Easter School Holiday 2024: 10 Fun Family Events in Newcastle
Our guide to some of the most fun activities for kids this Easter holiday
The first big school holiday of the year is upon us, which can be a lot of fun but also offer challenges when it comes to finding things to keep your kids entertained that doesn’t involve consoles.
But don't fret because there’s plenty going on across the city to keep them active and interested and we’ve rounded up a selection of events – from art to cookery, panto to comics – that your kids are going to love!
Beauty & The Beast Easter Panto @ Tyne Theatre & Opera House
Tyne Theatre is now bringing a great, family-friendly Easter panto to town every year and this Easter it’s the turn of the eternal Beauty & The Beast. Of course, half the fun with pantos these days is the celebrity cast and this production has Lee from Steps, Barney from Blue Peter, Steve Royle from Britain’s Got Talent and Carma from The Dumping Ground, which is quite a roll call. There’ll be gags, songs, audience participation and all the other panto staples in this modern take on the classic tale.
Saturday 30th – Sunday 31st March, adults £22, kids £20
Newcastle Puppetry Festival @ Various locations
Although aimed at all ages, the Newcastle Puppetry Festival is especially delightful for kids and offers a week’s worth of workshops, walkabouts, films and puppet shows in a dazzling variety of styles. From paper cuts outs to shadow puppets, automata to traditional string-operated characters, the level of excitement and skill on offer is remarkable and many of the events are free! The festival is based at Northern Stage but there are events and show all over the city, from the Quayside to Seven Stories.
Saturday 30th March – Sunday 7th April, prices and locations vary
Breakfast with the Bunny @ Hard Rock Café
Kick off Easter Saturday in style by having breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Hard Rock Café. Not only do your kids get a full English breakfast with fruit, yoghurt, pastries, pancakes and drinks, but they’ll also get a free egg and a morning of fun, including an egg decoration competition. And the very young go free.
Saturday 30th March, £14.95
Family Challenge & Discover A Story @ Discovery Museum
There’s never a bad time to take the kids to the Discovery Museum – it’s always packed to the rafters with edutainment of all kinds – but there are some special easter events that might be appealing. Firstly, there’s Family Challenge, part of the Spirit Of Invention programme. On Tuesday 2nd April there’s a Parachute Drop workshop, where your kids try and find a way to let a chocolate egg land safely, and on Tuesday 9th it’s Zooming Zip Line, where the challenge is to create a means of making a Lego figure travel a zip line the fastest. Both events take place four times on the day, and are aimed at 7+ children. Then there are three Discover A Story days – Mr Bunny’s Chocolate Factory (Wednesday 3rd), Bird Builds A Nest (Wednesday 10th) and Ten Little Pirates (Thursday 10th). There will be two sessions each day, aimed at 3-5 year olds.
From Tuesday 2nd April to Thursday April 10th, prices vary
Tortoise & The Hare @ Northern Stage
One of the most beloved of Aesop’s fables, The Tortoise & The Hare has been a kids’ favourite for centuries and now has a new lease of life through this short and delightful ballet. As seen on CBeebies, the ballet shows how the thoughtful tortoise can turn the tables on the quick but easily distracted hare and can introduce kids to the wonders of dance.
Thursday 11th – Friday 12th April, from £10
Children’s Easter Biscuit Decorating & Adult’s Sparkling Cream Tea @ Fenwick
Fenwick has found a way of keeping adults and kids entertained at the same time, so everyone has a lovely time. For the kids, there’s a special Easter biscuit decorating class – the mini chefs can make, bake and decorate their own creations and even take them home. This will be followed by a special mini tea. Meanwhile, parents can relax with a delicious sparkling cream tea. It all happens in Mason & Rye.
Wednesday 10th – Friday 12th April, tickets £15 for kids and adults
Easter Fun @ Life Science Centre
As with the Discovery Museum, the Life Science Centre is always a great place to take the kids, a wonderland of learning and excitement, and this Easter is no eggception (sorry). Eggs do feature a great deal – there’s a chance to learn why eggs roll and how to make them faster, and there’s an Egg-Mobile challenge where they can try and make the fastest egg carrying vehicle they can. All this plus the usual wide range of activities for all interests and ages across the centre.
Wednesday 27th March – Wednesday 17th April, check website for times and prices
Comic Con North East @ Utilita Arena
Comic Cons are an increasingly popular attraction for kids of all ages, a chance to meet stars from their favourite TV shows and movies, get autographs and see them interviewed on stage. Plus there’ll be stalls, gaming areas, giveaways, cosplay competitions and so much more. Guests at the arena this year include Jenna Coleman, John Barrowman, Danny John Jules and Robert Llewellyn.
Saturday 13th – Sunday 14th April, weekend tickets from £49.50
Easter Kid’s Sports Camp @ Sport Central, Northumbria University
Once again, Northumbria University is running its popular sports camps to keep your kids active over the Easter holidays. They get to try a variety of different sports – from basketball to cricket, dodgeball to climbing and lots more – and meet new friends while developing new or existing skills. Aimed at kids aged 6-11, the camp takes place at the university’s Sport Central department in the city centre.
Tuesday 2nd – Friday 12th April, prices vary so check website.
Easter Holiday Workshops @ Hatton Gallery
The Hatton Gallery has an exciting programme of happenings over the holiday aimed at various ages and abilities. For starters, the Art Cart is available every day for kids to help themselves and get creative. There are two classes aimed at kids aged 4-11 years old: a chance to make a colourful collage at Spring Collage and create an original piece at Spring Artwork. And for 12-18 year olds there’s an Acrylics workshop or a mixed media session where they get to use charcoal, conte, graphite and print in combination.
Saturday 30th March – Saturday 13th April, free
That’s quite a selection, with something to appeal to kids of any age and interest, whether they want to create a fantastic painting, learn about gravity, decorate a biscuit or join in with the audience at the panto - so get planning for an excellent Easter holiday!
