Stratford Perth Museum to host first Halloween mask-making workshop

Hannah Bennett, marketing and media coordinator at Stratford Perth Museum, getting her mask ready for the spooky workshop this month.

Halloween comes alive at the Stratford Perth Museum when it hosts a mask-making workshop inspired by the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.

Samhain is the origin of the holiday we know today as Halloween, as explained by Hannah Bennett, marketing and media coordinator at Stratford Perth Museum. Halloween originated as an ancient Celtic festival marking a time when spirits were believed to cross into the world of the living. To protect themselves, people would wear costumes made from branches, leaves, fur and even animal heads or tusks.

Bennett said that over generations, this tradition evolved and merged with Christian practices, giving rise to customs like going door-to-door to tell stories or sing songs in exchange for treats. These combined influences helped shape the modern Halloween tradition of dressing up in costumes.

“This is the first time that the museum has hosted the workshop and my first time hosting one as well. I'm very passionate about Halloween, it’s actually my birthday,” said Bennett. “I always like to do something special for Halloween. I’ve always wanted to do something for the community and since I work there, I now have the space to do that.”

The event is set to take place at the museum on Oct. 26 from 1-4 p.m., with a cost of $10 per person. People can register their spot on the museum’s main website. 

Cardboard, hot glue and paint will be provided for participants by the museum. Bennett will be facilitating the event herself acting as guide which comes natural from her art class teaching background. She will also provide a special presentation on the history of mask making. 

“I'm really looking forward to seeing what people end up making. I want to see all the creativity and I want to see people be inspired by the history of the holiday,” said Bennett. “People can take home the masks and wear them for their Halloween costume if they choose.

“This event will give people access to the museum, if they’re painting something and they want to let it dry, they can walk around and check out the exhibits.” 

As a painter, Bennett wanted to combine her artistic skills with a spooky Halloween theme, which led her to the idea of a mask-making workshop. Designed for all ages, the event will give participants the opportunity to create their own masks while learning about their historical origins.

“I’m very excited, I have a lot of passion for all things spooky, especially horror movies. I’m looking forward to meeting my audience and if I sell out, I will probably host another event.” 

Bennett says that she mostly enjoys 80s B-movie slasher, noting some of her favorites to be Critters and Reanimator. Alongside balancing her duties at the museum, Bennett is also a professional actor partaking in productions in Toronto.