Things to do with kids in Northumberland this month

Wednesday 30 September 2026

• Tenderly: The Life and Times of Nat King Cole

  19:30 The Hearth, Horsley · £15 standard, £10 concession

  Duane Forrest tells the story of Nat King Cole through his songs, in a Highlights rural touring show. Organiser

Thursday 1 October 2026

• The Alnwick Garden 25th anniversary weekend

  The Alnwick Garden, Alnwick · Evening-only tickets £10; under 16s free with a paying adult (up to four)

  The garden marks 25 years with unseen footage of its creation, bubble shows, live music, rides and games, and after dark a Grand Cascade show with lights, lasers, fireworks and fire jugglers. Organiser

• History Hunters: home education session

  11:00 Seaton Delaval Hall, Seaton Sluice · Event free; normal admission applies (£15 adults, £7.50 children 5 to 17, National Trust members free)

  A relaxed afternoon for home-educating families, with short guided tours of the hall for up to 10 children at a time, a hat design craft and self-led trails. Drop in, no booking needed. Organiser

• Lunchtime Live

  13:00 Hexham Abbey, Hexham · Free

  Forty minutes of live music at lunchtime, with a focus on recitals on the Abbey's Phelps organ. Organiser

Friday 2 October 2026

• The Alnwick Garden 25th anniversary weekend

  The Alnwick Garden, Alnwick · Evening-only tickets £10; up to four under 16s free per paying adult

  The garden marks 25 years with rides, games, bubble shows and live music by day, then fire jugglers and a finale on the Grand Cascade with lights, lasers and fireworks. Organiser

• Autumn Raceday

  11:40 Hexham Racecourse, Hexham

  National Hunt racing at Hexham, with the first race at 1.38pm. Under 18s go free but need a ticket, and free shuttle buses run from the rail and bus stations. Organiser

• Twilight Tales at the Haunted Museum

  17:00 Northumberland Haunted Museum, Amble · £15

  An after-hours walk round the museum with its owner Michele, hearing the stories behind the objects. Limited to six guests. Organiser

• Ready-Set-Rocket! for kids

  18:30 Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory, Wark · £22.50 adults, £19.50 concessions, £55.50 family (2 adults, 2 children)

  Children build, decorate and launch their own water-powered rockets and learn how thrust and stability work. Each child needs to bring an empty fizzy drink or sparkling water bottle. Organiser

• Thank ABBA For The Music

  19:30 Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham · From £27.50

  A tribute show packed with ABBA hits, choreography and video projections. A good night out for anyone who knows the words to Dancing Queen. Organiser

Saturday 3 October 2026

• Berwick Open Studios

  Venues across Berwick, Berwick-upon-Tweed · Free

  Artists and makers open more than 25 studios and spaces around Berwick for the second weekend of the town's first open studios event. Free, with maps from the visitor centre. Organiser

• CAST: Legally Blonde the musical

  Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick · £26, concessions £21, students and children £16

  A local production of the musical that follows Elle Woods from sorority house to Harvard Law School. Organiser

• Kielder Marathon Weekend

  Kielder Waterside, Kielder

  The off-road marathon weekend around Kielder Water, with shorter races alongside the full marathon. Spectators can cheer runners from the waterside. Organiser

• Morpeth Farmers' Market

  Market Place, Morpeth · Free

  The monthly farmers' market fills the Market Place on the first Saturday of the month, with local food and produce stalls. Good for a browse before a walk along the Wansbeck in Carlisle Park. Organiser

• Newcastle Garrison cannon firing

  Alnwick Castle, Alnwick · Included with castle admission

  The Newcastle Garrison live history group fires a replica Napoleonic cannon on the Gun Terrace every hour, weather permitting. Organiser

• Macmillan Coffee Morning

  10:00 Seaton Delaval Arts Centre, Seaton Delaval

  A relaxed community coffee morning at the arts centre on Blyth Street, a good chance to see the building and pick up the programme. Organiser

• Visit the Last Black House of Catcleugh

  13:30 Catcleugh Reservoir entrance, Byrness · Pay on arrival

  An easy one mile guided visit to the last surviving hut built for the Victorian navvies who dug Catcleugh Reservoir, with period objects inside. No dogs; the gate opens 30 minutes before the start. Organiser

• Norham Village Band concert

  15:00 St Cuthbert's Church, Norham · Free

  Norham Village Band plays to celebrate the reopening of St Cuthbert's Church after three months of works, with afternoon tea. Entry by donation. Organiser

