March FREE family events & activities in north east England

With 31 days in March and four full weekends, there is ample opportunity to enjoy some quality time with the family this month. As well as the amazing paid-for attractions and events that happen across North East England, here is this month’s list of free family activities and events to make our budgets go that little bit further.

And there are more than 20 of them ...

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

CLICK HERE TO WIN A VIP PASS TO OVER 20 DURHAM ATTRACTIONS AND FREE ENTRY FOR 1 YEAR 

Jurassic Gardens

Everyday until Saturday, September 30, 2017 
Monday - Saturday 10am - 4pm & Sunday - 12noon - 4pm    

Sunderland Museum & Wintergarden, Sunderland

Hidden amongst the lush vegetation of an indoor garden a whole series of amazing dinosaur models are waiting to be discovered. See a baby T-Rex as it hatches from its giant egg, watch a stegosaurus and a triceratops grazing on the greenery and spot some pteranodons flying overhead. Hunt down a velociraptor before it finds you and try not to disturb the sleepy crocodile as it lurks by the pool. The collection now also includes an impressive 3-metre high utahraptor, a baby camarasaurus and a huge pterodactyl with a 2-metre wingspan.

More info: 

Bones: Skeleton Secrets of the Animal World

Until 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.

More info: 

Glass Blowing Demonstrations 

Daily throughout March

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)

More info:

Family Quest & Busy B’s

Every weekend

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 2 pm and 4 pm and get creative with these drop-in sessions with activities for young artists inspired by our exhibitions. 

GRUFFALO SPOTTERS TRAILS 

Every Day
Hamsterley Forest & Kielder Water and Forest Park

Bring the Gruffalo and other characters to life with this brand new Gruffalo Spotters trail and exciting augmented reality app. Download The Gruffalo Spotter app at home, then visit Hamsterley Forest in Durham or Kielder Water and Forest Park in Northumberland. Along the trails look out for clues which lead to footprint marker posts - point the app at these and watch Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake and the Gruffalo appear before your eyes!

More info: 

Read how "Sprog on the Tyne" got on with the Gruffalo App at Kielder Water & Forest Park.

BRILLIANT BOOKS

Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 March 1-3pm Drop In Session

Palace Green Library, Durham

Celebrate World Book Day by making a notebook to create your own brilliant book. Suitable for children aged 5 to 11 but children must be accompanied by an adult.

More info: 

CoderDojo

Sat 4 March – Baltic, Gateshead 10.30 am

Sat 11 March – Durham Clayport Library 10 am

Sat 11 March - Newcastle College 10 am

Sat 18 March - Centre for Life, Newcastle 11 am

Sat 25 March - Campus North, Newcastle 10 am 

Come along to learn Scratch, HTML, Python, Javascript or just anything you need. Young people between 6 and 16 learn how to code, develop websites, apps, programs, games and more. CoderDojo is about learning together, supporting each other and sharing your knowledge. 
More info: 

Model motion

4-5 March 10am-4pm

Locomotion, The National Railway Museum at Shildon, Durham

Model railway displays of various subject matters, eras and gauges will be on display at Locomotion.

More info 

Dino Pals

Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th March, 11am-3.30pm.

Woodhorn Museum, Northumberland

Use our Brick Dinos as inspiration and create your own paper plate dinosaur to take home with you. Will your Dino Pal be friendly or fierce?

More info:

Woodhorn also has the DinoBricks exhibition at the moment. There is a charge for this but you can read more about our recent visit, here.

Hauxley Open Weekend

Saturday 11 Mar 2017 and Sunday 12 Mar 201710.00am-4.00pm

Hauxley Nature Reserve, Low Hauxley, Amble, Northumberland

Our public open weekend allows you the opportunity to see the progress we are making on our innovative new visitor centre and other site improvements. We will endeavour to open footpaths to allow access to hides where possible. Free event but donations are welcome. This is a Dynamic Druridge event.
More info

Marvellous Marbling

Saturday 11 - Sunday 12 March, 1-3pm Drop In Session

Palace Green Library, Durham

Ever wondered how to produce marbled paper? Here’s your chance to have a go! Suitable for children aged 5 to 11 but children must be accompanied by an adult.

More info: 

Raspberry Jam

11 March 9.30 am - 12 noon drop-in session

Blaydon Library

Calling all Raspberry Pi enthusiasts, hobbyists and hackers. We’re holding our first Jam and need you to come along! Mingle, learn, share, enjoy. If you’re interested in Raspberry Pi computers join in.

More info 

FISH QUAY FAMILY FOOD FESTIVAL

Saturday 11 - Sunday 12 March, 10am - 4.30pm (Tickets are only left for Sunday)

North Shields Fish Quay

A weekend for foodies of all ages down in the heart of North Shields Fish Quay. Set on "the net" behind Old Low Lights on the Fish Quay, this event is set to be a splendid weekend of local food for all the family. Expect: Local made produce, Street Food, Food and Drinks related stalls, Food tasting, Food Demonstrations, Children's Health Food Area, Vegan and Vegetarian Option, Bar serving locally produced Real Ales, and  Local musicians and singers
Tickets for Sunday available here 

Ground Level 5" Gauge Association Rally

17-19 March 10-4

Locomotion, The National Railway Museum at Shildon, Durham

The Ground Level 5" Gauge Association will set up its railway in our Collection Building for a busy weekend of shunting. 
More info 

Curious Creatures

Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 March, 1pm - 3 pm Drop-in Session

Palace Green Library, Durham

Have you seen our Cabinet of curiosity? Filled with taxidermy animals? Create a mask inspired by these curious creatures. Suitable for children aged 5 to 11 but children must be accompanied by an adult.
More info:

Canny Comic Con 2017

18 March 10.30 - 3.30

Newcastle City Library

The Canny Comic Con! The one-day arts festival celebrating comics and sequential art. Expect a hall jam-packed with some of the most interesting comics creators from around the region and beyond, representing a wide range of art styles, subject matter and levels of experience, with attendees ranging from accomplished pros to local open-to-all DIY comics group the Paper Jam Comics Collective. Plus: Talks, panels, workshops and drop-by drawing.

