Summer Holiday Activities for Families: Places to go over the holidays!

Dear Parent /Carer

I’ve been trawling through the various guides, flyers and websites to produce a list of free events and activities going on over the Summer Holidays to help keep the children entertained. Details of venues are at the end. Activities listed are free unless stated. Many activities are ‘drop ins’ and run throughout the period shown. All activities may be subject to change so please contact venues prior to attending.

Have a lovely break!

Laura Hopper – Family and Student Support Worker

Summer Festivals:

 22nd – 24th July: Summer Tyne Americana Festival, Sage Gateshead http://www.sagegateshead.com/  22nd – 24th July: International Airshow (Friday 2-10pm, Sat/Sun 10-6pm) and Seaburn http://www.sunderlandlive.co.uk/airshow  23rd – 24th July: North Tyneside Summer Festival http://www.visitnorthtyneside.com/whats-on/north- tyneside-summer-festival  30th July – 2nd August: Stockton International Riverside Festival Various venues and times in Stockton http://sirf.co.uk/  5th – 7th August Newcastle Fiesta *(£3 entry cost) (Friday 1-10pm, Sat 12 noon – 10pm, Sun 12 noon - 6pm) Town Moor  6th – 7th August Whitley Bay Kite Festival The Links, Whitley Bay  26th- 29th August Tall Ships Regatta Blyth Quayside www.tallshipsblyth2016.com

Weekly Events:

Week commencing: 25/07/16 Monday 9.30-3.30pm Rising Sun Countryside Centre: Bikeability Cycle Safety Training (Book in advance) 11-3pm Segedunum*: Dig it – family archaeology day 12noon Screen on the Green: Kung Fu Panda 3 (Old Eldon Square) Tuesday 10-5pm The Great North Museum: Hidden Gems Trail 11-3pm Discovery Museum: Life’s a Beach Summer Activities 12noon Screen on the Green: Frozen Sing-a-Long (Old Eldon Square) Wednesday 10-5pm The Great North Museum: Sword Fighting Demo (11.30am, 1pm, 2.30pm) 11-3pm The Great North Museum: The Big Dig Activity 11-12.30pm and 1.30-3pm Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens: Family Archaeology Day 11-2pm Rising Sun Countryside Centre: Get Active Fun Days 12noon Screen on the Green: Finding Nemo (Old Eldon Square) Thursday 11-12noon Northumberland Park: Bumblebee Conservation Trust Bee Walks (07583225859) 11-3pm Discovery Museum: Life’s a Beach Summer Activities 12noon Screen on the Green: Rio (Old Eldon Square) 12noon – 3pm Spanish City Plaza, Whitley Bay: Fish and Chips with Circus Tricks! Family Entertainment 1.30-3.30pm Station Museum: Messy Art Sessions Friday 11-2pm Springfield Park, Forest Hall: Get Active Fun Days 11-3pm Discovery Museum: Fashion Fridays 12noon Screen on the Green: Alice in Wonderland (Old Eldon Square) 12noon – 3pm Spanish City Plaza, Whitley Bay: Fish and Chips with Circus Tricks! Family Entertainment 1-4pm Walker Park: Parklives Summer Carnivals Weekend 30th July 11am North Kenton Park: Clean Up 31st 1pm-3pm Northumberland Park: Bandstand Sunday Summer Music Busking for Charity 31st July 1pm-5pm Bents Park: UB40 31st July 10.30-2.30pm Sunderland Marina: RNLI Harbour Day 30th July 5pm, 31st July 11am, 2pm, 5pm : George and the Dragon (Play in the Park) 30th- 31st July 11-3pm Segedunum*: Soldiering On

