Moon, Magic + Mystery
Step into a world of moonlight, mystery and the unexplained at Colchester Castle.
Join us for Moon, Magic + Mystery, a two-day festival inspired by the arrival of Luke Jerram’s spectacular Museum of the Moon installation. Across the Castle and Hollytrees Museum, explore the strange, the supernatural and the unknown through talks, readings, workshops and immersive experiences.
Whether you’re drawn to folklore, fascinated by the paranormal, or simply curious, this is a chance to experience the Castle in a completely different light.
What to expect
Build your own experience by choosing from a wide range of activities taking place throughout the day.
A programme of expert talks explore folklore, paranormal investigation, consciousness and the unexplained. Alongside these, you can book one-to-one readings, take part in hands-on workshops, browse a curated marketplace of unusual traders, experience live podcasting, and discover other activities and investigations taking place across the Castle.
From morning opening through to evening experiences, the programme is designed so you can dip in and out or plan a full day of discovery.
Tickets
Speakers + programme highlights
Expert talks | £3.50 per person
Enjoy a full programme of 30-minute expert talks exploring folklore, witchcraft, paranormal investigation, history and the unexplained. Priority seating for VIPs. For full information on individual talks, click here.
10:10am Ben Paites | Turn-skins + Lycanthropes: A History of Werewolves
10:50am Chia-Yen Oh | Past Life Regression: Discover the Wisdom Beyond This Lifetime
11:30am Bethan Briggs-Miller | Under a Welsh Moon: Myth, Magic + Folklore by Moonlight
12:10pm Gemma Garwood | The Dead Moon: An East Anglian Folk Tale
12:50pm Emma Wardall + Elly Prizeman | Lunar Trials (SOLD OUT)
1:30pm Carl Hutchinson | Paranormal Tech Through the Ages
2:10pm David Jon | Demons v Aliens: The Ancient Connection
2:50pm Naomi Ryan | Werewolves, Witches + Barrister’s Wigs: The Supernatural + the Law
3:30pm Ashley Knibb | The Royal Oak Investigations
4:10pm Chris McKinnell | The Truth Behind The Conjuring Universe
Live Podcast Recording: Eerie Essex
Meet the team behind the Eerie Essex podcast in the Castle’s historic gaol cells and share your own eerie stories and unexplained experiences as part of a special live recording.
Personal psychic readings | £20 for 20 minutes
Throughout the day, visitors can book one-to-one sessions with readers, mediums and spiritual practitioners. Whether you’re seeking psychic insight, intuitive guidance or simply a fresh perspective, these personal sessions provide dedicated time for reflection and conversation in a welcoming setting. Over-16s only.
Hands-on Workshops
A series of hands-on workshops will take place in dedicated spaces across the Castle. Explore moon magic, lunar folklore, full moon witchcraft and ritual practice, with sessions ranging from creating your own Moon Charm to working with botanicals, guided visualisation, future life regression and energy self-healing.
Traders + marketplace
Discover a curated marketplace of independent traders throughout the Castle. From crystals, artwork and handcrafted gifts to folklore-inspired wares, curiosities and wellbeing items, it’s the perfect place to uncover something unusual while exploring the event. Included with general admission.
Paranormal investigations | £25 per person
As darkness falls, join experienced paranormal investigators at some of Colchester’s most intriguing historic sites. Choose from Friday evening investigations at Hollytrees Museum and Colchester’s Natural History Museum or take part in a special after-hours investigation at Colchester Castle on Saturday evening.
Hollytrees Museum + Natural History Museum Investigation
9 October 6-8pm or 8.30-10.30pm
Colchester Castle Investigation SOLD OUT
10 October 6:30-9:30pm
Schedule
Friday 9 October | Hollytrees Museum + Natural History Museum
6pm – 8pm: Paranormal Investigation (booking required)
8:30pm – 10:30pm: Paranormal Investigation (booking required)
Saturday 10 October | Colchester Castle
10am: Doors open to the public. Browse stalls and enjoy our Museum of the Moon exhibition and the historic building surrounds. Workshops and personal readings run throughout the day (booking required, subject to availability).
10:10am – 4:40pm: A programme of 30-minute talks covering everything from medieval werewolves and Essex witch trials to paranormal investigations, past-life regression, UFOs, folklore and famous supernatural cases, presented by a fascinating range of authors, researchers and practitioners (booking required).
6:30pm – 9pm: Paranormal Investigation (sold out)
Practical Information
Location: Click for full directions to Colchester Castle and Hollytrees Museum.
Age guidance: Recommended 14+. Some activities (readings and investigations) are 16+.
Accessibility: Step-free routes are available to most, but not all spaces. For more information, visit our Access page.
Note: most workshops are seated and may include audience participation, practical activities, journalling or guided visualisations. No flashing lights are used. Some sessions may use natural room spray or gentle percussion instruments. Please contact us if you have specific access requirements when booking.
Refunds: Tickets are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled. Please read our full Terms and Conditions for more details.
Contact: Please email us for programme queries; we can be reached at the Castle at 01206 282939 for any queries regarding ticketing.
