Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
What's On in Newcastle, Gateshead & Northumberland
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MEET AND MAKE
1st November-31st December 2025
Time: Sundays 2-4pm
Venue: Baltic
Address: Gateshead Quays, NE8 3BA
Website: www.balticmill.com
Take part in free artist-led workshops perfect for families with children aged 5-12.
TODDLER TIME
1st November-31st December 2025
Time: Wednesdays 10am-6pm
Venue: Baltic
Address: Gateshead Quays, NE8 3BA
Website: www.balticmill.com
Toddler time explores the themes of colour, sound and touch, and is designed to support your toddler to play, make, think and do. Have fun and investigate new ways to play in these changing drop-in activities.
UNDER 5'S PLAY HIVE
1st November-31st December 2025
Time: 10am-6pm
Venue: Baltic
Address: Gateshead Quays, NE8 3BA
Website: www.balticmill.com
Drop in every Wednesday to Sunday to this area where under 5s celebrates Baltic's journey from a flour mill to our present day as an art gallery. Through play, we invite you to explore our past, present...
WONDER & WANDER TOUR
1st November-31st December 2025
Time: Wednesdays 10.30am
Venue: Baltic
Address: Gateshead Quays, NE8 3BA
Website: www.balticmill.com
Soak up some art with the barins and join a member of our Learning Team (alongside Kitty the Kittiwake) for a Wonder and Wander tour where you and your little one can discover our current exhibitions through...
COWGATE YOUNG THEATRE MAKERS
1st July-31st December 2025
Time: Mondays 4-6pm
Venue: Cowgate Community Centre,
Address: NE5 3UT.
Website: www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk
An exciting new drama group for children & young people during term-time that uses drama, theatre-making, movement & creative writing to create & share stories. For ages 8 -14 years old. Delivered...
EAST END STORY MAKERS
3rd July-31st December 2025
Time: Wednesdays 4-4.50pm
Venue: Byker Primary School,
Address: NE6 2AT.
Website: www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk
A creative group for children and young people during term-time that uses drama, music, movement, creative writing & food to create & share stories. For children & young people aged 5 -14 and...
STEAM TO GREEN
20th-21st July 2026
Venue: Discovery Museum
Address: Blandford Square, NE1 4JA
Website: www.discoverymuseum.org.uk
Discovery Museum's new FREE exhibiton which tells the story of energy & the climate crisis in the North East by looking back to the industrial revolution, & forward to the pioneering contributions in green...
NORTH EAST DEAF YOUTH THEATRE
21st September-31st December 2025
Time: 9.30-11.30am
Venue: Gosforth Civic Theatre,
Address: NE3 3HD
Website: www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk
North East Deaf Theatre aims to support deaf children and young people to develop their creative skills, build confidence and form new friendships. Together with deaf arts organisation Turtléar,...
QUEEN HEAVEN
23rd January-31st December 2025
Time: 6.30pm
Venue: Life Science Centre
Address: Times Square, NE1 4EP
Website: www.life.org.uk
Enjoy some of legendary rock band Queen’s greatest hits set to fun, exciting visuals in Life’s Planetarium (a 360° immersive dome). Approved by Queen & inspired by their music, &...
FEBRUARY REOPENING
1st February-31st December 2025
Venue: Life Science Centre
Address: Times Square, NE1 4EP
Website: www.life.org.uk
Life Science Centre reopens on Saturday 1 February, after a period of closure for exciting upgrades, essential maintenance & team training, ahead of Life’s 25th birthday in May. Among the exciting new...
NEWCASTLE CASTLE
1st February-31st December 2025
Time: 10am-5pm
Venue: Newcastle Castle
Address: Castle Garth, NE1 1RQ
Website: www.newcastlecastle.co.uk
The city's most historic building & attraction, Newcastle Castle & Keep is open 5 days a week 10am-5pm during winter hours & all week at Half Term. Enjoy a day out exploring the landmarks & discovering...
ARBEIA ROMAN FORT
31st March-28th September 2025
Venue: Arbeia Roman Fort,
Address: Baring Street, South Shields, NE33 2BB
Website: www.arbeiaromanfort.org.uk
Arbeia Roman Fort once guarded the entrance to the River Tyne & was a key garrison & military supply base to other forts along Hadrians Wall. Step into the fort & immerse yourself in the world of the Romans...
LLOYD OF THE FLIES WETLAND BUG HUNT
5th April-1st June 2025
Time: 10am-5.30pm
Venue: WWT Washington Wetlands Centre,
Address: NE38 8LE
Website: www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/washington
Dive into the wonderful world of wetland insects with Lloyd & his new friend Dart the dragonfly. Follow the trail to help them find Lloyd's friends & family & make their way to the bug hotel. Use the Lloyd...
PIG HEART BOY
29th April-3rd May 2025
Venue: Newcastle Theatre Royal
Address: NE1 6BR
Website: www.theatreroyal.co.uk
For older children, the multi award-winning writer Malorie Blackman OBE’s, Pig Heart Boy asks is it better to have a pig’s heart that works … than a human heart that doesn’t? This heartfelt play...
MAY HOME EDUCATION DAY
1st-1st May 2025
Time: 10am-3pm
Venue: Life Science Centre,
Address: Times Square, NE1 4EP
Website: www.Life.org.uk
Enjoy a fantastic day of learning with other home educators. Aimed at young learners aged 5-14, this day gives Home Educated children the opportunity to enjoy a day of exciting, exclusive learning activities...