Week commencing: 01/08/16 Monday 9.30-3.30pm Rising Sun Countryside Centre: Bikeability Cycle Safety Training (Book in advance) 12noon Screen on the Green: The Good Dinosaur (Old Eldon Square) Tuesday 11-3pm Discovery Museum: Ticket to Ride Family Activities 11-3pm South Shields Museum and Art Gallery: Under the Sea in 3D 11.30-1pm The Great North Museum: Introduction to Ladybirds 11-2pm The Great North Museum: Bug Hunt 12noon Screen on the Green: Minions (Old Eldon Square) 2-4pm South Shields Amphitheatre: Kids Fun Fest Wednesday 1-3pm Galafield National Playday. 11-3pm The Great North Museum: Bugs and Stuff 11-3pm Sunderland Museum and Winter Garden: Battle of the Somme- Mini Festival 12noon Screen on the Green: The Peanuts Movie (Old Eldon Square) Thursday 11-3pm Discovery Museum: Ticket to Ride Family Activities 11-3pm The Great North Museum Marvellous (Bug) Masks 12noon Screen on the Green: Lilo and Stitch (Old Eldon Square) 1.30-3.30pm Monkwearmouth Station Museum: Messy Art Sessions 2-4pm South Shields Amphitheatre: Kids Fun Fest Friday 11-2pm Richardson Dees: Park Get Active Fun Days 11-3pm Discovery Museum Fashion Fridays 11-3pm Washington F Pit: Family Fun Weekend 12-3pm Blakelaw Park: Parklives Summer Carnival 12noon Screen on the Green: The Olympics (Old Eldon Square) Weekend 6th and 7th Aug 12 noon – 3pm Spanish City Plaza, Whitley Bay: Fish and Chips with Circus Tricks! Family Entertainment 6th August 12noon – 4pm Kenton Sports Centre, Park and Field: Family Fun Day 6th August 11-3pm Discovery Museum: Children North East 125th Birthday Celebrations and activities 6th August 11-3pm Washington F Pit: Family Fun Weekend 6th Aug 11-3pm , Family Fun Day

Week commencing: 08/08/16 Monday 11-3pm Segedunum* Roman Pottery Workshop 12noon Screen on the Green: The Olympics (Old Eldon Square) Tuesday 10.30-12noon Springfield Park, Forest Hall: Bumblebee Conservation Trust Bee Walks (07976307347 11-3pm Discovery Museum: Ready Set Go (Olympics themed Activities) 11-3pm The Great North Museum: Toga Tuesday (Roman Activities) Storytelling 11am, 12 noon, 1pm, 2pm 11-3pm South Shields Museum and Art Gallery: Sea shapes, seascapes - Printmaking 12noon Screen on the Green: The Olympics (Old Eldon Square) 2-4pm South Shields Amphitheatre: Kids Fun Fest Wednesday 11-3pm The Great North Museum: Spartan and Spears (storytelling) 12noon Screen on the Green: The Olympics (Old Eldon Square) 12-2pm Sunderland Museum and Winter Garden: Teddy Bears Picnic 12-4pm Roker and Seaburn: Active Sunderland Beach Festival Thursday 11am-12noon Marden Quarry, Forest Hall Bumblebee Conservation Trust Bee Walks (07866596663) 11-3pm Discovery Museum Ready Set Go (Olympics themed Activities) 12noon Screen on the Green: The Olympics (Old Eldon Square) 1pm – 3pm Richardson Dees Park: Puppet Theatre 1.30-3.30pm Monkwearmouth Station Museum: Messy Art Sessions 2-4pm South Shields Amphitheatre: Kids Fun Fest Friday 11-2pm Northumberland Park: Get Active Fun Days 11-3pm Discovery Museum: Fashion Fridays 12-3pm Gosforth Central Park: Parklives Summer Carnivals 12noon Screen on the Green: The Olympics (Old Eldon Square) Weekend 12-13th Aug 12 noon – 3pm Spanish City Plaza, Whitley Bay: Fish and Chips with Circus Tricks! Family Entertainment 13th 11-3pm Arbeia: Roman Gladiator School 13th-14th Aug 11-3pm Segedunum*: Hadrian Festival 13th Aug 11-3pm Seaburn: Family Fun Day 13th Aug 12-4pm Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens: SMILE concert (Music and activities)

