From small-scale gatherings of 30 to 40 people to thousands exploring across Bath, Oxford and Newcastle, Museums at Night delivered a very special experience. Here is a sample of what has come in so far – and don’t forget to send us your own account and pictures.

The Late Show in Newcastle led the field in terms of scope and participation – an estimated 11,000 took part in the city-wide celebrations. Congratulations to all involved; the special display at the Angel of the North looked fantastic.

In Bath, more people also came out to enjoy the choice of events including the American Museum’s Applejacks dancing in Queen’s square; Wallace and Gromit starred in a film show here as in Newcastle. In Oxford, it was the fourth in the series of magical evening events at the Pitt Rivers Museum that have proved highly popular. The Oxford University Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers extended the length of this year’s event to ease overcrowding.

Live music and dance performances were complemented by a choice of silent movies. Taster sessions on the gamelan, mask-making, handling opportunities with rocks, minerals and live bugs and, once again, the Pitt Rivers by torchlight proved an unbeatable combination.

At the Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate, theatrical fun was based around the Wrong Trousers theme in what was once a Georgian Theatre. Only space limited the numbers taking part; some making their own 'trousers', others came already dressed up for the event.

In Northampton Museum and Art Gallery a murder mystery brought a special twist to their Museum at Night, set in the heart of its collection of Venetian art. “We wanted to use the museum as a social space to get people talking to each other and having a good time,” said Debra Cox from the museum.

This event and several others in the East Midlands were covered by student writers Philippa Davies, Salma Conway and Jo Shimwell for the 24 Hour Museum as part of a special Renaissance grant

Everyone had a good time at the Museum of Lancashire on the Friday of the Museums at Night Weekend. Shaun the Sheep and Wallace and Gromit provided the highlights, with a craft workshop and quiz. At The Beacon, Whitehaven, the evening started with children being taken around the museum in search of the diamond thief (the Education Officer in disguise). After this they watched Wallace and Gromit's The Wrong Trousers in the Harbour Gallery.

At Wollaton Hall, the Willoughby Room was transformed into a cinema and Wallace and Gromit and a selection of Shaun the Sheep short films were screened. Afterwards there was a fancy dress disco in the Great Hall.

At the Montrose Museum the film was shown 6 times throughout the day with various episodes of Shaun the Sheep in between. A special Wrong Trousers Quiz proved very popular, encouraging people to look around the whole museum for clues and answers hidden within the collections and object descriptions. The final object they had to find was 'The Wrong Trousers Diamond'! The museum staff wore 'wrong trousers', much to the amusement of visitors!

Mary Smedley is manager of Strutt’s North Mill in Belper, who organised with the mill volunteers an evening of music and stories, as well as an official screening of the Wallace and Gromit 'A Close Shave', starring Shaun the Sheep. Shaun rather sheepishly put in an appearance on the night, as did singer and storyteller Pete Castle and the singing group Rough Truffles.

The mill was packed with visitors for the event: Mary added: “It was a lot of fun for all of us, and showed what a variety of entertainment we can put on in the limited space we have.”

In London, the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising, the Royal Observatory, Greenwich and the London Metropolitan Archives were fully booked for their shows.