From The Northumbrian Almanac
Indoor and rain-proof events in Northumberland this month
Things to do in Northumberland when it rains: theatre, museums, workshops, talks and family shows over the next four weeks, all indoors or fine in wet weather.
Open this in the Almanac Add to your calendar
Checked 30 September 2026. Every event links to the organiser, where you can book. Times and prices change, so check before you set off.
Wednesday 30 September 2026
Berwick Film Society: Miroirs No. 3
14:00 Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10 full, £9.50 concession, £6 Berwick Film Society members
Christian Petzold's 2026 German and French drama about a young piano student who finds refuge with a local woman after a mysterious incident in the countryside. Screened at 2pm and 7pm. Organiser
The Okavango Delta: a talk and journey to Botswana
17:20 Etal Village Hall, Etal · £6 talk only, £15 talk and return train (plus booking fee)
A safari guide talks about the wildlife, landscapes and life of the Okavango Delta, with questions and refreshments. The talk and travel ticket includes a return evening train from Heatherslaw to Etal. Organiser
Alana Brook organ recital
19:00 Berwick Parish Church (Holy Trinity), Berwick-upon-Tweed · Free
An evening organ recital by Alana Brook in Holy Trinity, the parish church on the Parade. Entry is free with a retiring collection. Organiser
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
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
Vanbrugh 300 talk: Sandy Nairne, Sir Charles Saumarez Smith and Mark Newman
18:45 Seaton Delaval Hall, Seaton Sluice · £15
Vanbrugh scholar Sir Charles Saumarez Smith discusses Vanbrugh's career and his links to Seaton Delaval Hall, and archaeologist Mark Newman shares what investigations have revealed about his involvement. Organiser
Berwick Comedy Club
19:00 The Straw Yard, Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed
An evening of stand-up comedy at The Straw Yard in the Barracks. Organiser
Every Brilliant Thing
19:00 Newbrough Town Hall, Newbrough · £15 standard, £10 concession
Theatre by the Lake tours the one-performer play about a child who starts a list of every brilliant thing in life, with the audience helping to tell it. Organiser
The Incomer
19:00 Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10.50 full (£8 Thursday special), £10 concession, £6.50 child, student and benefit
Louis Paxton directs this darkly comic Scottish debut about two siblings who survive by hunting seabirds on a remote island, starring Domhnall Gleeson and Gayle Rankin. Organiser
5 Mistakes That Changed History
19:30 Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham · From £25
Historian and comedian Paul Coulter tells the stories of historical blunders that reshaped the world, with plenty of laughs along the way. Organiser
Friday 2 October 2026
Practical Magic 2
Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10.50 full (£8 on Thursdays), £10 concession, £6.50 under 18s, students 18 to 26 and benefit
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman return as the Owens sisters, who must confront the curse that threatens their family. Check the cinema listing for screening times. Organiser
Digging Deep creative writing group
14:00 Woodhorn Museum, Ashington · Included with Woodhorn Annual Pass (£11 adults, £10 concessions, under 18s free)
A friendly, volunteer-led monthly writing group in the museum's Learning Room, writing about our lives and landscapes. Beginners and experienced writers are both welcome; just drop in. 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
Every Brilliant Thing
19:30 Amble Parish Hall, Amble · £15 standard, £10 concession
Theatre by the Lake tours the one-performer play about a child who starts a list of every brilliant thing in life, with the audience helping to tell it. 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
Practical Magic 2
Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10.50 full (£8 on Thursdays), £10 concession, £6.50 under 18s, students 18 to 26 and benefit
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman return as the Owens sisters, who must confront the curse that threatens their family. Check the cinema listing for screening times. Organiser
Hexham Creative and Holistic Market
10:00 Hexham Racecourse, Hexham
A monthly market of makers, crafts and holistic stalls held at the racecourse. 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
Potted History: Barbotine ware masterclass
10:00 Roman Army Museum, Greenhead · £110 (materials and UK shipping included)
Potter and experimental archaeologist Graham Taylor teaches the Roman slip-trailing technique used to decorate hunt cups, and you decorate your own. Maximum eight places. Organiser
Berwick Music Society: Trio Kagura
14:00 Berwick Parish Church (Holy Trinity), Berwick-upon-Tweed · £15, under 18s free
The Berwick Music Society season opens with violin, cello and piano trio Trio Kagura. Under 18s get in free. 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
Confessions of an Artist: Paddy Hartley in conversation
19:00 The Straw Yard, Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10 to £15.50 (early bird and standard)
