Museums and Castles events

Join the Castleford Museum team, rain or shine, for free fun craft activities every Saturday.

With different themed crafts and activities each week, what will you make?

All activities and materials are provided and they’ll even tidy up afterwards!

Free and no booking required

Join the Wakefield Museum team, rain or shine, for free fun craft activities every Saturday.

With different themed crafts and activities each week, what will you make?

All activities and materials are provided and they’ll even tidy up afterwards!

Free and no booking required

Join the Pontefract Museum team, rain or shine, for free fun craft activities every Saturday.

With different themed crafts and activities each week, what will you make?

All activities and materials are provided and they’ll even tidy up afterwards!

Free and no booking required

Book tickets for Pontefract Castle Dungeon Tours

Book tickets for Pontefract Castle Dungeon Tours

Calling all future chemists!

Did you know that there are so many amazing colours that can be created from plants?

Join us for a series of workshops to investigate natural dyes, inks and stains.

In this session, learn to create ink from plants and see how it looks when used on paper and fabric. Make your own ribbon streamer which you can test out in the castle grounds.   

£2.50 per child, accompanying adults free. Book Colour Chemistry from Nature's Rainbow

Calling all future chemists!

Did you know that there are so many amazing colours that can be created from plants?

Join us for a series of workshops to investigate natural dyes, inks and stains.

In this session, learn to create ink from plants and see how it looks when used on paper and fabric. Make your own ribbon streamer which you can test out in the castle grounds.   

£2.50 per child, accompanying adults free. Book Colour Chemistry from Nature's Rainbow

Follow in the footsteps of legendary local artists! Let your creativity fly free and get stuck in with our family crafts. 

Be inspired by pottery, sculpture, photography and more! Join us for a different theme each week. 

Week 4: Patterns and Pottery. Look closer at our pottery collections and find out the stories behind the designs. Play with patterns and decorate a mini mug or plate. 

*Fridays are relaxed SEND sessions. These will have more open-ended activities and a relaxed atmosphere. 

All sessions free and no booking required.

Follow in the footsteps of legendary local artists! Let your creativity fly free and get stuck in with our family crafts. 

Be inspired by pottery, sculpture, photography and more! Join us for a different theme each week. 

Week 4: Patterns and Pottery. Look closer at our pottery collections and find out the stories behind the designs. Play with patterns and decorate a mini mug or plate. 

*Fridays are relaxed SEND sessions. These will have more open-ended activities and a relaxed atmosphere. 

All sessions free and no booking required.

Spend quality family time together throughout the summer holidays. Be inspired by the lovely landscape paintings of Cynthia Kenny.

Try a different craft each Tuesday inspired by Cynthia’s artwork. Get hands-on with lots of different materials, techniques and styles.

12 August - Cityscape lanterns: Hone your drawing skills! Trace or sketch outlines of the brilliant buildings in Wakefield.  Make a stunning cityscape lantern to take home. 

(Please note: There will be a 30 minute facilitator break at 12:30pm, with activities resuming at 1pm)

Free and no booking required.

Brave and daring trainee knights – your castle needs you!
Come along to Knight School and try your hand at jousting. Discover what a melee is.
No previous experience required!

As well as drop-in activities running all day, there will be interactive roleplay at 11:15, 13:15 and 14:15.

Free and no booking required.

(There is a bookable SEND families version of these activities on the 13 August, 10am to 10:45am. Book SEND Knight School)

Do you have an interesting object that you’d like to show us or a story to tell us?

Our monthly Meet the Curator sessions are your chance to chat with our team.

No appointment required - just turn up with your questions, your stories or your objects!

What weird and wonderful objects are hidden in our Cabinet of Curiosities?

Join us every Wednesday in the summer holidays for a different discovery each week!

Enjoy fun crafts and activities to help you identify the mystery objects. Learn about their stories and what makes them special.

Explore our family-friendly museum in a whole new way!

Free, drop-in and no booking required

Brave and daring trainee knights – your castle needs you!
Come along to Knight School and try your hand at jousting. Discover what a melee is.
No previous experience required!

As well as drop-in activities running all day, there will be interactive roleplay at 11:15, 13:15 and 14:15.

Free and no booking required.

(There is a bookable SEND families version of these activities on the 13 August, 10am to 10:45am. Book SEND Knight School)

Brave and daring trainee knights – your castle needs you!
Come along to Knight School and try your hand at jousting. Discover what a melee is.
No previous experience required!

This is a relaxed SEND session of the Knight School activities running 12 - 15 August. Booking is required to keep numbers at a relaxed level.

You will first enjoy watching some interactive roleplay with our team. You'll then get to have a go at the activities! 

Free, but booking required for the SEND session. Book Knight School (SEND families)

Book tickets for Pontefract Castle Dungeon Tours

Follow in the footsteps of legendary local artists! Let your creativity fly free and get stuck in with our family crafts. 

Be inspired by pottery, sculpture, photography and more! Join us for a different theme each week. 

Week 4: Patterns and Pottery. Look closer at our pottery collections and find out the stories behind the designs. Play with patterns and decorate a mini mug or plate. 

*Fridays are relaxed SEND sessions. These will have more open-ended activities and a relaxed atmosphere. 

All sessions free and no booking required.

Don't be jelly - join us for a gel plate printing workshop!
 
Explore our amazing printed collection. Create some great printed designs using a wide range of textured bits and bobs.  

This workshop is designed for teenagers aged 12 to 16. Accompanying adults are welcome, but not essential.

The workshop will take place in the 'Learning Zone' which is located within the main library space on the Upper Ground Floor of the Wakefield One building. 

Tickets £2.50 per teen, accompanying adults welcome and are free. Book Gelli plate printing

Don't be jelly - join us for a gel plate printing workshop!
 
