Cambridge’s museums are back with a free night of surprises and magic for the whole family
On 17 February, the University of Cambridge Museums will be open after hours for their tenth annual Twilight at the Museums event. From 4.30pm until 8.30pm, not just the university museums will be open; the Museum of Cambridge, Cambridge Museum of Technology and Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey are all taking part too. There’s a huge array of things to see and do, plus refreshments to keep the family batteries charged. As well as the museums’ own cafés, Caffe Mobile will be on hand with hot drinks and cakes, and gourmet street food outfit Steak & Honour will be flipping burgers on the Downing Street site.
Where to start? Science geeks should head over to Cambridge Science Centre, where they’ll be talking about light and astronomy with shows, demonstrations and workshops. Or you could go on an epic hunt for gadgets and gizmos at the Whipple Museum to be in with the chance of winning a secret prize. The Museum of Cambridge meanwhile will have an enchanting demonstration of their magic lantern projector – you even get to make your own slide to take home.
“If you’re feeling brave, venture on a trail after Statues that Go Bump in the Night”
The Cambridge Museum of Technology will boast entertainment all night guaranteed to get minds whirring. There’ll be live music by creatives from CBBC’s Horrible Histories, pedal-powered bands, sound tours and hands-on activities inside and out. Plus live fire jugglers! Animal fans can showcase their knowledge at the Polar Museum, where the Museum of Zoology will be testing your ability to distinguish between Arctic and Antarctic creatures. Or if you prefer skeletons, visit the Sedgwick Museum for a twilight trail of dinosaur bones and fossils brought to life by sound and light.
Adventurers can do their best Indiana Jones impression at the Botanic Garden, where they’ll be tasked with finding specimens in the glasshouses. Or go all Famous Five at the Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey, following in the footsteps of a little boy who started a collection in a shoebox. If you’re feeling brave, venture into the Museum of Classical Archaeology for their twilight trail: Statues that Go Bump in the Night.
Finally, the Fitzwilliam Museum is teaming up with Kettle’s Yard to offer kids workshops with local artist Lizzy Hobbs at 4.30pm, 5.30pm and 6.30pm. If you’re getting tired you might want to opt for storytelling with Vanessa Woolf at 4.45pm, 5.45pm and 6.45pm. Or start your evening at the museum, which will be glowing with an installation as part of the e-Luminate Festival and hosting a light-inspired museum trail.
Susan Miller, Twilight at the Museums event coordinator says: “We cannot believe that Twilight at the Museums has now reached double digits, and my, has it grown! This year’s programme looks set to be bigger and more exciting than ever. For first-time visitors and regulars alike, Twilight is a great opportunity to see these amazing collections in a unique, exciting context.”
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www.cam.ac.uk/museums-and-collections