• Space Kids: Searching for Stars

  16:30 Kielder Observatory, Kielder · £25 per person (sold out when we checked on 29 September; check for returns)

  An early-evening session for children: a short talk, making constellations the way the ancient Greeks did, then a tour of the observatory and the telescopes. It was sold out when we checked, so look for returns or a later date. Organiser

• Benefice harvest supper

  18:00 St Mary's Church, The Gallery, Belford

  A harvest supper for the parishes of Bamburgh, Belford and Lucker, held ahead of the individual harvest celebrations. Organiser

Sunday 4 October 2026

• Harvest Festival

  St Aidan's Church, Bamburgh · Free

  St Aidan's marks the end of its Season of Creation with a Harvest Festival thinking of farming communities near and far. The church's main Sunday service is at 11am, but check the parish site for the harvest timings. Organiser

• Food and craft market

  10:00 Northumberlandia, Cramlington · Free entry, £3 suggested parking donation

  A monthly food and craft market at Northumberlandia, the landform of a reclining woman near Cramlington, easy to combine with a walk over the figure. Organiser

• Norham Industrial Show

  10:00 Norham Village Hall, Norham

  A traditional village show of home baking, handicrafts, photography, garden produce and children's entries, held every year in the village hall. Organiser

• Kielder Marathon and Half Marathon

  10:15 Kielder Water, Kielder · Spectator pass £5 per day

  The full marathon runs the whole way round Kielder Water on trails and forest roads, with the half marathon starting at the dam. Supporters can watch from Kielder Waterside with a spectator pass. Organiser

• Kielder Marathon junior races

  10:45 Kielder Waterside, Kielder

  Short races for children on marathon day, run within the Kielder Waterside park: the 1.5km Osprey run for 6 to 10 year olds and the 2.5km Falcon run for 11 to 14 year olds. Organiser

• Inner ward open day

  11:00 Prudhoe Castle, Prudhoe · Free

  The inner ward and manor house at Prudhoe Castle open on the first Sunday of the month; the outer ward is free to explore every day. Upper floors and the chapel are reached by steep steps. Organiser

• Sunday Makers' Market

  11:00 Etal Village Hall, Etal · Free

  The Tin Shed's last Sunday makers' market of the season, with locally made arts and crafts and demonstrations. Dogs are welcome. Organiser

• Sensory friendly screening: Practical Magic 2

  14:00 Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10.50 full, £10 concession, £6.50 under 18s, students 18 to 26 and benefit

  A relaxed screening of the Practical Magic sequel with the lights left on low, the sound turned down, no trailers and subtitles throughout. Moving around and making noise is welcome. Organiser

• Top Secret: The Magic of Science

  14:00 Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham · From £13

  A fast-paced Sunday afternoon show mixing magic tricks with science experiments, promising mystery, suspense and a lot of mess. Organiser

Monday 5 October 2026

• Berwick Literary Festival

  Venues across Berwick, Berwick-upon-Tweed · Most talks £10 to £15; some free events

  A week of more than 55 author talks, workshops and family events in halls and churches around Berwick, from history and nature writing to comedy and cookery. Book through The Maltings box office. Organiser

• House cellar tours

  12:00 Wallington, Cambo · £5 adults, one child (8 to 16) free per adult, extra children £5, plus admission

  A guided walk and talk through the cellars and passageways in the oldest part of the house. Tours take up to 12 people and have step access only. Organiser

• Andy and Margaret Watchorn: Northumbrian music

  14:00 Howick Hall Gardens and Arboretum, Howick · Included with garden admission (£12.65 adults, £4 children)

  Local musicians Andy and Margaret Watchorn play traditional Northumbrian tunes at Howick Hall. Organiser

Tuesday 6 October 2026

• Family spell jar workshop

  17:00 Northumberland Haunted Museum, Amble · £15 per adult and child pair

  Learn the folklore of herbs and crystals, then layer your own spell jar to take home. Only three pairs per session. Organiser

• Space for Shorebirds talk

  19:30 St Mary's Parish Centre, Ponteland · £3, refreshments included

  Wildlife ranger Katherine O'Hara of Northumberland Wildlife Trust's Ponteland group explains how the Space for Shorebirds team protects nesting birds and dunes on the Northumberland coast. Email pontelandwildlifegroup@gmail.com to book. Organiser

