THIS EVENT HAS NOW TAKEN PLACE
Scottish Maritime Museum
Harbour Road, Irvine
Get set for magical mermaids, giant inflatable sea monster tentacles and all the fun of the fair as the Scottish Maritime Museum celebrates the opening of the blockbuster ‘Sea Monsters!’ exhibition and ‘Come and Sea Us’ summer events programme with a fantastical festival weekend.
Throughout the weekend of Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 July, monsters and mysteries of the sea will take over the award-winning attraction on Irvine Harbourside.
Inside the Linthouse, a real life, free diving mermaid swimming around a giant tank and two land mermaids will give visitors a rare opportunity to catch sight of these mythical creatures and take a ‘selfie with a selkie’.
Look out too for six giant, brightly coloured sea monster tentacles swirling around the Museum!
In the Courtyard, visitors will enjoy traditional fairground games and activities.
After trying their hand at ‘Hook-a-Duck’, ‘Hoopla’ and ‘Ball in a Bucket’, they can crack the fine art of the ‘Coconut Shy’.
The Giant Deckchair and crazy mirrors will also be back by popular demand along with deckchairs for hire for those wanting to take a short break, sit down and relax amongst the surreal seaside scene.
Up to three children receive free entry with each Adult/Concession ticket. Book your day tickets HERE
Come along early to enjoy the Funfare side stalls open from 10am – 4pm.
Abigail McIntyre, Curator at the Scottish Maritime Museum, says:
We’re going big with the opening our blockbuster summer exhibition ‘Sea Monsters!’ with lots of monster fun for visitors of all ages.
“After checking out some of the sinister sea monsters lurking down below in our new exhibition, everyone can enjoy more magical and gentle sea creatures like our visiting mermaids Brooke, Grace and Luna and pit their skills at fairground games.
“The live mermaids and giant sea monster tentacles will be on show for the opening weekend only so it’s going to be an unmissable event and very different to any we’ve staged before!
“With up to three children visiting for free with each Adult or Concession too, it will be the perfect family day out!”
The Scottish Maritime Museum’s family-friendly blockbuster summer exhibition ‘Sea Monsters!’ celebrates the fantastical and mythical sea creatures of Scottish legend and maritime mythology across the world.
As well as catching up with the latest news on Scotland’s most famous mysterious sea creature – the Loch Ness Monster, visitors will also discover fabulous fossils on loan from The Huntarian at the University of Glasgow – an Ichthyosaurus (large marine reptile); an Acrodus Anningiae (extinct cartilaginous fish); an Carcharocles Megalodon (pre-cursor to Great White Shark); and a Rhizodus Hibberti (an extinct fish).
Then there’s the half man, half fish ‘Sea Monk’ monster from the 16th century – was it real or fake!
Art on show will include sculptor Andy Scott’s Kelpie maquettes, artwork by illustrator and designer Axel Gutapfel and Irvine artist Maree Hughes’ interpretation of the legend of the Selkies or ‘seal people’ from the Northern Isles.
The ‘Come and Sea Us’ events programme, which runs from now until September, includes a second celebration weekend which will take place at the Museum during North Ayrshire’s ‘Making Waves’ Festival on 23 and 24 July.
Other ‘Come and Sea Us’ highlights include Arts Award family days, sketching, storytelling, music, poetry and performance art workshops, Magic Carpet storytelling and singing sessions for under 5s and their carers, ‘Make and Take’ craft sessions for older children, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths) activities and special ‘screamings’ of sea monster-themed films.
The ‘Come and Sea Us’ programme has been made possible by the support of the Museum and Galleries Scotland (MGS) Museums Recovery Fund.
For more information about ‘Sea Monsters!’ and ‘Come and Sea Us’ events,
visit www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org or follow @scotmaritime on social media
Issued on behalf of the Scottish Maritime Museum by
Joanna Harrison, Mobile: 07884 187404
Notes to Editors:
Museums Galleries Scotland is the National Development Body for museums and galleries in Scotland and offers strategic development support to the sector. For further information about Museums Galleries Scotland visit www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/about-us/
