NEWCASTLE, NORTH TYNESIDE & GATESHEAD WINTER 2023-24 raring2go.co.uk ACTIVITIES, CLUBS AND CLASSES P4—11 WHAT’S ON GUIDE P12—23 COMPETITIONS AND OFFERS P30 MAGAZINE & WEBSITE THE GO-TO GUIDE FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILD
A very warm welcome to your Winter issue of Raring2go! Inside you will find hundreds of ideas for things to do and places to go this winter. It’s not all about the festive season, we’ve got inspiration to keep you going until February half-term and beyond! Many events get booked up well in advance so don’t miss out on your favourite activities, get your tickets sorted today. Looking ahead to the new year we have lots of ideas for a new class or activity to try. If you like to bake we’ve got lots of recipes on our website at raring2go.co.uk. You’ll also find lots of activities to do at home, perfect for when the weather isn't the best. Be sure to enter all our competitions, we always have excellent prizes on offer. Thanks very much as always to our advertisers, without you we wouldn't be here! Thank you also to the schools and nurseries who distribute copies to their families. I hope you all have a very happy Christmas. Best wishes for a healthy and fun-filled 2024! Anna x Raring2go! EDITOR’S WELCOME 3
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Raring2go! WHAT’S ON raring2go.co.uk 12 The Shipley Art Gallery – enjoy a warm welcome and cosy craft sessions this winter. The Shipley Art Gallery has a packed programme of events for families to enjoy throughout the winter. Every Tuesday morning during term time, enjoy Crafty Kids, a fun session tailored to pre-schoolers themed around the artworks on display. Each session includes songs, crafts, stories and lots of creative play. Everything is designed to support children’s early development in a relaxed and enjoyable way, with families welcome to bring a packed lunch to enjoy in the gallery afterwards. During school holidays (except Christmas) the popular Family Arts Festival takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays with a different theme each week. At these events the themes have a link to the artworks on display, encouraging participants to be inspired by historical and contemporary artists and to then go on and create their own masterpieces. Friendly artists are on hand to inspire and encourage, with the whole family welcome to join in. The next Family Arts Festival will be during February half term 2024. The gallery is a beautiful, inspiring space and sessions are kept deliberately small to ensure a quality learning experience without being overcrowded. Everyone is welcome and quieter spaces can be provided for anyone who may need this. Crafty Kids: Tuesdays in term time (£3). Family Arts Festival: Tuesdays and Thursdays every school holiday (except Christmas, £3 per participant). Advance online booking recommended at: www.shipleyartgallery.org.uk The Shipley Art Gallery, Prince Consort Road, Gateshead, NE8 4JB. Tel: 0191 477 1495.
14 Raring2go! WHAT’S ON? raring2go.co.uk Please check the events calendar at www.raring2go.co.uk for full details of all events listed and many, many more! Also, follow our social media pages where daily updates are posted. Information correct at time of going to press but do check websites as timings may change and events may sell out. Have fun! Saturday 11 November – Sunday 7 January Skating at Life Science Centre, Newcastle www.life.org.uk 11 November – 24 December Breakfast with Santa Fenwick, Newcastle www.fenwick.co.uk/ events/ Monday 13 November – Sunday 24 December Christmas Virtual Reality Sleigh Ride & Santa’s Grotto Plants Plus, Seaton Burn www.plantsplusgardencentre.co.uk Monday 13 November – Sunday 31 December Ice skating rink (free but suggested donation to charity appreciated) Metro Centre, Gateshead www.themetrocentre.co.uk/whats-on/ events/arctic-experience Monday 13 November – Sunday 