Explore our amazing printed collection. Create some great printed designs using a wide range of textured bits and bobs.  

This workshop is designed for teenagers aged 12 to 16. Accompanying adults are welcome, but not essential.

The workshop will take place in the 'Learning Zone' which is located within the main library space on the Upper Ground Floor of the Wakefield One building. 

Tickets £2.50 per teen, accompanying adults welcome and are free. Book Gelli plate printing

Brave and daring trainee knights – your castle needs you!
Come along to Knight School and try your hand at jousting. Discover what a melee is.
No previous experience required!

As well as drop-in activities running all day, there will be interactive roleplay at 11:15, 13:15 and 14:15.

Free and no booking required.

(There is a bookable SEND families version of these activities on the 13 August, 10am to 10:45am. Book SEND Knight School)

Noisy Cow Theatre Co are defying heteronormativity to bring forth a production which is unashamedly and delectably queer in all rights: whether you want a gay pirate, a pining romantic, or a genderfluid heartthrob — this play is for you. Gender and identity become remarkably fluid and ever-changing concepts within this beloved play. If there was ever a testament to Shakespeare’s relevance in the modern day, this is it.

Following a shipwreck that takes her twin brother Sebastian from her, Viola assumed the guise of Cesario and begins to work for Count Orsino, who is hopelessly in love with the beautiful Olivia. When sent to woo Olivia on Orsino’s behalf, things quickly spiral out of control for Viola, and luck may also have it that dear Sebastian survives yet. Meanwhile, Sir Toby and his band are driven to ensure the good times last, so when Malvolio threatens to cut the festivities short, they devise a plan involving a letter with questionable language and a focus on the colour yellow. 

A fast-paced, deliciously dirty and chaotic comedy about love, cross-dressing and hard partying!

Tickets £14 (over 25s), £11 (under 25s), £8 (under 10s)

Book tickets for Twelfth Night via Noisy Cow Theatre Co.

Book tickets for Pontefract Castle Dungeon Tours

Follow in the footsteps of legendary local artists! Let your creativity fly free and get stuck in with our family crafts. 

Be inspired by pottery, sculpture, photography and more! Join us for a different theme each week. 

Week 4: Patterns and Pottery. Look closer at our pottery collections and find out the stories behind the designs. Play with patterns and decorate a mini mug or plate. 

*Fridays are relaxed SEND sessions. These will have more open-ended activities and a relaxed atmosphere. 

All sessions free and no booking required.

Brave and daring trainee knights – your castle needs you!
Come along to Knight School and try your hand at jousting. Discover what a melee is.
No previous experience required!

As well as drop-in activities running all day, there will be interactive roleplay at 11:15, 13:15 and 14:15.

Free and no booking required.

(There is a bookable SEND families version of these activities on the 13 August, 10am to 10:45am. Book SEND Knight School)

Join the Castleford Museum team, rain or shine, for free fun craft activities every Saturday.

With different themed crafts and activities each week, what will you make?

All activities and materials are provided and they’ll even tidy up afterwards!

Free and no booking required

Join the Wakefield Museum team, rain or shine, for free fun craft activities every Saturday.

With different themed crafts and activities each week, what will you make?

All activities and materials are provided and they’ll even tidy up afterwards!

Free and no booking required

Join the Pontefract Museum team, rain or shine, for free fun craft activities every Saturday.

With different themed crafts and activities each week, what will you make?

All activities and materials are provided and they’ll even tidy up afterwards!

Free and no booking required

Book tickets for Pontefract Castle Dungeon Tours

Join our poetry walk to celebrate the work of Cynthia Kenny! Get creative and discover a new side to Wakefield in this welcoming poetry workshop and walk.

Join Wakefield Museum and Lindsey Marie from Black Horse Poets Society for a poetry walk around Westgate inspired by Cynthia Kenny - a City Framed.

We’ll start at the museum with a brief introduction, before heading out on a walk around some of the places featured in the exhibition. At each stop you’ll be given creative prompts and encouragement to develop your own poetry and ideas. The walk will end back at Wakefield Museum where you’ll have the chance to share what you have written or listen to other people’s work. 

If you’ve ever wanted to get creative with words, but not sure where to start, then this could be the workshop for you!

Accessibility
The walk will take place in a small loop around the Westgate area of Wakefield. Most of the route is level and we will be following pavements. Please be aware that the pavement can be narrow and uneven in some places.  There is no seating available on this walk. The walk will take place outside so please be prepared and dress for the weather and bring any water or food you need.

Free, but booking required as spaces are limited. Book Walk and Write: Poetry Workshop

Join our poetry walk to celebrate the work of Cynthia Kenny! Get creative and discover a new side to Wakefield in this welcoming poetry workshop and walk.

Join Wakefield Museum and Lindsey Marie from Black Horse Poets Society for a poetry walk around Westgate inspired by Cynthia Kenny - a City Framed.

We’ll start at the museum with a brief introduction, before heading out on a walk around some of the places featured in the exhibition. At each stop you’ll be given creative prompts and encouragement to develop your own poetry and ideas. The walk will end back at Wakefield Museum where you’ll have the chance to share what you have written or listen to other people’s work. 

If you’ve ever wanted to get creative with words, but not sure where to start, then this could be the workshop for you!

Accessibility
The walk will take place in a small loop around the Westgate area of Wakefield. Most of the route is level and we will be following pavements. Please be aware that the pavement can be narrow and uneven in some places.  There is no seating available on this walk. The walk will take place outside so please be prepared and dress for the weather and bring any water or food you need.

Free, but booking required as spaces are limited. Book Walk and Write: Poetry Workshop