With Halloween approaching, Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens will be hosting a series of eerie events this half-term.  

Visitors will get to follow a spooky trail, enjoy a Halloween party with a science twist, and even crochet false beards and moustaches.

The spooky trail will involve searching for hidden treasures from the museum’s collections – everything from ghostly ships to ancient bones. Anybody who finds all the clues can claim a special prize. The £2.50 entrance fee includes a trail sheet and pencil.

On Thursday 26th and Friday 27th October (5.00 – 8.30 pm), there will be a Spooky Science Party. Kids will have the chance to make gooey slime and take part in some fiendishly clever experiments as part of the Big Bang Science Show. Visitors can explore the Winter Gardens by torchlight while following a killer plants trail and create some creepy crafts such as bat hats, owl puppets and wolf masks. 

Tickets for the Spooky Science Party are £5.00 per child. The party is suitable from children aged five and upwards and all children must be accompanied by an adult (entry for adults is free). Tickets must be pre-booked from the museum shop. The science show – which lasts 45 minutes – can be seen at 5.30 pm, 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm and you should specify which one you want to see when booking tickets.  

The Eden Café will be open throughout the Spooky Science Parties, serving up a tasty menu of hot dogs, pizza and sweetie cups. 

Other half-term events include family activities such as spooky badge making at the museum reception from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm each day.  

On Friday 27th October, visitors can make model ghost ships and add drawings to a zombie pirate frieze (£1.00 per child) from 11.00 am to 12.30 pm and from 1.30 pm to 3.00 pm. 

CrochetBrothers

On Wednesday 25th October (11.00 am to 3.00 pm), visitors can get creative in the company of the Crochet Brothers. You can have a go at making giant moustaches and beards and try techniques such as knitting and rag-rug making.  

The Crochet Brothers will be livening up the proceedings with music, stories and their infamous three-wheeler trike. Dressed in your false beard, you can follow a curiosities trail and claim a prize badge. 

Cllr John Kelly, Sunderland City Council’s portfolio holder for public health, wellness and culture, said, “I know parents are always looking for things to do to keep their children entertained during the school holidays.”

“And I’m pleased to say we’ve got lots of fun activities and ghostly goings-on for kids of all ages to enjoy this half-term.”

For more information, please contact the Public Engagement and Learning Team on 0191 561 2323 or email museumlearning@sunderland.gov.uk.  


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