There are so many fabulous family festive activities in the North East at this time of year, but it can soon start to add up and make a big dent in the Christmas budget. So with just less than a month left until the big day, here are 30 FREE ways to get your family into the Festive Spirit this Christmas in North East England.
1. International Christmas Market at Grey’s Monument in Newcastle
Until 10 December
The International Christmas Market will take place at Grey’s Monument, Grey Street and Grainger Street. While the rest of the world are ticking iPods and Wii consoles off their list, you can get back to the cosy feeling of handmade foods and buying special one-off gifts for your family and friends. This market brings us gourmet ingredients and a very real taste of Europe. You can get a currywurst from Germany, waffles from Holland, paella from Spain and crepes – both sweet and savoury from France.
2. Chopwell Christmas Experience
Until 17 December, 8am - 8pm
The renowned Christmas tree sales Chopwwell Wood bring a wide selection of fantastic quality British-grown trees to the Wood. The atmosphere is magical and buying your real tree from Chopwell will help protect the Wood. On Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 December, and Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 between 11am - 3.30pm, Santa will be joining the renowned Christmas tree sales in the Land of Oak and Iron, with crafts and refreshments too.
3. Christmas in the Coach Yard at Raby Castle
Until 23 December 10am – 4pm
Enjoy the festive ambience of Christmas in the Coach Yard at Raby Castle. Illuminated trees will greet you on the grounds, along with the smell of mulled wine and real Christmas trees in the Coach Yard.
- Find beautiful presents in the Gift Shop and enjoy a festive treat in the Tearooms.
- Raby Christmas Trees - Get into the Christmas spirit by choosing from hundreds of real Christmas trees grown locally on the Raby Estate. All lined up in the Coach Yard ready for you to pick and take home.
- Gift Shop - The Gift Shop at Raby Castle has been re-stocked this year with beautiful gifts for your home and garden, traditional toys and games for children, as well as specially selected Christmas decorations and festive goodies, to help you find a unique gift for friends and loved ones.
- Tearooms - The tearoom, housed in the old stables at Raby Castle will be serving warming drinks, cakes and festive themed snacks as well as daily hot specials. Visit the new ‘Christmas Cabin’ outside for warming mulled wine, gingerbread and other festive treats.
Don’t miss the Festive Farmers Market at Raby Castle on Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 December 10am-5pm
4. Park Lane Christmas Market in Sunderland
Until Sunday 24 December
This dedicated Christmas Market will run for five weeks from Friday 24 November to Sunday 24 December 2017 and there will be an extensive range of Christmas gift ideas, toys, decorations and tasty things to eat.
5. Christmas Grotto at intu Metrocentre
Until 24 December
Santa and his elves are taking over the Qube as the Christmas grotto is now open for business. The grotto is completely free and little ducklings over 18 months will get a free Playmobil gift too. Is your child under 18 months? They'll receive a fun roll-along toy, so won't miss out.
Grotto opening times:
Monday - Friday: 10am - 8pm
Saturdays: 9am - 7pm
Sundays: 11am - 5pm
Christmas Eve: Closes 4pm
6. Santa’s Grotto at Prince Bishops Shopping Centre in Durham
Until 24 December – open daily with Santa in residence Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
Shoppers can enjoy a magical Christmas experience, right in the heart of Durham city free of charge. For the first time Prince Bishops Shopping Centre have installed an enchanted wonderland in the kids department inside M&Co that opened in the unit where BHS once traded from on Saturday 18th November. Children can be amazed by a miniature Christmas village, a leafy woodland scene scattered with elves and creatures and a frozen ice castle while they wait to see the man in red! The experience has already been dubbed ‘Durham city’s best ever Santa’s grotto’ and the opening weekend saw a record number of visitors. Entry to the grotto and Christmas wonderland is free but the shopping centre is accepting donations to its charity partner for 2017/18, Heel & Toe Children’s Charity.
7. See the magic appear at Christmas InDurham
Until 31 December
An extra special festive-themed augmented reality digital trail is live across the City in December right up until the New Year. Keep your eyes peeled for special digital trail signs across Durham this Christmas. Follow the trail around Durham's historic streets and shops, take some snaps and hey presto, see who pops up! Will you find a snowman, some reindeer or perhaps even Santa himself?
Simply download the Digital Christmas Trail map – just one of the many festive activities happening across the City as part of our Christmas InDurham programme – and see how many interactive, augmented reality experience you can find.
