What's On This Weekend - What's on in the North East for families
I have been doing a weekly what's on guide for a while now and it always proves popular with our readers. I have now decided to turn it into a weekly blog post, so it is easier for you to find and come back to when stuck for ideas. To find out What's on in the North East for families read on.
I will just update this post every week, so save it to come back to.
Make sure you check the details and booking info. Click on the GOLD links to find out more
If you have a family friendly event that you would like us to include in our guides please click HERE
For more great ideas, check us out on Facebook, Instagram
You can also advertise your business every Friday for free in our very popular Facebook Group. HERE
*This post contains ADs*
You can find some ideas HERE for indoor options.
Scroll to the bottom of this post for even more ideas
AGLOW at Auckland Castle should be on everyone's to do list this Christmas!
(ad)We were invited to the preview night for Auckland Castle's spectacular new light trail. We absolutely loved it. It was fantastic!
What you can expect.
🎄'O CHRISTMAS TREE'
Absolutely huge Christmas tree, the biggest in the North of England, standing at 30 metres tall with over 750 metres of fairy lights.
🎄TUNNEL OF LOVE
The longest outdoor light tunnel in the country, over 100 metres long. It is mesmerising.
🎄SON ET LUMIÈRE
A captivating light show projected onto Auckland Castle. We absolutely loved this segment. Make sure you stay to see most of it. The little mice are adorable.
🎄PLAYING WITH FIRE
If you need warming up you will love the illuminations with real fire.
🎄DANCING FOUNTAINS
The river is absolutely stunning with a fountain.
🎄SANTA'S VILLAGE
See Santa and his mischievous Elves in Santa's village we thought the Santa was amazing and the elves were very entertaining! Younger kids will love this bit. You can also find the fairground rides, food and drink and some seating along with fire pits to keep warm.
Find out more in our Review post HERE
Chirstmas Days at Beamish Museum!
Running until the 24th December you can soak up the festive atmosphere and discover the delights of Christmas in the 1820s, early 1900s, 1940s and 1950s.
There will be delightful decorations, festive food, merry music and Christmas crafts.
As you walk around the museum, keep an eye out for the elves who have escaped from Elf Wood, grab a copy of the free Elf Trail from the Entrance or the museum’s website and see if you can find all the elves.
NEW FOR 2023! Help the museum celebrate Christmas in the 1950s aged mineworkers’ homes, council houses and police houses for the first time!
Christmas at Beamish daytimes are included in admission and are free to Unlimited Pass holders and Friends of Beamish members, pay once and visit free of charge for a year, including all daytime events. Christmas evenings is completely sold out now. You must book a visit to see santa in advance.
Beamish is open daily from 10am to 4pm (last admission 3pm, closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day).
Nightfall
Stellar Projects presents: Nightfall 2023: Play Among the Stars!
Come out and play with the stars in Stewart Park, Middlesbrough after dark from Wednesday 29 November – Sunday 3 December.
#Nightfall23 tickets are on sale NOW
Nightfall stargazers near & far, you’re invited on an adventure as magical as a shooting star.
Get ready for a galaxy playground descending from the Middlesbrough night sky, full of hopeful stars bursting to play, dance & fly. And across five nights, a cosmic event for all the family will unfold, revealing enchanting twinkling, shimmering stars and their story untold.
#Nightfall23 will take visitors through Stewart Park in Middlesbrough following a trail of colourful light artworks and performance transforming the familiar landscape and features of the park!
At the end of the trail there will be drop-in workshops for families and live music where you can stay for a while and enjoy some warming food and refreshments.
Tickets are £14.50 per adult & £9.50 per child. Under twos are free - but they still need a ticket.
Saturday 2nd
Elmer Rainbow Trail - Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Plotters Forest Trail - Raby Castle
Walking with Ghosts Tour - Durham
Weardale Community Choir - Consett
Free Christmas Family Funday - Belmont Industrial Estate
Saltburn Light Swicth On & Parade
Clay Bauble Crafts - Souter Lighthouse
Forum Shopping Centre Characters & Crafts
Family Christmas Funday - Durham Centre
Biscuit making - Ikea
Christmas Crafts - Ushaw
Painted Bauble crafts - Grainger Market
Nature event - Jesmond Dene
Sunday 3rd
Reindeer Dash - Bridges Sunderland
Frost Fest - Land of Oak & Iron
The Original Santa Claus Tour - Newcastle Cathedral
Make a tree decoration - Ikea
Mini Elves - Stack Seaburn
Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd
Durham Christmas Festival
Winter Wonderland - Rainton Arena
A Georgian Christmas - Kirkleatham Museum
Free Ice Skating at Metrocentre if you make a food bank donation.
Cullercoates community advent calander
Decorate a winter ceramic heart - Woodhorn Museum
Walkaround Father Christmas - Wallington
Festive storytelling - Belsay
Decorate a Gingerbread - Baltic
Preston Park is Christmas Ready
Advent Procession & Carols - Durham Cathedral
Christmas Kingdom - Bamburgh Castle
Christmas in Neverland - Castle Howard
Father Christmas has lost his gifts trail - High Force waterfall
Artic experience - Metrocentre
Lego Exhibition - Dorman Museum
Quentin blake trail WWT Washington
Christmas Stocking Trail - Sunderland City Centre
Christmas character VR Trail - Sunderland City centre
Visit Santa - Bridges Shopping Centre (Please note the grotto has a new look for this year)
Lapland VR Ride - Bridges Shopping Centre
Aglow - Auckland Castle
Christmas Daytimes now open at Beamish
Christmas Crafts & Stories - Seven Stories
Fairytrail and Christmas Decorations - Gibside NT
Oh Yes It Is ..... Christmas at Ormesby Hall NT
Snowman Trail - Middlesbrough Town centre
Cinderella - Durham Gala
North Pole Express - Tanfield Railway
Santa Specials - Weardale Railway
Enchanted Garden Grotto - Lanchester Garden Centre
CHRISTMAS MARKETS
🎄𝕊𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕕𝕒𝕪 𝟚𝕟𝕕 𝔻𝕖𝕔𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣
Christmas Market - Plants Plus Garden Centre
North East Festive Fayre - Beacon Of Light
Festive Fair - Redhouse Community Centre
Christmas Market - Blue Bell Hotel Middlesbrough
Christmas Market - Blyth Community Centre
Christmas Craft Market - George of Piercebridge
Christmas Market - St Columbus Church Wideopen
Christmas Market - Newcastle Cat & Dog Shelter
🎄𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕪 𝟛𝕣𝕕 𝔻𝕖𝕔𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣
Gateshead Christmas Fayre - Marriot Hotel
Christmas Market Jesmond Dene House
Made up Norths Winter Market - The Boiler Shop
Bedale Christmas Market
Christmas Market - Richmond Market Place
🎄𝔹𝕠𝕥𝕙 𝔻𝕒𝕪𝕤
Durham Christmas Festival
Spennymoor Christmas Market
Malton Christmas Market
Carlisle Christmas Market
Newcastle Christmas Market
York Christmas Market
Harrogate Christmas Market
Raby Castle Christmas Market
Stockton Sparkles
Carlisle Christmas Market
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If you would like your family friendly event adding to our guide free of charge, please fill in this FORM
Other Ideas for this weekend
Lunch and Afternoon festive teas
Our favourite National Trust Properties
Spring walk ideas (Also nice during Autumn/winter)
Head to one of the North Easts fab Museums
Woodland Walk and hunt for Zog
Things to do when the weather is rubbish
Potters World - Lanchester Garden Centre
For more great ideas, check us out on Facebook, Instagram