October Half-Term 2023: 12 Fun Things to Do in Newcastle
Some of the fun, exciting (and spooky!) things to do with your kids over the October half-term
It feels like the summer holidays are only just behind us and yet somehow it’s almost time for the autumn half-term and for parents to start panicking about what to do with their kids to keep them entertained and off their game consoles.
But fear not, because we’ve compiled a selection of some of the most fun things to do with your younglings, and not all of them are based around Spooky Christmas... although admittedly most of them are!
Room on the Broom & Family Activities @ The Common Room
As part of its STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) programming, The Common Room is hosting a special screening of spooky favourite Room On The Broom, the Julia Donaldson-penned animated movie starring Simon Pegg and Rob Brydon. And not only that - your ticket lets your kids get involved in some STEM-based fun as they make their own broom and wind-proof witch’s hat too.
28th October, £7.50 for one child and adult.
Art Camp & Art Club @ Laing Art Gallery
As part of its ongoing series of art camps and classes, Laing Art Gallery is hosting an Art Camp this half term, from Tuesday 31st October to Thursday 2nd November. Aimed at 7-10-year-olds, the three days will see the young people discuss and learn about art, explore the Laing and work on their own creations guided by a professional arts educator. They’ll learn new skills, use new materials and create new works! Running for a day longer ('til Friday 3rd November), Art Club is aimed at 11-16 year olds but otherwise offers a very similar experience to the Art Camp.
Art Camp: 31st October – 2nd November, from £75
Art Club: 31st October – 3rd November, from £100
Creepy Crafts @ Discovery Museum
Hosted in the Great Hall, Creepy Crafts is aimed at kids aged 6+ and each session (there are four, at 10.15am, 11.30am, 1pm and 2.15pm) lasts one hour. Kids can make dangling spiders, flapping owls, a wooden Halloween lantern or some free witchy crafts, costing £4.50 if they make them all. There will be other crafts available on the day too.
30th October, free to attend but some crafts cost more
The Bat With No Bite @ Northern Stage
Running for a whole week, The Bat With No Bite (The Tooth Will Out!) is a Halloween treat for kids under 7. It’s got everything you’d expect – a cobwebbed attic in a haunted house, a coffin, and plenty of vampires! This spooky, funny story is told with songs and puppets and is bound to delight your little monsters!
28th October – 4th November, from £12
Kids Sunday Brunch Club @ Tyneside Cinema
Every Sunday morning, Tyneside Cinema screens a family-friendly movie in its café for everyone to enjoy - for FREE! - while they tuck into some excellent brunches. In October the theme is Action Animals - check the website to find out what movie they have lined up.
Every Sunday, free
Little Monsters Ball @ Hard Rock Café
Hard Rock Café are hosting a Mini Monster Ball on 28th October that’s going to be a spooky smash with your little ones. Their ticket gets them a buffet-style breakfast, a fancy dress competition (with a prize!), and lots of spooky activities like a pumpkin-drawing challenge. The ball runs from 9am to 11am and booking is essential.
28th October, £9.95 (under 3s go free)
Halloween Month @ Life Science Centre
The Life Science Centre doesn’t do things by halves, and this October there’s a whole month of Halloween-related events and goings on. As well as all the (un)usual attractions, there’s Slime Making workshops (28th October – 5th November), a Spooky Trail (can you find all the life-sized skeletons hidden around the centre?) and a chance to make a Crankenstein Monster.
1st October – 5th November, activities are included in ticket prices
Pop-Up Hospital Family Fun Day @ Newcastle Cathedral
On 31st October, as a break from all the spookiness, you can take the children to Newcastle Cathedral to join the Great North Children’s Hospital staff for a Pop-Up Hospital Fun Day. They’ll learn about how the hospital works and the kit that’s used and even get to explore a real ambulance. They can get a selfie with Fudge The Giraffe too. The event runs from 10am-3pm and no booking is required.
31st October, free
Halloween Bath Bomb Party @ Lush
Aimed at everyone aged five and above (so grown-ups are welcome too!), get down to Lush in Eldon Square for their Halloween Bath Bomb Party. There’ll be Halloween party games, free gifts and – of course – the opportunity to make your very own bath bomb (with expert help, don’t worry!).
31st October, £15
Autumn Mobile Workshop @ Hatton Gallery
The Hatton Gallery is hosting a series of Ways To Play events in conjunction with Tyne & Wear Metro, a programme of free or low-cost family-friendly activities, such as this mobile-making workshop. Kids from 4 to 10 years old are welcome to drop in and get involved making autumn-themed mobiles they can take home afterwards. The session runs from 10.30am – 12.30pm and no booking is necessary.
2nd November, free
Big Trick or Treat @ Eldon Square
Eldon Square is hosting a massive trick or treat trail to raise money for the North-East Autism Society this half term. Get your kids registered and decked out in their scariest Halloween fancy dress for a fun day exploring the trail round the centre. Participants get a Halloween gift bag and a map of the trail and have to find stores exhibiting Eldon Scare stickers in their windows, which means spooky delights instore! There’ll be other scary treats happening as well, including a Halloween face painter.
28th October, check website for availability
Dragon @ Alphabetti Theatre
Dragon is a tale of magic, fantasy and duty told using puppets, projections, digital animation, music and a cast of three performers but – crucially – no words. This makes it perfect for kids with limited English, or for whom English is a second language. It’s aimed at anyone seven-plus and promises some genuinely spellbinding theatre.
31st October - 4th November, pay what you feel
Newcastle is the kind of vibrant, lively city where there’s always something to do, especially for kids. We hope our selection of half-term activities gives you some ideas and your kids lots of fun - happy half-term!
