Every month I aim to highlight some of the great FREE events, places, attractions and things to do with your family across Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside, Teesside, Durham, and Northumberland.
We are so lucky. North East England has so much to offer. There are many great paid for attractions and events as well, but as we head into February here is a list of over 20 family events you can enjoy for free across the month.
If you have a free event and would like it included this month or in the future, please email me at myboysclub@debsharratt.co.uk
Bones: Skeleton Secrets of the Animal World
Saturday 4 February - Sunday 14 May
Great North Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne
The skeleton secrets of the animal world will be revealed when 2017's must-see family-friendly exhibition opens on Saturday 4 Feb. The animal world is full of questions and bones can help us find the answers. The Great North Museum is putting its enormous collection of animal skeletons on display. From itty-bitty bats to whopping whales, bones are the hidden keys to how animals move, survive and evolve over time. Join the journey through land, air and ocean and marvel at real bones, teeth and fossils from over 100 creatures.
Moonwatch Stargazing Event
Saturday 4 February - 7pm to 9pm
Rainton Meadows Visitor Centre, County Durham
Join members of Durham Astronomical Society for this free public stargazing event. See the moon in stunning detail through telescopes and enjoy a tour of the night skies from this welcoming and friendly group of amateur astronomers. Ideal for children who will wow in amazement at the sights through the telescopes!
Glass Blowing Demonstrations
Daily
National Glass Centre, Sunderland
See the amazing daily glass blowing, lathe and flame working demonstrations which are free and run throughout the day. Experience the heat of the 1000 degree furnace and watch their expert glass making team craft stunning pieces before your eyes.
- Flame Working: 11.00 and 15.45 (15 mins)
- Glass Blowing: 12.00, 13.30 and 15.00 (30 mins)
- Glass Lathe: 13.00 (30 mins) (Excluding Tuesdays)
Stargazing Event
Tuesday 7 February - 7.30pm – 9pm
Wynyard Planetarium & Observatory, County Durham
Join astronomers from Teeside Astronomical Science Centre at their observatory in Wynyard Park. This is a great opportunity for everyone including families to experience observing interesting and distant objects through a large telescope!
Hauxley Open Weekend
Saturday & Sunday 11-12 February - 9:30am - 3:30pm
Hauxley Nature Reserve, Northumberland
Join the Dynamic Druridge event for the chance to see site improvements on the reserve. Staff will be on hand to provide information on the works that are being carried out and answer any questions. We will endeavour to open footpaths so that there is access to some of the hides to allow birdwatching.
Craft and Gift Market
Saturday 11 February 2017
St Patrick's Hall, Consett, County Durham
Consett Craft Collective brings you a Craft and Gift Market bringing together a fabulous selection of local, handmade goods, gifts and goodies. Buy handmade and you have something unique, bespoke or even personalised.
Family Quest & Busy B’s
Every weekend (excluding 25 & 26 February)
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead
Family Quest - Every Saturday between 11.30-12.30 you can spend some creative time with the BALTIC Crew to find out more about contemporary art in an informal and imaginative way. Families can take mini tours, play games and enjoy fun creative activities all linked to current exhibitions.
On Saturday and |sunday afternoons join the Busy B's team between 2pm and 4pm and get creative with these drop-in sessions with activities for young artists inspired by our exhibitions.
Winter Toy Fair
18 & 19 February 10am – 4pmLocomotion - The National Railway Museum at Shildon, County Durham
A collection of traders will be at Locomotion selling model railways, railwayana and collectables. And discover over 70 heritage rail vehicles from the National Collection at the same time.
More info:
Go Stargazing at Hamsterley Forest
21, 22 OR 23 February 2017 from 7pm
Hamsterley Forest, County Durham
The dark skies above Hamsterley Forest make for a great place to stargaze. The Milky Way is clearly visible arching across the skies and thousands of more stars can be seen compared to our towns and cities. Learn how to find your way around the night sky and how to locate fascinating objects including those our eyes alone cannot see — you are welcome to bring binoculars or a telescope! Hot drinks will be available for a small fee and the event itself is free or charge. A car parking ticket will be required.
To see the stars depends on the weather, therefore this event will be short-notice and run from 7pm on a “first clear night” basis. Click for more information or to register your interest in attending this event and to receive a notification when the exact date is known (1 or 2 days before).
