What To Do This Weekend
From Halloween specials to dazzling displays ahead of Bonfire Night, there's so much to do this weekend
All New
A sister venue to five-star hotel Grantley Hall, and not far away, the Grantley Arms is Yorkshire’s new must-visit pub for autumnal cosiness with good grub, perfect pints, and a relaxed setting with fireside comforts. Read our review here, and take a peek inside. Gosforth has welcomed its latest wellness destination. Founded by local lass Emma Cutting, SOSA is offering not just a yoga studio, but a community space dedicated to balance, healing and self discovery, with energising vinyasa flows, restorative yin sessions, reiki, massage, sound therapy evenings, and cacao ceremonies all under one roof. Neighbourhood Coffee, the little brother of North Shore Coffee, are excited to be opening their second coffee shop (on St. Mary’s Terrace) in Newcastle but until then you can find their coffee truck outside the new location on weekdays. Plus, the ‘highest pumpkin patch in the country' has opened for the first time at the 17th-century Tan Hill Inn, above Keld where you can pick your perfect pumpkin until 2nd November.
Staying in?
We don’t blame you – it’s chilly! Have you carved your pumpkin yet? Here’s some top tips to keep yours fresh. Plus, don’t forget Strictly Come Dancing is celebrating Halloween this Saturday 1st November and all three northern contestants, Vicky Pattison, La Voix and Lewis Cope are still battling for the Glitterball trophy. If you’re looking for the best scary movies, here’s a list of horror recommendations spanning the last 100 years. Or why not catch up on our culture guide recommendations, from The Celebrity Traitors to Riot Women? Looking for something to do with your pumpkin leftovers? Try this. Meanwhile your kids will love these ginger cookies, pumpkin cake, and sticky honey bar recipes.
Take a Walk
These six very different walks all take in National Trust land (and sometimes property) and offer an intriguing mix of history and naturally stunning scenery, perfect for an autumnal stroll. Plus, Durham has recently been named one of the most beautiful places to visit in autumn, according to research from LNER (like we didn’t already know!). Visit now whilst Durham Cathedral still has three rare Magna Cartas on display for the first time in eight years (until 2nd November). Or maybe now’s the best time for a ghost walk, if you dare. Here’s some spooky inspo.
Happy Halloween!
It’s Halloween weekend, so make sure yours is spooktacular! This weekend is your last chance to brave Psycho Path at Lintz Hall Farm (until 1st November – tickets are selling fast). New to the multi-award winning scream park this year, you’ll be plunged into darkness and only have your senses to make it out. Or why not explore Yorkshire Scare Grounds Scream Park on the appropriately named Hell Lane in Wakefield (until 2nd November), which is celebrating 15 years of fear this year. Find plenty more ways to celebrate spooky season here. Make sure no one misses out on the fun, especially your four-legged friends, with Wylam Brewery’s Pints & Pooches Halloween Special in partnership with Newcastle Cat & Dog Shelter. Taking over the iconic Palace of Arts at Newcastle’s Exhibition Park on 1st November, this new doggy social will be packed with four hours of Halloween fun including doggy entertainment, independent traders, and a frightfully fun Best in Show costume competition (owners/dogs matching outfits are permitted). And of course, for the well-behaved humans, there’ll be fresh beers and bait available.
Mad for Music
The UK’s leading ABBA tribute act, ABBA Reunion, are putting on a sing-along concert with legendary ABBA hits to get you dancing in the aisles – don’t miss it at Wakefield Cathedral on Friday 31st October. On Saturday 1st November, York Record Fair returns to York Racecourse with 150 tables of great vinyl records of all genres. If you can’t make it, here are some of our favourite record shops. Steps fans won’t want to miss the hilarious and heart-warming new musical based on songs by the multi-million selling pop group. Here & Now is at Newcastle Theatre Royal now until Sunday 2nd November.
Remember, Remember…
Okay, the 5th of November may be next week but plenty of Bonfire Night fun is taking place this weekend, from Kynren’s extra-special 25-minute fireworks display on Saturday (1st) complete with a new pumpkin trail in Bishop Auckland, to dazzling displays at Thornes Park in Wakefield (also on the 1st) which will feature a low-impact firework display first, for those that don’t enjoy loud noises. Find your nearest Bonfire Night event here.
See Stars
The Dark Skies Fringe Festival returns (until 2nd November) with plenty of ways to celebrate the night sky through stargazing events in the North York Moors, one of only 24 locations in the world to be recognised for pristine, dark skies. Don’t miss the River Mountain Experience’s walk from Clay Bank car park to the Wainstones as darkness falls on Halloween. The North Pennines Stargazing Festival also returns, with a variety of events taking place at Grassholme Observatory on 1st and 2nd November.
Something Different
Looking for something a little different to see and do this weekend? Art lovers won’t want to miss the biggest contemporary art show in the North, featuring more than 750 artworks this year – The Big Art Show returns to Queen Mary’s School near Thirsk until Saturday 1st November. Some of the world’s biggest darts stars are preparing to step up for Flight Night, which combines pro darts with music, crowd games, singalongs and fancy dress, taking place in a marquee at Newcastle’s Times Square on the 1st November. Hearth and The Auckland Project have partnered to bring a powerful new production by renowned choreographer and theatre-maker Anthony Lo-Giudice to Auckland Palace this Sunday 2nd November. The Guest will be hosted at St Peter’s Chapel combining dance, live music, puppetry and storytelling.
