Festive Fun at One of the Country’s Best Family Friendly Museums

Festive Fun at One of the Country's Best Family Friendly Museums

Since being awarded Best Small Museum at the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Awards last month, the team at Newark's National Civil War Centre have continued to put on fantastic events, drawing families from across the district and further afield.

The festive season is no different and there loads of opportunities to get into the spirit of the season with Christmas crafts, wreath making, merry musical talks and more!

On Saturday 7 December, enjoy 'A Very Green Christmas' at the festive edition of their popular monthly Family Saturday. Visitors will be invited to take inspiration from Christmas traditions of the past and enjoy some eco-friendly Christmas activities, making recycled gift boxes and a Tudor-inspired Christmas wreath to hang in your home or on the front door. Newark and Sherwood District Council car parks will be free every Saturday and Sunday in December too, which, combined with free museum entry for residents, makes this a great value festive family day out.

During the school holidays, from Saturday 21 December to Saturday 4 January, visitors can also enjoy a special Lost Soldier Christmas Trail. Children can hunt for a toy soldier who's escaped his case in the local history gallery, opening little toy soldier-sized doors throughout the museum to discover where he is hiding and find fascinating facts about Christmas too. The trail will be available every day that the museum is open, from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm, except for Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Music is a big part of what makes the holidays so magical and the museum will be celebrating that with a special evening all about the history of Christmas music. On Tuesday 10 December, The Merrie Noyse Minstrels will present a joyful talk featuring musical performances, suitable for all. Places to attend are limited and can be booked online at nationalcivilwarcentre.com/whatson/events.

Councillor Rowan Cozens, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and the Arts at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: "Christmas is such a special time to spend together, making memories with family, and it's wonderful that the National Civil War Centre is providing so many opportunities for residents to do just that. With fantastic events, from Christmas Markets to the spectacular Palace Theatre pantomime, which conveniently shares a building with the museum, as well as the free Council car parking, Newark is certainly a fantastic place to spend Christmas this year."

To find out more about National Civil War Centre events, make sure to follow them on social media and check nationalcivilwarcentre.com.