Wednesday 7 October 2026

• Crafted Christmas: Crafternoon

  13:00 Wallington, Cambo · Free with admission

  Drop in to help make handmade Christmas decorations for the house, from paper chains to felted and crocheted pieces. Further sessions on 13 October (1pm) and 21 October (10am). Organiser

Thursday 8 October 2026

• Shooting Star Supper: Draconids meteor shower

  21:00 Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory, Wark · £27.50 adults, £24.50 concessions, £75.50 family of four

  Soup and sandwiches in the Battlesteads restaurant, then the observatory to learn where shooting stars come from, handle meteorites and watch for the Draconids. Indoor activities run if it is cloudy. Organiser

Saturday 10 October 2026

• Alwinton Border Shepherds' Show

  Alwinton Show Field, Alwinton · £10 adults, under 16s free, free parking

  The last agricultural show of Northumberland's season, with sheepdog trials, fell races, Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, terrier racing and the Rothbury Highland Pipe Band. Gates open at 10.30am. Organiser

• Halloween Spooktacular

  Whitehouse Farm Centre, Morpeth · Online: £18.50 children 2 to 16, £16.95 adults, £64.95 family of four; under 2s free

  Indoor pumpkin patch with a free pumpkin for each paying child, pirate games, comedy and magic shows, a Walkway of Terror and fancy dress, plus the usual farm animals. Book online for the lower price. Organiser

• In The Lighthouse: sound and light installation

  Ness Gate and Berwick Pier, Berwick-upon-Tweed · Free

  Artist Ed Carter lights up the walk along the pier to Berwick Lighthouse with a sound and light piece about Robina Burgon, the town's first female lighthouse keeper. Free, just turn up; wrap up warm as the pier is exposed. Organiser

• Tastes Through Time: Victorian kitchen

  Alnwick Castle, Alnwick · Included with castle admission

  Costumed experts bring a Victorian kitchen to life with traditional tools, period ingredients and historic menus. Organiser

• Hexham Farmers' Market

  09:00 Hexham town centre, Hexham · Free

  Local food producers at Hexham's farmers' market in the heart of the town, usually held on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Organiser

• Hexham Community Arts Open Day

  10:00 Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham · Free

  More than 20 local creative groups show what they do, with performances and free taster sessions in singing, dance, poetry and ceilidh. A good way to find a new hobby. Organiser

• Nature reserve open day

  10:00 West Chevington nature reserve, Widdrington · Free

  A chance to explore one of the Trust's newest rewilding reserves, with free parking and staff on hand to talk about the conservation work. There are no toilets or refreshments on site. Organiser

• West Chevington open day

  10:00 West Chevington nature reserve, Widdrington · Free

  A chance to explore the trust's West Chevington reserve near Widdrington, with staff on hand to talk about the conservation work and future plans. Organiser

• Adventure Babies sensory storytelling

  10:30 Berwick Library, Walkergate, Berwick-upon-Tweed · Free

  Free sensory stories for babies and toddlers with puppets, music, lights and parachutes, at 10:30am and 12pm. Part of Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser

• Guided reserve wander

  10:30 West Chevington nature reserve, Widdrington · £3

  A leisurely three mile guided walk over uneven ground, looking at the habitats and the work to boost biodiversity. No dogs. Organiser

• West Chevington wander

  10:30 West Chevington nature reserve, Widdrington · £3

  A guided walk through the reserve's habitats, looking at the improvements made by the Biodiversity Boost Project. Organiser

• Christian Foley: Babblin' Animal Raps

  11:30 The Guildhall, Marygate, Berwick-upon-Tweed · Free

  An interactive show of animal poems, freestyle raps and audience participation for primary-age children. Free, but booking is needed. Organiser

• Newcastle Rugby Foundation Raceday

  11:45 Hexham Racecourse, Hexham

  One of Hexham's busiest Saturday fixtures, with the first race at 1.43pm and children's activities in the afternoon. Under 18s go free with a ticket. Organiser

• Lighthouse 200 Celebration Cake

  12:00 Marygate market place, Berwick-upon-Tweed · Free

  Baker Jim Ford recreates the giant lighthouse-shaped Christmas cake made by a Berwick baker in 1908, with free slices while they last, live music and local history stories. Part of the celebrations for 200 years of Berwick Lighthouse. Organiser

