In honour of the impending Halloween, MOTAT invited in the past, who came in with a vengeance. This year’s Olde Hallows Eve celebration was themed the Danse Macabre, the Dance of Death: no matter one’s station in life, the Dance of Death unites all.
Despite its theme, Danse Macabre was a family-friendly event with a variety of theme-related activities and opportunities spread throughout the museum while nearly all of the daily exhibits were closed. Images projected on walls told stories, the steam engine was operating, there was face painting and a stage filled with family-friendly fun. A few activities like “Jack the Ripper’s House” did have age restrictions, while another had parental warnings.
Best seen in photos, starting with the themed Danse Macabre:







And, there were the more eerie areas, often with parental warnings or even R13 restrictions.



One of my favourite things about the Danse Macabre is the creativity of some of the attendees.

This is my second year attending Old Hallows Eve. A Twisted Victorian Tale was last year’s theme.
MOTAT is (Auckland’s Museum of Transport and Technology) in Western Springs at 805 Great North Road in Auckland, New Zealand. Also, part of the museum’s regular daytime activities is the Aviation Display Hall at 190/200-208 Meola Road, Pt Chevalier.
Christmas and Matariki are also celebrated in the evenings at MOTAT.
My Final Thoughts on Danse Macabre:
MOTAT does a fantastic job on Olde Hallows Eve. It is well planned out, the attention to detail is its reason for success. If you haven’t been to it before, put it on your calendar for next year. Participant or spectator, it’s good fun with something for everyone. The actors (employees) are focused. They do an impressive job of both staying in character, and paying attention to their audience, speaking to adults like adults and toning it down for children. (Although it was always clean language.). Danse Macabre seems a perfect theme for this pre-Halloween event.
Did you attend the Danse Macabre at MOTAT this year? Did you get inspired for a costume? Will I see you at MOTAT next year for Halloween?
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Disclaimer: I was a guest of MOTAT, however, the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
For some reason, I was surprised to see photos of people actually dancing at Danse Macabre. I like the Victorian doctor and nurse story, and I’d be too scared to enter the house of Jack the Ripper. It’s good of them to let people raise their hand to stop the scene. Looks like a fun time!
Rhonda Albom
The girl above dancing in the Danse Macabre is my daughter.
Julie Kemp Pick
They really did do a fabulous job on the costumes and the makeup! Even though you didn’t dress up, it was a great photo of you and hubby. Rhonda, you look especially svelte!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Julie, I am feeling pretty good too.
Stan at NewToReno.com
Those folks really get into the Halloween thing. Looks like lots of creepy fun.
Rhonda Albom
Parts were creepy, other parts were family friendly.
Rhonda Albom
I agree! The make up artists and the actors really made this event so great. The talent was inspiring.
Rhonda Albom
It was a week before Halloween, but it had a definite macabre theme.
Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk)
Aww everyone looks lovely err scary I mean haha. Lovely photos. We dont celebrate Holloween where I am so I am jealous! Thanks for sharing =)
Rhonda Albom
We have been in New Zealand for 12 years, and Halloween has only really come into favor in the past few. Day of the Dead (1 Nov) seems to be a bigger holiday.
Travelera
Great pics! I love all the Halloween face makeup in the photos <3
xxx
Rhonda Albom
Pretty amazing how much planning and work goes into the costumes and make up.
Claire
Oh wow, great pictures, very scary 🙂
Rhonda Albom
It was really a family friendly event, I may have focused a bit too much on the scary aspect here.
Indah Nuria Savitri
that make up is super! Really inspiring…and I am thinking of doing it this year 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Face paint can be quite elaborate. Please share a photo of your final results.
Kristi
Amazing make-up and costumes! Excellent photos. This really puts me in the Halloween spirit!
Rhonda Albom
Great. What will you be this year?
Indrani
A perfect post for the festival. 😀
Rhonda Albom
Thanks. Hope to see you there next year 🙂
Jen
What an amazing set of photos! That looks like an incredible event. I’m not the biggest fan of Halloween – I don’t like getting dressed up and I don’t like being scared – but this looks like a great time.
I host a Photo Friday link-up each week – I’d love it if you considered joining us!
Rhonda Albom
The cool thing about this event is that you didn’t need to dress up, and you could just do the purely family friendly activities and avoid being scared.
