Halloween just seems to get bigger and better every year and there is SO much going on in our region that we really are spoilt for choice. Here are 36 suggestions for how to celebrate this October:-
Halloween Weekend at Woodhorn: Terrible Tales & Birds of Prey
Gary Cordingly will be telling his spooky tales from Northumberland's past at various points throughout the weekend plus there will be birds of prey displays and a pumpkin trail for children.
Where: Woodhorn
When: Sat 29th & Sun 30th October
Cost: Storytelling & Birds of Prey are FREE, Pumpkin trail costs £1 per child. Entry to Woodhorn is FREE but you do need to pay £3.50 per car for parking.
Tickets/Info: Woodhorn Website
Halloween Evenings at Beamish Museum
Halloween evenings at Beamish will give you a fright you'll never forget. There will be all sorts of creatures walking amongst the shadows and only the bravest will knock on the doors to wish the Beamish residents a Happy Halloween.
Where: Beamish Museum,
When: 24th, 25th, 28th, 29th, 31st October | 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Cost: From £9
Tickets/Info: Beamish Website
All Hallows' Walk at Auckland Castle
Join a 40 minute Halloween trail around the castle's grounds. There will be lots of live pop-up theatre, tales and local fables. Bring a torch and wrap up warm.
Where: Auckland Castle
When: Fri 28th & Sat 29th October | 5:30pm - 8pm
Cost: From £4
Tickets/Info: Auckland Castle Website
Halloween at the Seaton Delaval Hall
Bring your pumpkins and best costumes along for a day of spooky fun. There'll be pumpkin carving and spooky storytelling from the Seaton Delaval Hall Ghoul!
Where: Seaton Delaval Hall
When: Sun 30th October | 11am - 5pm
Cost: Entry charges apply, activities are included in admission.
Tickets/Info: Seaton Delaval Hall Website
Harry Potter's Halloween Party at Newcastle Marriott
The Marriott's Grandstand Suite will be transformed into the Great Hall where you'll dine on a Harry Potter-themed afternoon tea, attend potion class, play quidditch and more. All to the backdrop of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on the big screen.
Where: Newcastle Marriott Hotel, Gosforth Park
When: 26th October | 12noon - 3pm
Cost: From £10
Tickets/Info: See Facebook event and call 0191 236 4111 for tickets
The Little Customs House of Horrors and Wendy the Witch | Customs House South Shields
The Little Customs House of Horrors is a family Halloween party with a difference. There will be fancy dress, food, drink and lots of fun and games. In a separate event, Wendy the Witch is back for another theatrical performance with The Mummy's Curse - a musical tale for families.
Where: Customs House South Shields
When: House of Horrors | Sun 30th Oct & Wendy the Witch | Sun 30th & Mon 31st Oct (various times)
Cost: From £7.50
Tickets/Info: Customs House Website
Tanfield Ghost train
The Tanfield Railway has to be the ultimate Ghost train. There is a zombie decontamination zone, witches brew for sale, a spider tent, a criminal crown, a zombie outbreak on the train, an electric chair, singing pumpkins, trick or treat, wand making and much more.
Where: Tanfield Railway
When: 29th & 30th October (various times)
Cost: £12 per person
Tickets/Info: Tanfield Railway Website
Children's Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Pumpkin at Wynyard Hall
Little ones are in for a real pumpkin experience with pumpkin carving, themed stories, arts & crafts followed by homemade pumpkin soup served with crusty bread.
Where: Wynyard Hall
When: Thurs 27th Oct
Cost: £15 per child (accompanying adults are free)
Tickets/Info: Wynyard Hall Website
Spooky Night at the Museum
Join the museum for a special after-hours Halloween party. There'll be a devilish disco, freaky feel boxes, bewitching tales, bugs n stuff and much more.
Where: Discovery Museum, Newcastle
When: Friday 28th October | 5-7pm
Cost: From £1
Tickets/Info: Discovery Museum Website
Keel Row Halloween Party
Join Sharon and the team for their annual Halloween get together. There'll be a spooky disco, party games and even a FREE buffet.
Where: Keel Row Pub, Seaton Delaval
When: Sat 29th Oct | 6pm - 11pm
Cost: FREE
Tickets/Info: Pick up your free tickets from the bar. See Facebook event for further info.
Image Credit : Keel Row Pub
Magical Myths & monstrous monsters at Arbeia Roman Fort
Go on a monster hunt around the fort, listen to spooky stories and on Friday, create some creepy crafts.