• Red Squirrel Awareness Day

  13:00 Wallington, Cambo · Included with normal admission (National Trust members free)

  Colouring, fun facts and a guess-the-nuts jar in the Courtyard, all about Northumberland's native red squirrel. Keep an eye on the feeders while you are there. Organiser

• Best in the World: darts drop-in workshop

  13:30 Market Pavilion, Blyth · Free

  A free drop-in session linked to Unfolding Theatre's darts show Best in the World, which comes to the Market Pavilion in November. Organiser

• Carolina Ewing: A Blizzard in Berwick

  13:30 Berwick Library, Walkergate, Berwick-upon-Tweed · Free

  Children's author Carolina Ewing reads from her stories set around Berwick and talks about the wildlife in them, with a Q&A and activity sheet. Organiser

• Stargazing for Kids

  18:30 Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory, Wark · £22.50 adults, £19.50 concessions, £55.50 family (2 adults, 2 children)

  A two-hour family session learning to find constellations, planets and the Moon's phases, with telescopes, binoculars, real space rocks from the Moon and Mars, and free hot drinks. Children take home activity sheets. Organiser

• Tribe: Glendale Ceilidh Band and Wooler Arts Junk Orchestra

  19:00 St Mary's Church, Wooler · Free

  Traditional and new music from two local ensembles, including Kate Bagenal-Lowe's Wooler Water and the world premiere of John Casken's Melange. Organiser

• The Mystery of the Pirate Lagoon

  19:30 Allendale Village Hall, Allendale · £18 supporter, £15 standard, £12 subsidised, £10 concession

  A comic pirate adventure play for all the family, touring village halls with the Highlights rural touring scheme. Organiser

Sunday 11 October 2026

• Andante Chamber Choir: A Choral Tapestry

  15:00 St Cuthbert's Church, Norham · Free

  An a cappella programme of folk song arrangements by Holst, Vaughan Williams and Grainger alongside sacred music, with afternoon tea. Entry by donation. Organiser

• The Mystery of the Pirate Lagoon

  19:30 Whittingham Memorial Institute, Whittingham · £15, concessions £10

  A comic radio play performed live on stage by Ragged Edge Productions, with the audience helping out on sound effects. The bar is cash only. Organiser

Tuesday 13 October 2026

• Tots Pumpkin Party

  Whitehouse Farm Centre, Morpeth

  An autumn session for little ones: pick a pumpkin from the indoor patch, paint or carve it, then dance at the Tots Disco. The ticket covers the rest of the farm park for the day. Organiser

• In Focus: try binoculars and telescopes

  10:00 Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre, Hauxley

  In Focus optics experts are on hand at Hauxley with a range of binoculars and telescopes to try out on the reserve's birds. Organiser

• Crafted Christmas: Crafternoons

  13:00 Wallington, Cambo · Included with normal admission (National Trust members free)

  Drop in and help make the handmade decorations that will dress the house this Christmas, from paper chains and pom poms to felting and stitching. Beginners are welcome. Organiser

• The Sleeping Beauty (ballet screening)

  19:15 Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick · £16

  A screening of Kenneth MacMillan's Sleeping Beauty filmed at the Royal Albert Hall, set to Tchaikovsky's score. Also shown on Thursday 15 October at 12.30pm. Organiser

Wednesday 14 October 2026

• Art at Etal

  10:30 Etal Village Hall, Etal · Free

  The final monthly Art at Etal day of the season, with local artists and makers in the village hall. Free entry, dogs welcome. Organiser

• Glorious Geese

  11:00 Window on Wild Lindisfarne, Holy Island · Free

  Family crafts and games at Window on Wild Lindisfarne, near the harbour on Holy Island, to celebrate the return of the geese to the nature reserve. Check the causeway safe crossing times before you set off. Organiser

• Space Kids: Searching for Aliens

  17:00 Kielder Observatory, Kielder · £25 adults, £15 concessions, family ticket £72 (4 people)

  A family session asking whether there is life out there and how scientists might find it, with space rocks to look at and the telescopes pointed at the Moon, planets and stars when the sky allows. Organiser

Thursday 15 October 2026

• Si King in conversation

  10:30 Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick · £12

  Si King of the Hairy Bikers talks about his cookbook Proper Home Cooking, followed by a book signing, in aid of The Bright Garden Appeal. Organiser

