- Play Hard
- 22nd Jul 2026
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What’s on in the North East this weekend
Grow Your Own Garden – Gateshead
When: Thursday 23rd July
Where: Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
Price: £5 Donation Ticket
Baltic invites families to help build a lush garden entirely from cardboard and recycled materials, with sessions running throughout both days and a £5 per child donation requested to support the charity’s school holiday activities.
Mini Beast Hunting – Washington
When: Thursday 23rd July
Where: Washington Wetland Centre
Price: Free (included in general admission)
Washington Wetland Centre invites families to go bug hunting! Using brushes, magnifiers and observation trays to search out what’s living in the soil, leaves and wood.
Wines for the Curious – Newcastle
When: Thursday 23rd July
Where: The Biscuit Factory
Price: £45
Wine merchant Danny Kitzman brings six bottles with stories behind them to The Biscuit Factory, taking guests from the Marche to Corsica, Oregon and the Loire Valley. No wine knowledge required, just curiosity.
The Unthanks and Friends – Middlesborough
When: Thursday 23rd July
Where: Middlesborough Town Hall
Price: Tickets from £8
The Unthanks bring their distinctive harmonies and storytelling to the BBC Proms, joined by the Royal Northern Sinfonia under conductor Ellie Slorach.
The Proclaimers – Sunderland
When: Thursday 23rd July
Where: Empire Theatre Sunderland
Price: Tickets from £45.35
The Proclaimers, twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid, bring their 37-year back catalogue, including the global anthem born from their debut album This Is The Story, to Sunderland Empire on Thursday 23rd July.
Crafting for Creatures – Washington
When: Friday 24th July
Where: Washington Wetland Centre
Price: Free (included in general admission)
Washington Wetland Centre’s Crafting for Creatures session at Wetwood Cabin invites families to make enrichment crafts for the otters and geese, from festival pebbles to scented bunting, as part of the Dragonfly Festival.
Pedal & Play – Gateshead
When: Friday 24th July
Where: Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
Price: Free
Baltic’s Big Family Summer brings a free cycling skills track to the gallery on Friday 24th July and 28th August, with expert leaders, borrowable bikes and a cone course designed to build confidence for riders of all abilities.
Wild Flower Picking – Northumberland
When: Friday 24th July
Where: Bamburgh Wyld Flowers
Price: £7.50 for a small jar
Bamburgh Wyld Flowers opens this Friday 24th July, a pick-your-own field near Bamburgh with over 14 varieties of wild flowers, sweeping Cheviot hill views and limited numbers for a relaxed pace. Bookings running Fridays, Sundays and Wednesdays.
Let’s Circus – Northumberland
When: Friday 24th July
Where: Seaton Delaval Hall
Price: Free (included in general admission)
Let’s Circus returns to Seaton Delaval Hall every Friday from 24th July to 28th August with free drop-in circus skills sessions, have-a-go activities and mini shows, no booking needed, a summer afternoon of fun.
The O Co. Supper Club – Tynemouth
When: Friday 24th & Saturday 25th July
Where: Laneway & Co.
Price: £80
Mobile oyster bar The O Co. teams up with Laneway & Co. for a one-weekend-only supper club, serving a seven-course set menu of oysters, lobster, scallops and more with Laneway’s drinks and good tunes.
A Tipsy Tipi Night at Bradbury Glade – Durham
When: Friday 24th July
Where: Bradbury Glade
Price: £15
Bradbury Glade’s Tipsy Tipi Night brings live music from Ty Lewis, street food and drinks to its fairy-lit tipis in Sedgefield, with tickets including a food and drink token.
Beach Yoga with Daisy Turnbull – Sunderland
When: Saturday 25th July
Where: The Hideout Coffee, Seaburn Promenade
Price: £14
Daisy Turnbull’s mixed level Beach Yoga class meets by The Hideout Coffee on Seaburn Promenade for a Vinyasa Flow session overlooking the ocean, suitable for beginners through to advanced yogis.
Saturday Social: Olive & YANA Run Club – Jesmond
When: Saturday 25th July
Where: Olive Coffee Co.