The Full Moon Market
Tuesday 21 February 21 - 4pm – 9pm
Market Place, Durham City
The Full Moon Market arrives in Durham Market Place, around the time of the full moon – and is one of the North East’s premier streetfood events – combining fantastic food with live music.
Squishy Spaces
Wednesday 22 - Sunday 26 February - 11.00-16.00 Drop-in
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead
Families with children under 13 are invited to this free drop-in to explore structures from the inside out, all things oozy, bendy and crumbly. Experiment with balloons, bubbles and foam - dress for mess. This family activity is inspired by the work of Holly Hendry.
On Tuesday 21 February there will be AUTISM FRIENDLY SQUISHY SPACES at 11.00, 13.00, 14.00 & 15.00 - booking is essential
Imagination Wednesday: Junk modelling
Wednesday 22 February - 11am - 3pm
Stephenson Museum, North Tyneside
Children will enjoy putting their creativity to the test to build their own junk model of a train, car, plane or whatever transport they choose.
NHSN: What do owls eat?
Thursday 23 February - 10:30am - 12:30pm
Great North Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne
Have a go at dissecting an owl pellet and see if you can work out what it has been eating. Learn about animal bones and owls. Suitable for supervised children 6+.
Durham – Fire & Ice
24 & 25 February
Durham City Centre
Head to Durham for fire breathing, ice sculpture trails, street entertainment and live demonstrations, culminating in a spectacular grand finale full of thrills and adventure. Experience myths and legends taking over Durham City!
Let's play engine driver and guard
Friday 24 February, 11am - 3pm
Stephenson Museum, North Tyneside
Do you know or have a small budding train enthusiast at home? Capture their imagination by letting them create their own engine driver cap and guard flags at our museum.
Middlesbrough Superhero craft sessions
Monday February 20 - 10:30am until 11:30am - Grove Hill Community Hub
Monday February 20 - 02:00pm until 03:00pm - Thorntree Community Hub
Tuesday February 21 - 10:30am until 11:30am - Hemlington Community Hub and Library
Thursday February 23 - 02:00pm until 03:00pm - Easterside Community Hub
Celebrate the release of the Lego Batman movie with a free superhero craft session. Booking not required.
Victorian Family Day
Tuesday February 21 - 12pm – 2pm (drop in)
Monkwearmouth Station Museum, Sunderland
Dress as a Victorian child and explore the Station to find out about life in the past. Try different themed activities including washday, going to school and playing with Victorian toys. Make a toy rocking horse to take home.
Amazing Art Family Day
Wednesday February 22 - 11am – 3pm (drop in)
Sunderland Museum & Winter Garden, Sunderland
Explore brilliant art in the Museum on the art safari, get creative with our art challenges and discover more about artists working in Sunderland today.
Messy Art Day
Thursday February 23 - 12pm – 2pm (drop in)
Monkwearmouth Station Museum, Sunderland
Make a messy art creation in the Platform Gallery.
Rainforest Family Day
Friday February 24 - 11am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 3pm (drop in)
Sunderland Museum & Winter Garden, Sunderland
Make a rainforest layers hat decorated with jungle plants and animals. Explore real rainforest seeds and fruits and make a tropical pin badge. A whole series of amazing dinosaur models are waiting to be discovered with Jurassic Gardens open at Sunderland Museum & Winter Garden until Saturday, September 30, 2017
Know Your Birds Workshop
Sunday 26 February 2017 - 11:00am to 12:00pm
Souter Lighthouse, South Tyneside
Meet the local Coastal Conservation Group and Souter's ranger to learn your finches from your thrushes. Age 7+. Subject to weather conditions. Wrap up warm and meet in the car park.
Picasso and Warhol Works
Until 24 Mar 2017
Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Market Place, Bishop Auckland
Prints of works by Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Gilbert and George, Henry Moore and other influential artists work will be on display in a new exhibition at Bishop Auckland Town Hall.
The best-known works in the exhibition include one of Andy Warhol's iconic screenprints of a Campbell's Soup Tin and Picasso's lithograph Congress of the People for Peace, Vienna 1952 which features the image of a dove that he used in many posters for the International Peace Conferences and became a universal symbol for peace.
If you have a free event and would like it included this month or in the future,
Let us know which events you go to. Hope you have fun.
Deb x
6 Comments
Shame these are in my neck of the woods as there are a lot of interesting things lined up by the look of it! Great round-up :)
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DeleteLOVE the glass centre it's one of my favourite places as it's so fascinating. x
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DeleteGreat guide with a good range of activities. I'll pin it too.
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