Night at the Museum — for Real!

Television and the press is awash with trailers and publicity for the 'must see' movie, Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian, starring Ben Stiller, which will be in cinemas from 20 May. The good news is that you can experience a night in a museum for real this coming weekend, 15–17 May, when over 100 museums, plus a few archives and libraries, are holding evening and late-night events across England, plus four in Scotland and two in Wales, as part of a 'Museums at Night' weekend organised by Culture24.

Among the many events, some quite spooky, is one which caught our eye at the RNLI Henry Blogg Museum, in Cromer, Norfolk, which is 'cautiously looking forward to their first attempt at a Museums at Night event'. Visitors will be able to take part in a torch-lit search for biscuits scattered across the Museum's rooms by Monte, their Tyrollean sheepdog mascot, when the heritage centre will be plunged into darkness between 6.30 and 8.30pm, as visitors go on in follow in Monte's paw steps. What's more it free and sounds great fun.

'An Evening of Victorian Entertainment' at the Tolson Museum in Huddersfield on 15 May, 7–10pm, £5.00 adults, £2.50 older children, also caught our attention, when 'Seldom-seen curiosities that normally reside in the darkest reaches of the storeroom will be on view as part of an evening which will also include a twilight tour and a magic lantern show. For more details contact the Tolson Museum, Ravensknowle Park, Wakefield Road, Huddersfield HD5 8DJ, tel: 01484 223830.

To find out more about Culture24's Museums at Night weekend, and to see if there is an event near you, visit their website.

11 May 2009