Museums and Castles events
Browse the exciting range of upcoming events and activities across our Museums and Castles sites!
To see What's On over the next month, click 'In the next 7 days' and change it to 'In the next 30 days'.
You can then filter by category, venue and age ranges.
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Museum Minis (Ages 2 to 5)
Wakefield Museum
22 May 2025
Meet Alphabet Cat and take part in activities, rhymes and more!
Each month there's a new theme to help you explore Wakefield Museum.
Have fun learning and playing together and tick off the following on your 50 Things to do Before You’re 5:
#6 Rhyme Time, #7 Making Music, #11 Making Connections, #39 Talking Signs, #40 Happy History
Every Thursday morning from 10.30am to 11.30am during term time.
Free and no booking required
These sessions are designed for toddlers aged 2 to 5 and their families.
Please note: The fire alarms in Wakefield One are tested at 11am on Thursdays. We have ear defenders you and / or your children can borrow.
Find Your Passion - Gel plate printing (16+)
Wakefield Museum
22 May 2025
Discover the amazing trend of gel plate printing to create unique monoprints.
Use your new prints in all sorts of crafty projects!
This workshop will be in the Wakefield Museum Learning Zone, which is at the back of Wakefield Library.
Tickets £7 per person, booking required. Book Find Your Passion - gel plate printing
Find Your Passion - Gel plate printing (16+)
Wakefield Museum
22 May 2025
Discover the amazing trend of gel plate printing to create unique monoprints.
Use your new prints in all sorts of crafty projects!
This workshop will be in the Wakefield Museum Learning Zone, which is at the back of Wakefield Library.
Tickets £7 per person, booking required. Book Find Your Passion - gel plate printing
Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
23 May 2025
Dungeon Tours
Pontefract Castle
23 May 2025
Join us for a tour of the Castle dungeon!
Soak in the atmosphere of this eerie underground space. Discover the many uses of the dungeon.
See where Civil War prisoners left to languish scratched their names into the rock.
Adults £4.40 Children £2.55 (not suitable for under 5s, visually impaired visitors or wheelchair users due to 44 steep historic steps)
Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
23 May 2025
Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
24 May 2025
Family Fun at Castleford Museum
Castleford Museum
24 May 2025
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
Family Fun at Wakefield Museum
Wakefield Museum
24 May 2025
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
Family Fun at Pontefract Museum
Pontefract Museum
24 May 2025
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
Dungeon Tours
Pontefract Castle
24 May 2025
Join us for a tour of the Castle dungeon!
Soak in the atmosphere of this eerie underground space. Discover the many uses of the dungeon.
See where Civil War prisoners left to languish scratched their names into the rock.
Adults £4.40 Children £2.55 (not suitable for under 5s, visually impaired visitors or wheelchair users due to 44 steep historic steps)
Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
24 May 2025
Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
25 May 2025
Dungeon Tours
Pontefract Castle
25 May 2025
Join us for a tour of the Castle dungeon!
Soak in the atmosphere of this eerie underground space. Discover the many uses of the dungeon.
See where Civil War prisoners left to languish scratched their names into the rock.
Adults £4.40 Children £2.55 (not suitable for under 5s, visually impaired visitors or wheelchair users due to 44 steep historic steps)
Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours
Pontefract Castle
25 May 2025
Dungeon Tours (May half term)
Pontefract Castle
26 May 2025
Join us for a tour of the Castle dungeon!
Soak in the atmosphere of this eerie underground space. Discover the many uses of the dungeon.
See where Civil War prisoners left to languish scratched their names into the rock.
Adults £4.40 Children £2.55 (not suitable for under 5s, visually impaired visitors or wheelchair users due to 44 steep historic steps)
Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours (bonus May half term)
Pontefract Castle
26 May 2025
Colour Chemistry from Nature's Rainbow (SEND session)
Pontefract Castle
27 May 2025
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 May's session, learn about acids and bases using a natural Ph indicator, including experimenting on fabric and paper (turmeric and red cabbage).
