Family-friendly summer activities celebrate National Wool Museum’s 50th birthday

The National Wool Museum is celebrating its 50the birthday with a packed programme of family-friendly activities, hands-on workshops and special events this summer.

Set in the heart of the Teifi Valley at Dre-fach Felindre, near Newcastle Emlyn, the museum brings Wales’ rich woollen heritage to life through historic machinery, traditional crafts and interactive experiences for all ages.

From free family activities and unique creative workshops to great day out, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Free drop-in activities across the museum include a new interactive Woolly Tale Family Trail, a Meadow Trail and drop-in crafts in a new Make and Create Space.

Activities vary throughout the summer and may include lavender bags, summer flowers, pom poms and more. Enjoy hands-on Art Cart crafts for children and watch a variety of craft and historic machinery demonstrations taking place throughout the week. 

As activities and demonstration times may vary each day, contact the museum on Tel: 02920 573070 before visiting on a specific day.

Bookable summer activities for all the family include CREU Young Makers: Family Wet Felting on July 29, August 11, 13 and 18 from 2-4pm, costing £9 per child

Get creative and discover the traditional craft of wet felting. Using colourful wool and warm soapy water, children will create their own unique felted keepsake to take home. A fun, hands-on workshop that’s perfect for young makers.

CREU Conversations: Meet the Gardener on July 30 from 10.30am-11.30am, costing £10 per person aged 18 and above. Meet Susan Martin, gardener of the museum’s Natural Dye Garden and discover how plants have been used for centuries to create a stunning range of natural colours for dyeing yarn.

Discover the fascinating links between plants, colours, textiles and traditional skills. Explore plants used in textile production, including teasels and see flax grown for spinning linen yarn.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to see last year’s flax crop being processed to release its fibres and even have a go at using the flax brake.

Johnny Lewis and Friends: Stories from Cambrian Mills on August 15 from 10.30am-3pm, which is free. Join a special day of stories, history and discovery inspired by Johnny, former owner of Cambrian Mills.

Enjoy character-led tours in Welsh and English as Johnny shares stories of life at the mill and the local woollen industry. Visitors will also have an opportunity to see a Triumph Mayflower, the type of car Johnny drove and discover more about the people, places and traditions connected to the museum’s history. 

Another character is Nansi, inspired by the people and families of the local woollen community.

To book a place at the activities, visit: https://museum.wales/wool/whatson/ .

For more information about the museum and future events, visit https://museum.wales/wool/ .