By Kate Hodges
25th October 2018
EVENT - After Hours
Museums at Night is a twice-yearly magical series of art, one-off events and wonderful experiences, as galleries and museums across the country keep their doors open into the evening (and, if you’re lucky, overnight). Expect action-packed sleepovers, parties, and immersive artworks, plus magic lantern shows, storytelling and portrait drawing. Why not join a ghostly poetry walk through Leeds Library, make potions at The Wisbech and Fenland Museum, or find out what the night-time workers at Bletchley Park really got up to.
EVENT - Under Fire
Celebrate the transformation of summer into winter at Edinburgh’s Samhuinn Fire Festival. The Beltane Fire Society’s blazingly spectacular, fire-suffused show takes place this year at the top of Calton Hill – otherworldly creatures will be battling it out across the mount. Expect a blend of street theatre, pyrotechnics and performance. Watch a stand-off between the summer and winter kings, overseen by the Cailleach, a Celtic representation of the Goddess. The show focuses on the transition that many aspects of life take during the changing of the seasons. A truly magical, wild way to spend Halloween. October 31. Find more ways to celebrate Samhain with your family here.
RECIPE - Smashing Pumpkins
Autumn is now fully in swing, which means our grocery shop shelves are groaning with orange pumpkins, marvellous marrows and knobbly squashes. We adore a warming pumpkin soup, spiked with chilli, and Nigel Slater’s version, which comes complete with pumpkin seed rosti is warming and cosy. Or make a pumpkin cake perfect for scoffing on dark November nights. Don’t waste the seeds - they make crunchy snacks.
MAKE - True Prints
Our kids really love trying out different ways of printing; there’s something satisfying about being able to repeat an image. Why not use the techniques to make your own wrapping paper, or jazz up a T-shirt? The most basic method uses potatoes – we love these results and tips. Older kids might like carving out erasers, while lino printing is fun and can produce truly stunning work. Or try leaf or flower stamping for more ethereal results. Lots more print-spiration here.
EVENT - Let There be Light
Diwali falls on Wednesday 7 November, but it’s coming early to Trafalgar Square on Saturday. Head to the plaza for a giant celebration of music and dance, Asian comedians, and lots of fun workshops and creative activities for kids. Join a Bollywood dance workshop, learn how to put on a sari, try archery, take time out to practice yoga, meet real-life goddesses or join Sai School’s anti-plastic project.
