Imagine having the opportunity to explore behind-the-scenes at a university, and enjoy a sneak peek into some of the artefacts on display in its museum and library….
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Families are invited to do just that at this upcoming History & Heritage Festival, part of the new UNI-Versal festival series at the University of Aberdeen.
During the three-day event you can enjoy a programme of free family-friendly events on offer from September 15-17.
Sharing stories spanning five centuries
The University of Aberdeen’s Sir Duncan Rice Library, Zoology Museum and Cruickshank Botanic Garden have always been popular destinations for families and for many a school trip and will now host the UNI-Versal History & Heritage Festival taking place from September 15-17.
It has been launched because the University (which dates back to 1495) wants to share its five centuries-worth of stories, artefacts and historical research.
The festival is an important one in the University’s 2022 events calendar – and in the Aberdeen events calendar too. So if you are wondering what is on Aberdeen, you know where to head with the family for a hands-on experience you will not forget.
History festival in Aberdeen: 9 highlights
Here are 9 amazing highlights to see and do at the festival (but there are many more to enjoy here):
1. Tour the recently re-opened Zoology Museum
This is a unique opportunity to visit this popular museum once again following its temporary closure for several years. Firstly, it was closed for refurbishment, then Covid-19 hit, but now it has reopened. Special tours of the museum have been arranged for each day of the festival. Booking is essential as these tours are popular!
Neil Curtis, Head of Museums and Special Collections, said: “We are delighted to be able to welcome visitors and families to the University again and to our recently re-opened Zoology Museum.”
2. Admire the massive elephant skeleton
Visitors often confuse this giant imposing skeleton with a woolly mammoth, but it is in fact an elephant – and very impressive in its stature. If you have not seen this yet, you really ought to!
3. Let your children become storytelling stars
At the history festival in Aberdeen, as part of the family fun Saturday, a brilliant workshop will allow children to explore their inner storyteller, as they learn how to bring life to stories and perform in front of an audience!
4. Explore the history of Cruickshank Botanic Garden
You may be amazed to discover that this, pictured above, is the original home of an earlier version of Aberdeen Football Club!
5. Take a sneak peek inside Pittodrie, the current home of Aberdeen FC
On this tour you will be given access all areas into the dressing room, press room, tunnel and even be allowed on the famous pitch.
6. Enjoy an interactive storytelling workshop
Brilliant storyteller Andy Cannon, pictured above, will lead this engaging workshop, with the theme ‘facts meets fiction’, will show you how to tell fantastic tales and use fiction as the basis for your quest to discover the facts.
7. Learn about Aberdeen’s first printing press
And discover Edward Raban the man who brought it to the city. Learn about his life and work as part of a series of historical talks.
8. Read a book from the 1100s at the history festival in Aberdeen
During a visit to the Sir Duncan Rice Library, you will be given an exciting opportunity to get up close to hundreds of years of history as you admire the treasures in the university’s archives, including a book dating back to the 12th century and an item that once belonged to the university’s founder, Bishop Elphinstone.
9. Witness a video game about the deadly Plague in action
The University’s historians helped to create a video game based on Aberdeen’s Burgh Records which allows gamers to enter the city in 1498, when it was trying to fight the Plague.
The UNI-Versal History & Heritage Festival is produced in collaboration with the University of Aberdeen Museums and Special Collections team as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022.
Most events at the History and Heritage Festival in Aberdeen are free of charge and booking is required for some sessions.