Week commencing: 15/08/16 Monday 9.30-3.30pm Rising Sun Countryside Centre: Bikeability Cycle Safety Training (Book in advance) 11-3pm Segedunum*: Make a Roman Board Game 12noon Screen on the Green: The Olympics (Old Eldon Square) Tuesday 11-3pm Discovery Museum: The Tyneside Blitz Family Activities 11-3pm The Great North Museum: Plant a Seed 11-3pm South Shields Museum and Art Gallery: Punch and Judy 12noon Screen on the Green: The Olympics (Old Eldon Square) 2-4pm South Shields Amphitheatre: Kids Fun Fest Wednesday 11 -3pm The Great North Museum Birds of Prey (Demos – 12noon and 1.30pm) 11-12.30pm and 1.30-3pm Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens: Jungle Frieze 12noon Screen on the Green: The Olympics (Old Eldon Square) Thursday 11-3pm Discovery Museum: The Tyneside Blitz Family Activities 11 - 3pm The Great North Museum: Bones 12noon Screen on the Green: The Olympics (Old Eldon Square) 1.30-3.30pm Monkwearmouth Station Museum: Messy Art Sessions 2-4pm South Shields Amphitheatre Kids Fun Fest Friday 11-2pm Killingworth Lake: Get Active Fun Days 11-3pm Discovery Museum: Fashion Fridays 12-3pm Nunsmoor Park: Parklives Summer Carnivals 12noon Screen on the Green: The Olympics (Old Eldon Square) Weekend 20th Aug 11am-3pm Richard Dees Park: Water Play Day (*£3 per child) 20th Aug 11-3pm Roker Park, Family Fun Day 20th- 21st Aug (Sat 11-4pm, Sun 1-4pm) Arbeia Festival 20th - 21st Aug 12noon – 3pm Spanish City Plaza, Whitley Bay: Fish and Chips with Circus Tricks! Family Entertainment

Week commencing: 22/08/16 Monday 12noon Screen on the Green: The Jungle Book (Old Eldon Square) Tuesday 11-3pm Discovery Museum: Construct It! Family Activities 11-3pm The Great North Museum: Bring Your Dinosaur to the Museum Week: Cretaceous Crafts 11-3pm South Shields Museum and Art Gallery: Pirate Day 12noon Screen on the Green: Big (Old Eldon Square) 2-4pm South Shields Amphitheatre: Kids Fun Fest Wednesday 11-3pm The Great North Museum: Bring Your Dinosaur to the Museum Week: Animal Handling **Autism Friendly Relaxed Session 9.30-11am The Great North Museum Bring Your Dinosaur to the Museum Week: Animal Handling 11-12.30pm and 1.30-3pm Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens: Spiral Snakes 12noon Screen on the Green: Zootropolis (Old Eldon Square) Thursday 11-12noon Northumberland Park, medieval herb garden Bumblebee Conservation Trust Bee Walks (07583225859) 1pm-3pm Richard Dees Park: Circus Skills 11-3pm Discovery Museum: Construct It! Family Activities 11-3pm The Great North Museum: Bring Your Dinosaur to the Museum Week: Fantastic Fossils 12noon Screen on the Green: The Little Mermaid (Old Eldon Square) 1.30-3.30pm Monkwearmouth Station Museum: Messy Art Sessions 2-4pm South Shields Amphitheatre: Kids Fun Fest Friday 11-3pm Discovery Museum: Fashion Fridays 12noon Screen on the Green: Mary Poppins (Old Eldon Square) Weekend 27th- 28st Aug (Sat 11-4pm, Sun 1-4pm) Arbeia If you were a Roman Solider…? Event 27th -28th Aug 12noon – 3pm Spanish City Plaza, Whitley Bay: Fish and Chips with Circus Tricks! Family Entertainment 27th-28th 11-4pm The BALTIC: Playground of the Imagination 28th Aug 1-3pm Northumberland Park, Bandstand: Sunday Summer Music Family Bank Holiday Show 28th Aug 1-4pm Arbeia: Flight of the Romans Event (Falconry)

