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What's On

Summer Holidays: Family Day


Join us for our biggest family day of the year and learn all about the Vikings! There will be crafts, face painting, weaponry displays, warrior dance workshops and performances by award-winning storytellers Annamation.

Free*

Suitable for all ages. Drop in.
*Some activities will carry a small fee

Viking Boat Lantern Workshop
10.30am – 3.30pm
Learning Space 1

Join artist Sophie Handy to create a stunning Viking boat from willow and reinforced tissue paper that you can light up and use as a lantern.

£2 per child | Drop in | Suitable for age 3+, but all are welcome

Stop-motion Animation Workshop
10.30am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Learning Space 2

Join Gemma Amos from Let’s Animate as participants delve into design, storyboarding, set building, model making, sound design and editing as they direct and produce their very own Viking themed animated film. Finished films will be sent to participants via email within two weeks of the workshop taking place. 
£8 per child | Suitable for age 7+ | Bookable in advance (10.30am & 1.30pm )

Viking Legends Performance

11.00am,12.00pm, 2.00pm & 3.00pm
Covered Court

Watch this spectacular performance and listen to a legend told by our very own Viking Skald (Storyteller) of a time when mountains had roots and women had beards! A time when there was great trouble in Asgard, land of the gods, as Thor discovers that his beloved and irreplaceable hammer, Mjolnir, is missing!

Free | Drop in but performances will begin promptly at started above times | Suitable for all

Living History Displays

10.00am – 4.00pm
Covered Court
Discover the realities of Viking home life as living history company, Guarderobe, transform our Covered Court with replica objects for you to discover and test out and share with you their wealth of knowledge of life from long ago.

Free | Drop in | Suitable for 3+, but all are welcome

Viking Warrior Drills

10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm & 3:30pm
Covered Court

Prepare for battle as children are equipped with weapons and armour, ready to be put through their paces with local Viking warrior, Gunnar Thomssen, learning to march and chant. An activity that is sure to excite the imaginations of all.

The year is 940 AD and Gunnar Thomssen, a Hersir whose family came from Denmark, has decided to exercise his right to lead his freemen of the village of Rugby and join in a Viking raid, from across the border of the Danelaw.
Join in the training needed to learn to work together as a team before the raid and find out more about the weapons and armour of the period.
Also see what the everyday food and living conditions that Gunnar's wider family are accustomed to, and the craft activities that they might be involved in.

 

Free | Drop in but places will be on a first come, first served basis
Suitable for age 5+, but all are welcome

Stomp and Roar Movement Workshops

10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm & 2:30pm
The Studio

Stomp, roar, shake and jump like a Viking as Alexis Haines from Coventry Performing Arts Service encourages your little ones to move to music and discover the joys of dance. These short 30 minute workshops are ideal for keeping younger children entertained and giving them an introduction to history through sensory experiences. Pre-walkers are welcome to take part, but will require assistance from adults or older siblings.

£3 per child | Bookable on the day at the main reception
Suitable for 0-5s, but all are welcome

Make and Take Crafts

10.00am – 4.00pm
First floor

Drop-in to these short self-led activities where you can enjoy sketching, colouring in and simple craft making.

Free | Drop in | Suitable for all

Face Painting

10.00am – 3.30pm
Ground floor, by Connected

Get set for selfies and have your face painted, choosing either warrior war paint or a helmet design to frame your face.

£1 per person | Drop in but at busy times you may be asked to wait.
Suitable for all