8. Fenwick Windows In Newcastle
Until New Year
Take a stroll up Northumberland Street in Newcastle to view the annual amazing spectacle of Fenwicks Windows and see Paddington as you’ve never seen him before. Available to be enjoyed daily from 8am to 10pm until the New Year. Combine it with a visit to see Santa if you’ve been lucky enough to book a slot, if not make time to see the fabulous Christmas Department.
9. Christmas at the Grainger Market in Newcastle
Friday 1 December 5pm - 10pm
Enjoy a late-night shopping experience packed full of merriment and festive cheer in one of Newcastle's most iconic buildings, The Grainger market. On 1st December, the historic market will remain open from 5 pm until 10pm where there will be late night shopping, music, food, dancers, tours, sing-a-longs, freebies, offers, a Christmas Bar and hot drinks. FREE tickets are available here. VIP tickets also available.
10. Durham City’s Traditional Christmas Festival in Durham City
Friday 1 – Sunday 3 December
Based around the Cathedral and Castle, as well as other city centre locations, Durham City’s Traditional Christmas Festival provides excellent Christmas shopping opportunities alongside festive entertainment. The Craft and Gift Marquee on Palace Green will feature over 190 stalls, while 30 regional food and drink producers will be in the Cloisters of Durham Cathedral. There will also be outdoor markets in Durham Market Place, and Millennium Place, and more than 50 more traders in Durham’s Market Hall. Enjoy the local producers market in the Cathedral Cloister with a range of delicious breads, pies, cheese, hams, pickles, jams, cakes, sweets, chocolates and desserts – plus various hand-made crafts, candles, jewellery, gifts and much more! Join in the Carols for All Services over the weekend or an evening concert with Christmas with Durham Cathedral Choir, bookings essential.
11. The Camel Parade – South Shields Seafront
Friday 1 December 5.15pm – 6pm
Join a spectacular evening of entertainment at the unmissable Camel Parade! The three wise men and their camels return to South Shields this December for an evening of fabulous entertainment at the Camel Parade, one of the highlights of our Christmas event programme. Line the route along Ocean Road for the best spot to see the camels, who will be joined by a number of street entertainers such as festive stilt walkers and illuminated characters. At the seafront there will be even more entertainment and music featuring all your Christmas and party favourites, then once the camels have left the area the evening will end with a fabulous fireworks display. The evening will be hosted by BBC Newcastle's Sue Sweeney.
12. Sedgefield Snow Party
Saturday 2nd December 10am to 4.30pm
Hundreds of marching snowmen will transform Sedgefield into a winter wonderland this weekend. The annual snow party in Sedgefield, County Durham, attracts up to 1,000 people and this year the event, on Saturday, 2 December, will see a variety of fun and festive family activities take place across the town finishing with dancing snowmen on the Village Green at 4:20pm before the Christmas lights switch on 4:30pm
13. Whitley Bay Station Christmas Fayre & Lights on
Saturday 2 December at 11am – 4.30pm
This year will see more fabulous stalls, music, entertainment, fabulous food & drink and also the lights on at the station at 4.30pm! The Christmas trees will be on sale again, so you can carry your tree home and decorate it to continue the festivities at home! You may even find some fabulous decorations to add to your tree!
14. Christmas Crackers at Sage Gateshead
Saturday 2 December 10am – 6pm
Head to Sage Gateshead for a Christmas Fair with a difference! Bringing together independent vendors and products from across the region for a one-day event, taking place in the fabulous Concourse in this stunning venue. There’ll be a special festive blend of free music and family-friendly entertainment including demonstrations, children’s face painting, Santa’s Grotto and a special visit from Bjorn the Polar Bear!
15. Butterwick Hospice Christmas Fayre in Bishop Auckland
Saturday 2 December 11am
Our annual Hospice Christmas Fayre is taking place on Saturday 2nd December here at our Bishop Auckland Hospice. We have lots of Christmas Stalls, face painting, refreshments, raffle and a tombola.
16. Christmas craft fair Arts Centre Washington
Saturday 2 December 10am-3.30pm
Join us for our Christmas Craft Fair as the arts centre is filled with a variety of stalls selling products created by local artists and craftspeople. With stalls selling jewellery, cards, bags, home baking and more this is the perfect place to find an unusual handmade gift or treat. There will also be refreshments on sale including mince pies and mulled wine and carol singing by our fabulous Community Choir.
17. Festive family crafts at Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead
Saturday 2, 9, 1 and 23 December between 10am – 3pm
Make your own Christmas card or decoration on Saturdays in December. Suitable for children of all ages but children must be accompanied by an adult.
