When museums come to life, history will come out to play.
Talana Museum will be a veritable hive of historic activity this weekend October 17 to 19, as the Talana Live Weekend gets into full swing.
It’s a weekend of ghosts, battle re-enactments, historical tours and talks, a “Wheels Thru Time” Car Show, the SA Irish Pipes and Drums Band as well as the exciting Night at the Museum on Friday evening.
On Friday night, starting at 6pm to 8.30pm, Night at the Museum is not for the faint hearted. It is time, to find out if the ghosts of Talana really do walk after dark. There will also be a talk by Paul Garner, a tour guide with many years of experience who has a special interest in Anglo-Zulu War Battlefields. Food and refreshments will be available.
The programme for Saturday, October 18 will be as follows:
10am – Parade of SA Irish Pipes and Drums Band will march through central Dundee.
From 10.30am at the museum there will be a full programme of various events. Food court with wide variety of foods.
2.30pm – Battle of Talana re-enactment by the Dundee Diehards.
4pm – Attack on the train and capture of Winston Churchill, where the Newcastle Advertiser’s own Kyle Cowan will be playing the part of Winston Churchill.
There will be Red Coat soldier demonstrations, dancing, pipe band performances, a chess tournament, traditional children’s games, crafts, and the First Aid tent manned
by doctors who will be offering a free service to test you blood sugar levels and blood pressure.
The programme for Sunday, October 19:
6.30am – Tour will depart from Ingudlane Lodge parking. From Lennox Hill overlooking the Talana Battlefield where Kevin Burge will recount the story of the battle from 115 years ago. Ingudlane Lodge will also be serving a buffet breakfast. Please book in advance 082 8797734.
9:30am – Meet Pam McFadden in front of the War Memorial in Victoria Street to walk the central Dundee Heritage trail and hear stories about the town from days gone
by. Wreaths, accompanied by a piper, will be laid at Penn Symons’s grave in the Anglican churchyard and at the Boer Memorial at the Dutch Reformed Church.
11:30am – Meet at Talana Museum for departure on a tour with a difference. Visits to Thornley (Boer headquarters during battle of Talana), Adelaide farm ( skirmish site between Boers and 18th Hussars) and then on to the hills to view newly discovered fortifications. The museum is still trying to identify who built and occupied them. Bookings for the tours can be done on Saturday at the information tent.
For more information Contact Talana Museum 034 -2122654 on or email to info@talana.co.za. Visit www.talana.co.za for the full programme and
ticket prices.
Tickets for the whole weekend R50 per adult and R20 per scholar. Daily tickets will also be available at the entrance.
