Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Museums at Night in Devon
The Museums at Night festival, from 25 to 27 October, will see venues across the area open their doors for exciting evening events and spectacular night-time displays.
Museums at Night was created to encourage new visitors to go to galleries and museums. The festival began in 2009 when 100 events were held across the country.
Museums at Night offers visitors the chance to experience some of the UK’s cultural venues, historic houses and museums in a new way. Activities that usually take place range from gallery gigs, art happenings, twilight screenings, all-night sleepovers, nature walks, and star gazing activities.
The October festival coincides with Halloween so many museums will be putting on events with a Halloween theme - from spooky sleepovers and story-telling to ghost tours. Many of the fun, family-friendly events will include dressing up, kids’ games, spooky stories around Halloween, movie screening and the opportunity to learn more. From trains to chemistry, comic books, true crime, fairy tale dress up, and more, there’s something to appeal to everyone.
See www.museumsatnight.org.uk to read more about the occasion
Night-Time RAMMble – Museums at Night Event
Experience the magic and mystery of Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery in Exeter after hours on Saturday 27 October from 6pm to 8.30pm.
Explore the museum by torchlight, discover hidden gems and learn about some of the fascinating objects in its collection, especially those with a link to night time and darkness. Take time to make a special lantern and join the end of evening procession when the museum will darken even more. Booking is essential - call 01392 265858 during opening hours or see www.rammuseum.org.uk
Visit one of Devon’s 75 Museums
It's so easy to take a glimpse into Devon’s bygone days at one of its 75 museums dispersed across the county. Evidence of Devon’s rich history, from steam trains to shipwrecks, farming to factories, boats to battles and landmarks to lace can be experienced and enjoyed at a variety of museums and attractions.
Explore life on Dartmoor throughout the ages at the Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton, or step back to Roman times at the Royal Albert and Memorial Museum in Exeter, or travel back 400 million years at Torquay Museum, or take a fascinating insight into the rich local shipbuilding history at the North Devon Maritime Museum in Appledore.
There’s a useful museum map on the Devon Museums website – www.devonmuseums.net – enabling you to discover more about the treasures of the county. Find out what's going on at a museum or gallery near you; including family fun days, talks and lectures, exhibitions, events and activities.
Learning with Museums in Devon
Museums are learning resources that provide inspiration, information, unique experiences - and entertain. They can support the delivery of a wide range of national curriculum subjects including specialist knowledge for the history curriculum, inspiration for art and drama, opportunities to improve English skills and make an important contribution to the delivery of a broad and balanced curriculum.
Museums contain a treasure trove of artefacts, documents and photographs, just waiting to be discovered. They can provide workshop activities, topic-based visits, guided visits, handling boxes for loan, visits to schools, downloadable resources and much more.
Talk to your local museum to find out what they can offer to support the national curriculum, develop skills and help raise standards.