What’s On For Halloween in North East England

Yes, it’s nearly Halloween. With the school holidays and October half-terms spanning two weeks this year across North East England there are plenty of opportunities to get out there and celebrate ghosts, ghouls and of course carve pumpkins. We’ve scoured the web to pull together a list of wickedly fun Halloween events going on across the region, if you know of any more please do add in the comments.

What’s On For Halloween in North East England

Unless otherwise stated events are included in admission price but please do check with organisers before venturing out!

Little Monsters Spooky Tea Party at Hardwick Hall, County Durham
Friday 19 October – Sunday 21 October 6pm

Tea will be served in the dining rooms at 18.00. You are able to arrive early and perhaps have a drink and be greeted by the The Spooky Pirate whilst the children can have their face painted for free. Lots of spooky fun and halloween themed music playing. From £15 child £24.95 adult

Halloween at Alnwick Castle, Alnwick
Saturday 20 – Sunday 28 October

DARE to join this Halloween,

You’re in for a spooktacular delight!

With potions, explosions and Gothic Birds of Prey,

You’re sure to get quite a fright.

Meet chivalrous Knights, Dragons, and an Alchemist too,

There’s something here for everyone to do!

•          Knight School/The dark side of chivalry: 20th - 21st October

•          The Company of Artisans: 22nd - 28th October

•          Medieval Alchemist: 22nd - 28th October

•          Gothic Birds of Prey: 23rd - 25th October

•          Spooky Trail: 20th - 28th October

•          Broomstick Training: Daily

•          Dragon Quest: Daily

All Halloween events are included with standard castle admission.

Halloween Arts and Crafts Session at The Word, South Shields
Monday 22 October & Thursday 25 October

Head along to The Word for fun Halloween-themed craft sessions. Children will enjoy making a range of spooktacular crafts! The sessions run twice daily between 10-11am and 2.30-3.30pm on the following dates: Monday 22 October & Thursday 25 October. Sessions are £1 per child, booking is essential. Tickets are available to purchase from Level 2 of The Word. Maximum 1 adult per child. Children under 8 must have an adult present

Half Term Pumpkin Lantern Painting, Meadowfield, Durham
Monday 22 October and Wednesday 24 October 11am – 3pm

Join them for a spooky lantern painting session and have your hand-painted pumpkin lantern ready in time to display proudly on Halloween night!

You'll be able to use your pumpkin lantern every year - no more wasting real pumpkins and making a mess of the kitchen!

They even include a flame-free tealight to complete your lantern once it's glazed and fired!  Price is inclusive of one pumpkin lantern as shown, all tools and paints, glazing and firing of the items, 1.5 hours event with instruction plus juice/biscuits.

Suitable for all ages but under 8s may need assistance. There must be a supervising adult onsite during the workshop. Book here  £20 per painter

Raby Castle: Room on the Broom Walks, Staindrop
Tuesday 23, Wednesday 24 and Wednesday 31 October

Book for one of three special Room on the Broom Walks this October Half Term on a Halloween ramble inspired by Julia Donaldson’s Room on the Broom book.

• Tearooms, Gift Shop and Play Area – FREE admission
• Tickets for Deer Park and Walled Gardens - Adults £7, Children 5-15 £3, Children under 5 FREE. Concessions £6. Family (2+3) £18.
• Tickets for Castle, Deer Park and Walled Gardens – Adults £12, Children 5-15 £6, Children under 5 FREE. Concessions £11. Family (2+3) £35.

Wharton Park - Halloween Art and Craft workshops, Durham City
Tuesday 23 October & Thursday 25 October 11am – 3pm £3

Activity takes place in Wharton Park Education Room.  Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Durham University Botanic Garden: Haunting Halloween, Durham City
Wednesday 24 October 1pm – 3pm

Join the ever-popular spooky mask making session and make a mask from the craft materials provided and by collecting items from the Garden.

Hardwick Park - Frightful Family Crafts, County Durham
Wednesday 24 October 11am – 3pm

Celebrate Halloween with some arty fun in the education room. £3

Hardwick Park - Nicki Noo Noo's Pumpkin Party, County Durham
Thursday 25 October – sessions at 11am, 12.30 ad 2pm

Music, games, dancing and Halloween crafts.  Advance booking essential.  £6

The Bowes Museum: 'Spooky' Family Fun Day, Barnard Castle
Thursday 25 October 11am – 4pm

Trick or Treat! Halloween excitement for all the family, come head along and make a witch's broom, create a potion and take part the magician trail.  Lots of crafty activities to keep you out of mischief!