• Lunchtime Live

  13:00 Hexham Abbey, Hexham · Free

  Forty minutes of live music at lunchtime, with a focus on recitals on the Abbey's Phelps organ. Organiser

Friday 16 October 2026

• Halloween Spooktacular

  Whitehouse Farm Centre, Morpeth · Online: £18.50 children 2 to 16, £16.95 adults, £64.95 family of four; under 2s free

  Indoor pumpkin patch with a free pumpkin for each paying child, pirate games, comedy and magic shows, a Walkway of Terror and fancy dress, plus the usual farm animals. Book online for the lower price. Organiser

• Home education craft and chat

  13:30 Woodhorn Museum, Ashington · Session free; accompanying adults need a Woodhorn Annual Pass

  A drop-in afternoon for home-educating families, with optional crafts and a chat with the museum's learning officer about what sessions you would like. Stay on to explore the museum. Organiser

• Ready-Set-Rocket! for kids

  18:30 Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory, Wark · £22.50 adults, £19.50 concessions, £55.50 family (2 adults, 2 children)

  Children build, decorate and launch their own water-powered rockets and learn how thrust and stability work. Each child needs to bring an empty fizzy drink or sparkling water bottle. Organiser

Saturday 17 October 2026

• Heritage Craft Day

  Alnwick Castle, Alnwick · Included with castle admission

  Woodworkers, stone carvers, willow weavers and medieval craftspeople demonstrate traditional skills, with hands-on activities for all ages. Organiser

• Northumbrian pipes at the castle

  Alnwick Castle, Alnwick · Free with castle admission

  Hear the Northumbrian smallpipes played in the State Rooms and the great kitchen, marking the castle's 300 year link with the instrument. Organiser

• Lowick Art Group exhibition

  10:00 Berwick Parish Centre, Berwick-upon-Tweed · Free

  A free one-day exhibition of work by local artists from Lowick Art Group. Organiser

• Lighthouse 200 Sand Art on the Beach

  14:00 Spittal Point Beach, Spittal · Free

  Help artist Claire Eason create a giant temporary sand drawing of the Lighthouse 200 emblem and star constellations on Spittal beach. Taking part is free but needs booking; watching is open to all until the tide takes it. Organiser

• Space Kids: Searching for Stars

  16:30 Kielder Observatory, Kielder · £25 adults, £15 under 16s, £72 family (2 adults, 2 children)

  An early-evening session for children: a short talk, making constellations the way the ancient Greeks did, then a tour of the observatory and the telescopes. It finishes in time for tea, and everyone needs a ticket. Organiser

• Musical Melodies Concert

  19:00 Market Pavilion, Blyth · £6

  A fundraising concert for the Spartans Serenity Garden with Newcastle Concert Band, folk trio Beeswing, Blyth Shanty Singers and more. Organiser

Sunday 18 October 2026

• Tom Fool the jester

  Alnwick Castle, Alnwick · Free with castle admission

  The castle's resident jester returns with tricks, tales and medieval mischief, a good one for younger children in the October holidays. Organiser

• Live music: Tonewood

  12:00 Wallington, Cambo · Included with normal admission (National Trust members free)

  The band Tonewood play inside the house through the middle of the day. There is seating in the Central Hall and step-free access to the house. Organiser

• Eliot Smith Dance: community dance performance

  13:00 Woodhorn Museum, Ashington · Included with Woodhorn Annual Pass (£11 adults, £10 concessions, under 18s free)

  A short new contemporary dance piece performed by adults from across the North East, inspired by a painting in the Ashington Group collection. It lasts about 20 minutes. Organiser

• Space Kids: Searching for Aliens

  17:00 Kielder Observatory, Kielder · £25 adults, £15 concessions, family ticket £72 (4 people)

  A family session asking whether there is life out there and how scientists might find it, with space rocks to look at and the telescopes pointed at the Moon, planets and stars when the sky allows. Organiser

Monday 19 October 2026

• Tom Fool the jester

  Alnwick Castle, Alnwick · Included with castle admission

  The castle's resident jester performs tricks, tales and medieval mischief in the Inner Bailey in the last days of the season. Organiser

• House attic tours

  12:00 Wallington, Cambo · £5 adults, one child (8 to 16) free per adult, extra children £5, plus admission

  A rare chance to see the attics, not normally open, and hear about the servants and wartime evacuees who lived up there. Access is by several staircases. Organiser

