- Play Hard
- 28th Oct 2026
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18 things to do in the North East this weekend (28th October – 1st November 2026)
It’s Halloweekend, and the North East is buzzing.
Whether you’re after a spooky night out, a family-friendly craft session or a proper scare, there’s plenty to get stuck into. From outdoor movie nights and pumpkin carving to ballet, fireworks and a free embroidered tribute to the Greggs sausage roll, here’s our pick of what’s on across the region this week.
Greggs Ta-Pastry – Newcastle
When: Now until Saturday 17th January 2027
Where: Great North Museum: Hancock
Price: Free entry
The Greggs Ta-Pastry has come home. This eight-metre embroidered artwork, a stitch-perfect tribute to the Greggs Sausage Roll styled after the Bayeux Tapestry, is on display at the Great North Museum: Hancock, sharing floor space with the T-Rex skeleton, the Egyptian mummy and Hadrian’s Wall relics. Over 5.5 million stitches, and not a crumb in sight.
Paper Debut Albums – Whitley Bay
When: Wednesday 28th October
Where: The Bound
Price: £12.00
For music-mad kids, this hands-on hour lets them design the cover for their own debut record. Children explore the artwork of cassettes, CDs and vinyl, then raid a world of crafty papers to create a sleeve inspired by the music they love. Led by artist Suzie Winsor. Ages four to 11.
Cinderella by Northern Ballet – Newcastle
When: Wednesday 28th to Saturday 31st October
Where: Newcastle Theatre Royal
Price: Tickets from £18.00
The timeless tale takes centre stage in Northern Ballet’s magical staging of Cinderella, performed to Prokofiev’s classic score played live. Expect breathtaking waltzes, tender duets and a romantic finale where love and a perfectly fitting slipper conjure a happily ever after. Suitable for all ages.
Halloween Movie Month: The Rocky Horror Picture Show – Newcastle
When: Wednesday 28th October
Where: Ouseburn Garden
Price: Free (general admission), £46.00 (VIP reserved seating)
Ouseburn Garden’s Halloween Movie Month closes with an outdoor screening of the campest cult classic of them all, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Settle in under the stars with the fire pits glowing and Acropolis food on hand, or upgrade to a Coffin for Two for reserved seating and a drink each. Ages 15+.
Paper Pet Portraits – Whitley Bay
When: Thursday 29th October
Where: The Bound
Price: £12.00
Children bring their favourite animal to life in paper at this hour-long collage workshop with artist Suzie Winsor. Colour, cut and stick a portrait of a much-loved pet or a jungle creature, with a spooky-season twist if the mood takes them. All materials provided. Ages four to 11.
Sip ’n’ Spook – Sunderland
When: Thursday 29th to Saturday 31st October
Where: Cherry Blossom
Price: £40.00 adults, £29.00 kids (smaller pumpkin)
Cherry Blossom hosts a fun-filled Halloween weekend for kids and adults alike. Make your own dried flower arrangement in an already-carved pumpkin to take home, enjoy a spooky treat and a drink, and stick around for the best costume competition, with a prize up for grabs. Tickets are limited and for one weekend only.
balletLORENT’s Hansel & Gretel and the Witch – Newcastle
When: Thursday 29th October to Sunday 1st November
Where: Northern Stage
Price: Tickets from £19.50
Newcastle’s balletLORENT premieres a fresh dance-theatre retelling of the classic fairytale, with a brand-new ending. Narrated by Gina McKee, with words by former poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy and music from Doctor Who composer Murray Gold, expect a sugar glass house, a regenerating witch and two giant chickens. Suitable for ages 5 and over.
St Martin’s Centre Charity Paint ’n’ Sip – Newcastle
When: Thursday 29th October
Where: The Grove
Price: £20.00
Get creative for a good cause at The Grove’s charity evening, in aid of St Martin’s Centre’s 2026 Christmas Appeal. All materials are provided, along with a complimentary welcome drink, and every penny raised helps provide food, gifts and support for local people over the festive period.
