Witchy October half-term at The Roald Dahl Museum Family Events

Join us at The Roald Dhal Museum and Story Centre for a Witchy half-term 22 to 30 October 2022

FREE with Museum entry
Storytelling from The Witches
Saturday 22 to Sunday 30 October
See the Museum’s expert storytellers read from one of Roald’s best-loved books, The Witches. Take a seat in the spooky storytelling wood and enjoy. Lots of participation and actions involved, including showing us your best pickled vinegar face. Get practising!
Throughout the day, no need to book. Free
Magical witch masks
Saturday 22 to Sunday 30 October
Head to our pop-up witchy room to make your very own magical witchy mask. Perfect for all your secret Halloween tricks, this mask will allow you to go undercover as a witch!
Drop-in throughout the day, no need to book. Free
Formula 86 trail
Saturday 22 to Sunday 30 October
Find out about this ghastly concoction that turns children into mice as you explore the galleries this half-term. Don’t worry, we’re not expecting any of YOU to turn into mice, but we do have a lot of cheese in the fridge just in case.
Pick up a trail sheet from the ticket desk. Free.
Writing Hut talks
Monday 24 to Friday 28 October
Discover how Roald Dahl wrote his stories whilst seated around the Museum’s replica Writing Hut. You can even try out the chair for size after – will the storytelling magic rub off?
Throughout the day, no need to book. Free

Wondrous workshops
The craft activities below are suitable for children aged 5 and up, adults are also welcome to pay for a space and join in (go on, it’s fun!). Adults will need to stay with their children throughout, so if you aren’t joining in, we can accommodate up to 2 non-paying adults in the room per group.
Create a clay witch
Monday 24, Tuesday 25 and Friday 28 October
10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm
Be inspired by everyone’s favourite baddie, the Grand High Witch. Find out how Roald Dahl described this famous witch, then have a go at creating your own vision of her in clay - she would be thrilled! Wonderfully messy, but you don’t have to clean up after, result. Aprons will be provided.
£4 per maker. Suitable for age 5 and up. Approx 45 minutes.
Junk modelling for mice
Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 October
11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm
Imagine you’ve been turned into a miniscule mouse by a horrible old witch, how would you still do all the things you love? You’ll use lots of junk to fashion some equipment and structures to help your little mouse self thrive. Don’t worry, we’ll be on hand to give you some advice and ideas from Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
£4 per maker. Suitable for age 5 and up. Approx 45 minutes.

Special activities
Discover Dahl’s Archives
Saturday 29 October
10.30am, 12pm and 2.30pm
A very special Halloween-themed look behind-the-scenes at the Museum. Meet Rachel, our Archivist, who’ll take into our archive and show you some secrets about villains and monsters in Roald Dahl’s stories. Maybe you’ll discover something you didn’t know about The Grand High Witch, or those nasty big giants in The BFG. Either way you’ll come away with some very impressive facts about some of your favourite stories.
£5 per person, adults and children will need a ticket. Suitable for age 8 and up. Approx 30 minutes.

Food and Drink
Pizzaficio pizzas
Saturday 22 to Sunday 30 October
Hands up who likes pizza! Hurrah, you all do. We’ll be joined by our pop-up pizza partner in crime Pizzaficio this half-term. Serving freshly made pizzas in the courtyard all week. Eat in the courtyard, or our picnic room, or grab one to go for the journey home. Yum.

Booking info
• We strongly recommend you book in advance for workshops, archive talks and Museum admission – see roalddahlmuseum.org.
• Any activity costs are in addition to Museum entry (£7.95 per person/£5.95 discounted entry. Discounted entry for students aged 18+, MAX card holders and people in receipt of state benefits).
• Your Museum ticket includes re-entry for 12 months.
• Children must be accompanied at all times.
• Workshops are suitable for adults too, so book a ticket if you’d like join in. If not, up to 2 non-paying adults can be in the room per group.
• We’ll be open 10am to 4.30pm over half-term.

More details