Woodland Trick or Treat, Hardwick Park, County Durham
Friday 26 October 10 – 11.30 and 1pm – 2.30pm

Find the woodland witch, solve her riddles and complete challenges in a fun Halloween quest.  Ages 4+, booking essential.

Wharton Park - Fright Night, Durham City
Friday 26 & Saturday 27 October

Wharton Park Halloween Circus performance, fancy dress is encouraged.  Wear outdoor clothing. Bring a torch.  Children with a ticket for this event can enjoy free Halloween art and craft session. 

Adult £10.00 per ticket type,  Child £10.00 per ticket type; Family ticket (2 adults 2 children) £36.00

  

Halloween at The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland
27 October – 4 November

Have a seriously scary time this Halloween at The Alnwick Garden...

Who have a whole host of fun this Halloween with spooky thrills for the whole family!

27th October - 31st October

Daybreak (11am - 5:30pm)

The Spooky Trail - If you like a good spook, come and take a look. Immerse yourself in our Halloween trail around The Garden.

The Spook Zone - There will be gruesome sights and corpses to behold. Enter the Labyrinth and be brave and bold. Parental advisory.

Halloween Crafts

Double double toil and trouble, fire burns and cauldrons bubble. Get crafty with our Budding Artist Team and make magical wands, stink bags and potions.

Dead of Night (6:30pm - 8:30pm) £6

The Scare Garden Spooky Walk

As the darkness of the night crawled over The Garden a change in the air starts to happen. A once beautiful and enchanted place changes into a hudeous zombie infested realm. Are you brave enough to venture through The Garden at night?

The Scare Zone

This Halloween you will see the Bamboo Labyrinth like never before and once seen, it will never be unseen. Are you brave enough to enter the scare zone?

Spooky Afternoon Tea, Whitehouse Farm, Morpeth
Friday 26 & Tuesday 30 October 3pm – 5pm

Hubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble – Whitehouse Farm Centre has something Spooky brewing this Half Term………… 

Have a spooktacular Halloween and treat yourself to a ghoulish Afternoon Tea.

Enjoy a selection of spellbinding sweet and savoury treats, the perfect end to your Farmtastic day out.

Sample Menu - A selection of Spooky Sand’witches’, Spider Biscuits, Jelly Shot Surprise, Blood Scones, Halloween Shortbread Worms in Soil, Halloween Treats, Halloween Punch for children and unlimited Tea/ Coffee for adults.

All prices include admission to the Farm Park for our Halloween Spooktacular anytime from 10am, with afternoon tea served at 3pm in the Whitehouse Farm Kitchen.

As well as enjoying your delicious afternoon tea, children can join in with halloween themed crafts, our very own wicked witch will be doing glitter tattoos & Magic Merlin will be popping in to cause some mischief and mayhem too.

Pre-booking is essential for this event.

 

intu Metrocentre, Gateshead
Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th October

intu Metrocentre have a spook-tacular Halloween planned! for you with weekends filled with fang-tastic, free-ky activities for your little monsters.

Join on the Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th October for a weekend of fun and free trick or treating. 
Come dressed for the occasion, take a Spooktacular trip around our centre with your little monsters. Collect a free pumpkin bucket from our customer services desk in the Lower Blue Mall and visit any intu Metrocentre store that has a pumpkin in the window to find all the develish delights!

Please note, buckets will be issued on a first come, first serve basis so arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Wizarding Family Fun | Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th October

Calling all witches and wizards... join us for some spellbinding activities this October half term. Including wand making, broomstick training and a potion making class. We'll be joined by Harry Potter and Dumbledore lookalikes - why not try on their magical hat and see which house you belong in!

The Big Trick or Treat | Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th October

After such a massive response last year, we're beinging The Big Trick Or Treat back! We know lots of things can prevent you from taking your little monsters out on Halloween, so we've made it easy. Grab one of our pumpkin buckets and enjoy sweet treats in a safe (and warm) environment.

