October Half Term

Saturday 25 October – Sunday 2 November

The nights are drawing in and the shadows are taking over this October Half Term at the Museum. Join in with the shadow puppet stories and songs in the Boat Hall, get creative in spooky Make & Take, and discover the seamonster Morgawr trail!

Alongside our daytime October Half Term events, National Maritime Museum Cornwall will be open later on Friday 31 October for Halloween at the Museum.

Silhouettes & Shadows

Shows at 11am, 1pm and 3pm

Starbox Theatre and Wilderness music return this October half term with their new shadow puppet show, White Horses and Whale Tales.

Inspired by our major exhibition, SURF!, this show brings you tales of pristine coastal waters – home to Mermaids, Buccas, Selkies, and creatures of the deep that stir the sea into huge waves at famous local surf breaks.

Meet our new puppet, Duggie, as he shares his stories from the sea. Discover the mythical tale of the lost land of Lyonesse – a land swallowed by the sea. Be amazed by the scary creatures that dwell deep beneath the waves, and finally, join in the fun at the Ocean Jamboree!

Cut-out dragons and dinosaurs are held up so that they are silhouetted against a white background.

Make & Take

Every day, 12.30pm to 3.30pm (last entry 3.15pm)

Join us this October to make your own monster puppet!

Let your imagination come to life as you design your own playful (and just a little spooky) monster friend. With lots of eyes, wild hair, and many colours, there’s no limit to what you can create. Then, bring your creature to life in our puppet theatres and put on your own show.

Perfect for kids and families, come make something wonderfully weird with us this October Half Term.

A group of children look and point at model boats in a display cabinet at National Maritime Museum Cornwall

Morgawr Sensory Trail

Every day, 10am – 5pm

The waves go whoosh and the sea winds howl, but something deeper starts to growl…

Explore the Museum and discover our sea monster Morgawr sensory trail, will you find all the stamps? Look for clues, listen to the waves and feel the scales on Morgawr’s back, if you dare!

What else is at National Maritime Museum Cornwall?

Explore 15 galleries over five floors, jump aboard boats, climb the 100-foot Lookout Tower, go underwater in the Tidal Zone, uncover ocean adventures and survival stories and sail miniature boats on the Boat Pool. Plus, have fun in Skull Island Play Zone and learn about Cornish maritime history in our Cornwall galleries.