Multidisciplinary artist Paddy Hartley talks about building a 35-year creative career and the things they do not tell you at art school, followed by an audience Q&A. Doors 6.30pm. 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
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
Potted History: Samian ware masterclass
10:00 Roman Army Museum, Greenhead · £150 (materials and UK shipping included)
Make your own Samian ware stamps and moulds using the same methods as Gaulish potters, and a bowl is made from them. Bring lunch or use the cafe. 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
Rendez-Vous Dance: Moving Together workshop
14:00 Maltings at Hide Hill, Berwick-upon-Tweed · Free
A free two-hour inclusive movement workshop for adults led by choreographer Mathieu Geffré and movement artist David Kam. No dance experience needed and activities can be adapted. 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
Every Brilliant Thing
19:30 Gilsland Village Hall, Gilsland · £15 standard, £10 concession
Theatre by the Lake tours the one-performer play about a child who starts a list of every brilliant thing in life, with the audience helping to tell it. 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
Hexham and Tynedale Restaurant Week
Restaurants across Hexham and Tynedale, Hexham
A week when restaurants across Hexham and Tynedale offer fixed-price menus, discounts or special dishes. A good excuse to book a table somewhere new. Organiser
Yule Goat Dressing Workshop
10:00 Ad Gefrin, Wooler · Free
Volunteer to help thatch, sew and dress the giant Yule Straw Goat ahead of its November procession. Twelve places per session, with free refreshments. 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
Elaine Thomson: Saltwater, a Midsummer Ghost Story
14:00 The Straw Yard, Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Author Elaine Thomson introduces Saltwater, her midsummer ghost story. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Clive Jones: The 'Real' Smiley
16:00 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Clive Jones on the 'real' Smiley. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Hannah Kaner and Laura Steven: Northumberland's answer to Game of Thrones
18:00 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Two bestselling fantasy authors talk about growing up in Northumberland and how the region shapes their stories. Organiser
Bowsden History Group: traditional music and stories
19:30 Bowsden Village Hall, Bowsden
A village history group evening of traditional music and stories. Doors 7pm. Organiser
Come and Sing with Vivace Vocal Collective
19:30 Spittal Community Hall, Spittal
An open Christmas rehearsal with the Vivace Vocal Collective for singers aged 16 and over. No auditions, choir experience or music reading needed. Organiser
Coquetdale Wildlife Group talk: dragonflies
19:30 Jubilee Institute, Armstrong Hall, Rothbury · £4 non-members, members free
An evening talk on dragonflies from the Northumberland Wildlife Trust's Coquetdale group in Rothbury. Organiser
Helen Goh: Baking and the Meaning of Life
19:30 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Baker and food writer Helen Goh talks about baking and what it means to her, as part of Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Tuesday 6 October 2026
Gaynor Macfarlane: The Art of Adaptation
10:00 The Straw Yard, Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Gaynor Macfarlane explains how books are transformed into audio drama. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Christina Jansen: Joan Eardley and The Scottish Gallery
12:00 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Christina Jansen gives an intimate perspective on Joan Eardley and The Scottish Gallery, a good companion to the Eardley exhibition at the Granary Gallery. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Linda Bankier: Voices From The Archives
14:00 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
A talk on voices from the archives by Linda Bankier, part of Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Afternoon Tea and Titanic Talk
15:00 Ad Gefrin, Wooler
Afternoon tea at 3pm followed at 5pm by Christopher Ward's talk My Life in the Shadow of Titanic, about his family link to the ship's bandsmen. Part of Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
George Szirtes: Crossing Borders
16:00 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
George Szirtes on poetry, the translation of poetry and the poetry of translation. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. 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
Ben Barry: The Rise and Fall of the British Army 1975 to 2025
18:00 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Ben Barry traces the rise and fall of the British Army over fifty years, from 1975 to 2025. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Seán Hewitt: Open, Heaven
19:30 The Straw Yard, Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Seán Hewitt talks about Open, Heaven. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. 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
Tit's Up!
