Mansfield Museum has a full line-up of autumn events and exhibitions coming up with something to suit all ages.

It is aiming to shortly restart a monthly Reminiscence Tea Room for families living with dementia and is appealing for volunteers to help with serving tea and coffee, setting up and packing away the event, chatting to visitors and helping them join in with crafts and games.

Half-term activities will be running from 19th to 29th October, 10am to 12noon, and several will run in tandem with shows at the neighbouring Palace Theatre.

Events include:

Tuesday 19th: As the Palace presents an interactive family puppet show, Dragons and Mythical Beasts, a craft session in the museum will be showing youngsters how to make their own craft dragons and unicorns.
Wednesday 20th: Make cute hedgehogs with autumn leaves.
Thursday 21st: Woodland animal mask-making session.
Friday 22nd: Create an autumnal wreath.
Tuesday 26th: Get ready for Halloween and make a tissue box monster.
Wednesday 27th: White Post Farm Roadshow. Pre-booking essential.
Thursday 28th: As the Palace Theatre presents the puppet show play The Unexpected Tales Of Darwin The Chimp, youngsters can create their own monkey mask at the museum.
Friday 29th: As the theatre prepares for Halloween with a screening of family film Hocus Pocus, the museum will be showing how to make your own Halloween witch.

The Games Café is running at the museum on Thursday lunchtimes in October and November, from 1pm to 2.30pm. On 7th October, 21st October, 4th November and 19th November it will offer a cup of tea and a variety of old-fashioned board games. No booking is required.

The museum is extending its Forgotten Frames exhibition until January 2022. It can be viewed without appointment at the venue’s usual opening times, Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 3pm.

Last year the exhibition was converted to large printed artworks and taken on the road to reach more people, particularly those acutely affected by Covid-19.

The museum is again planning to turn its entrance arcade into an avenue of themed Christmas trees. Local businesses, schools, playgroups, church organisations, community groups, care homes, or groups of friends are being asked to create the trees to go on display. They will remain in place throughout December and the most inventive and creative will win a prize.

Coun Stuart Richardson, portfolio holder for regeneration and growth, said: “The trees can be any theme people want to create. Maybe it will be based around recycling or the environment or perhaps it could be made of books or a knitted tree?

“It’s great that our museum is getting back into its creative stride after having to close for so long.”

Contact Kirsty Sanders, museum development officer, on 01623 463136 or email [email protected] to find out more about volunteering.
For information about museum events call 01623 463088 or email [email protected].