Gifts galore and festive fun at North Herts Museum and Hitchin Town Hall

We’re getting in the Christmas spirit with Museum Shop Sunday and other festive events in the run up to the big day.

Our gorgeous gift shop at North Herts Museum has been preparing for the event of the year – Museum Shop Sunday on 26 November – so why not make a visit part of your Christmas shopping experience.

This international campaign highlights the vital role of retail in helping arts, cultural and heritage venues to survive and thrive. The museum will be running craft activities for children and a history trail around the museum. Hand-knitted Christmas decorations will be available in the shop with special discounts (for one day only) on traditional toys which would make perfect Christmas presents. You will also be able to get a copy of an exclusive reprint of i-Spy at the Museum, produced especially for North Herts Museum and not available anywhere else!

Cllr Keith Hoskins, Executive Member for Enterprise and Arts, said: "The museum holds about a million objects, ranging from moths to a Georgian fire engine, from paintings to prehistoric pieces of ceramic, helping to preserve our history and tell the stories of the people who have lived and worked here. Museums provide a vital space for us to learn, think, research and feel."

Cllr Tamsin Thomas, deputy Executive Member for Enterprise and Arts, added: "We’ve worked really hard to ensure we have a well-stocked shop with a wide range and variety of items for all interests, ages and budgets, so please support us this Museum Shop Sunday."

Hitchin Town Hall & Museum also have a number of other fun and festive events taking place:

Christmas Creative Market – free entry
Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 November
Hitchin Town Hall will showcase over 90 businesses this weekend where you’ll find a host of handmade and unique gifts from local small businesses.

A Taste of Christmas Past food talk – £10pp
Tuesday 5 & Wednesday 20 December
Throw the turkey out the window and step back in time to discover Christmas dinner traditions from the past, and not just the British ones. There will be free samples to try and you will get a recipe leaflet so you can try them at home too.

Secrets of the Stores – Christmas toys and other items from our collections – free
Saturday 9 December
See some toys gifted to children over 100 years ago, handle some classic toys and flick through some items from our archive. No need to book, it’s free, just drop in and find us in the galleries.

Toddler music, story & face painting session – £8 per child
Saturday 16 December
Bring your toddler to the museum where we will be reading ‘Stick Man’ by Julia Donaldson, doing crafts, face paints and having a sing-song! £8 per child, £15 for two children – booking essential.

Kids Christmas Disco – £6.50 per child
Saturday 16 December 
Bring your little elves (under 12s) along to our snow-tastic Christmas disco at Hitchin Town Hall! Get your costumes at the ready for an afternoon filled with fun and games!

See what else is on at Hitchin Town Hall & North Herts Museum