On Wednesday 31st October Jurby Transport Museum opened its doors to over 400 people all eager to celebrate a traditional Manx Hop tu Naa…with a Jurby Transport twist!
With the kind support of Year of Our Island, the Museum was able to provide the children with spooky face painting, close up magic from local magician Dan Bonett, refreshments and even a Hop tu Naa treasure hunt, the winner of which received a big bag of Hop tu Naa treats!
Children and adults were also able to hollow out their turnips thanks to expert Moot carvers John Dog and Juan Callister. Although a few of Bry Rad’s kohlrabis snuck in there was a strict no pumpkin policy and children were encouraged to take part in the Culture Vannin and IoM Post, decorated turnip competition once they had completed their design.
As well as all these Hop tu Naa treats, adults and children were also able to ‘hop on the Hop tu Naa bus’, kindly provided by Bus Vannin for the day and driven by our ghostly jester Richard Cranmer. The ghostly bus completed a short trip down Summerhill Road and Sandygate back to the Jurby Transport Museum much to the delight of the brave Hop tu Naa travellers.
At the end of the afternoon, organiser Jo Callister and Dr Chloe Woolley from Culture Vannin gathered the children - and some enthusiastic adults - to dance the traditional hop tu naa dance around the Museum as a fitting end to the days celebrations.
Everyone agreed it was a complete success with excellent feedback and it is set to become an annual event.
Jo Callister said, “The Museum is run by volunteers and relies on donations and contributions from Charitable Trusts so the £550 raised by todays event will be incredibly helpful.
It is important to celebrate our traditional Manx hop tu naa customs such as singing, dancing and turnip carving but everyone managed it and most left with hard earned blisters!
It was great that everyone fully embraced the day by dressing up in spooky costumes and once they had their faces painted by the amazing Kim Sumner they all looked brilliant!
Hopefully see you all there next year for more of the same!”
With the kind support of Year of Our Island, the Museum was able to provide the children with spooky face painting, close up magic from local magician Dan Bonett, refreshments and even a Hop tu Naa treasure hunt, the winner of which received a big bag of Hop tu Naa treats!
Children and adults were also able to hollow out their turnips thanks to expert Moot carvers John Dog and Juan Callister. Although a few of Bry Rad’s kohlrabis snuck in there was a strict no pumpkin policy and children were encouraged to take part in the Culture Vannin and IoM Post, decorated turnip competition once they had completed their design.
As well as all these Hop tu Naa treats, adults and children were also able to ‘hop on the Hop tu Naa bus’, kindly provided by Bus Vannin for the day and driven by our ghostly jester Richard Cranmer. The ghostly bus completed a short trip down Summerhill Road and Sandygate back to the Jurby Transport Museum much to the delight of the brave Hop tu Naa travellers.
At the end of the afternoon, organiser Jo Callister and Dr Chloe Woolley from Culture Vannin gathered the children - and some enthusiastic adults - to dance the traditional hop tu naa dance around the Museum as a fitting end to the days celebrations.
Everyone agreed it was a complete success with excellent feedback and it is set to become an annual event.
Jo Callister said, “The Museum is run by volunteers and relies on donations and contributions from Charitable Trusts so the £550 raised by todays event will be incredibly helpful.
It is important to celebrate our traditional Manx hop tu naa customs such as singing, dancing and turnip carving but everyone managed it and most left with hard earned blisters!
It was great that everyone fully embraced the day by dressing up in spooky costumes and once they had their faces painted by the amazing Kim Sumner they all looked brilliant!
Hopefully see you all there next year for more of the same!”
