Christmas 2025: Festive Fun for Families in Newcastle

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 – Cinderella. This much-loved story is jam-packed with song and dance, boasting an incredibly talented cast with the likes of local panto legend Charlie Richmond, and singing icon Maureen Nolan. Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions winners Twist & Pulse will even be returning for another year too! A signed and audio-described performance is on Saturday 13th December at 3pm, and a relaxed and signed performance is on Saturday 3rd January at 11am.

Next up, the Theatre Royal is transformed into a Whole New World, where you’ll be able to catch Aladdin right up until January! Seasoned panto pros Clive Webb, Chris Hayward and Joe McElderry will be taking to the stage this year for a glitzy production with plenty of excitement and old-school panto innuendo! There’s captioned and BSL performance on Thursday 11^th December, as well as relaxed performances on Sunday 7^th December and Wednesday 7^th January.

That’s not all! If pantomimes aren’t your thing, there’s still plenty to enjoy. Down at the Utilita Arena, catch Disney On Ice Presents Find Your Hero – a spectacular blend of theatre, ice skating and music with Mickey Mouse and all his pals.

Live Theatre also has a hilariously fun show Where Do All The Kittiwakes Go At Christmas? that families definitely won’t want to miss out on. Brought to life with some bright ideas from local schoolchildren, this festive tale is hosted by two kittiwakes and takes audiences around the world on an adventure to meet some feathery friends.

For shorter performances, there’s four different shows to catch at the Rockin’ Reindeer stage in the returning Christmas Village, but if you’re after a more traditional Christmas tale, then get those tickets booked for Dickens by Candlelight at Alderman Fenwick’s House – ideal for families with older kids aged around twelve and up.

And how could we forget the fact that not one, but two family-friendly festivities will be taking over Northern Stage this year?!  The Night Before Chrismouse invites little ones on an adventure to deliver a present on Christmas Eve, telling a magical tale using original music, puppets, and plenty of opportunities to join in. Meanwhile, their retelling of Beauty and the Beast transports audiences to rural France, where the beloved fairytale is performed by two mischievous fairies, a helpful rabbit, and their very own insect orchestra!

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!

Following the huge success of its debut last year, Santa Stories is returning to the Christmas Village at Old Eldon Square this festive season. This immersive storytelling experience promises to entertain the young – and the young at heart! – with regular sessions across weekends in November and December, so make sure you’ve got your space booked ASAP.

Fenwick has a whole host of opportunities to meet the man in red this Christmas! Of course, the ever popular Santa on the Roof will be back from Monday 3^rd November to Wednesday 24^th December along with a workshop for Christmas crafting, a sleigh for photos, and Café Claus for some superb seasonal snacks too. Alternatively, there’s afternoon tea with Santa, breakfast with Santa, Santa’s supper club and storytime with Mrs Claus. Phew, he’s a busy guy!

Of course, Santa will be paying plenty of other places a visit too – there’ll be an afternoon tea at the Royal Station Hotel and breakfast at The Vermont Hotel, as well as tea parties at John Lewis. For something a little different, families can even join Father Christmas in the skies with The Santa Experience at Life Science Centre! They’ll take to the sleigh inside the planetarium, before visiting the big guy’s home for a meet-and-greet too.

Wondering where else you can meet Saint Nick? Catch up on our article Where to Meet Santa in Newcastle this Christmas.

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 Nightmare Before Christmas, to double bills of The Snowman and The Gruffalo. There’ll also be special screenings of Arthur Christmas and The Polar Express, where little ones will receive a card or golden ticket before the screening, enjoying a delicious hot chocolate at the cinema, and a chance to meet Santa and receive a gift too.

New for 2025, Festive Flix at Old Eldon Square’s Christmas Village will be making movie nights magical with screenings of Home Alone, The Grinch, and much more. Grab some sweet treats, settle in underneath the twinkling lights, and enjoy!

Image: Popcorn and Coffee / Photo by Jill Wellington via Pixabay / Free to use under the Pixabay Content Licence

Meanwhile over at The Common Room, they’ll be screening the animated family favourite Mog’s Christmas this December, with some seasonal crafting in the historic Wood Hall to round the day together.

And of course, don’t forget to check out Everyman and Cineworld cinemas too for updates on their seasonal screenings.

