Te Manawa's community favourite After Dark event returns for 2022! Once the sun goes down we're opening our doors and filling the night with activities, cultural performances and food trucks. Bring the whānau, get some kai, and spend some time exploring the museum with the lights off.

When you go down to the museum today, you’re in for a big surprise! Bring your teddy bear and some lunch, and enjoy stories read by the Te Manawa team.

Our craft tables will be open all day for you to drop in and make finger puppets from Te Manawa's huge collection of materials. Our Learning team will look after you if you need a "hand"!

Traditional poi were made with raupō leaves. You'll make yours out of everyday materials, and they work just as well!

We've been rummaging through our resources and have collected bits, bobs, buttons, and of course lots of spare socks! Join the Te Manawa team and fashion your own sock puppet to take home - perhaps you have odd socks of your own that you'd like to do something with?

Shadow puppets and play have long been used for storytelling and entertainment. Use cut-out shapes, translucent colour and other additions to create shadows, then put on a shadow puppet show!

Tōtaranui cottage is believed to be the oldest residence in Palmerston North. We're opening it up for a special live tour. Learn some of the stories of the building and get a glimpse into what life was like in the 19th century.

Manu tukutuku (kites) have an important heritage in Māori culture. Drop in to the museum any time today and have a go at making your own mini manu tukutuku using everyday objects.

It's time for a mid-winter Christmas party! Bring the whānau to the museum, grab some kai from some of Palmy's top food trucks, and take a tour of Santa's Cave.

There’s nothing quite like a movie night out with the whānau. Come and enjoy Encanto on the Art Gallery big screen; we’ll provide some snacks but feel free to bring your own! Some seating will be available, but bring something comfy to relax on just in case. Tickets are $5; free entry for kids aged 2 and under.

Palmerston North is among the most culturally diverse cities in Aotearoa, with communities of people from around the globe. Come in and make a memento of your culture using our wealth of crafting materials and add it to our global wreath. Let's see how big we can make it!

The team at Te Manawa has been mixing up some goodies and it's time to get cooking! Make some art with pancake mix and then eat it, or try Queen Elizabeth's favourite drop scone recipe.

"The Inỹ People of Central Brazil", an exhibition now on in the Art Gallery, is filled with ceramic figures made by villagers in the Brazilian rain forest - humans, jaguars, dogs and other creatures. Take inspiration from their work, then have a go at making your own sculpture out of clay.

Museum in a Box is a portable mini-exhibition that highlights different heritage themes. This one's all about the food! Find out about pickled eggs, opossum pie and other delightful treats as our team leads you on a journey through the meals of yesteryear.

Who remembers playing Spotlight as a kid? Who still plays it? Now you can play it at the museum. 25 people go in, and 24 of them hide. The one with the torch has to track them down, and anybody caught joins them. Rounds last for 30 minutes – will you be the last one hiding? $3 per person. Ages 8+. Children under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian (either playing or watching). Players must bring their own torch.

Join artisans David Trinder and Morgan Watson for an interactive crafting workshop and get to know how traditional Māori tools were used. Try your hand at simple carving techniques and learn how taonga like earrings and pendants are made. Sessions are on Saturday and Sunday.

Explore global games and crafts with the team from Global Parent Support.