Romanfest

Romanfest

Saturday 19th July and Sunday 20th July.

11am-4pm

Museums Quarter

Free entry*

*Charges apply for the archery activity and food and drink. All other activities are free of charge.

Join us in the Museums Quarter to step back in time to life in Roman Britian in a fun filled family event weekend, the perfect way to kickstart the summer holiday

Over the weekend you can:

  • Enjoy military drills and demonstrations from the Roman soldiers of Comitatus.
  • Take in the excitement of Roman gladiator displays from the Autonomous Reenactor Collective.
  • Journey into history, myths and legends in interactive storytelling sessions exploring the Trials of Hercules and the legendary battles between Queen Boudica and the Roman Army.
  • Make your own mini Samian Ware style decorated bowl in a hands on pottery activity.
  • Craft your own Roman solider helmet or mosaic
  • Try your hand at archery for a fee of £2 per person (Only suitable for visitors from the age of 5 and above. Cash and card payments will both be accepted).
  • Watch Roman pottery demonstrations from heritage potter Graham Taylor
  • Enjoy food and drink from a selection of food stalls.

Plan your visit

To help you plan your visit, you can find a schedule of activities for the weekend and a detailed event map below to download. Printed copies of the event guide will also be available at the event.

Event Guide - Event Guide (PDF)

Performance schedule - Performance Schedule (PDF)

BSL interpreted performances

The following sessions and performances will be British Sign Language interpreted each event day.

Military Demonstrations by Comitatus 11am-11.30am and 2pm-2.30pm

Roman Gladiator Display 12.15pm-12.30pm

Roman Pottery Demonstrations 1pm-1.15pm

Roman Storytelling 1.25pm-1.45pm

Comitatus

Late Roman soldiers of Comitatus will be taking Hull and East Riding Museum back to AD 400 this July. The old Empire is crumbling, and the Germanic and Pictish raiders need to be repelled. From the old Legions have developed a new breed of soldier. Come and meet these new legionaries, the Praesidiensis, as they prepare to guard Roman Britainnia.

They will put on displays of formation and arms drill, demonstrating not only the use of spears, swords and axes, but also missile weapons such as the ballista, bow, javelin, darts and throwing axe. Many different types of arms and armour will be on display. The conditions of service in the Late Roman army will be explained, their recruitment, pay, rations, promotions and their hopes for the future

People dressed as romans

ARC - Autonomous Reenactor Collective

Explore and find out more about broader aspects of Roman life as ARC showcase interpretations from Roman history including food recipes, civilian life, equestrian equipment, military arms and armour and gladiatorial equipment

A person doing a pottery display

Join heritage potter Graham Taylor to learn about pottery in the Roman period and watch demonstrations on how it was made.

A person telling a story

Watch out for the travelling storyteller and his Story Cart, he’ll be bringing his cart full of tales to the Museum Quarter with stories of the ‘Labours of the Demi-God Hercules’, and the fight of ‘Boudica and the Armies of Rome’ both myth and legend involve battles of epic proportions and brutal violence, from an immortal man and a powerful warrior queen.

Test

Romanfest - Relaxed (SEND) Family Craft session

Free but booking essential. 
Saturday 19 July, 10am and Sunday 20 July, 10am

We will be running a prebookable relaxed craft session early on each event day, designed for children and young people who have a disability, are neurodivergent or experience anxiety. In the workshop, children can have a go at the pottery craft and the Roman soldier helmet and mosaic craft but in a quieter setting  with limited numbers.

You can book tickets for the relaxed family craft workshops here: www.hullmuseums.co.uk/museum-events/romanfest-relaxed-send-family-craft-session

Access Information

You can download an accessible guide to the event including details of quieter activities and spaces at the event, accessible toilets, the nearest Changing Places toilets, and BSL interpreted performances here, as well as an accessible map of High Street.

Accessible event guide - Access Guide (PDF)

Accessible Map of High Street - Route Map (PDF)

More access information about our museums and garden can be found here www.hullmuseums.co.uk/venues

A young boy playing with archery

‘Have a go’ Archery

Join the Bourne Retinue or Archers to try your hand at archery.

£2 for 4 arrows. Suitable for ages 5+ years.

Two children taking part in a craft activity

Craft activities

Make an mini Samian Ware bowl

Roman solider helmet and mosaics craft