19:30 Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick · £25
A funny and moving play about three women facing breast cancer together. Organiser
Wednesday 7 October 2026
Amanda Roberts: Discovering Isabella's Berwick
11:00 The Straw Yard, Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
A local history talk exploring Berwick in the past, described at the time as a thievish and ill-behaved place. Part of Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Music in the Café
12:30 Woodhorn Museum, Ashington · Included with Woodhorn Annual Pass (£11 adults, £10 concessions, under 18s free)
Three's a Crowd play easy listening songs from the 60s and 70s in the Winding House Café. Drop in with a cuppa. Organiser
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
Peter Aitchison: Black Friday, the Eyemouth Fishing Disaster of 1881
13:00 Holy Trinity Church, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
The story of the 1881 storm that devastated the fishing fleet of Eyemouth, just up the coast from Berwick. Part of Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Dominic Gregory: Lifeboat at the End of the World
15:00 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Dominic Gregory talks about Lifeboat at the End of the World. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Anthony Delaney: Queer Georgians
16:00 The Straw Yard, Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Anthony Delaney on the lives of queer Georgians. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Late Fame
18:00 Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10.50 full, £10 concession, £6.50 under 18s, students 18 to 26 and benefit
A drama about a forgotten New York poet who finds a circle of young admirers and has to decide how sincere their interest really is. Organiser
Bach Reimagined
19:30 Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham · From £13
James Wilton Dance performs athletic contemporary dance to Bach, played live on cello with a heavy metal edge by Raphael Weinroth-Browne. Organiser
John Lloyd: Funny Old Life
19:30 Holy Trinity Church, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £15
Comedy producer John Lloyd, behind Blackadder, QI and Spitting Image, looks back on his career in conversation. Part of Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Thursday 8 October 2026
Practical Magic 2
Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10.50 full (£8 on Thursdays), £10 concession, £6.50 under 18s, students 18 to 26 and benefit
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman return as the Owens sisters, who must confront the curse that threatens their family. Check the cinema listing for screening times. Organiser
Martins Book Printers factory tour
09:00 Martins the Printers, Sea View Works, Spittal · £10
A one-hour tour of Martins, the family-owned book printers that has worked in Berwick since 1892. Tours at 9am and 10:30am, with more on Friday 9 October. Organiser
Louise Tucker: Find Your Way to Writing workshop
10:00 The Straw Yard, Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £25
A two-hour creative writing workshop with Louise Tucker for anyone wanting to find their way into writing. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Mark Batey: Grace and Josephine to the Rescue
11:00 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Author Mark Batey talks about his book Grace and Josephine to the Rescue at Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Martyn Howe: The Coast Is Our Compass
13:00 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Author Martyn Howe talks about The Coast Is Our Compass at Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Matthew Parris: If At First You Don't Succeed
15:00 Holy Trinity Church, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £15
Writer and broadcaster Matthew Parris talks about If At First You Don't Succeed at Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
John Osborne: Sandy Arse
17:00 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
John Osborne talks about Sandy Arse. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Vanbrugh 300 talk: Vanbrugh and the Queen's Theatre in the Haymarket
18:30 Seaton Delaval Hall, Seaton Sluice · £15
Dr Annette Rubery and Dr Nicholas Helm tell the story of Vanbrugh's ambitious London theatre of 1705 and why it mattered politically. Booking essential on 0344 249 1895; wrap up warm for the Saloon. Organiser
An evening with Chris McKinnell
19:00 Northumberland Haunted Museum, Amble · Free
A free talk, question and answer session and book signing at Amble's haunted museum. Organiser
Cabaret of Words
19:00 The Straw Yard, Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · Free
An open mic night for poets, storytellers and lovers of the spoken word, with table seating and a bar. Free to watch, with optional donations; part of Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Frankie the Concert
19:30 Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick · £27
A tribute to Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and their hits. Organiser
Vince Cable: Eclipsing the West
19:30 Holy Trinity Church, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £15
Former Business Secretary Vince Cable discusses the shifting balance of global economic power. Part of Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
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
Friday 9 October 2026
Martins Book Printers factory tour