Price: £10
YANA Active’s Saturday Social run club returns to Olive Coffee Co.’s new Jesmond space, with a guided 5km run or 3km walk followed by coffee, doughnuts and wellness treats, open to all and dog and child friendly.
Spritz + Sit – Gateshead
When: Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th July
Where: Sofa Club, Metrocentre
Price: Free
Sofa Club’s Metrocentre showroom in Gateshead offers a complimentary Aperol Spritz, or alcohol-free alternative, to shoppers browsing its latest collections, as part of a UK-wide summer activation.
England Netball North East Festival – Gateshead
When: Saturday 25th July
Where: Metrocentre
Price: Free
Netball takes over Metrocentre’s Exhibition Square in Gateshead for a free, day-long festival marking England Netball North East’s centenary. Expect taster sessions, a Supershot challenge, Bee Netball for 5 to 11 year olds, and Walking Netball and Back to Netball for the players returning to the sport.
Trio of Rings: Sterling Silver Ring Making Class – Hartlepool
When: Saturday 25th July
Where: The Little Silver Kiln, The BIS
Price: £35
The Little Silver Kiln’s Trio of Rings class at The BIS in Hartlepool teaches beginners to cut, texture, solder and polish a set of three sterling silver rings, with one-to-one tutor time and all materials included.
Kids Craft Workshop: Foam Clay Monsters – Sunderland
When: Saturday 25th July
Where: Grindon Young People’s Centre
Price: £6.13
Melidy Makes’ fortnightly craft workshop at Grindon Young People’s Centre in Sunderland lets children aged 3+ create their own foam clay monster, with full materials provided and two qualified staff on hand throughout.
Paws on Tour walk with Pooch & Mutt – Northumberland
When: Saturday 25th July
Where: Waterside Kielder Forest
Price: £6
Pooch & Mutt’s Paws on Tour walk comes to Waterside in Kielder Forest, joined by influencer Kerry (@maxoutinthelakedistrict_) for a short dog walk, meet and greet, and goody bags.
Newcastle Pride – Newcastle
When: Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th July
Where: Times Square
Price: Tickets from £8
Newcastle Pride returns to the city centre under new organisers the Curious family, headlined by Nadine Coyle, Katy B, Bimini and Danny Beard, with an expanded stage, immersive zones, and dedicated Market Village, Trans+ and Family and Youth areas.
Grind & Groove: lululemon x Fenwick Run Club – Newcastle
When: Sunday 26th July
Where: Greys Monument
Price: £5
Fenwick and lululemon host an all-levels welcome run from Greys Monument in Newcastle on Sunday 26th July with Ambassador Rebecca Dodds, followed by refreshments, a DJ set and coffee at Fenwick’s Filto, with spaces limited.
Sunday Morning Loop Walk and Talk – Bishop Auckland
When: Sunday 26th July
Where: Hamsterley Forest
Price: Free
Andrew Kilburn hosts a casual walk and talk group at Hamsterley Forest near Bishop Auckland, an easy stroll for meeting new people and chatting about life over fresh air.
Summer Garden Tea – Newcastle
When: Sunday 26th July
Where: The Biscuit Factory
Price: £30 (including a £5 donation to St Oswald’s Hospice)
Available on the last Sunday of June, July and August, the Summer Garden Tea turns seasonal harvest produce into a generous afternoon tea, inspired by the Peter Rabbit: Tales on the Tyne art trail for St Oswald’s Hospice, with £5 from every ticket going to the charity.
Luxe Gift Wrapping Workshop – Newcastle
When: Sunday 26th July
Where: Motel One
Price: £36.50
Hosted by Matcha Events x Forbes Finishings, the Luxe Gift Wrapping Workshop teaches beginners and enthusiasts alike how to turn everyday materials like magazines, maps and wallpaper off-cuts into elevated, sustainable gift wrapping, all over a complimentary drink and good conversation.
Beginners Throwing Taster Class – Jarrow
When: Sunday 26th July
Where: Muddy Fingers Pottery
Price: £51.95
Muddy Fingers Pottery in Jarrow runs a beginners throwing taster class, guiding total newcomers through the potter’s wheel with a professional tutor and the chance to keep four glazed pots afterwards.
Molly Ferry
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