Beamish Museum will open its doors for some after-hours revels on Saturday 20th May. 

As part of the national Museums at Night project, Beamish will be putting on a Grand Georgian Gathering, allowing visitors to enjoy bygone notions of what makes a good time.

The Grand Georgian Gathering will be held at Pockerley Old Hall, the Waggonway and Eston Church. 

Proceedings will be kicked off by a ‘squire’ lighting a traditional ‘baal’ fire. The tradition of ‘baal’ fires may date back to the Celtic festival of Beltaine in early May, when bonfires were lit throughout Scotland, Wales, Ireland and parts of northern England.    

You can scout around for logs to keep the fire burning or just watch a fire eater going through his incredible routine.  

Music will be provided by the King Cole Ceilidh Band. Visitors can sample cocktails from a Georgian gin bar, try traditional treats from a food stall and can even have a go at driving a steam engine. 

You can try on Georgian clothes, witness a display of musket firing from the 68th Durham Light Infantry Society and learn about the lives of soldiers in the Napoleonic Wars. 

You can enjoy a guided walk with a pack horse, get some green-fingered tips from a Georgian gardener, take part in folk dancing and listen to folk tales.

Visitors will have the chance to create a ‘hag’ out of clay to scare away witches and make willow wands and masquerade masks.  

Beamish’s community events officer, Gemma Stevenson, said, “Come and join in our Grand Georgian Gathering as Beamish comes alive after hours to celebrate Museums at Night.” 

“We’ve got an amazing evening of music, dancing, food and lots of fun lined up.”

Museums at Night is a nationwide project that celebrates culture and heritage by encouraging galleries and museums to open after hours.

Museums at Night – A Grand Georgian Gathering will take place from 6 pm to 9.30 pm on Saturday 20th May. Tickets are priced at £5.00 though children under five get in for free. 

For more information, please visit www.beamish.org.uk.

(Featured image courtesy of domwlive)


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DavidSunderland
David writes about local news, thought provoking stories, and yearns to capture the community spirit with a unique writing style.

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