Horrible half-term activities come to the Royal Armouries this Halloween

From Tuesday 24 October — Wednesday 1 November the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds will be playing host to a truly horrible half-term.

The museum’s Blood, Guts & Ghosts event will give visitors a fright as they hear grisly and gory stories inspired by this most deadly collection. Activities will include fun and interactive ghost hunter tours, as resident ‘paranormalists’ attempt to save the museum from the forces of darkness. A military surgeon will also be in attendance, performing gruesome operations as they explain historic surgical techniques.

As well as this, there will be a number of craft activities, including pumpkin carving, paper crafts and ‘The Big Draw’ animation workshops.

On the evening of Friday 27 October the museum will once again open its doors as part of the national Museums at Night festival. The ‘What’s my Afterlife?’ event will give visitors a chance to take part in a ghostly game show with a difference; participants will be guided around the museum as they help historic characters decide which ancient god a lost warrior belongs to.

As part of the Royal Armouries Collecting Cultures project, the museum will also be hosting a special Halloween lecture on the evening of Monday 30 October. The Science of Zombie Killing interactive lecture will include a talk from Curator of Firearms, Jonathan Ferguson, alongside a live zombie-slaying demonstration.

Booking is essential for both the ‘What’s my Afterlife?’ event and The Science of Zombie Killing lecture. Tickets are available to purchase through the Royal Armouries website.

Commenting on the half-term activities, Mark Jackson, Events and Informal Learning Manager at the Royal Armouries, said: “The museum’s collection includes some really spooky objects. From our Vampire Killing Kit to an M-41A Pulse Rifle featured in the Aliens film franchise, there’s plenty to inspire fear and intrigue in our visitors.

“Our half-term event promises to be great fun for all of the family, with lots of activities to entertain both children and adults. We’re especially excited to be bringing back our Museums at Night event, with this year’s ‘What’s My Afterlife?’ theme bound to make for a memorable Halloween night out.”

Half-term Activities will include:

The Big Draw: Living Lines — ‘Awful Animation’

Visitors can design and draw their own gruesome, ghostly or ghastly story using digital techniques, flip books, thaumatropes or stop motion.

Suitable for all ages

The Ghost Hunters Tour

Meet the museums expert ghost hunters — they are on a mission to find the most haunted of the Royal Armouries’ exhibits and objects!

Suitable for ages 5+ (last approx. 20 minutes)

Limited places available, book a place at the museum reception

The Surgeon!

Join the surgeon as they perform gruesome operations to explain historic medical techniques.

Not for the faint hearted!

Pumpkin Carving

Visitors can come and carve their very own Halloween pumpkin inspired by the museum collection.

Suitable for ages 7+

Parental assistance will be required as knives will be used in this craft

Pumpkin Paper Crafts for Little Visitors

Visitors can decorate their own pumpkin to take home.

Suitable for ages 3-6

Parental supervision required

Some activities will have a small charge. The museum reserves the right to alter the daily programme without prior notification.

For more information on the Blood, Guts & Ghosts week at the Royal Armouries, visit: https://royalarmouries.org/events/calendar/2017-10-24/blood-guts-and-ghosts

Tickets for the museum’s ‘What’s my Afterlife?’ event on Friday 27 October can be purchased online at: https://royalarmouries.org/events/calendar/2017-10-27/whats-my-afterlife

Tickets for The Science of Zombie Killing lecture on Monday 30 October can be purchased on the Royal Armouries website.

Ends……

Notes to editors

Further enquiries to: Katie Canning, Communications Officer, Royal Armouries at katie.canning@armouries.org.uk Telephone: 0113 220 1978

About the Royal Armouries

Entry to the museum is free but some activities carry a small charge.

– Royal Armouries has sites in Leeds, HM Tower of London and Fort Nelson in Hampshire.
– The Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds houses a major part of the national collection of arms and armour, and displays over 8,500 objects throughout its five themed galleries.
– Open all year daily, 10am-5pm. Closed 24-26 December
– Website: www.royalarmouries.org
– The Royal Armouries Museum should not be confused with Royal Armouries International plc, the private sector corporate hospitality business based on the same site in Leeds.