Poole Museum in Dorset is hosting a variety of family workshops and activities for the upcoming February half term break. The events will run from Monday, February 16, 2026, to Friday, February 20, 2026, offering local residents low-cost ways to entertain children during the school holidays.
The week begins with a pirate workshop on February 16, 2026, where children can learn about the history of local pirate Harry Paye for £7.50, which includes entry for one adult. On the following day, artist Debbie Clarke will lead clay modelling sessions where visitors can create sea monsters, mermaids, or copies of the well-known mahogany hippo sculpture. On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the Forest Forge theatre company will perform Suitcase Stories, a 35-minute retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with tickets priced at £5.00.
These activities are among the first major holiday events to be held since the museum and Scaplen’s Court reopened in November 2025. The site recently finished a £10.3 million renovation project to modernise the historic buildings and create new maritime galleries. This project was managed by the BCP Council and received funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Families can choose between timed workshops or flexible sessions where they can drop in throughout the day. The museum designed the program to help children connect with the history of the town while providing affordable activities for parents and carers. All events will take place in the newly restored galleries and the 15th-century merchant house at Scaplen’s Court.
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