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We're getting ready to welcome thousands of visitors to our annual Christmas Market.

The three day event will see almost 100 traders from across the region selling their wares in the Museum's galleries and grounds, with hot food vendors, children's fairground rides, horses,  musicians, family activities and visits to Santa all adding to the excitement.

Visitors to the Christmas Market will also be able to enjoy the Museum's collection, exhibitions and 12 Days of Christmas display, as well as delicious food in Cafe Bowes.

Celebrate all things Christmassy at The Bowes Museum this year.

With the galleries and halls festively decorated, the 12 Days of Christmas display featuring objects from the collection, Santa in residence, free entry to the Museum's Christmas Late events, and over 90 traders expected in the galleries and grounds for the return of the fabulous Christmas Market, not forgetting superb seasonal fare in Cafe Bowes, there really is something for all generations to enjoy at the Barnard Castle based Museum.

 

 

 

 

There's just a month left to see the stunning North Country Quilts: In Celebration of New Acquisitions exhibition.

This beautifully curated exhibition showcases the very best contemporary and historical examples of the tradition that's seeing a resurgence in popularity today.

There are 26 strippy, wholecloth, pieced and patchwork quilts on display alongside the tools their makers would have used to create them.

The exhibition is open until 9 January 2022.

 

There are just three weeks left to get competition entries in to be in with a chance to have your work exhibited alongside works by the international award winning artist Martin Kinnear.

The Museum launched a poetry and artwork competition reflecting the theme of Regeneration, with the backing of Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell, the Comedian and amateur artist Jenny Eclair and Durham University's Director of Creative Writing, the poet, Dr Paul Batchelor.

Artworks should be a maximum of A1 size, including frame, and able to be wall mounted and poems no more than 45 lines long.

Regeneration opens to the public on 22 January 2022 and runs until 25 April 2022.

 

Join in the fun at The Bowes Museum this October half term holiday.

With the return of a lantern parade through the grounds on the 30th,  willow lantern making workshops, a visit from Magic Andrew, the chance to join in a theatrical workshop for a day, and lots of crafty sessions as well as the ever popular LEGO® Wedo 2 Robotics and Coding workshops there's plenty to keep everyone entertained during the school holidays.

Don't forget to explore the adventures of Clara family exhibition trails before its last day on Sunday 31 October where you can see, hear and even smell what life was like for the sensational 18th century rhinoceros who inspired painters, poets and sculptors as well as discover how to save the species today.