Summer of Fun 2023

22nd July to 30th August

Join us at Beamish Museum for a fantastic Summer of Fun!

We have a range of exciting activities lined up every day during the summer holidays at Beamish for the Summer of Fun event, which runs daily from 22nd July to 30th August 2023.

At 1820s Pockerley Old Hall, have some fun with traditional Georgian games. On Saturdays, there’s the chance to dress in Georgian finery with our costume try-on activity, and on Sundays the Squire of Pockerley will be hiring staff for the coming months – will you get given a job?

Try your hand at some household chores 1900s-style in The Pit Village. It’s not all work though, with games and even a teddy bears’ picnic on Tuesdays and Thursdays to enjoy at the pit cottages.

In The 1900s Town, get crafty in our Masonic Hall as you try your hand at being an Edwardian explorer with our map-making activity on Mondays, or help create a decoupaged screen on Fridays. On Wednesdays, be sure to grab a placard and march in the Suffragette rallies at 11.30am and 2.30pm.

In Orchard Cottage at The 1940s Farm there’ll be the chance to learn about wartime code-cracking on weekends.

In our 1950s welfare hall, we have fun activities each day to get involved with. On Mondays, we’ll be exploring the mysterious and unexplained with our 1950s Beamish UFO club. On Tuesdays and Fridays, you can put your knowledge to the test and take part in our 1950s-style quiz at 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm. On Wednesdays, we’ll be finding out about the birth of the NHS – you can even bring along a teddy bear or doll to be weighed in our baby clinic! Please note, this activity will not be running on Wednesday, 23rd August. We’ll be exploring 1950s peace protests and marches on Thursdays, and on weekends we’ll have a range of activities, from bands and choirs to youth clubs.

At our 1950s Spain’s Field Farm, try on 1950s costume, and enjoy playing with the hobby horses and other toys and games from the era! (Please note, Spain’s Field Farm is only open on weekends and bank holidays currently to allow for the continuing construction work on our 1950s Town.)

Don’t forget to have a go at our Explore Beamish trail! Copies will be available to pick up from the Entrance or you can download a copy of the trail below:

Explore Beamish Trail

Plus!

Enjoy traditional live music, including Singaround Sundays, Skiffle Sessions, Musical Mondays, brass band performances, taking place throughout the summer. Check our What’s On page for dates.

Roll up your sleeves and get growing for the Beamish Allotment, Garden and Craft Show, 26th, 27th and 28th August 2023.

Learn about wartime ration cooking, make do and mend and much more during our Dig for Victory event from 31st August to 3rd September 2023.

There’s lots to see and do during a visit to Beamish, including the chance to explore our newest 1950s exhibits! Don’t forget to pop along to our 1950s Coronation Park and Recreation Ground, and enjoy the playground, miniature golf course (small charge applies), sandpit, giant draughts board and football area, or try your hand at bowling on our new bowling green!

Visit Spain’s Field Farm and discover the story of upland farming in the North East during the 1950s and see the farm animals. Open weekends and bank holidays only.

In The 1900s Town, visit exhibits including the bakery, chemist’s, garage and sweet shop. Be sure to pick up a sweet shop-inspired ice cream from Beamish Delicious Ices – which flavour will you choose?!

Head over to The Fairground and have a go on the gallopers, helter skelter and chair-o-planes (small charge applies to Fairground activities).

In The 1900s Pit Village, see what’s growing in Francis Street gardens or pay a visit to the school. In The 1900s Colliery, grab your hard hat and take a tour underground.

Call in to the 1940s Farm and discover life on the Home Front during the Second World War.

Visit The 1820s Landscape and admire the views from Pockerley Old Hall.

 

 

As with all daytime events, you can use your Unlimited Pass or Friends of Beamish membership to enjoy these special events and activities.

For more information keep checking back here or follow us on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Beamish reserves the right to alter or change this programme at any point.