Where: Arbeia Roman Fort
When: Monday 24th - Friday 28th October | 10am-2pm
Cost: FREE (donations welcome)
Tickets/Info: Arbeia Roman Fort Website
Cobweb Ball at Wallsend Memorial Hall
Join Hopscotch Entertainment for their popular Cobweb Ball. There will be fun and games, Halloween characters, prizes, music, dancing, wrap the mummy, food, drink, party bags plus character performances.
Where: Wallsend Memorial Hall
When: Sunday 30th October | 2pm - 4pm
Cost: £10 per child
Tickets/Info: Hopscotch Entertainment Website
Batty About Halloween at Northumberlandia
Spend the morning creating Halloween crafts. Everything is provided including pumpkins.
Where: Northumberlandia
When: 28th October | 9:30am - 11am
Cost: £5 per child
Tickets/Info: Northumberlandia Website
The Vampire Rabbit (part of the Juice Festival)
The story of the Vampire Rabbit will be told through circus, puppetry, storytelling, digital technology and live music.
Where: The Mining Institute
When: 25th - 27th October | 2pm
Cost: From £3
Tickets/Info: Juice Festival Website
Halloween Spooktacular at Castle Mania, Amble
Your ticket includes 2 hours play on the play frames, trick or treat hide and seek, games and a party bag.
Where: Castle Mania, Amble
When: 30th October | 4pm - 6pm
Cost: From £5.50
Tickets/Info: Facebook Event
Halloween Fun at Souter Lighthouse
Join Professor Grim in his science lab for creepy crafts, a spooky trail and eerie indoor activities.
Where: Souter Lighthouse
When: 28th & 29th October | 11am - 4pm
Cost: Free with admission
Tickets/Info: Souter Lighthouse Website
Frightwater Valley
We LOVE Frightwater Valley and had a fab time at this event a few years ago. There's a Live Scare Maze, Trick or Treat doors, a Scare Train and the ultimate finale at 6:15pm. This is on top of all the fabulous rides, attractions, birds of prey centre and angry birds play areas.
Where: Lightwater Valley
When: 27th - 30th October
Cost: £12.50 early booking offer (enter FRIGHTWATEREB at checkout - valid for first 500 people)
Tickets/Info: Frightwater Valley Website
Image Credit | Lightwater Valley
Pumpkin Carving at Alnwick Garden
Head to the Crafty Cottage and help the resident witches create your very own pumpkin.
Where: Crafty Cottage at Alnwick Garden
When: 26th - 30th October | 11am - 3pm
Cost: Free with garden admission
Tickets/Info: Alnwick Garden Website
The Dark Garden at Alnwick Garden
The Dark Garden is a brand new outdoor experience for children and their families who are brave enough to experience ghosts, spirits and creatures of the night who will make you jump. The dark garden is dramatic, scary and memorable with performers, darkness and light, drifting smoke and evil smells. Hand holding is allowed!
Where: Alnwick Garden
When: 25th - 30th October | 6:15pm - 9:30pm
Cost: From £7
Tickets/Info: Alnwick Garden Website
Halloween at Alnwick Castle
Join a medieval alchemist, take part in Halloween crafts, listen to ghost stories and complete the Knight's quest in this 1000 year old castle. There will be regular broomstick training too.
Where: Alnwick Castle
When: 22nd - 30th Oct (various times)
Cost: Free with castle admission
Tickets/Info: Alnwick Castle Website
Half Term Hocus Pocus at Preston Park
There is A LOT going on at Preston Park this Halloween including magic school, owl displays and broomstick training plus the North East's very own Diagon Alley.
Where: Preston Park and Museum
When: 22nd - 30th October (various times/dates)
Cost: Free with museum admission (£5 per family)
Tickets/Info: Preston Park Website
How high can your witch fly & All Things Spidery | Cragside
Experiment with air powered rockets and see how high your witch can fly plus make your very own spider and web to take home.
Where: Cragside House & Gardens
When: How high can your witch fly | 27th Oct 11am-3pm & All things spidery 28th Oct 1pm
Cost: Free with admission
Tickets/Info: Cragside Website
Halloween Specials at Aln Valley Railway
Join Northumberland's standard gauge heritage railway for lots of ghoulish fun.
Where: Aln Valley Railway
When: 29th October
Cost: TBC
Tickets/Info: Aln Valley Railway Website
Gruesome Gibside | Pumpkin carving and parade
Get creepy and creative carving your own pumpkin then join Gibside's resident witch for eerie tales and a pumpkin parade at 3pm.