09:00 Martins the Printers, Sea View Works, Spittal · £10
A second chance to tour the Berwick book printers that has been binding and printing books since 1892. Tours at 9am and 10:30am. Organiser
Paul Stevenson: My Tics and Me
10:00 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Paul Stevenson on changing the story of Tourette syndrome. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Marion Todd: Killing People for a Living
12:00 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Marion Todd gives her talk Killing People for a Living. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Bella Bathurst: The Lighthouse Stevensons
14:00 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
The story of the family of engineers who built Scotland's lighthouses, a fitting talk in Berwick's lighthouse bicentenary year. Organiser
Diarmaid MacCulloch: Finding Our Bearings
14:00 Berwick Parish Centre, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Diarmaid MacCulloch on Christianity's long journey. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Joanne Harris: Sleepers in the Snow
16:00 Holy Trinity Church, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £15
Chocolat author Joanne Harris talks about Sleepers in the Snow at Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Music Night in Beodern
18:00 Ad Gefrin, Wooler
Local singer Chloe Maguire plays a relaxed set that builds through the evening in Ad Gefrin's restaurant, with food, cocktails and Ad Gefrin spirits. The first of a run of music nights that continues until 6 November. Organiser
NT Live: The Misanthrope
19:00 Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick
Sandra Oh stars in Martin Crimp's version of Moliere's dark comedy, screened from the National Theatre. Also shown on Tuesday 13 October at 3pm with subtitles. Organiser
Alistair Moffat: The North Sea
19:30 Holy Trinity Church, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £15
Borders historian Alistair Moffat explores the history of the North Sea and the people around its shores. Organiser
The Floyd Effect: Pulse of the Darkside Tour
19:30 Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham · From £30
A Pink Floyd tribute that pairs The Dark Side of the Moon with material from the Pulse live album, with a full light and laser show. Organiser
Saturday 10 October 2026
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 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
Masud Husain: Our Brains, Ourselves
10:00 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Masud Husain gives his talk Our Brains, Ourselves. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Stephen Alford: All His Spies
10:00 Berwick Parish Centre, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Stephen Alford on the secret world of Robert Cecil. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Willow birdfeeders workshop
10:00 Wark Town Hall and Mechanics Institute, Wark · £35
A three-hour willow workshop in which you weave two birdfeeders to take home. Places are limited. Organiser
Yule Goat Dressing Workshop
10:00 Ad Gefrin, Wooler · Free
A Saturday chance to help dress the six-metre Yule Straw Goat with thatching, sewing and craft. Twelve places, free refreshments. 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
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
Clare Coghill: Cafe Cùil Cookbook
12:00 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Clare Coghill on the Cafe Cùil Cookbook, recipes from the Isle of Skye. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Iain MacGregor: Battle
12:00 Berwick Parish Centre, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Iain MacGregor on the moments that transformed warfare, from ancient Greece to Ukraine. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. 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
Bloodaxe Poets: James Berry Poetry Prize winners
14:00 Berwick Parish Centre, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Readings from the three equal winners of the James Berry Poetry Prize, with Bloodaxe. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
David Breeze: A Chainsaw Massacre
14:00 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
David Breeze on recovering from the felling of a tree. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Roland Bibby Memorial Dialect Lecture
14:00 Morpeth Town Hall, Morpeth
The Northumbrian Language Society's annual lecture on the county's dialect, given this year by Paul Mein. Organiser
Celtic Nights
15:00 Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick · £30
The MacDonald Brothers lead an afternoon or evening of Scottish and Irish songs, from The Proclaimers to traditional Irish music. Organiser
David Hepworth: Hope I Get Old Before I Die
16:00 The Straw Yard, Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Music writer David Hepworth talks about Hope I Get Old Before I Die at Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Jake Morris-Campbell: Between the Salt and the Ash
16:00 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
A journey into the soul of Northumbria with poet and writer Jake Morris-Campbell. Organiser
Book Launch: Stone in the Water by Timothy Pitt
16:30 Ad Gefrin, Wooler
Launch of a new book on the shift from Celtic to Anglo-Saxon influence in the north, fitting for a venue built beside the Anglo-Saxon royal site at Yeavering. Organiser
James Bailey and Kathryn Mannix: The Meaning of Life
