Even the sky joins in Black Country Living Museum's Red By Night event - with pictures and video
It was a red sky at night as as the Black Country Living Museum stayed open after hours for its annual Red By Night event.
The industrial roots of the Black Country were stoked up again for the annual event which drew in more than a thousand people.
Hammers clanged and sparks flew as visitors to the Black Country Living Museum stepped back more than 100 years in time.
As part of the European annual Museums at Night festival, the museum opened its doors on Saturday, recreating a scene from history with dozens of skilled demonstrators.
Craftsmen, a brass quartet and Victorian shopkeepers were among the line-up along the cobbled streets of the outdoor museum.
And, suitably, the sky turned red at one point to match American Consul to Birmingham, Elihu Burritt's description of the region in 1862, when he said it was 'black by day and red by night'. this was due to the furnaces giving out smoke and grime during the day and then glowing at night.
Andrew Lovett, director and chief executive at Black Country Living Museum, said: "It iss the first of our evening events and we're doing many more all the time but this is our first one of the year.
"There's 1,600 people here tonight and it's something very different from normal.
"It's one of the nicest examples where we bring the museum and people to life. It's not a traditional museum, we show things, demonstrate things and create experience coming into here. Wherever you are from the museum has almost a magnet pull for people and the area which makes it distinctive. People come back. I do meet and try to talk to a lot of visitors.
"Opening the museum at night creates an emotional response with visitors and that's what they like. It's been a great success and it's lovely so many people have turned up."
Gareth Poole, from Codsall, said: "The kids love it here. It's a great experience for them and it's nice to see them enjoy themselves and learn about the history. It's nice that the rain has stopped too and so many people have turned up."
Caroline Smith, from Smethwick, said: "I love the museum. I've been coming here since I was a little girl and I can't get enough of it. It's always special to come at night."