7 January Winter Light Trail The Alnwick Garden www.alnwickgarden.com Sunday 19 November – Saturday 23 December Kielder Winter Wonderland www.kielderwinterwonderland.com Monday 20 November – Sunday 7 January Winter Wonderscape and Meet Father Christmas (Wed-Sun until Dec 24) Exhibition Square, Metro Centre, Gateshead www.themetrocentre.co.uk/whats-on/ events/winter-wonderscape Thursday 23 November – Monday 1 January Northern Lights Festive Trail, Leazes Park, Newcastle www.northernlightsnewcastle.com Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 November Christmas Market Ford and Etal Estate, Cornhill on Tweed www.ford-and-etal.co.uk Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 November Christmas Fair Souter Lighthouse, Whitburn www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/ souter-lighthouse-and-the-leas Saturday 25 November – Saturday 23 December The Santa Experience Life Science Centre, Newcastle Saturday 25 November – Sunday 17 December Afternoon tea with Santa Northside Farm, Horsley, Northumberland www.northsidefarm.co.uk (weekends only) Saturday 25 November – Friday 22 December Magical Christmas Adventure High House Barn, Matfen www.highhousebarn.co.uk Saturday 25 November - Sunday 24 December The Plotters’ Forest Enchanted Christmas Trail Raby Castle, Staindrop, Co Durham www.raby.co.uk Saturday 25 November – Sunday 24 December Santa’s Grotto, Woodhorn Museum, Ashington www.museumsnorthumberland.org.uk/ woodhorn-museum
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raring2go.co.uk 16 November 25 – Sunday December 24 Festive activities include breakfast with Mrs Claus, Toy Making Workshops, Stocking making and Storytime Seven Stories, Lime Street, Newcastle www.sevenstories.org.uk Saturday 25 November - Sunday 7 January (selected dates) Jack and the Giant Mystery Mini Panto Seven Stories, Newcastle Saturday 25 November – Monday 8 January Christmas at Gibside – a traditional feast of festive celebrations www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/ gibside Wednesday 29 November, 6 and 13 December Tiny Sparks – for age 3 - 5 Discovery Museum, Newcastle Friday 1 December Curious Crawlers: for pre-walking babies Great North Museum, Newcastle www.greatnorthmuseum.org.uk Friday 1 – Saturday 23 December Breakfast with Santa Blonde Barrel, Newcastle www.xmasnewcastle.co.uk Friday 1 – Saturday 23 December Saturnalia Light Festival Vindolanda, Northumberland www.vindolanda.com Saturday 2, 9, 16 December Santa Saturdays at Gateshead Libraries (Birtley, Pelaw and Leam Lane) Festive crafts and activities. FREE – just turn up www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/gateshead-libraries32442560287 Saturday 2 – Saturday 23 December Father Christmas Experience Wallington Hall, Morpeth www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/ wallington Saturday 2 – Saturday 23 December Festive Stories with Father Christmas Belsay Hall, near Ponteland www.englishheritage.org.uk Saturday 2 – Sunday 24 December A traditional Christmas of wonder and delight Preston Park, Stockton on Tees www.prestonparkmuseum.co.uk Saturday 2 – Sunday 24 December Breakfast / Sunday Lunch / Afternoon Tea with Santa Vermont Hotel, Newcastle www.vermonthotel.com Saturday 2 – Sunday 24 December Elf Express Stephenson Steam Railway www.stephensonsteamrailway.org.uk Sunday 3 December Food & Craft Market plus Storytelling with Santa Northumberlandia, Cramlington www.nwt.org.uk/events Sunday 3 December Reindeer Dash – children’s charity running race Bridges, Sunderland www.mysunderland.co.uk Sunday 3 – Thursday 21 December Festive family fun – Santa lunches, films shows and party St James Park www.nufc.co.uk Raring2go! WHAT’S ON
17 Raring2go! WHAT’S ON WIN WITH RARING2GO! Namco Bowling Namco Soft Play Clip n Climb For the chance to win vouchers for these fantastic activities at the Metrocentre, enter today at raring2go.co.uk Closing date 13.12.23
