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- 30th Sep 2026
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16 things to do in the North East this weekend (30th September – 4th October 2026)
Looking for things to do in the North East this weekend? Look no further.
From Newcastle’s first-ever cheese festival to a candlelit tribute to Fleetwood Mac, an immersive dome show soundtracked by Queen and Brocksbushes’ biggest pumpkin-picking season yet, these are the events to have on your radar this weekend.
Nature Journaling Workshop – Newcastle
When: Wednesday 30th September
Where: Ernest Cafe Bar
Price: £12.62
A gentle, creative gathering exploring nature journaling, slow noticing and botanical art techniques, no experience needed, with a gift included in your ticket.
Letters Never Sent by The Glenstead – Newcastle
When: Thursday 1st October
Where: The Biscuit Factory
Price: £65.00
An intimate theatrical salon pairing carefully chosen wines with forgotten letters. Each edition completely original, new wines, new letters, new conversations every time.
The Music of Fleetwood Mac by Candlelight – Sunderland
When: Thursday 1st October
Where: Sunderland Empire
Price: Tickets from £33.28
Direct from London’s West End, a candlelit concert of Fleetwood Mac hits including Little Lies, The Chain, Rhiannon and Don’t Stop, performed by a world-class cast and live band.
Ballet Black at 25 – County Durham
When: Thursday 1st October
Where: Gala Durham
Price: Tickets from £27.00
Cassa Pancho’s Ballet Black marks 25 years with a double bill, Mthuthuzeli November’s award-winning Ingoma alongside a new commission from Alvin Ailey’s Hope Boykin, making her UK choreographic debut.
This Flight Tonight – The Songs of Joni Mitchell – Whitley Bay
When: Friday 2nd October
Where: Playhouse Whitley Bay
Price: £30.55
An intimate acoustic tribute performing Blue in its entirety alongside Joni Mitchell’s finest songs from 1968 to 1976, note for note.
Queen Heaven 360° Immersive Dome Show – Newcastle
When: Friday 2nd October
Where: Life Science Centre
Price: Adult £24.00, carer £17.00
Queen’s biggest hits meet immersive visuals in Life’s 360° Planetarium, approved by Queen themselves and combining classic music videos with soaring solar system visuals.
Brocksbushes Pumpkin Experience – Northumberland
When: Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th, Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th, Friday 16th to Saturday 31st October and late-night sessions run from Friday 16th to Friday 23rd October
Where: Brocksbushes
Price: Entry from £3.50, family tickets available at £12.00
Over 155,000 home-grown pumpkins to pick, plus a witches’ area, monster pumpkin castle, street food, a pumpkin carnival and Twilight Sessions with live music under twinkling lights.
Autumn Tablescape Workshop – County Durham
When: Saturday 3rd October
Where: Raby Castle
Price: £65.00
Deborah from Periwinkle Barn guides a seasonal tablescape workshop in Raby’s Conservatory, covering colour palette, height, balance and finishing touches for an autumn table.
Kids Craft Workshop: Spooky Clay Creations – Sunderland
When: Saturday 3rd October
Where: Grindon Young People’s Centre
Price: £6.13
A fortnightly craft workshop making two spooky clay creations, a ghost tealight cover and a little pumpkin, suitable for ages 3 and up, with adult supervision required.
North East Indie Book Fest 2026 – Durham
When: Saturday 3rd October
Where: Field and Fodder
Price: £10.00
An adults-only celebration of independent books and Northern creativity, with author talks, signings, a raffle, and fizz, cake and charcuterie included in the ticket.
Paddleboard Pilates – Northumberland
When: Saturday 3rd October
Where: Sleekburn Water, Earth Balance
Price: £30.00
Pilates reimagined on an anchored paddleboard at Sleekburn Water, swapping the studio for the calm of open water, all equipment provided.
Spooky Skeleton Trail at High Force Waterfall – County Durham
When: Saturday 3rd October to Sunday 1st November
Where: High Force Hotel and Waterfall
Price: Adults (16+) £4.00, children (4-15) £2.50, under 4s go free
This weekend marks the beginning of a bone-rattling woodland trail to the base of the falls, collecting mystery letters from hidden skeletons to unscramble a secret word and win a sticker.
Grate Cheese Fest – Newcastle
When: Sunday 4th October
Where: Summerhill Bowling Club
Price: £6.13
Newcastle’s first ever cheese festival, marking Jesmond cheesemonger Grate’s sixth birthday with cheesemakers from across Britain and Ireland, MC’d by international cheese judge Carlos Yescas.
Walk and Sketch – Northumberland
When: Sunday 4th October
Where: Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre
Price: £17.43
A guided outdoor sketching session led by local watercolour artist Gillian Cross, bring your own materials for a relaxed morning.
Newcastle’s Craft & Flea Market – Newcastle
When: Sunday 4th October
Where: Boiler Shop
Price: £2.50 entry
A vibrant gathering of Newcastle’s finest local artisans, with ceramics, candles, jewellery and vintage collections from carefully screened independent makers.
Charlotte Tilbury Masterclass – County Durham
When: Sunday 4th October
Where: Raby Castle (The Riding School)
Price: £75.00 (ticket includes a £40 gift card plus 10% off)
An exclusive masterclass covering expert beauty tips, skincare secrets and makeup artistry, with prosecco or elderflower fizz on arrival and places are strictly limited.
Check out our what’s on calendar for upcoming events worth knowing about in the North East.
Molly Ferry
CONTENT ASSISTANT
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