Ghosts, lanterns and maritime mysteries return to Royal Navy Museums: Hartlepool this Halloween

This October, Halloween comes alive through magical tales, hands-on activities and myth-busting exploration onboard HMS Trincomalee at Royal Navy Museums: Hartlepool.

Kicking the events off for a fang-tastic time on October 24, Set Sail for Story Time will follow an imaginative adventure, where families will discover that trying something new can be exciting and bring the seaside to life before having a go at activities that bring story ideas to life.

With the power of science, visitors will be able to become Maritime Myth Busters on October 27, to see if they can uncover illusions that could have inspired the stories sailors told at sea. For centuries, sailors – including those serving in the Royal Navy – have shared stories of ghost ships, mysterious lights and strange shapes appearing through the fog. But could science explain some of these mysterious sightings?

Lanterns and Legends will return for another year on October 28, where visitors can unleash their creativity and create their own lantern onboard HMS Trincomalee as they gather to hear magical legends from Serenia the Sea Witch.

Alongside the spooktacular line-up, the rest of the Museum remains open, offering the chance to explore the historic quayside and climb aboard the atmospheric HMS Trincomalee, the oldest warship in Europe still afloat.

The Museum’s galleries are also open, including the Interactive Horrible Histories Pirates exhibition. Families can discover what it takes to be a pirate through hands-on challenges, pirate characters and cheeky, gruesome pirate facts.

All events are included with a valid museum ticket. Tickets to Royal Navy Museums: Hartlepool, can be purchased online at: https://www.royalnavymuseums.org.uk/visit-us/hartlepool.

Activities:

Set Sail for Story Time, Saturday 24 October, 11am to 2pm, Royal Navy Museums: Hartlepool

For October half-term, families can set sail with Augustine, Ratty and the Snorgh on an imaginative adventure where they will discover that trying something new can be exciting, even when it feels a little scary. Through movement, sounds, storytelling and playful exploration, children will help bring the seaside to life before imagining where their own Royal Navy adventure might take them.

The story will be read at 11am, 12pm and 1pm onboard HMS Trincomalee, and to finish, children can imagine where Augustine and HMS Trincomalee might sail next, adding their own adventures to colourful paper boats.

The journey doesn’t end there, as families are invited to continue their adventure at the Trinc Cabin from 11am-2pm, where hands-on activities bring each story’s ideas to life.

This event is a free with a valid museum ticket and is being is delivered by Theatre Space North East.

Ghost Ship in the Fog, Tuesday 27 October, 10am to 4pm, Royal Navy Museums: Hartlepool 

For centuries, sailors – including those serving in the Royal Navy – have shared stories of ghost ships, mysterious lights and strange shapes appearing through the fog. But could science explain some of these legendary sightings?

Families become Maritime Myth Busters, using a model ship to explore how light, fog, shadows and optical illusions could have inspired mysterious stories once told by sailors at sea.

They will then take on the challenge: Can they create an optical illusion that makes their model ship look like a ghost ship emerging from the fog?

This event is a free with a valid museum ticket.

Lanterns and Legends, Wednesday 28 October, 11am to 4pm, Royal Navy Museums: Hartlepool 

This Halloween, HMS Trincomalee will light up with mysterious lights and magical legends. Visitors will be welcomed aboard by Serenia the Sea Witch and listen to her tales of strange lights glowing across the water, before making their own magical lantern.

With paper, glue, colour and plenty of sparkle, visitors can design a unique light to brighten the darkness and guide them safely home.

This event is a free with a valid museum ticket and is being is delivered by Theatre Space North East.