Halloween Specials at Stephenson Railway Museum, North Shields
Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 October 11am – 4pm

Stephenson Railway Museum's decorated heritage trains will be running during the day. On board, listen to spooky tales from the ghosts of Stephenson Railway Museum. Around the Museum, there'll be loads of activities: a witch hunt, spell making, crafts and storytelling. Make sure to dress up in your best costume - we want to see lots of witches, ghosts and ghouls!

Museum open 11am – 4pm

Heritage Train Rides 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm & 3pm

Halloween-themed half term planned at Woodhorn Museum, Ashington
Saturday 27 October – Sunday 4 November

Spooky storytelling, a hidden pumpkin trail, and spectacular bird of prey displays are just some of the events taking place at Woodhorn Museum this October half term as part of its Halloween-themed Let Go autumn season.

Woodhorn Museum's pumpkin trail opens from Saturday 27 October – Sunday 4 November. Find all the pumpkins hidden through the museum and colliery buildings and receive a Halloween treat.

Also opening on Saturday 27th October 2018 is an interactive art workshop led by Newcastle-based artist, Bethan Maddocks. Using paper craft techniques, fold, shape and decorate a sculptural autumnal leaf to help build The Fallen Forest, a magical tree-scape on the Coal Forest art trail that changes with the seasons.

Some spectacular birds of prey take flight at Woodhorn Museum on Wednesday 31 October. Get up close and personal with owls, eagles, hawks and vultures as Ridgeside Falconry lead interactive flying displays.

Completing the Halloween-themed lineup is professional storyteller Stephen Skelton whose spine-chilling tales will uncover what happens after dark at Woodhorn Museum. Who is the mysterious 'man in a leather apron' lurking in the Coal Town exhibition? All will be revealed on Wednesday 31 October.

The Let Go autumn season at Woodhorn Museum forms part of Coal Forest, a six-month programme that sees magical art installations transform the museum and colliery heritage buildings. Accompanying the artworks is a changing events programme themed around the seasons; Let Go (autumn), Glow (winter) and Grow (Spring).

The Let Go autumn season opens from Saturday 27 October. Entry to Woodhorn Museum is free for children aged 0-16 and £7 for adults. Concession tickets are priced at £6. All passes are valid for unlimited visits for 12 months from the date of issue.

Creatures of the night, Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre, Northumberland
Monday 29 October and Wednesday 31 October 7pm – 9pm

Join a walk after dark this Halloween in search of the creatures that call our reserve home. Learn all about bats and listen to their calls through the bat detector. Weather permitting we will also visit a moth trap to see what our bats have been feeding on. This is an outdoor event, held after dark. Please wear suitable warm, waterproof clothing and bring a torch if you have one. Please book places online, £5 per person.

Holmside Park - Cedric Dragonscars World of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Edmondsley, Chester-le-Street
Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 October – 2pm – 8pm and Wednesday 31 October 5pm – 8pm

Do you have what it takes to become a Witch or Wizard?

At Cedric Dragonscars world of Witchcraft and Wizardry you will be put through your paces learning spells to ward off creatures lurking deep within the forest. You’ll meet some excentric conjurors along the way, Broomington and Professor Wandless. Unfortunately, evil spirits are gathering and their powers are growing stronger. Can we defend our town against these horrid and vile beings?
Pre- booking essential.

£8.50 - Interactive Halloween Event/Walk (Approx 1hr), Wand Making, Broom Making, Spell Learning

Aimed at those 7yrs+ due to interactive nature. However the event is not set to be scary so please feel free to book on younger children if you feel the nature of event will be suitable for them

Extras - £5 - Includes: Pumpkin Carving, Face Painting or A Glitter Tattoo, Broom Flying, Storytelling

There is free onsite parking and we recommend wearing sturdy shoes.

Please note: Annual Passes are not valid for special events. Halloween Tickets are pre-book only and are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for an alternative date or event. A Photo booth will be available and will be an additional £5.00 for pictures.

Rainton Meadows: Creatures of The Night, Houghton-le-Spring
Saturday 27 October 7pm – 8.30pm

Come and discover the creatures of the night this Halloween with our spooky night time walk - what animals can you see and hear after dark in the nature reserve? A very special one-off event with limited spaces - Book Now. Book your place at  www.durhamwt.co.uk £8

Walworth Castle Birds of Prey: Harry's Halloween Horrors, County Durham
Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 October 10.30am – 4pm

Harry's Halloween Horrors at Walworth Castle Birds of Prey Centre. Come in creepy fancy dress and discover Walworth Castle Birds of Prey Centre's ghostly side. Harry's Halloween Horrors at Walworth Castle Birds of Prey Centre.   Come and go all day, no booking required. Come in creepy fancy dress and discover Walworth Castle Birds of Prey Centre's ghostly side.Make your own activities in Ozzy Owls workshop (extra charges may apply). Fancy dress on both days. Prizes for the best fancy dress awarded after the 13:30 display. Adult prizes too. Bat hunt through our spooky woodland walk.

