Events 2013

Events at the County Museum include historic re-enactments, murder mystery, children's activity weeks and the ever-popular Festival of Transport. Our exciting events programme for 2013 is listed below.

Please select a month:
February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

• All events run from 11am-5pm unless stated otherwise
• Entrance to events is included in the normal admission price (excluding ticketed events which must be pre-booked). Once inside an event some elements may require an additional charge (i.e. pumpkin carving, presents from Father Christmas, archery, etc.)
• We regert that on the various Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays when we hold events we may not be able to offer the usual free entry to the Castle Kitchen Cafe.

January

By popular demand we will be extending the run of our 2012 exhibition from 8 January until Sunday 24 February

Wigs, Waistcoats & Wild Behaviour - EXHIBITION

From elegance to excess in Georgian Britain...

Find out about the elegant fashions, extravagant taste and wild behaviour of the Georgians. See beautiful examples of costume, home furnishings, books and other items from the Georgian era including a stunning Sedan Chair.  Get involved by designing your own Georgian library or trying a Georgian make over, but remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

February

Tuesday 19 – Friday 22 February, 10.30am-4pm

Festival Crafts – Holiday Activities 

Craft activities exploring celebration days around the world including festivals, feast days and carnivals. A charge of £1 per child, per day, applies to participate in the craft activities.

Please download out Half Term Timetable for more information.

March

Saturday 9 March - opening day for our 2013 temporary exhibition - 

Hoards, Handbags and Highwaymen! - EXHIBITION

Find out how people made, saved, moved, used and lost their money over the last 2000 years. A display of beautiful handbags and purses, mysterious buried treasure and money, money, money, including a chance to see a complete display of the Bredon Hill Hoard.

Sunday 10 March

Mothers Day

All Mum's admitted free, plus a chance to make a Mothers Day card and have your photograph taken dressed as a Victorian family.

Sunday 17 March

Wedding Fayre in the Great Hall

Everything you need to help you plan your big day! Free admission to Wedding Fayre and half price admission to Museum. This is a Fundraising Event on behalf of the Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust

April

Animaltastic – Holiday Activities 

Bank Holiday Monday 1 April, 11am-5pm 

Come and meet a variety of scaly, feathered and furry friends, including fantastic displays of falconry!

Tuesday 2 - Friday 5 & Tuesday 9 - Friday 12 April, 10.30am-4pm

Fun craft activities with an animal theme, plus have-a-go archery on Thursdays. A charge of £1 per child, per day, applies to participate in the craft activities.

Please download our Easter timetable for more information

May

Friday 17 May, 7-10.30pm

Bats About Hartlebury

Dare you join us as we track down the various bats that live at the Castle? Families can join us at 7pm for a chance to make a bat mask, followed by a tasty seasonal meal in the Cafe. Visitors will then enjoy an illustrated talk about these fascinating creatures and a walk around the Castle grounds using detection equipment to identify them.  Adult tickets £16, children's tickets £8 – must be pre-booked on 01299 250416.

Adventures with Alice - Holiday Activities

Bank Holiday Monday 27 May

Come to Wonderland and meet Alice, the White Rabbit and the Queen of Hearts, join the Mad Hatter's tea party and make your own Heart Crown and Cheshire Cat Mask.

Tuesday 28 - Friday 31 May, 10.30-4pm - the fun continues with Alice themed craft activities, plus have-a-go archery on Thursday. A charge of £1 per child, per day, applies to participate in the craft activities.

Please download our Adventures with Alice timetable for more information.

June

Friday 7 June – gates open 6.30pm, performance at 7.30pm

Romeo & Juliet 

Enjoy outdoor theatre with Heartbreak Productions in the beautiful surroundings of Hartlebury Castle. Advanced tickets £13 adults, £7 concessions – To book call 01299 250416 or visit http://www.heartbreakproductions.co.uk/   This is a fundraising event on behalf of the Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust

Sunday 16 June

Fathers Day

All Dad's admitted free, plus a chance to make a Fathers Day card and have your photograph taken dressed as a Victorian family.

Sunday 23 June

Traveller's Tales

Join us for a colourful celebration of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller arts and culture as part of GRT History Month

Sunday 29 June, 7-9.30pm

Crown Phoenix Big Band

A sensational evening of swing music & vocals, plus a pig roast. Advanced tickets £14 – to book call 01299 250416. This is a fundraising event on behalf of the Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust

July

Sunday 7 July

A Festival of Transport

From bicycles to tractors, cars to steam engines - see history in motion as all types of historic transport wheels its way to Hartlebury. Includes a craft fair in the Great Hall.

August

Tuesdays to Fridays throughout  August, 10.30-4pm

Hands on History – Holiday Activities 

Creative crafts that bring the past alive throughout the summer holidays! Three different craft activities take place daily and visitors can also have a go at archery on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays. A charge of £1 per child, per day, applies to participate in the craft activities.

Bank Holiday Monday 26 August

Pirate School 

Learn how to be a pirate including reading treasure maps, making pirate hats, jobs aboard ship, singing sea-shanties and how to talk 'pirate'

September

Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 September

Heritage Open Days

Free Entry

Learn more about what goes on behind the scenes in your museum! Includes visits to our off-site stores and demonstrations of how we care for our varied collections.

Sunday 29 September

Wedding Fayre in the Great Hall

Everything you need to help you plan your big day! Free admission to Wedding Fayre and half price admission to Museum. This is a Fundraising Event on behalf of the Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust

October

Sunday 6 October

A Country Fair

Traditional cider making outside our 300 year old Cider Mill, rural craft demonstrations and stalls, traditional music and entertainment, local produce and heavy horses.

Tuesday 29 October – Friday 1 November, 10.30am-4pm

Autumn Magic - Holiday Activities

Craft activities to highlight this mysterious time of year, including pumpkin carving! A charge of £1 per child, per day, applies to participate in the craft activities, there will also be a small charge for pumpkins.

November

Saturdays 9 & 16 November, 6.30-10.00pm

Murder Mystery Evenings

A body has been discovered at Hartlebury Castle...can you work out ‘who dunnit’?  Join us for an evening of thrills, surprises and fabulous food.  Tickets £35 to include a three-course meal.  Must be pre booked –  01299 250416

Wednesday 27 November, 5-8pm

Christmas Shopping Evening

Enjoy seasonal entertainment and complimentary mulled wine and mince pies whilst browsing in our museum shop which stocks a wide range of cards, gifts and contemporary crafts. The Café will be open for warming meals and snacks and visitors will be able to explore the museum free of charge after dark

December

Saturdays & Sundays  7, 8, 14 & 15 December

Christmas at the Castle

Join us for a traditional Christmas celebration including Father Christmas in a winter wonderland grotto, carriage rides, seasonal gifts & craft stalls, fun children’s activities and performances by local choirs & musical groups.