Summer fun at The Manchester Museum

19 Jul 2011

Lots of activities for all ages during the summer holidays

The school summer holidays are almost upon us, so if you’re looking for something to do look no further than The Manchester Museum. Here are details of events taking place over the next few weeks.

25 July - 26 August, 11am-4pm

The Museum Allotment

A summer of activities linked to The Museum Allotment including pot decorating, vegetable printing and making bug homes. With different weekly themes.

25 - 29 July

Weather and soil

Make a windmill and see how windy it is at the allotment.

1 - 5 August: Garden birds

Find out which birds are attracted to the plants in our gardens and allotments and create a sock bird. The RSPB will be about to answer all your bird questions.

8 - 12 August: Garden insects

Insects are important visitors to your garden, one way you can help them is by making them a bug home, a cosy place for them to breed.

15 – 19 August: Flowers

Discover the power of flowers this week, what we use them for and what animals they attract. Come along and decorate a pot to take home.

22 - 26 August: Vegetables

Come and see what vegetables are growing at the allotment and have a go at vegetable printing. See what different patterns different vegetables make.

Most activities are free and drop-in. Some activities may need to be booked on the day and may cost up to £1.50.

4 - 7 August

Family Friendly Film Club Weekender

The Manchester Museum is home to a T.rex, live amphibians, stuffed animals and objects from different cultures. So where better to watch short family friendly films such as Dinosaurs and Aliens; Fishy Tails; Pets and Mozart in China?

You can also take part in hands-on activities, such as making a fish or a bug. Look out for a special twilight screening of Studio Ghibli's Ponyo - a 2008 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale The Little Mermaid. The plot centres on a goldfish named Ponyo who befriends a five-year-old human boy, Sosuke, and wants to become a human girl.

4 August, 11.30am-12.30pm: Dinosaurs and Aliens

4 August, 2-3pm: Darius Goes West

4 August, 5.30-9pm: Ponyo (costs £5)

5 August, 11.30am-12.30pm: Pets

5 August, 2-3pm: Mozart in China

6 August, 11.30am-12.30pm: The Four Seasons

6 August, 2-3pm: Bugs and Insects

7 August, 11.30am-12.30pm: Farm Animals

7 August, 2-3pm: Fishy Tails

Ponyo screening £5, all other events are free, book on 0161 275 2635.

Saturday 6 August, 11am-4pm

Big Saturday: Summer on the allotment

Come along and learn what veg you can grow, get top tips about composting, join Cracking Good Food for a food workshop, learn all about sun safety, visit the RSPB stall and find out how you can attract different birds to your garden. See one of the family friendly films, The Four Seasons or Bugs and Insects; get crafty making windmills and garden bugs; Make planters from found materials in our crafty workshop and see and touch some objects from our allotment handling box, which includes a 17th century watering can, medals from Manchester Agriculture shows, dried pea plants found on the banks of the River Mersey, ancient Egyptian farming tools and a wide range of garden insects.

Most activities are free and drop-in. Some activities may need to be booked on the day and may cost up to £1.50.

To find out more:

Visit The Manchester Museum’s website