Christmas Crafts

There’s plenty of opportunities to get crafty as a family this festive season, and Fenwick has quite a few sessions coming up! Their gingerbread decorating workshops are sweet enough for everyone to enjoy, and offer aspiring chefs the chance to decorate their very own gingerbread to take home – while the grown-ups indulge in a delicious sparkling cream tea! There’s even more magical memories to be made with their plate decorating workshops. Led by Santa’s merry helpers, children can create their one-of-a-kind masterpiece to treasure each Christmas, or gift to someone else.

John Lewis also has a series of masterclasses with Cricut™ suitable for adults and kids aged 15+ - perfect if you've got a crafty teenager to entertain this festive season! There's the chance to add a personalised touch to your festivities with Christmas jumper, Christmas mug and gift bag decorating workshops happening throughout November and December for My John Lewis members. Not a member? It’s super easy to sign up, just visit here.

Image: People Decorating Gingerbread / Photo by Antoni Shkraba Studio via Pexels / Free to use under the Pexels Licence

Christmas 2025 also sees the debut of Mrs Claus Bakery inside the Christmas Village at Old Eldon Square! Led by Santa’s friendly elves – and Mrs Claus, of course! – children will enjoy a hands-on decorating session that’s jam-packed with festive fun. There’ll even be the chance to make some magical fairy dust in Santa’s enchanted mixing bowl too!

After even more crafty classes? We’ve got you covered! Read up on our round up of fantastic Christmas craft and cookery classes happening in the city this festive season.

Outdoor Festive Fun

Skating at the ice rink at Life Science Centre is a Christmas institution, whether you’re a pirouetting wonder or a total klutz! The rink will be in place from Saturday 8^th November until Sunday 4^th January and is open from 9:30am ‘til late. Booking is essential, and there’s relaxed skating sessions and opportunities to book as a group too. Putting a spin on skating, there’s also the chance to enjoy karaoke on ice, and even sessions set to just Taylor Swift tunes and Sam Fender favourites!

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. Running from Thursday 27^th November to Wednesday 31^st December, there’ll also be time slots to accommodate neurodivergent customers on Wednesday 3^rd and Wednesday 10^th December for the whole evening, with a lower level of noise and capacity reduced by 75%.

Of course, the festive season wouldn’t be complete without the Christmas Lights switch on, which takes place this year on Thursday 6^th November. The lights go hand-in-hand with Newcastle’s Christmas Market which will run from Saturday 15^th November to Tuesday 23^rd December on Grey Street, Grainger Street, and Old Eldon Square. Alpine pop-up bar Moosenwirt will also be back to keep your cockles warmed with cosy fire pits and hot chocolates - kids are allowed to enter up until 8pm too.

Need a break away from the crowds? This year, Grey’s Monument will once again be transformed into The North Pole! Book one of their luxurious heated igloos to enjoy a drink or two from The North Pole Festive Hütte, some grub from the nearby Christmas Markets and take in the twinkling lights and gorgeous views of the city - it's ideal for a unique festive family experience.

Festive fairground Winter Wonderland makes a welcome return to the Utilita Arena car park from 5^th December to 28^th December. Packed with fun rides – plus Grinch stilt walkers, free face-painting and tickets available to visit Santa in his Grotto – it’s a Christmas must-do in Newcastle. Better yet, admission is free on Tuesdays and Wednesdays after 5pm too!

Brand-new for 2025, Newcastle City Council is joining forces with Northumbria University this winter to take you on an intergalactic adventure with Enchanted City. From Thursday 11^th December to Sunday 14^th December, the university campus will be transformed into a cosmic wonderland with awe-inspiring interactive installations, projections, light art, performances and creative workshops designed to inspire families and kids to discover the magic and mystery of the universe.

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 took place on Sunday 2^nd November and this year's theme is Charles Dickens' festive classic A Christmas Carol, brought to life by author and illustrator Chris Riddell. It wouldn't be Christmas in Newcastle without it, so make sure to have a gander while you're out doing your Christmas shopping!

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 and if you're after even more festive fun, don’t forget to visit www.newcastleschristmas.com – your one stop shop to make this Christmas unforgettable!

Main Image: The ice rink at Life Science Centre