18 raring2go.co.uk Sunday 3 – Saturday 24 December Breakfast with the Grinch / Brunch with Santa / Festive Disco County Hotel, Newcastle Sunday 3,10, 17 and 24 December Polar Express Family Event Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle www.tynesidecinema.co.uk Tuesday 5 and 12 December Crafty kids for the Under 5s Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead www.shipleyartgallery.org.uk Saturday 9 December Ice Sculpture Trail, Darlington town centre www.enjoydarlington.co.uk Saturday 9 December Hexham’s Christmas Market www.visithexham.net Saturday 9 December Elf - Film Screening at the Black Gate Newcastle Castle www.newcastlecastle.co.uk Saturday 9 December Create Light-up Christmas Cards The Common Room, Newcastle www.thecommonroom.org.uk Saturday 9 – Sunday 10 December Santa Specials Heatherslaw Railway, Cornhill on Tweed www.heatherslawlightrailway.co.uk Saturday 9 – Sunday 10 December Christmas Market Northumberland Square, North Shields Saturday 9 / 16, Sunday 10 / 17 December Santa Special Train Rides South Tynedale Railway, Alston www.south-tynedale-railway.org.uk Thursday 14 December Little Builders Festive Fun Farrell Centre, Newcastle University www.farrellcentre.org.uk Friday 15 December Muppets Christmas Carol - Film Screening at the Black Gate Newcastle Castle Friday 15 December – Sunday 7 January Winter Wonderland, Newcastle Arena www.thebigwishltd.godaddysites.com Saturday 16 December Home Alone Double Bill Tyneside Cinema Saturday 16 December Breakfast with Santa Royal Station Hotel, Newcastle www.royalstationhotel.com Saturday 16 December Christmas Film Screening: The Snowman and The Snowdog double bill The Common Room, Newcastle Monday 4 – Saturday 23 December St Nicholas Festive Family Fun Newcastle Cathedral www.newcastlecathedral.org.uk Tuesday 19 December Kids Castle Adventures Tour Newcastle Castle Wednesday 20 December – Sunday 7 January Merry Fish-mass Tynemouth Aquarium www.tynemouthaquarium.co.uk Thursday 21 December Film Screening of Elf Gosforth Civic Theatre, Regent Centre www.gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk Raring2go! WHAT’S ON
19 Raring2go! WHAT’S ON Friday 22 December Film Screening of Home Alone Gosforth Civic Theatre, Regent Centre Saturday 23 December Film Screening of Arthur Christmas Gosforth Civic Theatre, Regent Centre Tuesday 26, Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 December Winter Warmers Heritage Train ride Stephenson Steam Railway www.stephensonsteamrailway.org.uk Sunday 31 December Laser Light City (FREE) Newcastle and Gateshead Quayside Monday 2 – Sunday 7 January Tabby Cat Crafts Seven Stories, Newcastle Saturday 27 January and Saturday 17 February Family Art Class Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead Saturday 6 January, 3 February and 2 March Art Classes for 10-15 year olds Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle www.laingartgallery.org.uk Save our Rainforest Week Saturday 17 - Saturday 24 February Tynemouth Aquarium Monday 19 – Friday 23 February Football and Multisports Holiday Course Lee Sterry Sports Coaching Gosforth Academy www.ls-sc.co.uk
What’s on at the Theatre? It’s tradition to go to the theatre at this time of year but why not make a habit of going all year round? It is always a wonderful experience, is often educational and is just generally good for the soul. Get booked up today! Theatre tickets make excellent gifts too. NORTHUMBERLAND Queen’s Hall, Hexham Nov 25 The Gingerbread Witch Dec 2 - 23 Hey Diddle Diddle Dec 8 - 31 Snow White Seaton Delaval Arts Centre Dec 1-9 Peter Pan, Christmas Panto NORTH TYNESIDE Playhouse Whitley Bay Nov 26 Pop Princesses Dec 8 - Jan 6 Cinderella Jan 16—21 Jack and the Beanstalk Feb 25 Alice in Wonderland Tynemouth Priory Theatre Jan 12-21 Humpty Dumpty NEWCASTLE & GATESHEAD Tyne Theatre and Opera House Dec 8 - Jan 7 Peter