FESTIVAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY
FAMILIES
Sunday 19 July – Sunday 2 August 2026
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FESTIVAL
Archaeology Pop in Event
Sunday 19 July 2026 | 10am – 4pm | Free entry to The Beacon Portal
Come and celebrate the Opening of our Festival of Archaeology. There will be hands on activities from the past. Come and see how our ancestors created different artefacts using natural resources around them. Learn how Archaeologists use evidence from sites to date certain time periods and help tell the story of our ancestor.
No booking required, just turn up to The Beacon Portal.
Cave Art Workshop
Monday 20 July 2026 | 11am & 2pm | £10 per child | 90 minute session
Travel back and discover the secrets of prehistoric cave art. Learn how our ancestors used natural pigments to create stunning images and tell powerful stories about their world. Explore ancient techniques, create your own cave-inspired artwork, and bring it to life through storytelling and performance. A hands-on journey into archaeology, creativity, and the lost stories of the past.
Coastal Archaeology and Costal Erosion Workshop
Sunday 26 July 2026 | 11am & 2pm | £5 per child | 60 minute session
Discover Whitehaven’s rich coastal heritage and explore how archaeology helps us understand the past. Through fascinating case studies, including Doggerland, this hands-on workshop examines coastal erosion, climate change, and the challenges of preserving vulnerable archaeological sites. Handle replica finds, watch digital reconstructions, and create your own diorama showing how the power of the sea can transform historic landscapes.
Archaeology On the Museum Floors
Wednesday 29 July 2026 | 10am – 4pm | Museum Entry/Annual Pass Membership
Come and discover ancient crafts from the past and have a go yourself.
Hear about how our ancestors day to day lives and the tools and techniques they used to help live. From Stone tools to clothes making.
No booking required, just turn up to The Beacon Museum.
Past Detectives – Become Archaeologists for the Day!
Saturday 1 August 2026 | 11am & 2pm | £5 per child | 90 minute session
Help to uncover the secrets of the past by finding evidence and artefacts that can be used to recreate the past and help us to understand how people live.
This interactive workshop will use different archaeological techniques to help enhance our knowledge of the archaeology found.
Get hands on with activities and research to tell an accurate of the past.
Festival Finale
Sunday 2 August 2026 | 10am – 4pm | Free Entry The Beacon Portal
Come join us as we celebrate the last day of our festival of Archaeology where you will see the coming together of all our events, discover things about the ancient crafts of our ancestors and have a go at looking at the past in a new way.
Listen to short illuminating talks about different topics in Archaeology and about our local heritage.
Have a go at some of our activities and get hands on with archaeological artefacts.
Help us see the past in a new light.
No booking required, just turn up to The Beacon Portal.