*** Free events and activities across North East England***
The school holidays may be coming to a close but there is still plenty of family fun to be had, with places to go and events to watch in September.
Here are over 20 free events and activities offering free family fun this month.
SCREEN ON THE GREEN
Friday 1 – Sunday 3 September
Old Eldon Square, Newcastle
- Friday 12pm - Trolls (U) & 6pm - Hidden Figures (PG)
- Saturday 12pm - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them & 6pm - Eddie the Eagle
- Sunday 11am - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (12A) & 2pm - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (12A)
TOUR OF BRITAIN FAMILY FESTIVAL WEEKEND
Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 September
Kielder Water & Forest Park, Northumberland
Enjoy live music, outdoor cinema, 12-hour mountain bike race, 3 sixty cycle stunt team, street velodrome and free drop in activity sessions for children
- Jumping Pillow (2+ years) 12pm – 8pm
- Water Walkers (3+ years) 1pm – 2pm
- Crazy Trikes (6-9 years) 2pm – 6pm
- Panna Soccer (6+ years) 2pm – 6pm
- Hoverball Archery (6+ years) 12pm – 6pm
- Body Zorbs (6+ years) 3pm – 6pm
- Crazy Carts (9+ years) 2pm – 6pm
TOUR OF BRITAIN
Monday 4 September
Kielder Water & Forest Park to Blyth, Northumberland
Come and see the start of Stage 2 of the Tour of Britain at Kielder Dam. Watch 120 professional riders from 20 teams set off along the epic 211km route – the longest stage in the 2017 tour. A free shuttle bus service will run between Kielder Waterside visitor centre and the dam between 08:00 – 12:30. Riders will set off from the Dam at 10:15am.
At just over 211-kilometres the Northumberland stage will be the longest of the 2017 Tour, and also include a finishing loop, giving spectators at the Blyth finish the chance to see the race twice. The route will also take in the likes of Rothbury, Alnwick, Bamburgh and Morpeth plus the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Tees Pride 10k and 3k Fun Run!
Sunday 3 September
Middlesbrough, Tees Valley
If you are not taking part go along and support the runners. There is always a fantastic carnival atmosphere for everyone attending. Participants of the Riverside Run will pass some of Middlesbrough’s iconic sites including, The Transporter Bridge, Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond’s Temenos and Middlesbrough Football Club’s Riverside Stadium.
Acklam Hall Summer Festival
Sunday 3 September 10am – 6pm
Acklam, Tees Valley
Head to the beautiful Acklam Hall for their Summer Festival with live music, food and drink, inflatables, children's entertainment and more!
WEEK COMMENCING 4 SEPTEMBER
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GREAT NORTH RUN WEEKEND
The Great North Run is one of the largest sporting events in the UK and one of the biggest races in the world. Taking place annually since its inception 1981, the race is a half-marathon which starts in the centre of Newcastle Upon Tyne and moves through the neighbouring borough of Gateshead towards South Tyneside. The finish line is located in South Shields on the North East Coast.
Ahead of the main event on Sunday, Newcastle and Gateshead quayside shows host to a spectacle of sporting events, including the Mini Great North Run, the pasta party and also the Great North CityGames.
Great North CityGames
Saturday 9 September 1pm – 4pm
NewcastleGateshead Quayside
A unique and purpose-built athletics course will be erected on the Newcastle and Gateshead quayside which will set the stage for a host of athletics events, such as the long jump, the pole vault, the 500m and more. The event is completely free to spectate - no tickets required. It will also be live on BBC One between 1.15pm - 3.15pm.
Mini Great North Run
Saturday 9 September 9.40 am – 12 pm
NewcastleGateshead Quayside
Junior Great North Run
Saturday 9 September 12.20 pm – 4.30 pm
NewcastleGateshead Quayside
The Junior and Mini courses both start on the Newcastle side of the River and take the young runners across to Gateshead via the Swing Bridge. The Juniors have a slightly extended version that loops along the river, but both the Juniors and the Minis will cross back across the Gateshead Millennium Bridge towards the finish line on the Newcastle side.
Great North Run
Sunday 10 September
Newcastle to South Shields
HADRIANS CAVALRY
Until Sunday 10 September
Exhibitions across Hadrian's Wall
Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle upon Tyne
Shock and awe – the power of the Roman cavalryman’s mask
A cavalry trooper projected a powerful image. Their appearance reflected the power of the Roman Empire as well as the man behind the mask. For the very first time, two bronze Ribchester-style Helmets are being displayed together, including the British Museum's famous Ribchester Helmet, found in 1796 and dating from the turn of the 2nd century AD.
Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum, South Tyneside
Uncovering cavalry – what archaeology tells us about Roman cavalry
New evidence about the equipment and daily lives of the cavalry stationed along Hadrian’s Wall is constantly being uncovered by archaeological excavations, including those at Arbeia. The exhibition consists of objects found in the barracks where the soldiers lived and includes two outstanding items from elsewhere in the Empire that match finds from the fort itself.
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS
Thursday 7 – Sunday 10 September
Various times and locations across North East England
Every September some 40,000 volunteers across England organise 5,000 events for England's favourite heritage festival! It's a chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore including free train rides on Sunday 10 September at Stephenson Railway Museum between 11.30am and 3.00pm.
On the same day, Seven Stories is opening its doors for free for a Victorian themed day! As the mill that Seven Stories calls home was built in 1836, visitors can join Story Catchers for guided tours of the listed building throughout the day, culminating in very special white glove handling sessions. Discover manuscripts and illustrations from books set in the Victorian era, such as Philip Pullman’s Detective Stories and The Ruby in the Smoke, part of the Sally Lockhart collection.