• Wallington House Attic Tour

  12:00 Wallington, Cambo · £5 adults, one child free per adult, plus admission

  Climb to the attic, not normally open, to hear about the servants and wartime evacuees who lived there. Tours at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. Organiser

Tuesday 20 October 2026

• Tots Pumpkin Party

  Whitehouse Farm Centre, Morpeth

  An autumn session for little ones: pick a pumpkin from the indoor patch, paint or carve it, then dance at the Tots Disco. The ticket covers the rest of the farm park for the day. Organiser

• Guided walk: River Walk

  11:00 Wallington, Cambo · Included with normal admission (National Trust members free)

  An easy 2.6 mile volunteer-led walk through the formal gardens and along the River Wansbeck, with stepping stones or a bridge. Meet at the Clocktower; dogs on leads are welcome. Organiser

• Sky Sports Racing Raceday

  12:00 Hexham Racecourse, Hexham

  A new midweek fixture for 2026, with the first race at 2.01pm and a bouncy castle and garden games for children. Under 18s go free with an adult. Organiser

• Guided walk: Coombe Hill

  13:30 Wallington, Cambo · Included with normal admission (National Trust members free)

  A 3.5 mile volunteer-led walk over estate farmland with some uphill sections, including wartime stories of a shepherd and a poultry maid. Meet at the Clocktower. Organiser

• Family spell jar workshop

  17:00 Northumberland Haunted Museum, Amble · £15 per adult and child pair

  Learn the folklore of herbs and crystals, then layer your own spell jar to take home. Only three pairs per session. Organiser

Wednesday 21 October 2026

• Crafted Christmas: Crafternoons

  10:00 Wallington, Cambo · Included with normal admission (National Trust members free)

  Drop in and help make the handmade decorations that will dress the house this Christmas, from paper chains and pom poms to felting and stitching. Beginners are welcome. Organiser

• Collingwood Toast

  11:40 Morpeth Town Hall (Buttermarket), Morpeth · Free

  On Trafalgar Day the Mayor of Morpeth raises a toast in the Town Hall Buttermarket to Admiral Lord Collingwood, who made his home in the town. A short civic tradition worth catching if you are in town. Organiser

• Shooting Star Supper: Orionids meteor shower

  21:00 Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory, Wark · £27.50 adults, £24.50 concessions, £75.50 family of four

  Soup and sandwiches in the Battlesteads restaurant, then the observatory to learn where shooting stars come from, handle meteorites and watch for the Orionids. Indoor activities run if it is cloudy. Organiser

Thursday 22 October 2026

• Exploring the Bayeux Tapestry: artists' book workshop

  10:00 Norham Village Hall, Norham

  Make a concertina-folded artist's book inspired by the motifs, borders and colours of the Bayeux Tapestry with Mo Healy. Only eight places per session; book through Norham Arts Group. Organiser

Friday 23 October 2026

• Gaby Gulliver's Travels: shadow puppet show

  11:00 Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick · £10, children £6

  A 45-minute shadow puppet show that sends a young girl through parallel worlds, with time to meet the puppets afterwards. Organiser

• Twilight Tales at the Haunted Museum

  17:00 Northumberland Haunted Museum, Amble · £15

  An after-hours walk round the museum with its owner Michele, hearing the stories behind the objects. Limited to six guests. Organiser

Saturday 24 October 2026

• Arborialis Luminarium by Architects of Air

  Woodhorn Museum, Ashington · Included with Woodhorn Annual Pass; timed tickets to be released

  A giant walk-in inflatable light sculpture of glowing tree shapes and coloured canopies, visiting Woodhorn for its 20th birthday half term. Shoes come off inside, so bring warm socks; it is wheelchair accessible. Organiser

• Arborialis Luminarium by Architects of Air

  The Alnwick Garden, Alnwick

  A giant walk-through inflatable sculpture of light and colour visits The Alnwick Garden for October half term. Organiser

• Fleece to Fabric: The Textiles of Vindolanda

  Roman Vindolanda, Bardon Mill · Included with admission

  A half-term drop-in where you can card wool, spin yarn and weave on small looms, and see real Roman textiles from the collection. Included with admission. Organiser

• Morpeth Lions second-hand book sale

  Morpeth Town Hall, Morpeth · £1 per book

  Morpeth Lions fill the Town Hall with second-hand books at £1 each over three days. Money raised buys Christmas gifts for children at special schools. Organiser