Talks
Chris McKinnell shares a firsthand account of the cases that inspired some of the most famous stories in The Conjuring universe.
As lead investigator on the Snedeker haunting and an early investigator in the Smurl case, he witnessed events that later became horror cinema. McKinnell explores the stories behind the films, separating Hollywood fiction from the experiences reported by those involved.
Criminal barrister Naomi Ryan delves into the legal history of the supernatural, with a particular focus on monsters motivated by the moon.
Discover cases of witches dancing in the moonlight, vampires stalking graveyards and even werewolves prowling Southend High Street. How does the legal system treat them? Come and see!
Chia-Yen introduces Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique (QHHT), a method that uses guided hypnosis to explore past lives and seek insight into present-day challenges.
Drawing on her experience as a practitioner, she discusses past life regression, connection with the higher self, and the role these experiences can play in personal growth and self-discovery.
The belief that humans can transform into animals has appeared in folklore and legend for thousands of years. Sometimes seen as a curse and sometimes as a power, tales of shapeshifters can be found across cultures and centuries.
From the Roman versipellis to the infamous Beast of Gévaudan, Senior Curator Ben Paites explores some of history’s most famous cases, examining the stories behind them and the possible explanations that have been offered.
Gemma Garwood of the East Anglian Folklore Centre explores The Dead Moon, a traditional East Anglian folktale rich with strange creatures, haunting landscapes and enduring themes.
Through a fresh retelling of the story, she examines its folklore, symbolism and local roots, revealing what this remarkable tale can still tell us today.
David Jon explores possible links between UFO encounters, alleged extraterrestrial contact, poltergeist activity and reports of demonic manifestations.
He also examines the controversial practice of CE5, asking whether it is an attempt at peaceful communication or something closer to a modern ritual.
Ashley Knibb presents The Royal Oak Investigations, the story of a 10-year study of a single pub and the unusual experiences reported there.
A member of the Society for Psychical Research Council and its Spontaneous Cases Committee, Knibb explores how the case shaped his development as a paranormal researcher and what it can reveal about the investigation of unexplained phenomena.
Directors of The Essex Witch Museum, Emma and Elly explore the links between the moon and the Essex witch trials. Discover beliefs surrounding lunar influence, demons and witches’ sabbaths, and examine the stories behind claims of nocturnal flight and broomstick riding.
Drawing on folklore, history and trial records, this talk sheds light on the role the moon played in fears of witchcraft and the supernatural.
SOLD OUT
Folklorist Bethan Briggs-Miller explores the moonlore of Wales, from traditions that linked the Moon to luck, love and livelihood to tales of fairies, supernatural horses and moonlit magic.
Discover why people watched the Moon’s changing phases so closely, visit legendary sites such as Arthur’s Stone, and encounter figures including Ceridwen and Arianrhod. This atmospheric talk reveals how the Moon shaped belief, folklore and daily life across Wales.
Paranormal investigator Carl Hutchinson explores haunted locations, famous cases and the technology used in modern paranormal investigations.
Drawing on his experiences investigating reportedly haunted sites around the world, he discusses the equipment investigators use, how it is applied in the field, and the role technology plays in the search for evidence of unexplained phenomena.
Eerie Essex is a folklore podcast hosted by Bethan Briggs-Miller and Ailsa Clarke.
Exploring the ghosts, legends and strange histories of the county, it uncovers an Essex of haunted landscapes, mysterious creatures and uncanny tales.
Through podcasts, live events and conversations with writers, researchers and storytellers, Eerie Essex brings folklore, local history and the unexplained to new audiences.
Workshops
The Moon has inspired magical traditions, ritual practice and spiritual belief for thousands of years. In this hands-on workshop, hereditary witch and priestess Layla Green explores lunar deities, folk magic and traditional practices associated with the Moon’s changing phases.
Participants will create a Moon Charm to take home, take part in a guided invocation, and learn a Full Moon abundance ritual that can be continued as part of their own spiritual practice.
Join local historian, folklorist and practising witch Katie Hardy, also known as East Anglian Kage, for an exploration of the folklore, traditions and customs associated with the full moon.
Drawing on historical sources and regional folklore, the workshop will explore lunar botanicals with items to take home, intention-setting and traditional magical practices, alongside practical ways to incorporate full moon workings into modern spiritual practice.
Have you ever wondered what life could look like as your future self? In this interactive workshop, Chia-Yen guides participants through a future life regression experience using hypnosis and guided visualisation.
Explore possible futures, encounter new worlds and ways of living, and discover the insights that emerge from the journey. Afterwards, there will be time for reflection, journalling and discussion with fellow participants.
Learn techniques for grounding, energetic cleansing, protection and self-healing in this practical wellbeing workshop. Through a 5D Hypnotic Reiki approach, participants will explore methods for supporting emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing and experience a guided healing session.
Drawing on more than 20 years of Reiki practice, the workshop offers an accessible introduction to energy healing and personal growth.
In partnership with Seventh Sanctum and Bethnal Archive.