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 10am & 3 pm you can enjoy a site tour at Bowes Railway in Springwell Village. Designed by George Stephenson and opened in 1826 Bowes Railway is one of the only operational preserved standard gauge rope-hauled railways in the world and is now protected as Scheduled Ancient Monument.
At Sunderland Maritime Heritage in Hendon, Sunderland you can see traditional shipbuilding skills and techniques in the busy and active boatyard. Children and adults can have a go at traditional boat building activities such as caulking, copper roving, knots, and splicing. There will also be guided tours of the Visitor Centre and lots of competitions and activities throughout the days. Friday to Sunday 10 am - 4pm
On Saturday and Sunday, at Washington ‘F’ Pit Museum on Albany Way, Washington, see the amazing Victorian horizontal steam winding engine (now electric powered) in the former Engine House, the last of its type left in the North East. The Washington WWI Miner's Memorial is also displayed in the entrance hall. Free family art activity drop in between between 1100 and 1500 on Saturday only. Family trails available every day 11 am - 3 pm.
The National Trust property at Gibside, the stunning 18th-century landscape garden and haven for nature will also be open for free on Saturday and Sunday. Whilst Cragside is open free on Friday.
WEEK COMMENCING 11 SEPTEMBER
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Autumn Steam Gala WITH THE FLYING SCOTMAN
Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 September 10am – 4pm
Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon
Enjoy the ever popular, annual Autumn Steam Gala! The perennially popular steam spectacular returns to Shildon, with world-famous Flying Scotsman on display. See very special guest locomotives including Flying Scotsman and BR Standard Class 2MT No. 78018 as they visit Shildon, the cradle of the railways. Steam train rides, guest locomotives and cab access are all part of this spectacular event. Plus, Furness Railway No. 20 will be hauling passenger trains on the museum's demonstration line.
Our Wildlife 2017
Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 September 10am – 5pm
Hauxley Links, Amble, Northumberland
Celebrate the wonderful wildlife of Northumberland and see the fantastic new Wildlife Discovery Centre. The day will be packed full of wildlife activities for young and old alike including wildlife spotting, guided walks, owl pellet dissection, animal footprint plaster cast, wildlife photography tips, treasure hunt, tracks and signs plus a tombola and raffle. Additional Park and Ride service running from Church Street, Amble every 20mins.
The Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre is one of the best wildlife-watching spots in the North East. Right next to the beach, it offers fantastic views across the length of Druridge Bay and is internationally renowned for its birds.
CRAFT SKILLS FESTIVAL
Saturday 16 & - Sunday 17 September 10 am - 4 pm
Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, County Durham
See blacksmithing and stained glass demonstrations, talk to the experts and try your hand at a range of heritage building and traditional crafts including weaving, pottery, stone carving and much more. There will also be food and craft stalls and children’s activities all weekend. Take the opportunity to peek inside the Castle in our Behind the Scene’s Tours running at 10.30 and 1pm or our St Peter’s Chapel Tours running from 10am-4pm all weekend. Suitable for the whole family and for anyone with an interest in building conservation or crafts.
CUCKOO YOUNG WRITERS
Saturdays 2pm – 4pm between 16 September & 9 December
The Word, South Shields
Have you ever dreamed of being a writer? Or maybe you’d like to have a go at poetry, scriptwriting, songwriting or reviewing? Whether you’ve already got a novel on your memory stick or are looking for a bit of inspiration to give your writing a kick-start, this Cuckoo Young Writers’ group is the thing you’ve been looking for. Held weekly in term time, it offers young writers aged 12-19 a chance to share their work, learn new skills, and give and receive feedback in a creative and supportive atmosphere. Free for 12-19 year olds who can attend as many or as few sessions as they like. Term time only.
Traditional Washington Carnival
Saturday 16 September 10am - 4pm following the parade at 9.45am
Albany Park, Washington
Lots to keep the family entertained all day with Backworth Colliery Brass Band, Dance and theatre group performances, Face painting, Disney princesses, Paw Patrol and Minions characters, Circus skills activities, Funfair, Vintage vehicles, Go karts, Bouncy castles, Sports activities and local heritage groups.
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Week Commencing 18 September
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Gateshead Family Sculpture Day
Hammers, Wood, Nails, Make things!
Sunday 24 September, 11am-4pm.
The Grove, Saltwell Park
Gateshead Family Sculpture Day is back for its 32nd year. An event that sees up to 2,000 people descend on Saltwell Park yearly, to get making! As always, there will have tonnes of wood, tools, nails, expert artists on hand to help. If your wee one is too small to build, why not visit at 1pm and see all the amazing sculptures other families have made!
If you’ve been to Sculpture Day before, well then you know what it’s all about and if you haven’t – the tag line ‘Hammers, Wood, Nails, Make Things’ tells you everything you need to know. There are artists and professional sculptors on hand to get you started and help, so all you have to do is think of something to build…..
This year’s theme is ‘Four Seasons’ so tell us what that means to you using wood; is it a cheeky tree climbing Saltwell Park squirrel in Autumn? Is it visiting the beach and eating ice cream in the Summer? Could it be a blossoming tree in Spring? Or do you want to build a Snowmannnnn? Or is it a cheesy yummy 4 Seasons pizza (yes please!) or Vivaldi’s musical piece or even giant hotel? The possibilities are endless.
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| Me and one of My Boys enjoying a previous Family Sculpture Day |
If you know of any more free events either for September or in future months let me know by email and I'll add them to my list.
Don't forget to check our A-Z of free family days out in North East England. Comes with a map too!
Deb x
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1 Comments
Some good ideas Hun. I would love to go to a screen on the green viewing :)
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