Explore Dunfermline’s Heritage Quarter with free, fun activities for children and their families in the Spring, Summer, and October Fife School Holidays, in partnership with the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum, Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries, and Historic Environment Scotland (Abbey Nave & Palace.) See below for the latest exciting theme!
‘Have Fun Getting to Know the ‘Creative Patons’ With HQ Past-Port Explorer This October!’
Update: Information on our Spring Holiday 2025 theme coming soon. Watch this space!
Children are being offered a PAST-PORT to learn about one of Dunfermline’s most creative families this Autumn. While Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries hosts a major exhibition of the work of acclaimed Victorian artist Sir Joseph Noël Paton, children and their families can take part in free activities focusing on his family in the city’s Heritage Quarter.
The fun interactive events are part of the highly successful PAST-PORT scheme which has become increasingly popular since its launch several years ago. Past themes have included ‘Famous Faces’, ‘Summer Safari’, travel through the ages, and commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Great Fife of Dunfermline. But this October will put the Paton family firmly in the frame with activities including a fairy trail and making Celtic knots, designing your own family monument, and more!
As usual, the event is being offered by the Abbey Church of Dunfermline, Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum, Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries, and Historic Environment Scotland’s Dunfermline Abbey Nave & Palace. Families can pick up a PAST-PORT from one of these four venues. By completing the activities and collecting all four stamps in their PAST-PORT, children will have free fun learning about a significant family from Dunfermline’s history and will earn a certificate. Families can take part over one day, several days, or the whole holidays.
Thousands of local children and young visitors to the historic city of Dunfermline have taken part in previous events. Parents and carers have been enthusiastic in their feedback too saying that, “it’s a brilliant way to get kids engaged with history”, “encourages us to explore locally”, and “provides a memorable experience” PAST-PORTS are FREE and can be picked up at any of the four venues.
Why not share photos of your PAST-PORT experiences on social media using the hashtags ‘#HQExplorers’ and ‘#CreativePatons’?
Opening Hours
The HQ PAST-PORT Explorer activities are available from Saturday 5th to Sunday 20th October. We encourage you to check each venue for opening hours which vary. During the October Holidays, Dunfermline Abbey is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am to 4pm (last entry at 3.15pm). Please note, the Abbey Church will be closed to visitors on Friday 11th October due to a wedding taking place.
Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum Opening Times1
Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries Home Page2
For more details, email Matt Baines, our Children’s, Youth, & Families Worker at cyf.dunfermline.abbey.church@gmail.com.
- These links will direct you to an external webpage. The Abbey Church of Dunfermline cannot take responsibility for the information on these pages. If in doubt, please contact the Museum directly. ↩︎
- These links will direct you to an external webpage. The Abbey Church of Dunfermline cannot take responsibility for the information on these pages. If in doubt, please contact the Library directly. ↩︎
