Pirate Face Painting

Pirate Face Painting is on at the National Waterways Museum on Saturday 31 October, from 10am to 4pm. It's the grand finale of the museum's half-term pirate trail, which has been running since 24 October, so if you've been following along all week, this is the day it all comes together. The face painting is just one part of the day, and there are prizes for the best pirate costume, so it's the perfect time to bring the full outfit out.

The museum itself is worth a wander even if you're only there for the painting. It's housed in a Grade II listed Victorian grain warehouse in the heart of what was once the bustling Gloucester Docks, and the displays chart the 200-year history of the docks and the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. It sets out Britain's inland waterways through two quaysides of historic craft, interactive and hands-on displays, a specialist book and gift shop, and boat trips throughout the year. It's a proper look at the city's maritime past, and the warehouse setting fits the whole pirate theme better than a modern gallery ever could.

On the practical side, the face painting is £1 per child, and normal museum admission applies on top of that: adults £10.00, children £6.36, concessions £9.09, and a family ticket for £25.00. You'll find the museum at the Llanthony Warehouse, Gloucester Docks, Gloucester, GL1 2EH, and the painting runs from 10am to 4pm, so there's plenty of time to get sorted and then spend the rest of the day exploring the collections.