18:00 Salvation Army Hall, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
James Bailey and Kathryn Mannix discuss the meaning of life. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Pressure (12A) community cinema
18:00 Seahouses Hub, Seahouses · £8, concessions £7.50, children £4, family £21
A community screening of Pressure, the story of meteorologist James Stagg and the D-Day weather forecast. Book through the Seahouses Development Trust. 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
Simon McDonald: Lessons From a Life in Diplomacy
19:30 Holy Trinity Church, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £15
Simon McDonald reflects on lessons from a career in diplomacy at Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
The Brothers Gillespie
19:30 Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham · From £15.50
The Northumbrian folk duo launch their new album with an evening of fingerstyle guitar, close harmonies and a few extra instruments. 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
Qween UK
19:45 Hexham Abbey, Hexham · From £18
Queen tribute band Qween UK, fronted by Paul Carr, return to the Abbey for an evening of Queen hits. Organiser
Sunday 11 October 2026
Alexander Ballinger: Phyllis Dalton, a Career in Costume
10:00 Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Alexander Ballinger on costume designer Phyllis Dalton, from Lawrence of Arabia to The Princess Bride. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Alison Smith: Emergence, Writing Truth workshop
10:00 The Straw Yard, Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £25
A two-hour writing workshop with Alison Smith, Emergence: Writing Truth. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Traditional hooky mat workshop
10:30 The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre, Once Brewed · £40
Learn the history and technique of Northumbrian rag rugs and start your own small mat inspired by the local landscape. Drinks, free parking and a cafe voucher are included. Organiser
Claire Gilbert: Finding My Way to Write I, Julian
12:00 Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Claire Gilbert on finding her way to write I, Julian. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Wendy Holden: An Intimate Portrait of Audrey Hepburn
12:00 The Guildhall, Marygate, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Author Wendy Holden on the life of Audrey Hepburn, part of the final day of Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Michael Robb: Shelf Life
14:00 Berwick Parish Centre, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Michael Robb on the past, present and future of bookselling and publishing in Britain. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
Paul de Zulueta: Last Night I Dreamt
14:00 Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10
Paul de Zulueta gives a personal history of the du Maurier family. Part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organiser
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
Chloe Piano Trio: Alnwick Music Society
15:00 Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick · £20, ages 19 to 30 £8, under 18s free
The Alnwick Music Society season opens with the award-winning Chloe Piano Trio playing Beethoven, Dvorak and Kelly-Marie Murphy. Organiser
Louis de Bernières: Celebrating Words
16:00 Holy Trinity Church, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £15
The author of Captain Corelli's Mandolin closes Berwick Literary Festival with an hour of words written, spoken and performed. 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
Astrophotography evening
20:00 Kielder Observatory, Kielder · £39 adults, £33 concessions
A talk on photographing the Milky Way, aurora and star trails, then practical shooting under the dark sky if the weather allows. Bring a camera with a wide-angle lens and a tripod; phones can be used too. Organiser
Monday 12 October 2026
Come and Sing with Vivace Vocal Collective
19:30 Spittal Community Hall, Spittal
An open Christmas rehearsal with the Vivace Vocal Collective for singers aged 16 and over. No auditions, choir experience or music reading needed. Organiser
Tuesday 13 October 2026
Body of Memory: Paddy Hartley retrospective
The Straw Yard, Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · Free
A retrospective of 35 years of Paddy Hartley's work on science, medicine, memory and the body, including embroidered textiles, sculpture and film about First World War facial reconstructive surgery. Organiser
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
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
Ageing Well Information Fair
10:00 Morpeth Town Hall, Morpeth · Free
A free drop-in fair with local organisations sharing advice on staying active, healthy, safe and connected through the winter. Contact Morpeth Mental Health Group serve soup, scones and cake for a small charge. Organiser
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
Afternoon light entertainment with tea and cake
13:30 Seahouses Hub, Seahouses · £5
A relaxed afternoon of light entertainment with tea or coffee and cake, run by Seahouses Development Trust. Tickets from The Hub, cards accepted. Organiser
Berwick Film Society: Cotton Queen
14:00 Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10, £9.50 concessions, £6 Berwick Film Society members
A Sudanese coming-of-age drama set in a cotton-farming village, screened by Berwick Film Society at 2pm and 7pm. Non-members welcome. 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
