Tibetan monks from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery will be performing spectacular traditional masked dances at the Pitt Rivers and Oxford University Museum of Natural History on Saturday evening.

The monks will be taking part in the museum's third magical evening event, In a Different Light, specially designed to add a touch of enchantment to this remarkable space which houses artefacts from all over the world.

Those who are already familiar with the Pitt Rivers Museum, founded in 1884 to house the vast collection of archaeological and ethnographic objects belonging to the Lt General Pitt Rivers, will be able to imagine just how amazing this space can look when viewed by torch light.

The Tibetan monastery is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama and has now been re-established in Karnataka State, India. It has about 250 monks who share their special monastic traditions with the world through educational and cultural exchanges.

There will be music, too, from the Oxford Gamelan Orchestra and by Jali Fily Cissokho on the kora and Moses Bikishoni playing the mbira.

Other delights will include the rarely seen 1930s classic, Son of Kong - sequel to King Kong - which features pioneering animation and will be shown alongside features by young filmmakers involved in projects with the museum.

Son of Kong will not be the only film showing as there will be a series of classic silent films screened, made between 1896 and 1906 by Georges Méliès, a pioneer of science fiction and horror films. These incorporate magic tricks into films creating some of the earliest special effects in cinema.

There will also be mask-making sessions inspired by the psychedelic illustrations of the 1970s book The Butterfly Ball, by the Beatles artist Alan Aldridge, and a display of minerals and luminous scorpions.

Finally, there is In Microscope magic - Tricks of the Light, when curators will illustrate the magical behaviour of light in minerals. Under a microscope minerals and rocks show unexpectedly colourful and intriguing effects. There will also be scorpions and nocturnal insects to handle.

The whole event is free, but donations will gladly be accepted towards the work of the museum's educational departments who provide free, award-winning family-friendly services throughout the year.

In a Different Light 2007 takes place from 8pm to 11pm. Drinks and light refreshments will be available on the night.

If the museum reaches capacity during the evening visitor numbers will be restricted for health and safety reasons.