What's On for Kids in North East England | October 2018 (including half term)

This guide is written in advance - please remember that changes can be made and to always double-check details before heading out. Some of the events mentioned require pre-booking.




On-going events throughout October 

• Durham Book Festival (6-14 October) - find out more here
• North Tyneside Ghost Train  - find out more here
• The Fallen Forest (Make & Do) at Woodhorn (weekends and school holidays from 27 October) - find out more here
• Coal Forest at Woodhorn (from 27 October) - find out more here
• Sunderland Illuminations (from 18 October) - find out more here 
• Scarecrow making at Cragside (weekends in October ) - find out more here

Why not try one of these family days out? 

• 10 Halloween events for older kids
• Visiting the Holy Island of Lindisfarne 
• 10 North East Family Walks with Play Parks and Cafes nearby
• 13 pushchair-friendly walks around North East England
• 11 Woodland walks to try in Autumn
• FREE Derwent Waterside Park Nature Trail 
• Exploring North and South Shields using Public Transport 

Family Theatre in October 

• 2 - 6 October - Romeo and Juliet at People's Theatre - find out more here
• 2-7 October - Disney on Ice presents Dream Big at Metro Radio Arena - find out more here
• 3-5 October - The Snail and the Whale at Northern Stage - find out more here
• 3 October - Gulliver Returns at Northern Stage - find out more here
• 9 - 13 October - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at Phoenix Theatre Blyth - find out more here
• 11 - 13 October - Stick Man at Tyne Theatre - find out more here
• 13 October - The War of the Worlds by Northern Stage at Jarrow Hall - find out more here
• 13 October - Seeing is not believing at Washington Arts Centre - find out more here
• 17 October - Tabby McTat at Gala Theatre Durham - find out more here
• 18 October - War of the Worlds by Northern Stage at Phoenix Theatre Blyth - find out mroe here
• 21 October - Monstersaurus! at Whitley Bay Playhouse - find out more here
• 22 - 24 October - Egg & Spoon at Northern Stage - find out more here
• 22 - 24 October - Dinosaur Live at Northern Stage - find out more here
• 24 October - Jungle Book at Gateshead Central Library - find out more here
• 24 October - Hocus Panto at Customs House - find out more here
• 26 October - Tom Thumb at Customs House - find out more here
• 30 - 31 October - Fagan's Twist at Northern Stage - find out more here 

Are you looking ahead to Christmas? Check out this post featuring 25+ Christmas Shows and Pantomimes across North East England. 

6 & 7 October 

• 6 & 7 October - Morpeth Food and Drink Festival - find out more here
• 6 & 7 October - LEGO Show at Discovery Museum - find out more here
• 6 & 7 October - Apple Weekend at Gibside - find out more here
• 6 October - Age-friendly museum day at Segedunum - find out more here
• 6 October - Rebel Kids and Mini Manifesto at Gala Theatre Studio - find out more here
• 6 October - Scribbles and Sketches at Great North Museum (FREE) - find out more here
• 7 October - Grandparents Day at Whitehouse Farm - find out more here
• 7 October - Magical Creatures with Liz Flanigan at Seven Stories - find out more here
• 7 October - Stargazing at St Mary's Lighthouse (FREE) - find out more here
• 7 October - Make a bug house at Seaton Delaval Hall - find out more here

13 & 14 October

• 13 & 14 October - What Can You See Deep in the Sea at Seven Stories - find out more here
• 13 & 14 October - Run it weekend at Tanfield Railway - find out more here
• 13 October - Print the Angel #Angel20 at Gateshead Central Library (pay as you feel) - find out more here
• 13 October - Cog Railway at Beamish - find out more here
• 13 October - Catherine Rayner Storytime at The Biscuit Factory - find out more here
• 13 October -  Scribbles and Sketches at Great North Museum (FREE) - find out more here
• 14 October - MG Sports Car Display at Alnwick Castle - find out more here
• 14 October - Nature Crafts at Ormesby Hall - find out more here
• 14 October - Autumn Leaf Wreath Making at Seaton Delaval Hall - find out more here

20 & 21 October 

• 20 October - A Stange New Space at Seven Stories - find out more here 
• 20 October -  Scribbles and Sketches at Great North Museum (FREE) - find out more here
• 21 October - I'm Not Scared Party at Seven Stories - find out more here
• 21 October - Awesome Airships at Life Science Centre - find out more here
• 21 October - Drive in Cinema (The Goonies) at Bents Park - find out more here
• 21 October - Rusty Bodkins Medieval Archer at Bamburgh Castle - find out more here
• 21 October - Stained Glass Window Making at Seaton Delaval Hall - find out more here

