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:

    Daily: 9.00am - 4.30pm
    Sunday: 10.00am - 4.00pm
    Bank Holidays: 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

Community Exhibition

21 July - 29 October 2023

Nature Heals | Photography by Trevor Parsons

Dorset Museum and Dorchester Arts co-present Nature Heals, an exhibition of nature photography by Trevor Parsons.

Find out more

Special Exhibition

21 July - 29 October 2023

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Wildlife Photographer of the Year, the world-famous exhibition from the Natural History Museum, is coming to Dorset Museum this summer.

Find out more

CANCELLED

6 October 2023, 10:00am -1:00pm, 

Creative Journeys Through Time | 6 week art workshop with Helen Garrett

Designed for adults interested in art, prehistory and archaeology, and running as a six-week block, this course is an exciting opportunity to get up close with some extraordinary artefacts in the collection at Dorset Museum.

Find out more

Adult Workshop

9 October 2023, 2:00pm to 4:30pm

Life Drawing at Dorset Museum – Eight-week course led by James Meiklejohn

This eight-week structured course is suitable for complete beginners to those with some experience.

Find out more

Talk

10 October 2023, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Wildlife friendly gardening | Mitch Perkins

Would you like to make your garden more wildlife friendly?  Join Mitch Perkins to find out how.

Find out more

Museum after hours

19 October 2023, 5:00pm - 6:30pm

FREE | Museum After Hours

Join us for an opportunity to explore the Museum at this FREE late opening.

Find out more

Lecture

19 October 2023, 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Real Dorset | Jon Woolcott

In this lecture, let Jon Woolcott take you on an amusing whistle-stop tour through some of the discoveries and oddities that make Dorset unique.

Find out more

Tours

25 October 2023, 2:00pm - 2:45pm

Collections Discovery Centre Tour

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

Find out more

Halloween Event

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

Museums After Dark 2023

Discover three incredible Dorchester museums on one unforgettable night.

Find out more