Pan Jan 28—Hunter Theatre Arts Dance the World Feb 17—Circus Spectacular Feb 27—28 The Gruffalo’s Child Mar 30-31 Beauty and the Beast Easter Panto Northern Stage Nov 25—Jan 6 The Three Bears Dec 2 - Jan 6 Cinderella Feb 21—25 Zog and the Flying Doctors Theatre Royal Nov 28 - Jan 14 Pinocchio *Relaxed Performances 10 Dec & 10 Jan. *Relaxed & Signed Performances Fri 8 Dec & Wed 3 Jan Jan 23—27 Life of Pi Feb 12—17 Peter Pan Goes Wrong Feb 21—25 Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World Feb 23—25 We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Mar 8– 10 Blue’s Big Play Raring2go! WHAT’S ON AT THE THEATRE 20 raring2go.co.uk
Raring2go! WHAT’S ON AT THE THEATRE raring2go.co.uk 22 NEWCASTLE & GATESHEAD Gosforth Civic Dec 19 Wintry Night People’s, Heaton Dec 9 -17 Panto! Peter Pan *Relaxed Performances 12 Dec Alphabetti Dec 5 - Jan 6 Puddle Live Theatre Dec 9 - 23 Wintry Tales: Snow-Covered Maps and Mountainous Mayhem Utilita Arena Dec 6 - 10 Disney on Ice Dec 30 - 31 Elf The Musical Glasshouse Gateshead Dec 2 - 3 Big Family Festive Gigs Dec 3 The Nutcraacker & I Dec 9 - 10 Home Alone In Concert Dec 22 - 24 The Snowman Little Theatre, Gateshead Dec 12 - 24 Beauty & The Beast SOUTH TYNESIDE Customs House Nov 23 - Jan 6 Aladdin *Relaxed Performances Dec 28 Feb 20 - 22 Dennis’s Chocolatey Adventure Feb 24 - Pop Princesses SUNDERLAND Sunderland Empire Nov 22 - 25 Madagascar The Musical Dec 8 - 31 Beauty and The Beast *Relaxed Performances Dec 27 Jan 26 - 27 Jurassic Live Feb 6 - 10 Shrek the Musical Feb 15 - 10 Mar Disney’s Aladdin Arts Centre, Washington Nov 23 The Gingerbread Witch Dec 5 - 10 a Town Called Christmas Jan 12 - 17 Robin Hood COUNTY DURHAM Gala, Durham Nov 23 – Jan 6 Cinderella Dec 5 - 24 Tinsel Relaxed & Signed Performances 1.30pm on Wednesday 6 + Saturday 9 December Empire, Consett Dec 1-31 Jack and the Beanstalk
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Raring2go! COMPETITIONS AND OFFERS raring2go.co.uk 30 Copyright 2023 Mojo Publishing Ltd. All information in this magazine is published in good faith and cannot be reproduced without permission from the publisher, Raring2go! Newcastle 07739797419. Whilst the publisher makes every effort to ensure the businesses featured in this magazine are of the highest quality, we do not guarantee the services or products from any businesses featured. Neither do we nor the schools accept any responsibility for loss arising from the use of information published. To enter our competitions please visit raring2go.co.uk Good luck and remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it! Printed by Gemini Print 01273 464884. Please recycle this magazine when you are finished with it. Win a family ticket for entry to the Life Science Centre, Newcastle. Prize includes the new planetarium show. Tickets valid to 15.01.24. Enter by 08.12.23. Win a game at Treetop Golf, Metro Centre, for your whole class! Visit raring2go.co.uk for details of how to enter. Enter by 17.12.23 Newcastle Trampoline Park and Gym Free Small Slush or Hot Drink with every Trampoline or Soft Play booking this winter when redeeming this voucher. Valid for bookings between January 1st and 31st March 2024. One voucher per booking. Only original vouchers accepted. Vouchers to be retained by the centre. Newcastle Trampoline Park and Gym, West Rd, Newcastle NE4 9LG. Full terms and conditions can be found at: better.org.uk/offerterms Win a family ticket to see Peter Pan at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House. Enter by 02.12.23 Win a family ticket to see The Three Bears at Northern Stage. Enter by 01.12.23. Win a family ticket to see Wintry Tales at the Live Theatre, Newcastle. Enter by 03.12.23. Win a family ticket to see Cinderella at Playhouse Whitley Bay for the perfect twixmas treat at 4.30pm on December 28th. Enter by 4.12.23.
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