POP PRINCESSES - WORLD TOUR
4th-4th May 2025
Venue: Customs House
Address: South Shields, NE33 1ES
Website: www.customshouse.co.uk/theatre
This is the children’s pop concert with a big difference. The four fabulous Fairy tale Princesses are back, & this time they are on their first World Tour! Come & join a soundtrack of top pop hits from...
PIRATES LOVE UNDERPANTS
6th-7th May 2025
Venue: Customs House
Address: South Shields, NE33 1ES
Website: www.customshouse.co.uk/theatre
These pirates SO love underpants! Join a swashbuckling party of pirates on their quest to find the fabled Pants of Gold for the Captain’s Treasure chest! Dodge hungry crocs beneath Long-John...
HERE BE DRAGONS in GATESHEAD
10th-10th May 2025
Time: 10.30am & 1pm
Venue: Caedmon Hall, Gateshead
Address: Caedmon Hall, Gateshead, NE8 4LN
Website: www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk/here-be-dragons
Here Be Dragons Written by Lindsay Rodden for Unfolding Theatre, and everyone There’s a light in the tunnel. No – wait – two lights. A warm rush of breath, a mighty roar,...
FAMILY ART CLASS
17th-17th May 2025
Time: 10.30am - 12 noon & 1-2.30pm
Venue: Shipley Art Gallery,
Address: Prince Consort Road, NE8 4JB
Website: www.shipleyartgallery.org.uk
A monthly Saturday art class for 7 - 12 year olds. At each session you'll be guided by a professional artist to discover a different art technique, such as watercolours, ceramics, mixed media, drawing...
CHILDREN'S CANCER RUN
18th-18th May 2025
Venue: Newcastle Racecourse,
Address: High Gosforth Park, NE3 5HP
Website: www.childrenscancernorth.org.uk
The 42nd Annual Cross Country Fun Run that raises money to help make life better for children with cancer. It's a great day out for all the family & there are three different runs to choose from. Each...
DINOSAUR ADVENTURE - BIG JURASSIC STORM
25th-25th May 2025
Time: 2pm
Venue: Tyne Theatre & Opera House
Address: Westgate Road, NE1 4AG
Website: www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk
A brand new adventure with DINOSAUR ADVENTURE LIVE? When a satellite tasked with controlling the island’s weather systems malfunctions, chaos erupts.The island’s tropical climate spirals leading to...
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR SHOW
28th May-1st June 2025
Venue: Northern Stage
Address: NE1 7RH
Website: www.northernstage.co.uk
A vibrant celebration of Eric Carle’s adored classics featuring a menagerie of 75 lovable puppets. The perfect introduction to live theatre. Tickets from £14.00.
MILKSHAKE LIVE ON HOLIDAY
1st-1st June 2025
Venue: Customs House
Address: South Shields, NE33 1ES
Website: www.customshouse.co.uk/theatre
Join your favourite Milkshake! friends on Holiday with Dora, Pip & Posey, Blue from Blues Clues & You!, Milo, Milkshake! Monkey plus two of your Milkshake! presenters for an all-new adventure! It’s a...
JULIET
2nd-7th June 2025
Venue: Newcastle Theatre Royal
Address: NE1 6BR
Website: www.theatreroyal.co.uk
Break free of the balcony scene with a romantic comedy that proves there’s life after Romeo! Juliet’s new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems as iconic as her name, including Britney...
JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DEAMCOAT
10th-15th June 2025
Venue: Newcastle Theatre Royal
Address: NE1 6BR
Website: www.theatreroyal.co.uk
X-Factor winner & Theatre Royal pantomime favourite Joe McElderry stars as the roof-raising Pharaoh, in this much-loved family musical. Tickets from £24.00.
ROBYN HOOD
21st-21st June 2025
Time: 11am & 2pm
Venue: Gosforth Civic Theatre,
Address: NE3 3HD
Website: www.gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk/family-pride-party-curious-arts
Robyn Hood tells the story of Robyn, a little girl who lives in a big city. Robyn likes to play outside & on a small patch of green land she builds a den; a magical space all of her own, where she dreams...
ANDY & THE ODD SOCKS
28th-28th June 2025
Time: 4.30pm
Venue: Tyne Theatre & Opera House
Address: Westgate Road, NE1 4AG
Website: www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk
Join the ‘Odd Socks’ as they bring their brilliant madcap mix of songs, slapstick comedy & silliness to life with a show to entertain families of all ages. It’s the show that everyone wants to see...
PAW PATROL LIVE! THE GREAT PIRATE ADVENTURE
28th-28th June 2025
Venue: Utilita Arena
Address: NE4 7NA
Website: www.utilitaarena.co.uk
In PAW Patrol Live! “The Great Pirate Adventure,” Mayor Goodway is getting everything shipshape for a big Pirate Day celebration in Adventure Bay. When Cap’n Turbot falls into a dark & mysterious...
FIREMAN SAM LIVE
29th-29th June 2025
Venue: Customs House
Address: South Shields, NE33 1ES
Website: www.customshouse.co.uk/theatre
Norman wants to go on an adventure to impress his friends, so when two famous animal explorers arrive in Pontypandy, he decides to follow them into the mountains. But when Norman discovers a rare red squirrel,...