Flying displays at 1330 and 1500 (both different).

Meet the owls at 1130.

Ferret racing throughout the day.

£4.50

Halloween Hoedown 2018, Easington Colliery, Peterlee
Friday 27 October 6pm – 11.45pm

A magical combination of Fire,Spectacle,Food, Costumes, Games, Music, Stories and, of course,Pumpkins!   Adult £8 Child £3

Crook Hall's Little Horrors!, Durham City
Sunday 28 & Monday 29 October 3.30pm – 5.30pm

Come and visit us this Halloween for our scariest night of the year! Complete our treasure hunt with tricks and treats along the way. Pay a visit to our wicked witches locked away in their tower room. They can practically guarantee a sighting of our white lady too. £8 per adult, £10 per child. Pre-booking essential.

Killhope Museum - Halloween Special, Upper Weardale, County Durham
Sunday 28 October 12noon – 5pm

Disco with fancy dress, competitions and scavenger hunt.  Bring your little monster along for a fun filled day in their scariest fancy dress – adults can dress up too. We will be having prizes for the best costume and best pumpkin or swede if you want to be retro.

Throughout the day you can take part in a spooky themed scavenger hunt across the site.

Don’t worry about the weather – there’s plenty to do in the Buddle House and you can warm up in the café with hot drinks and food. Museum entry fee applies.

Halloween at Ouseburn Farm, Newcastle
29 Oct 2018 - 2 Nov 2018

There’s a SPOOK-TACULAR week at Ouseburn Farm this October Half Term! Pumpkins, potions, ghouls and... goats? A mix of free and paid for events

Bowes Museum: Halloween Fancy Dress Party, Barnard Castle
Wednesday 31 October 7pm – 10pm

Celebrate Halloween with fancy dress fun, music and games.

  

Bowlees Visitor Centre: Spooky Space, East Allen Valley, Hexham
Wednesday 31 October 7pm – 10pm

From £2.00

Join Joe Gordon, local astronomer, for an evening looking at spooky space!

First fright – we will be wondering about the ancient sacred festivals of Halloween and the origins of spirits and fairies.

Second scare – we will look at where the Earth is in its orbit around the sun today and why that is important. Joe will need some volunteers to help out especially if they happen to be wearing a spooky outfit.

Third terror – see what we can identify in the night sky tonight. Are the lights in the sky spirits and fairies or are they planets, remnants of exploded stars or galaxies millions of light years away.

Weather permitting we will do some stargazing as part of the evening. Feel free to bring your camera and tripod to capture some beautiful views of the Milky Way will be overhead in the night sky. Wrap up warm and bring a red light torch (if you have one).

The event is at the High Forest Community Centre in the East Allen Valley (NE47 9SB).

This event is part of the North Pennines Stargazing Festival running from 20 October to 4 November 2018 – www.NorthPenninesStarFest.org.uk

Halloween Spooky Walk, Stockton-on-Tees
Wednesday 31 October

Will you venture into the woods to find the fairytale villains most wanted?

Join us for the annual Spooky Walk around Preston Park this Halloween and stumble into the enchanted forest full of fairytale characters that you definitely won't have read...

Halloween Storytelling (age 2-5 years) The Enormous Pumpkin 11am & 1pm

The Owl Who Heard Noises - A charming and (slightly) spooky tale for young children (2-5) 10.10am & 12noon

Halloween Storytelling (age 5-7 years) Hansel and Gretel 11.10am

Halloween 'Trick or Treat' Trail, Stockton-on-Tees
Wednesday 31 October 5pm – 7pm

You`ll find all the ingredients for a scary Halloween adventure on The Woodland Trail at Wynyard Hall. Dress up in your Halloween finest and go in search of ghoulish gargoyles and historical legends whilst you explore the magical woods.

Hope you have a spook-tastic time!

Deb x

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