Amila @ Leisure and Me
Their costumes and make up are really good.Look creepy,but seems all of you had a great time…
Rhonda Albom
We did have a great time. 🙂
Paul F. Pietrangelo
What wonderful fun for all. You looked eerie but gorgeous. Ha,ha,ha. I wish my town had something like this so that I could take place in it. See ya Rhonda.
Cruisin Paul
Rhonda Albom
If I look eerie, it’s the photographer, I wasn’t dressed up. I like the gorgeous part though 🙂
Molly
I love all their face paints, I am big fan of the macabre and sinister
Mollyxxx
Rhonda Albom
This is the perfect place for you! See you there Halloween 2016!
rajlakshmi
loved the make up and the intense zombie look 😀
Rhonda Albom
The actors carried it off with body language as well. It was really well done.
Michelle C
Hi Rhonda,
The MOTAT thing looks really well done if you like that sort of thing. Personally I would love to have made the lolly Pops. I know why Dawali was early this year, Venue had already been booked/promised for another event- it was in the herald as the organisors were not happy., perhaps the same thing happened at MOTAT as you would think friday night would be better or perhaps because a lot of the staff are volunteers it was inconvenient for work arrangements.
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Michelle. I had a researched and found a couple of articles on the Diwali date, but I only saw the unhappiness, and opted to leave it out of my article. This is really interesting, thanks for adding it. For MOTAT, I am thinking maybe they selected Labour weekend, but I don’t know.
Joyce
This looks like a fun event, and you took some wonderful photos. I can see your weight loss. Keep up the good work!
Rhonda Albom
Thank Joyce. I still have 16 pounds to go, and then I will still weigh more than when we were roommates and thought we were fat. Funny how perspective changes over the years.
[email protected] LOOSELEAFNOTES
I’m just a little creeped out but I LOVE the glow in the dark wigs.
Rhonda Albom
Sorry, maybe next year I will do two posts, and keep one only family friendly.
Margy
That’s some interesting makeup. Sounds like an interesting evening. – Margy
Rhonda Albom
Interesting is a good word for it, and enjoyable.
Alissa Apel
What a fun spooky time. I can’t wait until Friday. That’s when my work goes crazy, and everyone dresses up. At an art school it’s always pretty interesting. I bet you guys had a lot of fun at your party.
Rhonda Albom
I hope you take photos and share the with us.
[email protected]
Gosh that is very creepy, you probably won’t be seeing me there.
Rhonda Albom
You can stick to the family friendly activities.
Driller"s Place
Wow, that is some serious make up. Very well done and very nicely captured. Happy Halloween.
Rhonda Albom
It was pretty impressive make up. People really took the time to make it amazing.
Comedy Plus
I’m not a fan of Halloween so none of this appeals to me. I know it does to many and that’s awesome.
Have a fabulous day. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
It’s a much smaller holiday here in New Zealand than it was in the states.
Robyn Engel
The make-up is fantastic and sent chills up my spine.
Have a great, safe Halloween-time, Rhonda.
Rhonda Albom
I hope the artists sees your comment, I would image they would like that reaction.
Patrick Weseman
Great photos. Looks like a very cool event.
I will follow you on Instagram
Rhonda Albom
It was a very cool event.
Karren
Sometimes the makup and scary characters still give me nightmares. But they did a great job!
Rhonda Albom
I hope there are only good dreams ahead.
Birgitta
Very creepy.
Rhonda Albom
I have added more family friendly photos since your comment.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Some great costumes! Creepy the cow tongue was real.
And like the touch of her following you with two coconuts.
Rhonda Albom
Yes, the real cow tongue and pigs head even freaked me out a bit. (and if they weren’t real, they are super realistic looking). As for the coconuts, it was just a lot of fun.
Anda
Halloween is a sort of creepy holiday, don’t you think? All those gruesome looking people running around dressed like the characters in a horror movie… I’d be really scared to be around them. Seriously! We have some festivities here in Los Angeles too, but nothing as fancy as the Dance Macabre at MOTAT.
Rhonda Albom
Yes, I think creepy is the idea of the holiday, but all done under the umbrella of “creepy fun”.
Nancy
Very creepy~
Rhonda Albom
How it wasn’t too creepy for you. I have added more family friendly photos.
stevebethere
Oh! what fun the make up is really effective heheh! I don’t blame you for opting out with the tongue LOL
Have a creepytastic week 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Actually, I did touch the tongue.