• Hexham Farmers' Market

  09:00 Hexham town centre, Hexham · Free

  Local food producers at Hexham's farmers' market in the heart of the town, usually held on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. The Queen's Hall hosts a free Meet the Makers craft market in its foyer the same morning. Organiser

• Gaby Gulliver's Travels: shadow puppet show

  11:00 Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick · £10, children £6

  A 45-minute shadow puppet show that sends a young girl through parallel worlds, with time to meet the puppets afterwards. Also at 1.30pm. Organiser

• Halloween crafts for kids

  11:00 Bamburgh Castle, Bamburgh · Included with castle admission: £19.95 adults, £10 children 5 to 16, under 5s free, family £58.50

  Drop-in clay modelling in the room after the gift shop, where children make Halloween ornaments and small sculptures to take home. Included with castle admission. Organiser

• Gory Stories for Halloween

  11:15 Bamburgh Castle, Bamburgh · Included with castle admission: £19.95 adults, £10 children 5 to 16, under 5s free, family £58.50

  Storyteller Jim tells grisly tales from Northumberland's past in the Keep Hall, meeting at the bottle-shaped door. Included with admission, but there are steps and the stories are properly gruesome. Organiser

• Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom (U)

  15:00 Seahouses Hub, Seahouses · £8, £7.50 or £4, family ticket £21

  Half-term matinee of the Halloween Shaun the Sheep film, where a wrecked pumpkin patch leads to a beast loose in the woods. A family ticket keeps it cheap. Organiser

• Space Kids: Searching for Aliens

  16:30 Kielder Observatory, Kielder

  A family session asking whether there is life out there and how scientists might find it, with space rocks to look at and the telescopes pointed at the Moon, planets and stars when the sky allows. Organiser

• Dark skies: the sky is full of ghosts

  18:00 Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre, Amble · £12 plus booking fee

  A Halloween-season stargazing evening with NASTRO's Dr Adrian Jannetta, using the telescope in the Hauxley observatory if skies are clear. Organiser

• Stargazing for Kids

  19:00 Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory, Wark · £22.50 adults, £19.50 concessions, £55.50 family (2 adults, 2 children)

  A two-hour family session learning to find constellations, planets and the Moon's phases, with telescopes, binoculars, real space rocks from the Moon and Mars, and free hot drinks. Children take home activity sheets. Organiser

• Destination: Elton

  19:30 Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham · From £21

  A 12-piece band plays the Elton John songbook, from the ballads to the big anthems, with no impersonations or costumes. Organiser

• Royal Northern Sinfonia: Out and About

  19:30 Wark Town Hall and Mechanics Institute, Wark · £15 standard, £10 concession

  A woodwind quintet from the Royal Northern Sinfonia plays classical and folk-inspired chamber music in the village hall. Organiser

Sunday 25 October 2026

• Sound Down Sunday

  Hexham Old Gaol, Hexham

  A quieter session at Hexham Old Gaol with fewer visitors and the sound turned down in the exhibitions and displays, for anyone who prefers a calmer visit. Organiser

• Sound Down Sunday

  10:00 Woodhorn Museum, Ashington · Included with Woodhorn Annual Pass (£11 adults, £10 concessions, under 18s free)

  A quieter morning at the museum with fewer visitors and the sound turned down in the displays, with ear defenders to borrow. Good for anyone who finds busy museums overwhelming. Organiser

• Halloween crafts for kids

  11:00 Bamburgh Castle, Bamburgh · Included with castle admission: £19.95 adults, £10 children 5 to 16, under 5s free, family £58.50

  Drop-in clay modelling in the room after the gift shop, where children make Halloween ornaments and small sculptures to take home. Included with castle admission. Organiser

• Gory Stories for Halloween

  11:15 Bamburgh Castle, Bamburgh · Included with castle admission: £19.95 adults, £10 children 5 to 16, under 5s free, family £58.50

  Storyteller Jim tells grisly tales from Northumberland's past in the Keep Hall, meeting at the bottle-shaped door. Included with admission, but there are steps and the stories are properly gruesome. Organiser

• Our Moon

  20:00 Kielder Observatory, Kielder

  An evening devoted to the Moon, with craters and mountains through the big telescopes and a chance to photograph it on your phone. If it is cloudy the team use their radio telescope instead. Organiser