18. GIBSIDE FESTIVE MARKET
Saturday 2 December and Saturday 16 December from 10am
Leave the busy city centre behind and join us in a relaxing 600-acre garden. From 10am there will be a variety of market stalls offering appetising seasonal foods and high-quality crafts. It makes the perfect winter day out. Festive Markets are ideal for meeting friends and catching up over mulled wine, and of course some retail therapy.
19. MUSICAL CHRISTMAS IN THE ATRIUM at The Word
3 December 2017 until 23 December 2017
Join The Word throughout December for a ‘Musical Christmas in the Atrium’! Enjoy a range of talented choirs and vocalists who will fill the Atrium with festive spirit as they sing Christmas carols for all to enjoy. See website for times.
20. Festive Corbridge
Monday 4 December from late afternoon into the evening.
Late night shopping, food, music, stalls and so much more all around the village on this very special night of the year in the Market Place and all around the village.
21. Live Nativity Durham City
Thursday December 7 from 6.15pm
Part of Christmas InDurham. Telling the greatest story ever told, Durham Market Place will become a stage upon which the first Christmas will be told. Camels will bring the wise men and their gifts. Wrap up warm as this is an outdoor performance.
22. Alternative Christmas Market at Newcastle Castle Keep
Saturday 9 December 10am- 4pm
Ugly duckling presents your alternative Christmas Market. Come join in and celebrate Newcastle's upcycled, repurposed, zero-waste and sustainable scenes on the 9th December with free entry for all. Free workshops will be running throughout the day and there will be every chance to sample local food, drink twobytwo ale and grab some homemade gifts in the Great Hall ...... there is even live music in the dungeons! All of Ugly Ducking profits go towards fighting food waste in Newcastle Upon Tyne creating a caring, conscious city! Hosted by Ugly Duckling and The Magic Hat Cafe, Newcastle - A Real Junk Food Project
23. Christmas Craft Fair at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland
Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 December, 10am
The National Glass Centre values all that is made locally and is holding a craft fair to celebrate the beautiful handmade crafts the North East has to offer. The fair will be packed with stalls from local and regional crafters over two days. It's the perfect opportunity to buy a unique handmade gift or just treat yourself to something really beautiful! Their children's Love Christmas event will also be on both days so feel free to drop-in on the activity whilst you're there.
24. ROCKING ROBIN CRAFT AT THE GREAT NORTH MUSEUM, NEWCASTLE
Saturday 9 & 16 December between 11am - 3pm
Come along to the Natural Northumbria gallery between 11am - 3pm and meet a robin from our handling collection, then use our craft supplies to create your very own robin to take home.
This activity is designed for young children and their families.
25. WASHINGTON VILLAGE FESTIVAL
Saturday 9 December
26. WOODHORN WINTER MARKET
Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 December 10am - 4pm
27. XMAS CHOIRS AT THE GREAT NORTH MUSEUM, NEWCASTLE
Saturday 16 December 11.30am - 2pm
There'll be a festive tune or two in the air when you visit the Great North Museum: Hancock with a number of local choirs will perform 15-20 minute sets for your pleasure in the main Living Planet gallery. Performances at: 11.30am, 12 noon, 12.30pm, 1pm, 1.30pm & 2pm
28. THE ALPHABETTI CHRISTMAS MARKET IN NEWCASTLE
Saturday 16 December 1pm – 5pm
The 16th will be when we at Alphabetti celebrate our Christmas Day. Our Christmas Market will begin at 1pm including food stalls, art, handmade stocking fillers and fun craft stalls for the kids. Merriment, music, mince pies and mulled delights in abundance.
29. Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at Durham Cathedral
December 22 at 7pm and December 24 at 3pm
Enjoy a traditional Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols which always starts in darkness with a solo chorister singing the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City. These services are a highlight of the Advent and Christmas season and are very popular services, so you are advised to arrive in good time. On Sunday 24 December the Durham Miners’ Association Band will play before the service.
30. HADRIAN'S TIPI, NEWCASTLE
Open every day from 8am until January 7 2018
Hadrian’s Tipi is winter pop-up retreat located in the very heart of Newcastle. It offers everything a hardened Christmas shopper would want on a cold day… Inside you’ll find a warm log fire, cosy snug seating areas that welcome families, groups and dog owners alike. It has a large well-stocked bar of hot & cold drinks favourites from local breweries and suppliers. Enjoy the outdoor Winter Beer Garden with Christmas trees, atmospheric lights & outdoor shelters to protect you from the elements.
If you know of any other free Christmas events and activities please add them to the comments. All event details are subject to change please do check with event organisers.
What are you looking forward to most this Christmas?
Deb x
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