What To Do This Weekend

Free family days out, local Halloween events and new café openings - here's what to do this weekend

What’s New
Book Club is the newest café in Newcastle city centre and we’re in love. Tucked away on Newcastle Library’s Level 2, the space is simple and welcoming, with a menu of breakfast options, speciality drinks and sweet bakes. Another weekend must, Pink Lane Bakery has opened the doors to its fourth location, in the centre of Morpeth. In Yarm, La Terraza is opening this Friday (24th) for delicious tapas and cocktails. This is also the opening weekend of the new bar York Refectory by northern brewing icons Northern Monk.
All Change
This Sunday (26th) the clocks finally go back meaning you’ll gain a whole hour of sleep. What to do with all this extra energy? An early morning walk to catch the sunrise of course! Head to the coast for uninterrupted views – we love Craster to Low Newton in Northumberland, and the view from Roker Pier is amazing. Elevation also makes for spectacular views, and up on Ilkley Moor is a superb place to witness the early morning light. Click here for more of the best places to watch the sun come up.
Bump in the Night
This is the last weekend before Halloween so get your scares in while you still can. Wynyard Hall’s magnificent Dream Maze is a family-friendly interactive maze full of spooks and scares (from this Saturday 25th) where you can enter the Laboratory of Nightmares, collect ingredients for a potion and complete challenges set by mysterious characters. At Eden Camp enjoy a fantastic day out from this Saturday including the Code Cracker Spy Trail, a daily challenge that encourages children to become detectives for the day. Eden Camp will also host the Fingerprint Detectives Workshop, a hands-on activity where children can learn how to collect, analyse, and compare fingerprints. A ghost tour is always frighteningly good fun so why not join Rose Rylands, the Whitby Storyteller, for a tour, or head to the most haunted castle in Britain (Chillingham) to hunt for ghosts with Richard Craig.

Put on a Show
OUTLAWED, a drag and cabaret retelling of the story of Robin Hood, is embarking on its first ever national tour this October and is stopping at Newcastle’s Northern Stage this Friday (24th). Expect a wild night of laughs, drag and antics. For a family-friendly show, this is also your last chance to catch Mary Poppins at Sunderland Empire and at the newly-refurbished Forum Cinema in Hexham you can enjoy a whole host of Halloween classics like Corpse Bride and Crimson Peak. The Alhambra Theatre in Bradford is where to see The Lightning Thief – The Percy Jackson Musical (showing until Saturday 25th).
Fun at the Fair
This weekend sees the return of Living North’s Christmas Fair, the North East’s biggest Christmas shopping event! Until Sunday (26th) explore more than 250 carefully-selected stands, from artisan designer-makers, local food producers and fashion retailers to homewares, gifts and accessories, and of course special Christmas decorations. In the Chef Demo Kitchen, some of the region’s best culinary talent will be cooking up a storm and sharing their expert advice for the festive season. Tickets are still available on the door, so come along and say hello.
For the Kids
Get the Half Term fun started early this weekend with some free days out for the kids. The Great North Museum in Newcastle is brilliant for curious minds, covering everything from local wildlife to ancient history, fascinating geology and dinosaurs. South Shields Museum and Art Gallery is another fabulous day out with a local focus, and we love the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford for a STEM focused day with the family. Any railway enthusiasts will love Locomotion in Shildon, and York’s National Railway Museum.