By KLTV Newsdesk – 

Visitors invited to join birthday celebrations for Eric, Ernie, Bud and Aladdin with games, crafts and live entertainment

Families, animal lovers and history enthusiasts are being invited to celebrate the National Coal Mining Museum for England’s much-loved pit ponies and resident shire horse during a special Pony Party Day this July.

Taking place on Saturday 11 July, the museum will host a birthday celebration for its four-legged favourites – Eric, Ernie, Bud and Aladdin – with a packed programme of activities, entertainment and opportunities to learn more about the important role horses played in Britain’s mining heritage.

A day packed with horse-themed fun

Visitors can enjoy a range of horse-themed activities throughout the day, including face painting, balloon entertainment, hobby horse racing, pony pedicures and birthday cake.

Families will also have the chance to discover more about the museum’s equine residents through interactive activities, expert horsekeeper talks and harness demonstrations, offering a behind-the-scenes insight into the care and training of the animals.

A special Pony Quiz will test visitors’ knowledge, while younger guests can take part in horse-themed arts and crafts and follow a dedicated horse trail around the museum.

Birthday celebrations for the museum’s four-legged stars

One of the highlights of the day will be the unveiling of a special portrait of the museum’s horses, followed by a ceremonial birthday cake cutting where visitors can join in wishing Eric, Ernie, Bud and Aladdin a very happy birthday.

Guests can also enjoy ice cream and birthday cake, while live performances from Tingley Brass Band provide a festive soundtrack throughout the celebrations.

The event aims not only to celebrate the museum’s popular resident animals but also to shine a light on the vital contribution pit ponies made to Britain’s coal mining industry.

Supporting the museum’s much-loved animals

Lynn Dunning, CEO, said: “Our beautiful ponies and shire horse are an important part of the museum, just as horses and ponies were an essential part of the nation’s mining heritage. Many of our visitors have grown up visiting them, and they return time and again to see them, making them much-loved members of our museum family.

“Pony Party Day will be a fantastic celebration, and it is also a wonderful opportunity for people to learn more about these remarkable animals and the important role they played in our history.

“We would encourage anyone who loves our ponies to consider supporting them through our adoption scheme. The scheme plays a vital role in helping us care for these beautiful animals and to continue to tell their important story.”

A celebration of history and heritage

The National Coal Mining Museum’s Pony Party Day offers visitors the chance to enjoy a fun-filled family day out while learning about an often-overlooked part of Britain’s industrial past.

Alongside the celebrations, the museum is encouraging supporters to consider joining its pony adoption scheme, which helps fund the ongoing care of Eric, Ernie, Bud and Aladdin and ensures the stories of the pit ponies continue to be shared with future generations.