra on Thursday June 1, where brave explorers will be tasked with solving the mystery code of the Egyptian map and will hear Cleopatra’s story.
Object handling and craft sessions throughout the week will keep the kids busy and the free Minecraft Mask sessions will be back on Friday June 2 in the Gas Hall.
Blakesley Hall – Sunday May 28 – Tuesday May 30
Tudor Weekend – May 28 and 29 – 11am until 4pm
Blakesley Hall is celebrating its Tudor heritage, with re-enactments, living history, musicians, craftspeople, themed tours and interactive fun.
Fire Breathing Dragons Craft Activity – May 30 – 12.30pm until 3.30pm
Continuing from the Tudor Weekend, kids will have the chance to create their very own fire breathing dragon.
Animal Mania – May 31 – 11am until 3.40pm
Animal Mania consists of around 8 to 12 small animals that children can see and interact with in slots of 20 minutes.
Sarehole Mill – Sunday May 28 – Monday May 29
Summer Outdoor Street Food and Market – May 28 – 11am until 4pm
The festival, in collaboration with Taste and Liquor, will launch the new gift shop and the start of the summer season. There will be street food for the whole family to enjoy, alongside arts and crafts to get involved with and vintage markets to find a treasure.
May Day Games Day – May 29 – 11am-4pm
Kids will be able to lean all about May Day and try May Pole dancing before putting their new talents to practice around the venues Maypole.
Aston Hall
Picture This – Family Drawing Tour – Wednesday May 31 – 11.30am until 12.30pm and 1.30pm until 2.30pm
Tap into your inner artist and head to Aston Hall for an interactive drawing exploration of Aston Hall. An active way to explore the house and portraits inside, this event is suitable for children aged 6 – 12 with an accompanying adult.