Andy Fairweather Low and The Low Riders
19:30 Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham · From £31
The guitarist and singer who has played with Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Bob Dylan brings his band, complete with saxophones, to Hexham. Organiser
Stones in His Pockets
19:30 Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick · £12.50
Two local actors play fourteen characters in the Olivier Award-winning comedy about a Hollywood film crew arriving in a small Irish village. 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
Vanbrugh 300 talk: historian Rory Fraser
18:30 Seaton Delaval Hall, Seaton Sluice · £15
Rory Fraser on Vanbrugh's colourful life as playwright, soldier, spy and architect, followed by questions. Held in the unheated Saloon, so bring a coat. Organiser
Morpeth Music Society: Sarah Beth Briggs, piano
19:30 Morpeth Methodist Church, Morpeth · £20; season ticket £80 for six concerts; under 18s free
The pianist Sarah Beth Briggs opens the Morpeth Music Society's 81st season of chamber concerts. Tickets online, from the Chantry tourist information centre or on the door if any are left. Organiser
Rhys James: Chop Logic
19:30 Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham · From £21.50
Quick-fire stand-up from Rhys James, full of wordplay and cheerful overthinking about big ideas. Organiser
Friday 16 October 2026
Baby Cinema: Sense and Sensibility
12:00 Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10.50 full, £10 concession, £6.50 child, student and benefit
A relaxed screening of the new Sense and Sensibility for parents, carers and grandparents with a baby under 12 months, with lower volume, raised lighting and subtitles. 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
Women of Wallington guided tour and talk
15:30 Wallington, Cambo · £5 plus admission
A guided tour of the house telling the stories of the women who shaped how Wallington looks today. There are rest points along the way. Organiser
Krocodile Klub
18:30 Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham · From £5, free carer tickets
An inclusive club night in the Studio where DJs with learning disabilities, supported by professionals, run the decks. Free tickets for carers. 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
Aurora Night (early evening)
19:00 Kielder Observatory, Kielder
The 7pm version of the observatory's northern lights evening: a talk on the science of aurora, then observing if the sky is clear. Organiser
Hadestown: The Musical
19:00 Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £15 adults, £14 concessions, £8 children
The West End production of the folk and jazz musical, filmed live and shown on the big screen. Organiser
Bootleg Eagles
19:30 Seaton Delaval Arts Centre, Seaton Delaval · £18, concessions £17.50
A five-piece tribute to the Eagles, from the country-rock early years to the big hits, with all the harmonies played live. Theatre seating, and you can bring your own drinks. Organiser
Dom Joly: Trigger Happy TV 25th anniversary tour
19:30 Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick · From £31.50
Dom Joly revisits the hidden camera show with favourite clips and behind-the-scenes stories. Organiser
Don't Cry for Me, Kenny Dalglish
19:30 Felton Village Hall, Felton · £15 standard, £10 concession
A one-hour play about football, friendship and one Scottish fan's life, from the 1978 World Cup to the Falklands. Organiser
The Sixteen: Choral Pilgrimage
19:30 Hexham Abbey, Hexham
Harry Christophers and The Sixteen sing Spanish Renaissance music alongside works by James MacMillan and Kerensa Briggs. Tickets are sold through The Sixteen. Organiser
Saturday 17 October 2026
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
Hadrian's Wall Archaeology Forum
09:45 Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham · From £17
The sixteenth annual forum brings updates from digs at Vindolanda, Milecastle 46 near Carvoran, Carlisle and High Rochester. Mid-morning refreshments are included. 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
The Nest: the shorebirds of Long Nanny
10:00 Cherryburn, Mickley · £7.50 adults, children free
Coast ranger James Porteus talks about the birdlife of the Northumberland coast at Thomas Bewick's birthplace, followed by time in the garden. Limited to 20 people; bring binoculars and waterproofs. Organiser
The Art of Making: panel discussion
10:30 Roman Army Museum, Greenhead · £25 (£10 Friends of Vindolanda)
Curator Barbara Birley, artist Susie MacMurray and experimental archaeologist Sally Pointer discuss craft in the Vindolanda collection. The ticket includes same-day entry to both Vindolanda Trust sites. Organiser
English National Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty
14:00 Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £15 adults, £14 concessions, £8 children
A cinema screening of English National Ballet's Sleeping Beauty, with Tchaikovsky's score. Organiser
Burn Baby Burn: over 30s disco
15:00 Felton Village Hall, Felton · £10 plus booking fee
An afternoon-into-evening disco for grown-ups with music from past decades, back by popular demand. Tickets sell through the hall's website until the night before. Organiser
Hauxley Wildlife Talks: bird ringing for beginners
16:00 Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre, Low Hauxley · Free
