Christmas 2023: Festive Fun for Families in Newcastle
We round up some of the most festive family happenings around the city in the run-up to Christmas
Our calendars are never busier than they are in the festive season – work parties, family meals, Christmas shows and the rest. And of course Newcastle is just teeming with Christmassy goings-on to keep us busy.
With so many to choose from, we’ve gathered together our picks of the best family-friendly things happening in the city – from Christmas film screenings to chances to meet Santa, winter walks under wonderful light shows and, of course, pantomimes.
Pantomimes & Festive Theatre
Pantos are as much a part of Christmas as mince pies and bad jumpers and Tyne Theatre & Opera House has a firm favourite this year – Peter Pan. This much-loved Victorian story of the boy who doesn’t want to grow up and his adventuring pals Tiger Lily, Tinker Bell, Captain Hook and the rest boasts a cast including TV stars Matt Lapinskas, Cleo Demetriou and Sam Laver in a production full of laughs, music and excitement. There are two relaxed/signed performances too, on 8th December and 3rd January.
The other big panto in town this Christmas is Pinocchio at Theatre Royal, another perennial favourite. Join the puppet in his struggles to become a real boy in a production starring local hero Joe McElderry, Chris Hayward and Clive Webb. It’s another glitzy production that promises excitement and old school panto innuendo! Again, there are relaxed shows on 10th December and 10th January.
Northern Stage has two festive shows – The Three Bears and Cinderella – both running throughout December, with the former aimed at under 5s and the latter for older kids.
If pantomimes aren’t your thing, perhaps you’d enjoy Wintry Tales: Snow-Covered Maps & Mountainous Mayhem at Live Theatre - a collaboration between acclaimed writer Lisette Auton and local schoolchildren. Wintry Tales foregoes typical fairy tales in favour of fresh, exciting stories developed with pupils from local schools. It runs from 9th to 23rd December and is aimed at anyone 7+.
Finally, a spectacular blend of theatre, ice skating and music, there’s Disney On Ice at the Utilita Arena. This ‘100 Years Of Wonder’ show promises all your favourite Disney characters (including the Encanto characters on ice for the first time) and runs from 6th to 10th December.
Meet Santa
As usual, Santa is defying space, time and logic by appearing in several places at once but we’ll let you explain that one to your kids! His appearance on the roof of Fenwick is hugely popular, sells out super quickly and isn’t to be missed. He’ll be up there, surrounded by his elves, singing reindeer and much more from 6th November to 24th December. There’s a workshop for Christmas crafting, a sleigh for photos and Café Claus for delicious seasonal treats too. It really is a Newcastle Christmas institution.
Of course, Santa will be putting in an appearance at lots of other places: there are breakfasts with Santa at the Blonde Barrel and Royal Station Hotel, both promising fine food, Christmas shenanigans and a gift. The County Hotel has a Santa brunch that includes a full American brunch buffet and a gift (for the nice kids!) and also Christmas discos with Santa throughout December - afternoons of absolute bops, buffet food and of course, a gift.
St James Park is getting in on the action too with some Santa Sunday lunches (3rd and 10th December) that include a three-course meal with pitch views, then a visit to the grotto to meet the man himself. Or if you think Santa is more an afternoon tea sort of chap, the Vermont Hotel is hosting exactly that – a fine traditional tea plus the obligatory grotto visit.
And there’s Santa’s Supper Club at Fenwick in Arthur’s Restaurant, running from mid-November until Christmas. You’ll be given a full festive meal, crafting for the kids and a chance for a photo with Santa who'll be dishing out gifts as well.
Finally, there’s NE1’s very own Search for Santa. This festive trail through the city is an adventure, a puzzle, a chance to explore Newcastle and finally a gathering in Newcastle Cathedral for fun, frolics and a meet-and-greet with Santa. It's a family event not to be missed – register your interest here.
Festive Films
Tyneside Cinema always does something special for Christmas and this year they're screening a whole host of family-friendly Christmas classics - from Elf and The Muppet Christmas Carol to How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Home Alone. There’s a special Polar Express showing every Sunday in December, with a Golden Ticket, hot seasonal drink and a chance to meet Santa and get a gift.
Newcastle Castle is making an ever-bigger name for itself as a unique and atmospheric venue to see films and this Christmas they’re showing Elf and The Muppet Christmas Carol. Fenwick is hosting its Christmas Cinema again too, with mulled wine and hot chocolate and films like Frozen, Arthur Christmas and Home Alone.
Finally, St James’ Park has its Festive Film Experience, with The Polar Express, The Grinch and Home Alone showing in one of their suites just before Christmas.
Christmas Crafts
There are plenty of opportunities to get crafty as a family this festive season and Seven Stories has quite a few crafting sessions coming up. Their self-led Christmas crafts sessions are taking place every Saturday and Sunday afternoon in November and December to let your kids get creative and the £5.50 ticket price gets them some festive refreshments too (adults go free and still get the refreshments!). There are also stocking-making workshops, running regularly every weekend right up to Christmas Eve (£9.50, including materials and refreshments) and toy-making workshops (also £9.50 and also every weekend).
Fenwick, meanwhile, are hosting a series of gingerbread-making workshops from 30th November to 21st December during which the expert bakers at Mason + Rye will teach littles ones how to make and decorate a batch of tasty gingerbread biscuits while parents enjoy a cream tea and glass of prosecco.
Outdoor Festive Fun
Skating at the ice rink at the Life Science Centre is a Christmas institution, whether you’re a pirouetting wonder or a total klutz! The rink opens on 11th November until 7th January from and is open from 9.30am 'til late. Booking is essential and there are relaxed skating sessions and opportunities to book as a group too.
The Northern Lights trail in Leazes Park is set to be another festive treat - a state-of-the-art combination of lights, projections, music and more wending its way through one of Newcastle’s most popular green spaces. There will be refreshments and rides and a Christmas village so families can make a real evening of it.
Of course, the festive season wouldn't be complete without the Christmas Lights Switch On which takes place this year on 14th November. Hosts Steve and Karen from Metro Radio's Breakfast Show will be doing the honours and leading the fun around Grey's Monument and this year’s lights are going to be better than ever
The lights go hand-in-hand with Newcastle's Christmas Market which will run from 18th November to 23rd December on Grey Street, Grainger Street and Old Eldon Square where a 10-foot-tall Christmas tree will be in place throughout the festive season.
Alongside stalls selling festive food and gifts, there'll be street entertainment on the weekends around Grey's Monument including live music and choirs and the popular Alpine pop-up village Moosenwirt will be back to keep your cockles warmed with cosy fire pits and hot chocolates.
Finally there’s the Fenwick Window, an absolute centrepiece of a Tyneside Christmas – every year the theme is a secret and every year thousands of people gather to find out what it is! The big reveal is on 5th November at 6.30pm which will be streamed live on social media platforms too). Previous themes – reaching back more than fifty years – include A Christmas Carol, Santa’s Christmas Pantomime, The Snowman and Wind in the Willows and we can't wait to find out what this year's theme is!
Geordies love Christmas and from the middle of November right through to the big day, there’s a non-stop stream of special events and activities for the whole family to enjoy – from Christmas craft workshops and festive films to skating and market shopping! So grab the kids and a mulled wine and make the most of what a Newcastle Christmas has to offer.