Monday 26 October 2026

• Ford and Etal Scarycrow Trail

  Ford, Etal and Heatherslaw villages, Ford · Free

  A half term trail of scarecrows made by local residents and businesses, now in its 19th year. Pick up a map and score sheet from the village shops and vote for your favourite. Organiser

• Goose Festival

  Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve (Holy Island and Budle Bay), Holy Island · Free

  A week of events across Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve for the arrival of the wintering geese, including sunrise dawn chorus events at Budle Bay and family nature activities. Guided walks must be booked and Holy Island is only reachable at low tide. Organiser

• Halloween Pumpkin Trail

  Northumberlandia, Cramlington · £3 per child

  A self-guided woodland trail to find 12 pumpkins and learn about spooky creatures, with a small treat from the café at the end. The map is emailed when you book; wear sturdy shoes. Organiser

• The Famous Scarycrow Trail

  Ford, Etal and Heatherslaw villages, Etal · Free

  Pick up a map from a village shop and follow the half-term trail of home-made scarecrows around Ford, Etal and Heatherslaw, scoring your favourites as you go. Most of it is walkable, buggy friendly and dogs are welcome, and proceeds go to a local charity. Organiser

• Monday Mini Makes: Bat Pom Poms

  10:00 The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre, Once Brewed

  Make a hanging bat decoration ready for Halloween. Sessions at 10am and 2pm; adults stay with their children. Organiser

• The Doctor Will See You Now

  11:00 Bamburgh Castle, Bamburgh · Included with castle admission: £19.95 adults, £10 children 5 to 16, under 5s free, family £58.50

  A costumed doctor shows off grim historical medicine and old instruments in the Keep Hall, and may rope in volunteers. Included with admission. Organiser

• Space Kids: Searching for Stars

  17:00 Kielder Observatory, Kielder · £25 adults, £15 under 16s, £72 family (2 adults, 2 children)

  An early-evening session for children: a short talk, making constellations the way the ancient Greeks did, then a tour of the observatory and the telescopes. It finishes in time for tea, and everyone needs a ticket. Organiser

Tuesday 27 October 2026

• Anglo-Saxon Tales and Ancient Legends

  Ad Gefrin, Wooler

  Heroic battles and mythical creatures in storytelling sessions from the Anglo-Saxon era, at the museum and distillery beside the old royal site of Yeavering. Organiser

• Blyth Halloween: Trick or Treat

  Market Pavilion and Blyth town centre, Blyth · Free

  A week of free drop-in Halloween crafts at the Market Pavilion, where families help build a giant spooky creation, with a parade on the Friday and fireworks on the Saturday. Organiser

• October half term crafts

  Wallington, Cambo · Included with normal admission (National Trust members free)

  Drop-in autumn crafts in the yurt by the Adventure Playground in the West Woods, with something to take home. Organiser

• Hallowe'en Special at Wildling Woods

  10:00 Chillingham Wild Cattle Park, Wildling Woods, Chillingham · £14 per child

  Two and a half hours of spooky woodland play with Hallowe'en crafts, campfire stories and toasted Scotch pancakes, plus a treat for children in costume. Adults stay with their children; sessions run in most weather. Organiser

• Lantern Making Workshop

  10:00 Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham · Free

  Make a lantern for the Hexham Lantern Parade in a free 45-minute session in the Queen's Hall foyer. Book a place for each child; sessions at 10am, 11am and 12pm. Organiser

• Building Worlds, Telling Stories

  13:30 Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham · From £6

  A 90-minute half-term creative writing session where children invent a world, draw its map and characters, and write the opening of a story set there. Organiser

• Family spell jar workshop

  17:00 Northumberland Haunted Museum, Amble · £15 per adult and child pair

  Learn the folklore of herbs and crystals, then layer your own spell jar to take home. Only three pairs per session. Organiser

Wednesday 28 October 2026

• Matilda JR (CAST)

  Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick · £26, concessions £21, students and children £16

  CAST's young performers take on Matilda JR, the musical about a clever girl who stands up to the grown-ups, in the October half term. Organiser

• Wild Wednesday: make a bat box

  10:30 The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre, Once Brewed

  Build a bat box to take home with a National Park ranger and find out how bats are being helped across the park. Grown-ups stay with their children throughout. Organiser

• Space Kids: Searching for Aliens

  17:00 Kielder Observatory, Kielder

  A family session asking whether there is life out there and how scientists might find it, with space rocks to look at and the telescopes pointed at the Moon, planets and stars when the sky allows. Organiser