Spooktacular Halloween Events at Lion Salt Works Saturday 29th October and Monday 31st October
For those that dare, the award-winning Lion Salt Works Museum in Northwich will be getting into the ‘spirit’ by offering visitors two spooktacular Halloween events at historic and atmospheric site. Children will be spell-bound with a fun and safe ‘Museums at Night’ Trick or Treat trail on Saturday 29 October. For teenagers and adults, things take a much darker turn with a sinister, spine-chilling ‘Nightmare at the Museum’ event on Monday 31 October.
Museums at Night – Trick or Treat for children
On Saturday 29 October, a ‘night of frights’ will entertain children aged 4-9 years old as they meet ghostly characters on a spooky trail of the Museum. Everyone is encouraged to wear their scariest costume so that they can ‘trick and treat’ with these ghoulish figures before listening to spooky stories about the mysterious happenings at the salt works. The tours take place at 4.30pm, 5.30pm and 6.30pm. Normal entry charges to the Museum apply and tickets can be bought in advance by calling 01606 275066.
This event is part of the national Museums at Night festival. This a UK-wide festival of late night openings in museums and galleries, produced by Culture24, the Brighton-based arts charity dedicated to shining a light on Britain’s sparkling culture and heritage. This year’s event is being supported across the UK with a series of events in museums, galleries and heritage sites. More information can be found at musuemsatnight.org.uk
Nightmare at the Museum – Ghostbusters film and freaky frights night for teenagers and adults
On ‘All Souls Night’, Monday 31 October – and the first day of half-term – events will take a much darker twist. Between 7.30pm – 11pm the original 1980s classic film ‘Ghostbusters’ will be shown in the atmospheric surroundings of the Museum. There will then be a hunt around the old and formerly dilapidated buildings looking for evidence of ghoulish guests from the past. This is not for the faint-hearted as spine-tingling chills and frights are guaranteed. The event will cost £3 per person and booking is essential by calling 01606 275066.
Councillor Louise Gittins, Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing at Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “These Halloween events sound amazing and the Museum at night will be the perfect atmospheric backdrop for these creepy tours and ghostly ghouls. It will a safe and fun setting for children to ‘trick and treat’ and I’m glad that teenagers and adults won’t miss out on the fun in what promises to be another night to remember.”
Earlier this year, the Lion Salt Works Museum won one of the country’s top awards, the ‘Heritage Project 2016 Award from the National Lottery Awards, following a public vote. The winner of six other awards since opening in 2015, the Museum tells the story of salt and its importance regionally and globally. The Museum, one of the last open-pan, salt-making sites in the world is an Ancient Scheduled Monument.
The Museum has a series of fun, interactive displays, including a sound and light show simulating the billowing steam of the open-pans as well as a subsiding house. It has a play area, shop, café and butterfly garden. There is plenty of free parking on site.