Join us for a day of free fun for families, including storytelling, crafts and object encounters.
Get to know birds, beasts and beasties of all kinds at the National Museum of Scotland this October half term.
Settle in for a story with our friends from the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, get creative at our craft tables, or get up close to some of the incredible animals in our collections.
Activities on the day
Sign up for storytelling sessions on the day at the Family Storytelling Day desk in the Grand Gallery.
Into the Woods
Session times: 11:00 - 11:30 and 12:00 - 12:30
Venture into the woods with storyteller Claire McNicol. Hear about woodlands and forests and the birds and beasts who live among the trees.
Under the Sea
Session times: 13:00 - 13:30 and 14:00 - 14:30
Dive under the sea with storyteller Janis Mackay. Enjoy stories about real and mythical sea creatures in tales of tides, weather and waves.
Story Safari
Session times: 14:15 - 15:00 and 15:15 - 16:00
Go wild with Macastory on a Safari Walk around the museum. What will you discover?
Tales of the Wee Folk
Session times: 11:45 - 12:15 and 12:45 - 13:15
Location: Seminar Room, Level 4
Meet the wee-est of the Wee Folk with storyteller Gauri Raje and director Patrick Chadwick. See magical footage of the animals and insects who have lived here for millions of years.
This session will take place in the Seminar Room. The lift to this level is currently out of order. The space can only be accessed by stairs. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Our storytellers
Claire McNicol
Claire is an experienced storyteller and singer from Ulster. Through storytelling, she works to build confidence in children’s creative abilities to sing, dance, play and tell stories.
Janis Mackay
Janis Mackay has been a professional storyteller for over 20 years, with a particular interest in the Scottish oral storytelling tradition.
Macastory
Ron Fairweather and Fergus McNicol have worked together as Macastory since 2003, delivering storytelling sessions in schools, libraries, and festivals all around Scotland.
Gauri Raje
Born in India, Gauri Raje is a storyteller who works with people from multilingual, multicultural and disadvantaged backgrounds. She is fascinated by the power of myths and stories to hold community memories.
Patrick Chadwick
British-French director, cinematographer and editor, Patrick Chadwick has won multiple awards for his directing work. His work focuses on themes such as the climate crisis, connection to place and environmental activism.
Accessibility and facilities
We want everyone who comes to our museums to enjoy their time with us and make the most of their visit.
Visit our accessibility page for general access information for the National Museum of Scotland.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about this event, get in touch by:
- Email: publicevents@nms.ac.uk
In partnership with
You might also like
- Events
Words of the Wild: Changing Seasons
Sat 24 Oct, 15:00 - 16:00Discover the interconnectedness of ecology and storytelling with the Scottish Wildlife Trust and storyteller David Hughes.Free - Events
Music at the Museum
Tues 27 Oct – Tues 2 Mar, 11:30 – 12:15 and 13:30 – 14:15.Join us for free live music performances, featuring folk, classical, traditional Scottish, and modern fusion styles.Free - Events
Find Out Fridays
14 Aug 2026 – 19 Mar 2027, Friday afternoon during term time 13:30 – 16:00Drop-in Friday fun for families of all ages.Free