What's on at Beamish this summer?

July 20th 2019

We’ve got a whole host of exciting events and activities to keep the whole family entertained, read on to find out what’s on at Beamish this summer.

Solve age-old crimes, learn traditional skills and Home Guard drills and join in with homecoming celebrations as we enjoy a whole Summer of Fun!

From Saturday, 20th July to Wednesday, 28th August, a whole host of hands-on activities will be taking place at the museum every day of the week.

What's on at Beamish this summer?

During Mystery Mondays, visitors can take part in a Joe the Quilter Murder Mystery before taking a trip to The 1900s Town to help the police constable solve a crime – can you pick the guilty person from the line up?

Become an inventor as you create your own self-propelled vehicles in The 1900s Pit Village band hall during Tinkering Tuesdays.

What's on at Beamish this summer?

Listen to stories of the Suffragettes then grab a placard and sash and join in the campaign to get women the vote during Women’s Wednesday. Try your hand at traditional skills such as proggy mat making or bread making during Try it Thursdays.

Enjoy 50s Fridays and take a look around the 1950s front room at No. 6 Ravensworth Terrace in The 1900s Town and see if you can work out who used to live there.

What's on at Beamish this summer?

Take part in Home Guard drills at The 1940s Farm during Soldiering Saturdays. Hear tales of homecoming from the First World War as peace is declared during Celebration Sundays.

Don’t forget to pick up a free Beamish Bingo card from the Entrance and search for 10 items around the museum, answering questions and learning as they go!

Jonathan Blackburn, Engagement and Participation Assistant at Beamish Museum, said “We’re looking forward to a jam-packed Summer of Fun with something different happening across the museum every day of the week.”

As well as the Summer of Fun event, visitors can experience the excitement and community spirit of the 50s with the museum’s new 1950s welfare hall, the first building to open in the 1950s Town as part of the Remaking Beamish project.

What's New at Beamish Museum? The 1950s welfare hall

The hall is a replica of Leasingthorne Colliery Welfare Hall and Community Centre, near Bishop Auckland, which opened in 1957. We worked closely with the community members at the original hall – now known as Coundon and Leeholme Community Centre – who shared memories, stories and objects.

There’s a packed schedule of events at the new welfare hall for visitors to enjoy. Take part in art based activities every Monday, visit the Youth Club each Tuesday and explore your theatrical side on Wednesdays with our amateur dramatics sessions.

Visit the NHS Mother and Baby Clinic on Thursdays to find out more about bringing up a baby in the 1950s. Visit the Friendship Club on Friday mornings and take part in a seated exercise class every Friday afternoon.

Call in to our coffee morning for a cuppa each Saturday and Sunday morning and enjoy music from the 1950s during the afternoons, we’ll also have a live band on the last Saturday of every month!

Thanks to the money raised by National Lottery players, the Remaking Beamish project has been awarded £10.9million by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Cricket fans won’t be stumped for things to do this summer as the museum also has a host of cricketing fun lined up. Pull up a deck chair every Sunday, from 21st July to 8th September (weather permitting), to support the teams taking part in the 2019 Beamish Colliery Cricket Tournament.

The fun doesn’t stop there!

Join us as we Dig for Victory, from Thursday, 29th August to Sunday, 1st September. Do your bit and Grow Your Own for the war effort, black out those windows and stick to your rations… there’ll be plenty for the whole family to do at The 1940s Farm.

Dig For Victory is the first event in the museum’s Great North Festival of Agriculture which also includes the Leek Show (7th and 8th September), the Agricultural Show (12th to 15th September), and Hands-on Heritage Skills (21st and 22nd September).

All daytime events are included in museum admission and are free to Beamish Unlimited Pass holders and Friends of Beamish members – pay once and visit for free for a whole year!