Chris Wright of Ponteland Wildlife Group explains how bird ringing works and what the data tells scientists. Parking charges apply; the cafe offers 20% off before the talk. 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
Bewick Orchestra charity concert
19:30 Church of St James, Morpeth · £10, children and students free
The Bewick Orchestra plays Mendelssohn's first symphony, Bizet's Jeux d'enfants and a Rutter piece for flute and orchestra with soloist Rachel Jeffers, in aid of Kidney Cancer UK. Tickets from Morpeth Chantry (01670 623455) or on the door. Organiser
Hounds of Love: Kate Bush tribute
19:30 Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick · £30
A theatrical recreation of Kate Bush's 1979 Tour of Life with a live band. Organiser
Sunday 18 October 2026
Introduction to sprang with Sally Pointer
10:00 Roman Army Museum, Greenhead · £105 (materials, refreshments and lunch included)
A day learning sprang, an ancient textile technique seen in a hairnet from the Vindolanda collection. You go home with your own frame and the start of a bag or hairnet. Organiser
Advanced Kurinuki ceramics workshop: geology box making
11:00 The Straw Yard, Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £120 (includes materials and drinks)
A one-day workshop with ceramic artist Paddy Hartley, carving a solid block of clay into a lidded box inspired by the layers and textures of Berwick's geology. 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
Hadestown the musical (screening)
16:15 Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick · £15, concessions £14
A screening of the Tony-winning folk and jazz musical that retells the Orpheus myth. 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
Go West: We Close Our Eyes, And Other Stories
19:30 Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham · £32 standard, VIP options available
Peter Cox sings the Go West hits and looks back on four decades in music in an intimate evening of songs and stories. Organiser
Monday 19 October 2026
Power to the Borders: community clean energy
10:00 William Elder Building, Castlegate, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Nick Edgar looks at the economics, policies and opportunities around community clean energy, in a joint Berwick Educational Association and Greener Berwick event. 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
The Dark Cosmos
20:00 Kielder Observatory, Kielder
A specialist evening on dark matter, dark energy and the questions cosmology has not yet answered, with telescope observing if the sky is clear and hot drinks included. 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
House history: an introduction to researching your property
10:00 County Hall, Morpeth
A Northumberland Archives workshop on how to trace the history of your house using archive records. Tickets are limited. 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
The Met Opera: Macbeth
18:00 Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £15 adults, £14 concessions, £8 children
Verdi's Macbeth from the Metropolitan Opera in New York, with Lise Davidsen as Lady Macbeth. Sung in Italian with subtitles. Organiser
Emma Johnson and Gregory Drott: A Celebration of the Clarinet
19:30 Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham · £23 adults, £8 students, school children free
Clarinettist Emma Johnson and pianist Gregory Drott play everything from Mozart and Weber to Poulenc and Gershwin for Hexham and District Music Society. 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
Metal embossed heart decoration workshop
10:00 The Hearth, Horsley · £35
A three-hour craft session making an embossed metal heart decoration, run through the Highlights touring scheme. 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
Berwick Film Society: The Stranger
14:00 Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10, £9.50 concessions, £6 Berwick Film Society members
A new adaptation of Camus's novel set in 1938 Algiers, screened by Berwick Film Society at 2pm and 7pm. Non-members welcome. Organiser
Animal Farm
19:00 Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick · £20.50
Sam Blythe plays every character in this solo version of Orwell's fable, directed by Guy Masterson. Organiser
Animal Farm (solo stage adaptation)
19:00 Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick · £20.50
A one-person stage version of Orwell's Animal Farm in which a single actor plays every character. Organiser
Cnut's Invasion of 1015 to 16: the Viking perspective
19:30 The Guildhall, Marygate, Berwick-upon-Tweed
An evening history talk in Berwick Guildhall looking at Cnut's invasion of England from the Viking side. 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
Curator's after-hours museum tour
16:30 Vindolanda, Bardon Mill · £150 per person
An after-hours tour of the Vindolanda museum with curator Barbara Birley, looking closely at the organic finds preserved under the fort. Maximum eight people; light refreshments and same-day site entry included. Organiser
Beodern Supper Club
19:00 Ad Gefrin, Wooler · £27
A relaxed two-course seasonal supper: beef and Guinness stew followed by sticky toffee pudding with whisky caramel sauce. Vegetarian and vegan options on request. Organiser
Fallen Angels
19:00 Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £15 adults, £14 concessions, £8 children
A filmed Broadway production of Noël Coward's comedy, starring Rose Byrne and Kelli O'Hara. Organiser
Emmeline Pankhurst: Angel or Anarchist?
