Halloween Event

Museums After Dark 2023

27 October 2023 5:00pm-9:00pm

Discover three incredible museums on one unforgettable night.

From 5pm – 9pm on Friday 27th October, you can visit Dorset Museum, the Keep Military Museum and Shire Hall Museum with just one ticket!

Discover Dorchester’s fascinating history whilst exploring three of the best museums in the South West. Adult tickets are £10 and children (under 16s) go free!

Each museum will be hosting is own unique activity, especially for Museums After Dark!

  • Dorset Museum Ghostbusters 👻
    Enjoy an evening of gothic fun at Dorset Museum as characters come alive! Meet the Museum’s friendly ghosts and ghouls whilst discovering curious objects and spooky surprises!
  • Torchlight Tours at Shire Hall Museum 🎃
    Experience Shire Hall Museum in a whole new light! Come down and explore historic cells under the cover of darkness with Shire Hall’s torchlight tours, especially for Museums After Dark!
    More information shirehalldorset.org
  • Keep Military Museum Mannequins 🦇
    Tour the galleries of the Keep Military Museum after dark, when the Museum’s mannequins come to life! See if you can track down the runaway mannequins whilst exploring the Victorian Barracks building by night.
    More information – keepmilitarymuseum.org
  • Opening hours:

    Dorset Museum & Art Gallery
    Daily: 10.00am - 5.00pm

    TASTE Café
    Daily: 9.00am - 4.00pm
    Sunday: 10:00am - 4:00pm

  • Admissions:

    10% discount for Adult and Young Person Unlimited Ticket booked online using discount code DM01

    BOOK ONLINE SAVE 10%
  • Dorset Museum

    High West Street
    Dorchester DT1 1XA

    View Map

Temporary Display

3 February - 30 May 2024

John Brown in Dorchester: Rebuilding a Life after slavery

Discover the little-known story of John Brown, in this new showcase display outside the Collections Discovery Centre.

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Storytelling

2 May 2024, 10:00am- 10:30am

Storytime at the Museum

Come and join us for fun-filled Storytime where you can listen to some amazing tales in our Community Space at the Museum.

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Tours

11 May 2024, 10:00am - 12:00noon

Roman Town House Tour

Join our trained guides through the history of the Roman Town House site and and the precious artifacts recovered and now on display at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.

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Storytelling

16 May 2024, 10:00am- 10:30am

Storytime at the Museum

Come and join us for fun-filled Storytime where you can listen to some amazing tales in our Community Space at the Museum.

Find out more

FULLY BOOKED

16 May 2024, 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Paul Nash in Dorset | Professor Paul Gough

This richly illustrated lecture explores over 80 Paul Nash artworks created from the mid-1930s until his death in 1946. They range from ancient places such as Maiden Castle and Badbury Rings to the limestone promontories and fossilised forests on the Purbeck coast.

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Tours

22 May 2024, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Collections Discovery Centre Tour

Join our Collections Team for an opportunity to explore behind the scenes in the Museum’s Collections Discovery Centre.

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Dorset Museum Music Society

22 May 2024, 7:30pm

Horn Trio

Ben Goldscheider, French Horn Callum Smart, Violin Richard Utterly, Piano

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Tours

25 May 2024, 10:00am - 12:00noon

Roman Town House Tour

Join our trained guides through the history of the Roman Town House site and and the precious artifacts recovered and now on display at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.

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Family Activity

30 May 2024, 10:00am - 12:00noon

May Customs and Ooser Mask Making

Our themed event will delve into the customs and traditions surrounding the merry month of May, learn about the famous horned Ooser mask displayed in the museum, and have a go at making one.

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