More info: 

Hack Minecraft

Saturday 18 March 10am - 11 am

Crawcrook Library

Have a go at coding in Minecraft with our Raspberry Pi computers. Learn how to leave a trail of diamonds or teleport Steve. Aimed at children 8+ years.

Book in advance

Super Antweight Robots

Saturday 18 March 11 am - 5pm

Gateshead Central Library

Meet the team behind TR2 robot semi-finalists of UK Robot Wars on BBC and see TR2 close up! Build a Super Ant Weight Robot with the team behind Roaming Robots and the Extreme Robots Show. You will be using motors and radio equipment, plus materials (cardboard, pens, glue etc.) to construct a robot from scratch. Expert help will be on hand to lend support, advice and technical help, to ensure that within the allotted session, each of the groups end up with a finished, working robot. Then for the real test!!! Robots will be placed into the arena; each of the robots is tested to see who will be victorious, in their very own competition.

There are 2 sessions to choose from please select your ticket for 11.00am-12.30pm or 1 pm – 2.30pm

Suitable for families with children age 6+

Book in advance 

Gosforth Community Book Festival

Saturday 18 March, 10 am - 3 pm

Newcastle School for Boys, The Grove, Gosforth

Ideal for children aged 3 to 16, the festival will see talks and book signings from some of your favourite children's authors including Tom Palmer, Chris Callaghan, Dave Cousins, Andy Briggs and Holly Sterling. Activities will also be running throughout the day including arts and crafts activities, creative writing and a Seven Stories Bookstall to buy books from your favourite authors.

SPRING AT DURHAM CASTLE

18 March 2017

Durham Castle

Castle Community Action (CCA) and Durham Castle Museum have teamed together to offer you a unique experience at Durham Castle, so bring the whole family and a picnic.

Enjoy a Spring day at Durham Castle with an Egg hunt in the secluded castle gardens, craft activities in the Great Hall, and mini-family fun tours of the castle at 11.15, 12.00, 12.45 and 13.15 (places on the tours are limited and will be allocated on a first come basis). 

Eggs hunts will be every half hour from 11.30am. The Easter Egg hunt won’t be rained off (so come prepared for any weather!). 

Booking is essential  (Please bring a print out of your ticket or your booking number to the event)

FAMILY FUN – STORYTELLING

Saturday 18 March 10.30am – 4 pm

Durham Cathedral

Storyteller Adam Bushnell will celebrate St Cuthbert with stories about the Anglo-Saxons and the vicious Vikings! There will be object handling and other activities suitable for ages 3+.

 No need to book - more info here:.

ST CUTHBERT’S MARKET

Saturday 18 March 10am – 4pm

Cloisters of Durham Cathedral

As part of the celebrations for St Cuthbert’s Day, the Cloisters of Durham Cathedral will host a special market of regional food and drink producers organised by Durham Markets Company.  Expect to find a fantastic range of fresh meats, cheeses, bread, cakes and biscuits and well as locally-produced sauces and drinks.  Discover the wealth of produce coming from County Durham as the city celebrates St Cuthbert’s Day.
More info:

Stargazing at Druridge Bay

Saturday 18 March 19:00 – 22:00

Druridge Bay Country Park, Red Row, Northumberland

An evening of stargazing at the visitor's centre in Druridge Bay Country Park, with NASTRO, the Northumberland Astronomical Society. The evening will consist of a talk on a topical subject and if the weather is kind, a session using telescopes provided by members of NASTRO who will be on hand to answer questions and point out the various objects that will be visible in the sky that night.

The event is suitable for all ages and levels of experience. Remember to wear warm clothes!

Please note: the event will go ahead regardless of weather conditions, so please only book places if you intend to come even if it's cloudy or raining.

More info:

FantaZmagoriA

25-26 March 10-4

Locomotion, The National Railway Museum at Shildon, Durham

Steampunk and sci-fi under one roof!

Organised by the Film and TV Models Club, this event features displays, demonstrations, trade stands and much more.
More info:

Colourful Ceramics

Saturday, March 25, 2017 - Sunday, March 26, 2017 1-3pm Drop In Session

Palace Green Library, Durham

Take inspiration from our archaeology collections and make your own ceramic masterpiece to take home. Suitable for children aged 5 to 11 but children must be accompanied by an adult.

More info: 

  

Museum Mini Bites

Friday 31 March 3.30 pm – 5 pm

South Shields Museum & Art Gallery

Get to know our museum in bite-sized chunks with mini-tours and fun and family-friendly craft activities. Come down with friends and family after school.

More info: 

Whatever you end up doing in March I hope you have fun!

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

Cheers,

Deb x

PS As with all events and activities please do check with event organisers in case details change.