Halloween at The Horniman Museum

Rumour has it something dark is afoot at the Horniman Museum and Gardens. Fun family activities are descending this October, inspired by the weird and wonderful artefacts hosted by the house. Whether you want to do a spot of shopping, fancy handling a live Tarantula or would rather simply wander around the museum looking for clues to help an ancient mummy reach the Afterlife, there's something for all the family at Horniman. So come one call all this October (and don't forget to wear your scariest costume to keep the ghosts away).

‘Curse of the Mummy’ performances by Tea Dance for Little People
This interactive storytelling adventure mixes the ghoulish holiday of Halloween with Egyptian beliefs about the Afterlife. There will be music, there will be comedy, and there will be magic. So get ready to be enchanted as you help this wandering mummy to reach the other side using the spells from the 'Book of the Dead', and collect all the ingredients along the way. Book now for this event.
Various times between 11am – 4pm
£5 per child, adults go free (max two adults per child)

Wild Fangs Creepy Creatures Cave
Who doesn't love creepy crawlies? Fancy feeling the furry eight legs of a Chilean Rose Tarantula crawling up your arm? Perhaps you'd prefer a lovely, cuddly Madagascan Hissing Cockroach, or an Emperor Scorpion. Maybe a Giant Millipede sounds more your thing? If none of that's for you, there'll be a Corn Snake there to get cuddly with as part of the Wild Fangs Collection. Unsurprisingly, this event is not recommended for children under 3 years old.
10am – 4pm (10 minute time slots)
£3 per person, or £10 for group of four people. Members can book on 020 8291 8169.

Arts and Crafts Market
Once you're done handling the little critters, you'll probably fancy something a little lighter to entertain your mind. So head over to the conservatory where you'll discover unique gifts at the crafts market in plenty of time for Christmas. Take your pick from handbags, bibs and blankets, cosmetics, cakes, jewellery and homewares (we could go on). The little ones will love to have their face painted and marvel at the experts from Twist N Shout blowing up balloons into all shapes and sizes.
10.30am – 4.30pm

Halloween Pumpkin Masks
Create your own spooky pumpkin mask at this workshop in the Education Centre, where you can design him or her as scary or as happy as you wish.
Every 45 minutes from 12pm. Last entry at 3.45pm.

Farmers’ Market
The weekly Farmers' Market at Horniman will open extra hours this Halloween on the Bandstand Terrace to sell locally sourced vegetables, bread, meat, flowers and so much more to tickle your fancy. So stock up for Christmas dinner whilst you're there, that's if you can stay away from the smell of the delicious hot food that's on offer.
Saturday only, 9am – 4pm

Halloween Face Painting
Do you have a mini monster, a wizard in training, a wicked witch or a little lion amongst your brood? Then get them along to have their face painted this Halloween in whatever guise they feel like today.
10am – 4pm

Spooky Halloween Trail
For just £1, collect a spooky Halloween trail to use around the museum and gardens, where your littl'uns can try to solve the spooky riddle. If they prove to be a sized-down Sherlock, they'll be able to collect their Halloween gift at the end. So keep them entertained around the museum and, you never know, they might learn something along the way.
10.30am – 4pm

Sounds fun, sounds frightening, sounds like something you should put on your list first thing!