FINISHING touches are being made to the new £4.3million Experience Barnsley museum which opens its doors next week.
The new attraction, which spans two floors of Barnsley’s distinctive Town Hall, opens on June 27 with a colourful public celebration at 2pm.
The Town Hall building will be swathed in a giant ribbon which members of the public will be invited to ceremonially cut to open their museum.
Thousands of visitors are expected to pack the new square outside the Town Hall which will have a free children’s carousel, musical entertainment and attractions to represent Barnsley throughout the ages, from an animatronic dinosaur to giant stilt walking sportsmen.
Mayor Ken Richardson will be on hand to introduce Barnsley-born Capital FM presenter Simon Hirst, who will be delivering the countdown to the 2pm opening.
The museum and galleries will then be open seven days a week and admission is free.
"Experience Barnsley will be great fun for the whole family," said Cllr Steve Houghton. "Whether you’re interested in football, fashion, our industrial story or how our stone-age ancestors lived, there will be something for everyone."
Experience Barnsley is supported by just over £2.6million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.
Will you be heading down on the 27th?
