Youngsters got a sneak preview of what people can expect at an unusual tour of Norwich Castle Museum this weekend.

A host of venues around Norwich will be celebrating Museums at Night on Friday and Saturday when families will be able to experience familiar places in an entirely different light.

Norwich Castle is the focus of the largest celebration on Saturday and the free programme will include torch-lit tours of the natural history gallery.

Some youngsters had a sneak preview of those tours, which look set to be among the highlights of the event, yesterday.

The castle will also offer drawing activities and the chance to get hands on with a range of museum objects, while the evening will feature live music and performances around the historic monument. Rachel Kirk, Norwich museums manager, said: 'We're delighted to be staging a fantastic night of entertainment and discovery at Norwich Castle this year, in collaboration with the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts and the Norfolk and Norwich Festival.

'From chilling tales in the dungeons, to tours of the battlements by twilight, this is a special chance for people to explore the nooks and crannies of this fascinating building.

'Along the way there will be all kinds of activities to inspire and intrigue – sometimes in unexpected places.'

Elsewhere, people will be able to see Norwich by night from the top of the tower at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, to experience a pre-1950s letter press at the John Jarrold Print Museum, to sample Colman's mustard after hours at the Mustard Shop and Museum and to hear tales from years gone by at the Guildhall.

Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust (HEART) helped co-ordinate the event and spokeswoman Lindsey Roffe said: 'The Museums at Night weekend offers people a fantastic opportunity to see some of Norwich's leading museums and heritage buildings in a completely new light.

'It promises to be a really fun weekend and we hope it will encourage people to develop their interest in local history and the heritage on offer in the city.'

For further information on all the events visit www.heritagecity.org