Half Term Fun at York Museums Trust – October 2015
This October Half Term there’s lots of great family friendly activities to enjoy with York Museums Trust.
From exploring lost creatures and animal handling at the Yorkshire Museum, activities and trails relating to famous Highwayman Dick Turpin at York Castle Museum to the Big Draw event and torchlit tours at the recently re-opened York Art Gallery.
Yorkshire Museum
Discover some of the special features which help animals adapt to their habitats in the natural history exhibition, Extinct: A Way of Life.
Lost Creature Trail
Saturday 24 October 2015–Sunday 1 November, 10am-5pm
Work your way around the Extinct gallery, select and draw different adaptations to create your own lost creature. Claim a prize and enter our prize draw.
50p per trail
Paper Puppets!
Saturday 24 October 2015–Sunday 1 November, 11am-1pm and 2pm -4pm
Explore and understand the reasons for animals’ adaptations. Design your own paper puppet creature adding all the amazing adaptations you like.
FREE. No booking required. Museum admission applies.
Lost Creature Competition
Monday 26 October, Wednesday 28 October and Friday 30 October, 10am-5pm
The Lost Creature Competition launched to primary schools across York in the summer term and was judged in June 2015. Join us to find out about the amazing adaptations of animals on display in the Extinct Galleries
and see how the winning design has been transformed into a life sized creature that lurks within the Museum!
Kid’s Curator Talk: Amazing Adaptations
Tuesday 27 October, 12.30pm – 1pm
Part of our regular programme of free (Tuesdays 12:30pm – 1:00pm) talks by our knowledgeable curators at the Yorkshire Museum.
Want to find out more about the collections? There is no need to book, just come along for the opportunity to learn more from museum experts.
FREE – Admission applies. No need to book.
Animal Handling
Tuesday 27 October and Thursday 29 October, 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm
A chance to handle a variety of animals with experienced staff from Animals In-Tuition; from insects and reptiles to fluffy cuddly mammals.
Free. Museum admission applies
York Art Gallery
Join us this half term for ‘Big Draw’ fun!
The Big Draw
Saturday 24 October 2015–Friday 30 October 2015, 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm
Drop in art activities for all the family in York Art Gallery Studio to celebrate this year’s Big Draw!
Encountering Lowry
Monday 26 October 2015–Friday 30 October, 11am-3.30pm
Join L.S. Lowry in the Gallery (played by actor Chris Cade). Discover more about Lowry’s life and his art work and have a go at some simple art activities.
Gallery Torch Lit Tours
Friday 30 October, 5.30pm-6.30pm and 7pm-8pm
A very special evening tour of York Art Gallery as part of Museums at Night. Uncover the Gallery’s secrets by torchlight.
£5 per ticket, suitable for all ages. Gallery admission included in ticket price.
Tickets are limited and booking is essential. To book a place please ring York Museums Trust on 01904 697979.
Art Heroes Trail
Saturday 24 October – Sunday 1 November, All day
Follow our special art heroes trail to find out more about some of the special artists featured in the gallery displays.
50p per trail, includes reward.
Family Artists: All that Glitters is not Gold
Saturday 31 October, 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm
A drop-in family art workshop, suitable for all. Take part in creative activities, led by artist Jo Walton.
York Castle Museum
For October half term you can explore the life and legacy of Dick Turpin, the prison’s most famous inmate, through events and activities for all the family.
Highwayman’s Heist!
Saturday 24 October – Sunday 1 November
A special family trail around the museum, discovering both the truth and myths of Dick Turpin’s life as a highwayman. Complete the trail activities to join Dick’s criminal gang.
50p per trail, includes a highwayman’s mask!
Create at the Castle
Saturday 24 October – Sunday 1 November
Have a go at making your own tricorn highwayman’s hat. This is a self-led craft activity for families.
Dick Turpin’s Hangman
Saturday 24 October – Sunday 1 November, 11.30am – 1.30pm and 2.30pm – 4.30pm
Meet York Prison’s hangman as he awaits Dick Turpin’s execution and tells the full story of the notorious highwayman.
A Restless Place
by Juliana Mensah, directed by Katie Posner
Monday 26 – Saturday 31 October (except Wednesday 28 October) performances at 6.30pm and 8pm
Tickets £10/£7.50. To book call the York Theatre Royal Box office on 01904 623568 or www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
Following on from the sellout productions of In Fog and Falling Snow, Clocking In and Blood + Chocolate, Pilot Theatre offer you another unique opportunity to experience one of York’s heritage sites in a completely new and unexpected way.
Enter through the locked doors of York Castle Museum into corridors and cells housing lost voices and found stories, tales of home and the search for belonging. Verbatim testimonies blend with folktale as you meet characters drawn from both myth and reality on their journeys into the unknown.
YMT Card – Three Top York Attractions Only £22 for a Whole Year
Enjoy unlimited access to all three of York Museums Trust attractions this half term and for a whole year for just £22 with your YMT Card and remember, kids under 17 go free.