Hull Museums are inviting visitors to enjoy a traditional Victorian Christmas in the Museums Quarter on Saturday 26 November, 10.00am-4.00pm.
The free Magic of Christmas event, run in partnership with HullBID (Business Improvement District), and Whitefriargate High Street Heritage Action Zone, will be packed full of activities and performances for the whole family to enjoy.
At the Magic of Christmas event, families can meet the sparkling Winter Fairy by her snow sleigh and say hello to the cheerful chief Christmas elves Sock and Tinker. Meanwhile, the charming Christmas Belles will delight with their stilt-walking act, as they spread Christmas cheer with their ribbons and hand chimes.
Visitors can also interact with Dickensian Christmas characters as they wander and perform throughout the Streetlife Museum and the Museums Quarter Garden during the day – look out for miserable Mr Scrooge and kind-hearted Bob Cratchit among others. A number of the short performances throughout the day will be British Sign Language interpreted.
A traditional fairground carousel will offer free rides to visitors and children are invited to have their face painted for free.
Live festive music will be heard throughout the day from with the Hull Choral Union, Hull Visual Choir and Manfire Music Jazz band performing traditional Christmas carols along with festive favourites.
Younger visitors’ imaginations will be sparked through interactive storytelling sessions. Families can join Debutots for a multi-sensory Christmas storytelling adventure, perfect for young children aged 1-7, as well as storyteller Beth Guiver, who will perform enchanting winter and Christmas themed folktales for the whole family to enjoy. A selection of these performances will also be British Sign Language interpreted.
Alongside music and storytelling, visitors can take part in a selection of fun festive craft activities. The Hull Scrapstore team will be offering creative Christmas crafts using recycled materials and visitors can join the Hull Museums team to make their own collaged Christmas wreath.
In addition to this, local historian Keith Daddy will be running Charles Dickens-themed short tours of the city centre, exploring what Christmas was like in Victorian times. Meanwhile, families can also pick up a Christmas trail which runs across Streetlife Museum, Hull and East Riding Museum and Ferens Art Gallery during the Christmas holiday period.
A selection of delicious Christmas hot and cold food and drink will be available to purchase throughout the day in the Museums Quarter Garden. Visitors will be able to do a bit of Christmas shopping at the selection of stalls selling sweet treats and gifts throughout the day. The wonderful shops at the Hull and East Riding Museum and Streetlife Museum will also be open as usual and stocked full of gift ideas from toys, books to beautiful trinkets and much more.
Jane Avison, Museums and Gallery Manager at Hull Culture and Leisure Ltd (HCAL) said: “Hull Museums are pleased to spread some free festive joy to help highlight our heritage and seasonal traditions. This event is supported using funding from Arts Council England, enabling us to keep our events free and accessible for everyone at a time that is challenging for many of us.”
Kathryn Shillito of HullBID said: “We are delighted to partner with HCAL to provide a jam-packed day of excitement of activity. We know from experience events like this draw in the crowds, providing a direct financial benefit to many city centre businesses.”
All activities are free, however charges apply for food, drink and museum shop and stall products.
To allow the event to take place safely, the following roads will be closed between 8.00am and 5.00pm:
- High Street (from Gandhi Way to Scale Lane)
- Bishop Lane
Please note this event can get very busy over the lunch time period so please plan your visit. There will also be relaxed versions of the Scrapstore craft activity between 10am and 11am these will be free bookable via the Hull Museums Eventbrite page.
For more information about the event and the Museums Quarter, including access information, and a timetable for the day including the times of the British Sign Language Interpreted performances, please visit https://www.hcandl.co.uk/museums-and-galleries.
