Thousands enjoy Black Country Museum after-hours event

Thousands of people flocked to the Black Country Museum as it hosted its special after-hours Red by Night event.

Crowds flocked to the Black Country Museum to experience the attraction after hours

The popular attraction hosted the first of its summer evenings and welcomed more than 2,000 people to the special event on Saturday celebrating the Black Country's pivotal role in the Industrial Revolution.

The Black Country was famously described as "black by day and red by night" by Elihu Burritt in the 19th century and the Red by Night event celebrated the legacy with live entertainment, industrial demonstrations and living history.

Steampunk Magorin Pye, of Sedgley, at the Red by Night event

Visitors were able to experience the open-air museum in all its glory after the sun had set – with fire-breathing entertainers, steam engines and the Black Country Steampunk Society bringing the attraction's 26 acres to life.

The Anchor Forge also roared into action with its one-ton blow smashing mental into shape, while re-enactors used centuries-old techniques to skilfully craft chains and nails.

The atmospheric evening came as part of the Black Country Museum's Industrial Might weekend with live demonstrations and fun for all ages.

Visitors can experience the Black Country Museum after the sun sets in a special after-hours event

Guests could venture down the museum's mine after-dark and explored life on top of the mines when the Racecourse Colliery was brought back to life.

While the Black Country Steampunk Society were on hand for experience displays and demonstrations to discover more about their fascinating lifestyle.

Visitors could dress up in steampunk style, pose for pictures in the photobooth, see lifesize steampunk vehicles, and take part in a tea-duel or teapot race.

Juggling skills on display as the sun sets during the Red by Night event

Doors opened between 7pm and 10.30pm, and guests could wander through the cobbled streets, docks, houses and industrial areas, to see for themselves what it was like to live on one of Britain's most heavily industrialised landscapes – noisy, smoky and full of life.

Hannah Brown, marketing assistant at Black Country Museum, said: "The Red by Night event was really great and all the guests really enjoyed the after-hours atmosphere. The event had completely sold out, so we had around 2,200 people through the doors for it, which is the most successful one we have had to date.

Steampunks Sara Ede and Richard Ede, from Albrighton, ready for Black Country Museum's Red by Night event

"The Red by Night event marks the start of our evening events calendar which includes the Peaky Blinders evenings in June and September, and the 1940s evening in July.

"I think the guests really enjoyed themselves as it is after-hours and gives them a really unique experience – they can see all the industry and we had fire-breathers which was a bit different."

Russell Cook, from Bridgnorth, with his steam-powered vehicle at Black Country Museum

The annual Red by Night event will be following by a blacksmith experience day on May 25, family workshops on May 30 and June 1 and the return of the popular Peaky Blinders Night on June 7 and 8. For more information, visit www.bclm.co.uk/events or call 0121 557 9643.