Week commencing: 29/08/16 Monday 11-4pm The BALTIC Playground of the Imagination Bank Holiday 12noon Screen on the Green: Labyrinth (Old Eldon Square) Tuesday 11-3pm The Great North Museum: Hidden Stars Trail 11-3pm South Shields Museum and Art Gallery: Bananas for Bunting 12noon Screen on the Green: Monsters University (Old Eldon Square) Wednesday 11am-3pm Richardson Dees Park; Picnic in the Park 12noon Screen on the Green: Inside Out (Old Eldon Square) Thursday 12noon Screen on the Green: Shark Tale (Old Eldon Square) Friday 12noon Screen on the Green: The Lego Movie (Old Eldon Square) Weekend 3rd Sept 11-3pm Seaburn, Family Fun Day

Orange: Sports/Outdoor Activities Blue: Art and Craft Events Green: Cinema Other Things:  Throughout the Summer: Vueling’s Quayside Seaside, Newcastle Quayside o Pop up beach equipped with sand, climbing wall, deck chairs, palm trees and volleyball court

 Each Week the Discovery Museum has a ‘themed trail’ around the museum. 50p a Trail o 23rd July – 29th July The Wilberforce Family’s Victorian Seaside Trail o 30th July – 5th August Arthur Cardigan’s Transport Trail o 6th Aug – 12th Aug Georges Destination Tyneside Discovery Trail o 13th Aug – 19th Aug Private Carters WW2 Trail o 20th Aug – 26th Aug Steve the Builders Construction Trail o 27th Aug – 2nd Sept Mrs Hopper’s Great Big Inventor Investigation

 The BALTIC has an interactive exhibition ‘The Playground Project’ open throughout the Summer

Venue Details: Newcastle:  Discovery Museum (NE1 4JA)  Great North Museum (NE2 4PT)  Baltic (NE8 3BA)  Laing Art Gallery (NE1 8AG) (Activities every Wednesday £3 charge per child)  The Sage (NE82 JR) Slightly further afield:  Arbeia Roman Fort (NE33 2BB)  Monkwearmouth Station (SR51AP)  (SR6 0GL)  Segedunum (NE28 6HR) (*Children are free adults entry is £5.95)  Shipley Art Gallery (NE8 4JB) (Activities every Thursday £2.50 charge per child)  South Shields Museum and Art Gallery (Ne33 2JA)  Stephenson Railway Museum (NE29 8DX)  Sunderland Winter Museum and Gardens (SR1 1PP) Outdoors:  Bill Quay Community Farm, Gateshead (NE10 0UE)  Ouseburn Farm (NE1 2PA)  Jesmond Dene and Pet Corner (Closed Mondays)  Rising Sun Country Park (NE12 9SS)  North Tyneside Parks: Richardson Dees (NE28 8RH), Killingworth Lakeside (NE12 6TN) and Northumberland Park (NE30 2HA) Sculpture Trails (available from cafes at Richardson Dees and Northumberland)  Sandhaven Beach, Sea Road, South Shields, , (NE33 2LD)  Newburn Activity Centre (NE15 8ND)  Roker and Seaburn beaches (SR6 9LX)

Useful Websites:

 Sporting and Activity based sessions o www.parklifes.com o www.activenewcastle.co.uk

 Link to museum pages (events/opening times/getting there): o http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/home.html  Local website to share and get ideas for activities o http://familyexplorers.co.uk/

 The Evening Chronicle – events pages o http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/29-free-things-kids-around- 10689651

 Cinema (Kids special viewings) o Odeon Gateshead- £2.50 a ticket: . http://www.odeon.co.uk/kids/?ast=LZCm91#showtimes-anchor o Empire Newcastle -£1.50 ticket: . http://www.empirecinemas.co.uk/_img/specials/jnrs/S164/489_JNRS_DL_A_JULY_S EPT_v1.pdf