Where: Gibside
When: 24th & 25th October
Cost: Regular admission + £4 per child
Tickets/Info: Gibside Website
Fright Night at Gibside
Pop along to Gibside in your scariest costume for a night of family-friendly spooktacular fun. There will be food stalls, local ales and wine for the grown ups and a mini play area plus spooky activities for the kids. Dogs are welcome too.
Where: Gibside
When: 29th October | 6pm - 9pm
Cost: FREE entry
Tickets/Info : Gibside Website
Halloween fun at the National Glass Centre | Sunderland
There is a full calendar of events taking place at Sunderland Glass Centre this year including 'Make a Glass Pumpkin', 'Ghoulish Glass Painting', 'Trick or Treat Plate' 'Clay Monsters' and 'Jam Jar Lanterns'.
Where: National Glass Centre | Sunderland
When: 22nd - 31st October
Cost: Various
Tickets/Info: National Glass Centre Website
The Phantom Pirates of Percy Main at Stephenson Railway Museum
Join Stephenson Railway for a day packed with pirate games, scary stories and pirate crafts. There will be spooky heritage train rides running throughout the day too.
Where: Stephenson Railway Museum
When: 30th October 11am - 3pm
Cost: FREE entry (there is a small charge for train rides)
Tickets/Info: Stephenson Railway Museum Website
Make Me a Monster at Baltic
Families can delve into the world of materials and create their own costumes to take home with them. Make paws, claws, spikes and everything in between and learn how to move like a monster too.
Where: Baltic, Gateshead Quays.
When: 28th - 30th October | various times from 10:30am
Cost: £4.95 per child
Tickets/Info: Baltic Website
Light Your Way at Ormesby Hall
Head to Ormesby Hall and create your very own lantern for Halloween. Craft materials and battery candle supplied.
Where: Ormesby Hall
When: 25th October | 12noon - 4pm
Cost: £1 plus regular admission
Tickets/Info: Ormesby Hall Website
Pumpkin Patch at Brockbushes Farm
Take a tractor ride around the farm, join in some spooky Halloween fun and choose your own pumpkin.
Where: Brockbushes Farm Shop & Tearoom
When: 22nd - 30th October
Cost: £6.50 per child (accompanying adult is free)
Tickets/Info: Brockbushes website
Day of the Dead Family Celebrations | ¡Vamos! Newcastle
In collaboration with the Juice Festival, Day of the Dead is a fantastic family alternative to Halloween. There will be live music, performances, colourful costumes, crafts, street food, face painting and more.
Where: ¡Vamos! Social, Market Street | Newcastle
When: 29th October 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm
Cost: £6 per ticket
Tickets/Info: ¡Vamos! Website
Dark Dahl Mash up at Seven Stories
Celebrate 100 years of Dahl with a special Halloween twist. There'll be revolting rhymes and a chance to explore some of the world's most famous 'baddies' from the Grand High Witch to Miss Trunchbull.
Where: Seven Stories
When: 22nd - 30th October
Cost: Free with admission
Tickets/Info: Seven Stories Website
Halloween at Adventure Valley
There are over 10 Halloween activities to join in with at Adventure Valley including Gooey games, Monster Hunts, a Wheel of Misfortune and Daily Magic Shows.
Where: Adventure Valley
When: 22nd - 30th October | 10am - 5pm
Cost: £9.75
Tickets/Info: Adventure Valley Website
Halloween Happenings at Cherryburn
Head down to Cherryburn and get crafty with the team & create lots of Halloween decorations and accessories.
Where: Cherryburn
When: 30th October | 11am - 2pm
Cost: Admission + £1
Tickets/Info: Cherryburn Website
Trick or Treat Trail at Dalton Park
Dress up in your scariest costumes and join Dalton Park for their special Trick or Treat Trail which will raise money for the Sick Children's Trust. Follow the pumpkin lanterns on a special family walk full of spooks and sweets.
Where: Dalton Park
When: 28th October | 11am
Cost: Free entry (however families need to pre-register and raise money for The Sick Children's Trust in the form of sponsorship)
Tickets/Info: Dalton Park Website
Creatures of the Night | Busting the myths of mummies
Expert curators will be on hand to explain about the latest mummification research, answer questions and dispel myths.
Where: Great North Museum | Hancock
When: 28th October | 11am - 3pm
Cost: Free
Tickets/Info: Great North Museum Website
Let me know how you'll be celebrating Halloween this year and don't forget to join our 'North East Days Out' Facebook Group for even more suggestions.
Events/Timings correct at time of publishing. Please double check details before booking anything.