27 & 28 October 

• 27 & 28 October - Coal Forest Launch at Woodhorn - find out more here
• 27 & 28 October - Ghost Trains at Aln Valley Railway - find out more here
• 27 & 28 October - Tanfield Ghost Train - find out more here
• 27 & 28 October - Halloween Specials at Stephenson Railway - find out more here
• 27 & 28 October - The Big Trick or Treat at intu Eldon Square (FREE) - find out more here
• 27 October - Delaval Dash at Seaton Delaval Hall - find out more here
• 27 October - Toddle Truck Tours at Great North Museum (FREE) - find out more here
• 27 October - Animal Yoga at Great North Museum (FREE) - find out more here
• 27 October -  I'm Not Scared Party at Seven Stories - find out more here
• 27 October - Walk on the Dark Side at Seven Stories - find out more here
• 27 October - Pumpkin Carving at Souter Lighthouse - find out more here
• 27 October - Stargazing at Cragside - find out more here
• 27 October - Family Circus Day at Discovery Museum (FREE) - find out more here
• 27 October - Zombie Night Run at Souter Lighthouse - find out more here
• 27 October - The Storyteller at Northern Stage - find out more here
• 27 October - Walk of Fear with Metro Radio and Cash for Kids - find out more here
• 28 October - Halloween Sand Art at Rising Sun Country Park - find out more here
• 28 October - Spooky Tile Painting at Bamburgh Castle - find out more here
• 28 October - Clay Shapes at Seaton Delaval Hall - find out more here
• 28 October - Crook Hall's Little Horrors - find out more here
• 28 October - Villains Ball at Customs House - find out more here

Half Term 

• 20 - 31 October - Pumpkin Festival at Adventure Valley - find out more here 
• 20 - 28 October - Halloween at Alnwick Castle - find out more here
• 20 - 28 October - Pumpkin Carving at Heighley Gate Garden Centre - find out more here
• 20 October - 2 November - Halloween at Whitehouse Farm - find out more here
• 20 October - 4 November - Spellbinding Science October Half Term at Life Science Centre - find out more here
• 20 October - 4 November - Spooky Spotter's Trail at Wallington - find out more here
• 20 October - 4 November - Halloween Pumpkin Trail at Gibside - find out more here

• 21 October - 4 November - Ormesby by Candlelight - find out more here
• 22 - 26 October - Halloween Evenings at Beamish - find out more here
• 22 - 28 October - Halloween Half Term at Washington Old Hall - find out more here
• 22 - 28 October - Medieval Alchemist at Alnwick Castle - find out more here
• 23 October - Teenage Gateshead Youth Theatre re-launch (FREE) - find out more here
• 23 October - Teddy Bear Crafts at South Shields Museum (FREE) - find out more here
• 23 October - Circus Skills Workshop at Discovery Museum  - find out more here 
• 23 October - Walk on the Dark Side at Seven Stories - find out more here
• 24 October -  I'm Not Scared Party at Seven Stories - find out more here
• 25 October - Spooky Halloween Day at Bowes Museum - find out more here
• 25 October - Make a Clay Animal at Shipley Art Gallery - find out more here
• 26 October - Halloween Afternoon Tea at Whitehouse Farm - find out more here
• 26 October - Spooky Science at South Shields Museum - find out more here

• 27 October - 4 November - Halloween Half Term at Seaton Delaval Hall - find out more here
• 27 October - 4 November - Pumpkin Carving at Gosforth Garden Centre - find out more here
• 27 October - 4 November - Spooky Half Term at Belsay Hall - find out more here
• 27 October - 4 November - Haunted Hall and Ghost Stories at Belsay Hall - find out more here
• 27 October - 4 November - Spooky Half Term at Warkworth Castle - find out more here
• 27 October - 4 November - Pumpkin Trail at Woodhorn - find out more here
• 27 October - 4 November - Play + Invent at Discovery Museum - find out more here
• 27 October - 4 November - Rotten Romans at Chesters Roman Fort - find out more here
• 27 October - 31 October - Halloween at Alnwick Garden - find out more here

• 28 - 31 October - Halloween Afternoon Tea at Crook Hall - find out more here
• 29 October - Mythical Mask Making at Segedunum - find out more here
• 29 October - Den Building at Rising Sun Country Park - find out more here
• 30 October - What do you want to be when you grow up at Great North Museum (FREE) - find out more here
• 30 October - Circus Skills Workshop at Discovery Museum - find out more here
• 30 October - Bikeability Bike Safety (ages 9-14) at Asda Benton - find out more here

• 31 October - Halloween Fancy Dress Party at The Bowes Museum - find out more here
• 31 October - Halloween Spooky Walk at Preston Park - find out more here
• 31 October - Birds of Prey at Woodhorn - find out more here
• 31 October - Ghost Stories at Woodhorn - find out more here
• 31 October - Spooky Night at Discovery Museum - find out more here
• 31 October - Marvel at our Mysterious World at Great North Museum (FREE) - find out more here

• 31 October - Bug Hotel Building at Rising Sun Country Park - find out more here
• 31 October -  I'm Not Scared Party at Seven Stories - find out more here

• 1 November - Animal Handling at Great North Museum (FREE) - find out more here
• 1 November - Make a Clay Animal at Shipley Art Gallery - find out more here

Need more inspiration? 

Why not search the #NorthEastFamilyFun hashtag on Instagram? There are over 800 photos of days out across North East England.

Don't forget to join my 'North East Days Out Reviews and Recommendations' Facebook group. It's a fab place to share and ask for recommendations for places to visit.