Posted on 12th Oct
Tired of tacky plastic Halloween costumes? Why not go along and learn how to make your own at the National Civil War Centre this half term!
The first Halloween costumes were disguises designed to shield the wearer from malevolent spirits and witches. This half term, young visitors to the museum can protect themselves in the same way! Craft activities, running from Wednesday 20th to Saturday 30th October, will teach participants how to disguise themselves as a 17th century cavalier by making their very own hat, beard and collar. You might even trick your own family into not recognising you.
Carys Coulton-Jones, manager of the National Civil War Centre, said: “We love Halloween here at the museum. It’s a great time to get creative, especially with the weather getting colder, and our fabulous Learning team have come up with a brilliant way to have fun indoors making your own amazing costume. It’s been wonderful welcoming more and more visitors through our doors since we re-opened and this will be a great treat (not trick!) for local children to enjoy”.
Admission to the National Civil War Centre is currently half price for Newark and Sherwood residents. Plus, it’s now fully open with three floors of galleries and fun interactives to enjoy, the thrilling cinema which plunges you into the realities of 17th century life and the always popular costume cupboard which offers the ideal family selfie opportunity to slot into your Christmas cards this year.
Over at Newark Castle on Saturday 30th October, visitors will be invited to enter the Castle’s creepy Undercroft to hear from the ghost of the monk who tried, and failed, to save the life of Bad King John. The tower will also be open, allowing guests to get close to the very space where the King breathed his last breath on a dark, stormy night in 1216.
Family-friendly performances will be every half hour from 11am, with the last at 2.30pm. The event will be free to attend with fancy dress encouraged, and audience members are asked to arrive 10 minutes before their chosen performance, bearing in mind that the Undercroft has limited seating in place.
To find out more about the craft activities at the National Civil War Centre, and the spooky performances at Newark Castle, visit www.nationalcivilwarcentre.com
The Palace Theatre is another don’t-miss destination this half term too as fin-tastic family musical Shark in the Park swims onto its stage on Thursday 28th October at 2pm. Featuring all 3 of the ‘Shark in the Park’ series by Nick Sharratt – Shark in the Park, Shark in the Dark and Shark in the Park on a Windy Day – this fun, imaginative show follows Timothy Pope (and his telescope!) on 3 exciting adventures.
Book tickets for Shark in the Park at www.palacenewark.com.
