Events, Activities, Talks, Walks, Workshops and Family Fun

We have lots of events and activities throughout the year at all our our sites and other venues around the borough. Scroll down to find out more.

The information below may change throughout the year so please keep looking for newly added activities and events and changes to schedules.

Please note that on event days we do not allow pushchairs into our buildings but we do have platform lifts for disabled visitors at Haden Hill House and Wednesbury Museum. Also due to the upgrading of toilet facilities at Oak House there will be no disabled toilets for several weeks -we apologise for any inconvenience caused. Please call the house for information.

To find out more information call one of our sites Tuesday to Friday or at weekends when we are open and our staff will be happy to help.

The Manor House Museum - Hall Green Road, West Bromwich.

Our newest museum now has a programme of events and activities for 2010!

Call Wednesbury Museum for more details on any events or

activities at the Manor House

Summer Tours at the Manor House

The Manor House will be open for free tours from July to September 2010 to give the public a chance to see around this amazing building. Work in converting the building into a visitor attraction is ongoing but we are giving the public an insight into this site.

The great hall and grounds will be open to the public and there will be guided tours of the rest of the building. Book your tour on the day of your visit - no pre-booking available.

Thursday 29th July - Sunday 26th September

Opening times - Thursdays 3pm-7pm, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays 12pm-4pm

Robin Hood Adventures - Sunday 15th August 12pm-4pm

Join us for an afternoon of adventure and swashbuckling fun with a climbing wall, human wrecking ball to tear down the walls of the sheriff's castle, have a go at the archery, enjoy the children's entertainment, see the magnificent birds of prey but beware as the evil sheriff of Nottingham may be around. You may also encounter the wise woman who will want to cure your ailments with medieval remedies and medicines. - The great Hall and South Solar will be open to the publuc - entrance free but there is a small charge for some activities. Refreshments available.

Heritage Open Weekend - Sunday 12th September 2pm-5pm

Manor House School of Witches and Wizardry - Monday 25th October

11am-3:30pm

An excitingly spooky family fun day for all to enjoy. Why not attend the potions class, see the owls from the owllery, enjoy the craft activities and magic shows, take part in our hunt the spook quiz plus lots more - Entrance free but there may be a small charge for some activities.

Drop in Halloween Half Term activities

Tuesday 26th to Friday 29th October 11am-3pm

Saturday 30th October 11am-3pm

Ghost Tours - a variety of ghostly tours will be on offer during this week. Some will be fright night horror tours and others will be based on the ghost stories attached to the Manor House - 27th October - 3rd November - Tickets on sale from 1st October

Deck the Halls - Help to decorate the Great Hall with traditional Christmas decorations - Wednesday 1st December 4pm-5pm

Christmas Evening Music and Crafts - Wednesday 1st December 6pm-9pm

Christmas Candelit sing-along - in the great hall with modern classic Christmas tunes to get you in the festive spirit. Thursday 2nd December 7pm-9pm tickets on sale 1st November.

Hunt for Santa - 12th December 10:30am & 12pm. Write a letter and make reindeer seed. Hunt for clues around the grounds and find Santa at the Manor House and get your present. Tickets on sale 1st November.

Christmas at the Manor House - Sunday 19th December 2010 12pm-4pm

A Christmas family fun day with entertainment and activities, an ice rink and Santa. Entrance free but there may be a small charge for some activities.

Summer with Sandwell Museum Service

Haden Hill House Museum

Haden Hill House Tearoom - fancy a cuppa and a piece of cake at the weekend after a visit to Haden Hill Park and House then pop into our tearoom which will be opened every Sunday from 30th May - 26th September courtesy of our Friends Group

4th August - Custard Moon Circus skills workshop

2pm session suitable for 4-7yrs

3pm session suitable for 8+ yrs

£3 per child

booking essential as places are limited.

8th August A picture postcard from the black country

A talk & slideshow by Ian Bott 2:30pm-3:30pm

£2 per ticket booking essential as places limited.

12th August Zoo Lab Space Explorers

Animal handling sessions 1:30pm-3:30 Entrance free.

22August 12pm-6pm Young Talent

Who needs Glastonbury festival? An afternoon of music in the park, showcasing new unsigned bands. Entrance free.

Call Haden Hill House if you have a band or a solo singer and wish to take part.

26th August - Custard Moon Circus skills workshop

2pm session suitable for 4-7yrs

3pm session suitable for 8+ yrs

£3 per child

booking essential as places are limited.

9th September World War II evening

6:30pm - 8:30pm

An evening of nostalgia, reminiscence and a chance to learn more about WW 2 will appeal to all ages.

Oak House Museum

Summer Sunday Garden Treasure Hunts-6th June, 27th June, 1st August, 15th August, 29th August. All 2pm-4.30pm. Follow the easy clues that will lead to your treasure. A different theme each time. Entrance free.