£2.50 per child, accompanying adults free. Book Colour Chemistry from Nature's Rainbow
Colour Chemistry from Nature's Rainbow
Pontefract Castle
27 May 2025
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 May's session, learn about acids and bases using a natural Ph indicator, including experimenting on fabric and paper (turmeric and red cabbage).
£2.50 per child, accompanying adults free. Book Colour Chemistry from Nature's Rainbow
Roman Gods and Goddesses
Castleford Museum
27 May 2025
The Romans had a god or goddess for everything - even door hinges! Discover different Roman gods, and explore their legends and stories. Learn about their special symbols and what they meant. Make a wristband or headband decorated with your favourite symbol!
*Friday 30 May is an SEND relaxed session. SEND groups are welcome at all our sessions, and we run these sessions for visitors who prefer a more relaxed atmosphere.
Dungeon Tours (May half term)
Pontefract Castle
27 May 2025
Join us for a tour of the Castle dungeon!
Soak in the atmosphere of this eerie underground space. Discover the many uses of the dungeon.
See where Civil War prisoners left to languish scratched their names into the rock.
Adults £4.40 Children £2.55 (not suitable for under 5s, visually impaired visitors or wheelchair users due to 44 steep historic steps)
Pontefract Castle Explorer Tours (bonus May half term)
Pontefract Castle
27 May 2025
Make a Wormery (SEND Ages 6 to 11)
Pontefract Castle
28 May 2025
Get your hands dirty and dig into some fantastic facts about worms!
Find out how they are garden heroes, making compost by turning scraps into soil.
Meet some wiggly worms and make your own mini wormery experiment to take home!
Join our friends form Wakefield Recycles and learn all about how nature recycles its own rubbish.
This is a SEND session. SEND families are welcome at all of our sessions but we are running this SEND session for those families who require a more relaxed atmosphere, with restricted numbers. A drop-in version of this activity is taking place on the same day 11am to 3pm.
The activity will take place in the Stretch Tent at Pontefract Castle. This is located on the bailey (grassed area).
Free, booking required for SEND sessions. Book Make a Wormery (SEND session)
Make a Wormery (drop-in)
Pontefract Castle
28 May 2025
Get your hands dirty and dig into some fantastic facts about worms!
Find out how they are garden heroes, making compost by turning scraps into soil.
Meet some wiggly worms and make your own mini wormery experiment to take home!
Join our friends form Wakefield Recycles and learn all about how nature recycles its own rubbish.
The activity will take place in the Stretch Tent at Pontefract Castle. This is located on the bailey (grassed area).
Free, no booking required.
Stone Stories (Ages 6-11)
Wakefield Museum
28 May 2025
What stories can stones tell?
Explore some of the oldest objects in the museum and find out!
Touch real ancient fossils and handle Stone Age tools. Find out why Wakefield rocks, through our historic rocks!
Decorate your own special stone object to take home and tell your story.
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 child, accompanying adults free. Book Stone Stories
Stone Stories (Ages 6-11)
Wakefield Museum
28 May 2025
What stories can stones tell?
Explore some of the oldest objects in the museum and find out!
Touch real ancient fossils and handle Stone Age tools. Find out why Wakefield rocks, through our historic rocks!
Decorate your own special stone object to take home and tell your story.
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 child, accompanying adults free. Book Stone Stories
Panto Puppets
Pontefract Museum
28 May 2025
Puppets are a brilliant way to bring a magical story to life. Be inspired by the stories from pantomimes past. Make a super stick puppet and put on a show! From Aladdin to Jack and the Beanstalk, what character will you choose?
Be inspired by the wonderful worlds created by the St Giles with St Mary’s Pantomime Society in our interactive exhibition.
Free and no booking required.
Drop-in between 10:30am and 3pm (there will be a 30 minute break at 12:30)
Dungeon Tours (May half term)
Pontefract Castle
28 May 2025
Join us for a tour of the Castle dungeon!
Soak in the atmosphere of this eerie underground space. Discover the many uses of the dungeon.
See where Civil War prisoners left to languish scratched their names into the rock.
Adults £4.40 Children £2.55 (not suitable for under 5s, visually impaired visitors or wheelchair users due to 44 steep historic steps)