Pumpkin Carving Workshop – Newcastle
When: Thursday 29th October
Where: The Grove
Price: £11.00
The Grove’s annual pumpkin carving workshop returns for Halloween, with everything laid out: a pumpkin to carve, all the materials and a welcome drink to see you in. A ticketed, over-18s-only affair, so one for the grown-ups who like their Halloween crafting with a drink in hand.
Spooky Special Effects Make-up Event – Newcastle
When: Friday 30th October
Where: Laing Art Gallery
Price: £32.07 per child (one adult goes free with each child ticket)
The Laing Art Gallery hosts a Halloween special effects make-up class for seven to 12 year-olds, led by SFX make-up artist and teacher Over the Winks. All equipment is provided, with time to practise before creating a finished look. Not one for the faint-hearted, as fake blood may be used.
Lush Monster Scare Bear Bath Bomb Making – Sunderland
When: Friday 30th October
Where: Lush Cosmetics Sunderland
Price: £4.50
Get hands-on and make your own bath bomb at Lush Sunderland’s half-term workshop. Lush’s experts guide you through creating a Monster Scare Bear bath bomb, destined for fruity, blue raspberry-scented waters, and you’ll take your creation home for a relaxing soak. A quick, creative treat for ages five and up (under-12s with an adult).
Pie and Pint Social – Newcastle
When: Friday 30th October
Where: Blackfriars Cookery School
Price: £90.00
Get your pastry hands ready for an evening of pies and pints at Blackfriars Cookery School. Learn to make homemade hot water pastry and savoury pies, think steak and kidney or ham and leek, with a couple of St Dominic’s beers to help it all go down. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Murder Mystery Dinner – Newcastle
When: Friday 30th October
Where: Blackfriars Restaurant
Price: £95.00
A journal found in Blackfriars’ cellars sets the scene for a chilling whodunnit. In the atmospheric Banquet Hall, parapsychologist Kelvin Smith is guest of honour at a gathering of paranormal investigators, as mysterious deaths unfold. See if you can solve it over a drink on arrival, three courses and coffee.
Halloween Market – South Shields
When: Saturday 31st October
Where: South Shields Market Square
Price: Free
South Shields Market lays on free family entertainment this Saturday, with a spooky Halloween face painter setting up in the Market Square and a range of frightfully fun designs for children and families. It’s a free, drop-in treat as you browse the stalls.
Pyromusical – County Durham
When: Saturday 31st October
Where: Kynren, Bishop Auckland
Price: Tickets from £13.00 adult and £10.00 child
The North East’s biggest fireworks spectacular returns to Bishop Auckland, with fireworks lighting up the sky above Kynren’s seven-and-a-half-acre stage, perfectly timed to a rousing musical score. Designed by the team behind Kynren’s famous finale, it’s a heart-pounding display the whole family will love.
Spooky Star Gazing – County Durham
When: Saturday 31st October
Where: Locomotion, Shildon
Price: Free
Locomotion teams up with Bishop Auckland Astronomical Society for stargazing with a Halloween twist, spooky or space-themed fancy dress encouraged. Learn the basics of astronomy indoors, then, weather permitting, head outside with high-powered telescopes to pick out deep-sky objects. For more places to see the stars this season, read our guide to the best stargazing events in the North East.
Briana Corrigan – Newcastle
When: Saturday 31st October
Where: The Common Room
Price: £33.22
The Common Room presents a rare, intimate evening of story and song with Briana Corrigan, the BRIT-winning former vocalist of The Beautiful South (A Little Time). Back on stage after a decade away, she leads on vocals and guitar with a stripped-back band, weaving together classic hits, solo material and fresh takes on traditional favourites.
Kimchi Workshop: Vegan Day Special – Gateshead
When: Sunday 1st November
Where: Summer on the Southside
Price: £60.00
Summer on the Southside (formerly By The River Brew Co.) hosts a vegan-only edition of KC Square’s Kimchi Workshop. An experienced chef guides you through authentic techniques step by step, with all ingredients, materials and tools provided, plus a welcome drink on arrival. Everyone leaves with their own jar of vegan kimchi to take home.
Molly Ferry
CONTENT ASSISTANT
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