19:30 Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham · From £17.50
Liz Grand's one-woman play looks at the life of the suffragette leader and the direct action tactics that divided opinion. Organiser
Mountain Song: bluegrass
19:30 The Straw Yard, Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £12 early bird
Will Greenway and James Hickman play old-time Appalachian bluegrass with close harmony singing and guitar. Doors 7pm. Organiser
Amy Leach and Alasdair Paul
20:00 Horncliffe Memorial Hall, Horncliffe
An evening concert with Amy Leach and Alasdair Paul in Horncliffe's village hall, a few miles up the Tweed from Berwick. Organiser
Friday 23 October 2026
Verity
Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £10.50 full (£8 on Thursdays), £10 concession, £6.50 under 18s, students 18 to 26 and benefit
Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson star in this psychological thriller about a struggling writer hired to ghostwrite for a famous author at her remote estate. 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. Organiser
In Conversation with Paula Dunn
11:00 Ad Gefrin, Wooler
The artist Paula Dunn talks about her work to open Modern Classics, the first exhibition from Ad Gefrin's partnership with The Biscuit Factory. 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
Bog Standard
19:15 Bardon Mill and Henshaw Village Hall, Bardon Mill · £18 supporter, £15 standard, £12 subsidised, £10 concession
Journalist Rachel Pugh tells the story of the discovery of Lindow Man, the bog body, with music from harpist Becki Luff. 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
Lumos concerts: the music of Coldplay
St Aidan's Church, Bamburgh
Two Lumos concerts of Coldplay's music in St Aidan's. Timings and ticket details are still to be confirmed, so check before travelling. 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
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
Eric Thomas: lute recital
11:30 Berwick Parish Church (Holy Trinity), Berwick-upon-Tweed · Free
A late-morning lute recital, with tea, coffee and food in the Parish Centre from 10:45am. Admission by retiring donation. 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
Sense and Sensibility (PG) community cinema
18:00 Seahouses Hub, Seahouses
An evening community cinema screening of Sense and Sensibility at the Seahouses Hub. Book through the Seahouses Development Trust on 01665 721868. 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
Beatles Acoustic Trio
19:30 Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick · £25
Three voices, two guitars and a bass play Beatles songs from 1963 onwards, all live. 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
Tidekettle card making workshop
13:00 Horncliffe Memorial Hall, Horncliffe · £20 including refreshments
An afternoon card-making workshop in Horncliffe's village hall, a few miles up the Tweed from Berwick, with refreshments included. Organiser
Speakeasy: Ruth McCann on Japanese stab binding
14:00 The Straw Yard, Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · Free
Bookbinder Ruth McCann leads an informal afternoon of talk and making in a cabaret-style setting, focusing on Japanese stab binding. Doors 1.30pm. Organiser
Sunday Jazz: Sara Oschlag and the Arnie Somogyi Trio
15:00 Hexham Library, Queen's Hall, Hexham · £10 in advance, £12 on the door
Danish jazz singer Sara Oschlag joins bassist Arnie Somogyi's trio for a relaxed Sunday afternoon set in Hexham Library. 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
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
David Roberts: A Life in Clay
17:30 The Straw Yard, Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £15
An interview and Q&A with raku ceramicist David Roberts on his five-decade career, followed by an exhibition preview at 27 Art House from 7pm. Organiser
Folk night at the Ship Inn
20:00 The Ship Inn, Low Newton-by-the-Sea
The Ship's monthly folk night on the fourth Monday, open to anyone who wants to play or listen. 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
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
Berwick Craft Cafe: origami paper pumpkins
18:30 Tweed Gallery, Church Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Fold origami pumpkins complete with stem and vine, with tea and cake and all materials provided. Maximum ten places. Organiser
Castles: A Fortified History with Dan Jones
19:00 Alnwick Castle, Alnwick
An evening book talk at the castle with historian Dan Jones on his history of castles around the world. Organiser
Dan Jones book talk: Castles
19:00 Alnwick Castle, Alnwick · £14, or £38 with the book
Historian Dan Jones talks about his book Castles: A Fortified History of the World, chaired by The History Gossip's Katie Kennedy, with items from the castle archive. Doors 7pm, talk from 7.30pm. Organiser
The Royal Ballet: Manon
19:15 Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed · £15 adults, £14 concessions, £8 children
Kenneth MacMillan's ballet set in 18th-century Paris, screened from the Royal Opera House. 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
Autumn wildlife talk and supper club
18:00 Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre, Low Hauxley · £22 plus booking fee
Lee Rankin talks about autumn wildlife over an autumn grazing platter and drinks in the centre's cafe. Organiser
The Highwayman
19:30 Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham · From £20
A romantic adventure set in 1769 Yorkshire, following a highwayman through a county obsessed with money and status. Evening show on 28 October and a matinee at 2pm on 29 October. Organiser
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- Friday, 7am: the weather call, one proper day out and every family event that weekend, checked with the organiser.
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