Seaside August school holiday fun days

From 20th July - 3rd SeptemberTuesdays - Fridays 10am - 1pm & 1:30pm - 4pm

Circus & Seaside summer fun days

10th & 25th August 2pm - 4pm - Circus skills workshops - pre booking essential £3 per child

18th August - 1:30pm - 4pm - Punch and Judy show and face painting, why not bring a picnic Entrance free, face painting £1.

Viking Invasion Weekend

25th & 26th september 12pm - 4pm

Meet the Vikings and enjoy a weekend of Viking fun and activities. - Entrance free.

Wednesbury Museum & Art Gallery

The Cabinet Of Curiosities - Step inside the Cabinet of Curiosities if you dare this summer and discover some of the weird and wonderful, interesting and exciting things in our museum collection. For younger visitors there are bones, fossils, shells, birds eggs, butterflies, birds such as the magnificent Peregrine falcon, our Bengal tiger and a variety of weapons. There are also quizzes and trails for all ages to enjoy so its an ideal free activity for the school holidays. We also have on display objects from around the world brought back by Victorian travellers. These include Japanese and Chinese Carvings, African beadwork and Indian Jewellery. You can also check out what is behind the curtain where all our bizarre and curious objects can be found - Until 29th October, entrance free.

Spotlight on West Bromwich-Talk by Ian Bott on friday 30th July at 1.30pm. £1 including light refreshments.

The Tree Little Pigs-Fiday 13th August at 10.30am. I'll huff and I'll......fun for toddlers. Bring along your favouite soft toy and enjoy the story telling. £1 per child.

Summer Workshops-Throughout the summer holidays, starting 28th July until 3rd September 10.30am-12pm & 2pm-3.30pm. Workshops with a movie theme, based on this years summer films. 50p-£1 per item.

Guitar Summer School-3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 27th, 29th July, 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th August 10.30am-11.30am. A beginner's guitar summer school with Kit Robertson. this is for either acoustic or electric guitars, if your choice is electric you will need to bring your own amp. £42 per person for 10 lessons - Booking essential age 12+

Musical Theatre Drama Workshops-29th July-5th, 12th, 19th & 26th August-1.30pm-2.40pm 6-10 years old -3pm-4pm 11+ years. Whether you are new to the stage or not these fun workshops are for you. Combining both acting, music & song with an actor of 12 years experience. £3 per session or all 5 sessions for £12.

Circus Skills

Workshop thursday 19th August 2pm - 4pm

2pm 5 - 8 yrs & 3pm 9+

£3 Come and have a go at plate spinning, or stilt walking plus much, much, more.

A spotlight on Smethwick & Oldbury

Friday 24th September 1:30pm - £1 including light rrefreshments. A talk looking at Smethwick & Oldbury in years gone by.

Galton Valley Museum

August Summer holiday fun days

4th & 18th August 12pm - 3pm - Join us for an afternoon of entertainment for families. Entrance free.

Friday 20th August - Black Country Murders - a talk £1 including refreshments. Starts 11am

Ghost Hunts - At the Oak House and Haden Old Hall

www.frightnights.co.uk organise occasional night time ghost hunts at Oak House. Please visit their website for further information, and to see if there are any fright nights scheduled at Oak House over the next few months.

Ghost hunt nights are also available at Haden Old Hall organised by the friends of Haden Hill Estate (please note this is in the Tudor hall and not the Victorian Museum). Call the museum on 01384 569 444 for contact details.

Tipton Heritage Centre - Within Tipton Library

Haden Hill House - Tuesday- Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday 2pm-5pm open bank holiday Monday. Disabled access to ground floor only at present.

Haden Hall (next to Haden Hill House) - Open to the public several times each year.Look out in the local press and the website for details. Due to nature of the building limited disabled access only.

Wednesbury Museum & Art Gallery - Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm and after from 1st April to 30th Sept Saturday 2pm-5pm, open bank holiday Monday. Disabled access to ground floor only.

Oak House - Tuesday- Friday 10am-5pm, and from 1st April to 30th Sept Sunday 2pm-5pm. Due to nature of the building limited disabled access only.

Bishop Asbury Cottage. Open to the public twice each year, or organised groups by appointment only. Call 0121 553 0759 to make a group booking. Admission charges apply for group bookings. no disabled access, several steep steps up to cottage.

Galton Valley Canal Heritage Museum - Open Tuesday - Friday and Sunday 10am-3pm and there are regular walks and talks along the canal.call 0121 558 8195

Please note that last admission to our sites is 30 minutes before we close.

Please note that Haden Hill House and Wednesbury Museum now have lift facilities to the first floor.

This page is updated regularly but please note that details may change.