Raring2go! rarin o.co.uk SUMMER RECIPES WHAT'S ON FUN ACTIVITIES SUMMER 2026
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The summer holidays are upon us, bringing sunshine, adventures and the familiar challenge of keeping everyone watered, fed and entertained for six long weeks! Whether you're planning family days out, searching for budget-friendly activities, or looking for inspiration when the weather doesn't quite get the memo, Raring2go! is here to help. Inside this edition, you'll find plenty of ideas for making the most of the holidays, from exciting local events and outdoor adventures to creative rainyday activities and hidden gems waiting to be discovered. We've done the legwork so you can spend less time planning and more time making memories, meals and washing piles! I always welcome new ideas, so please feel free to reach out if there's something you'd like to see in upcoming issues. In addition to the magazine, new content is loaded daily to our website www.raring2go.co.uk so be sure to check-in regular for all the latest news, events, competitions and activities. Warmest wishes, a}u,ltad As always, information is correct at the time of print, but events can be subject to change, so check with the provider before attending. Raring2go! CONTACT �us @northumberland@raring2go.co.uk �-�-�- - 0 -47 3 _ 5_ 9 _ 6 _ 23 _ 2_ 0_____] r ' · raring2go.co.uk/northumberland ■ �u. • ... .J 3
Monday's, Friday's, Saturday's and Sunday's in the Summer Holidays Character Meet and Greets, Raring2go! WHAT'S ON Foam Parties, Interactive Fun and Games & Themed Dance Parties Tuesday's, Wednesday's and Thursday's in the Summer Holidays Magic Shows, Interactive Fun and Games & Foam Parties Everyday Small Animal handling, Critter Encounters, Meerkat Talk & Feeds, Meet the Coatimundi's, Groom a Goat, Groom a Pony, Tractor Rides Plus Indoor softplay, adventure playground, go-carts, bouncy pillows, pedal tractors, trampolines and toboggan slide All included in admission Check out our website for up to date details www.whitehousefarmcentre.co.uk 5
Raring2go! WHAT'S ON UNICORN LIVEI MONDAY 17TH AUGUST 1PM & 3.30PM Featuring your favourite pop and musical theatre songs, dazzling costumes, and a real unicorn called Sparkle. This show is like no other and will be sure to entertain children of all ages. £ 17 Standard Ticket JOIN OUR YOUNG MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMME FOR FREE AND GET CINEMA TICKETS FOR JUST £3! MINIONS & MONSTERS
Saturday 8th August. The Handlebards present 'As You Like It'. Northumberlandia, Cramlington www.nwt.org.uk Saturday 8th August. Slaley Show. Enjoy a fun-filled day at the Slaley Show, a traditional agricultural show celebrating rural life and community spirit, in a beautiful traditional village. www.slaleyshow.org.uk Sunday 9th August. Game on! FREE EVENT. Arcade games for the buttonbashers. A Lego station for the tiny architects. Board games for the thinkers, the gigglers and the quietly ruthless. All with a lively playlist keeping the room buzzing. Glasshouse, Gateshead. Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th August. Twice Brewed Beer Festival. Family Fun Day includes live music and children's entertainment. www.twicebrewedinn.co.uk Summer Reading Challenge. This is a FREE holiday activity for children aged 4-12 years. Children can read anything they like and in return for their efforts, collect free rewards. You can sign up at your local library or online on the official website. www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk Friday 14th August. Summer nature celebration. FREE EVENT. Celebrate the summer with a fun-filled family day. The Lighthouse Project, Byker. Kids Eat Free. Keep an eye out for restaurants, cafes, pubs and supermarkets across the UK offering free children's meals or £1 dining deals during Summer. Raring2go! WHAT'S ON Friday 14th to Saturday 15th August. Derwent Fest at Derwent Waterside Park. A family-friendly music event with camping option. Day and weekend tickets available. www.watersideparksuk.com Sunday 16th August. The (almost) Complete History of Britain Mud, blood and stiff upper-lips! Join the critically-acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company on a breathless race through the centuries in this delightfully inventive show that tells the entire story of Britain in under 2 hours. Washington Old Hall www.nationaltrust.org.uk Wednesday 19th August. After the Fire: Hands-on archaeology. FREE EVENT. A fun, interactive activity for families to explore Roman life through real Jh archaeological techniques. UJ'i.. Arbeia Roman Fort, South Shields ·.. .. f/ Saturday 22nd August, NE1's Quayside Carnival. An action-packed family fun day on Newcastle's quayside. FREE, but some activities may require prebooking. Keep an eye out for more details! www.getintonewcastle.co.uk Saturday 22"d & Sunday 23'd August The North East Dog Festival. Kirkley Hall. Under S's FREE. A brilliant end-ofsummer outing for families and dog enthusiasts. There will be dog shows and competitions, demonstrations, stalls and exhibitors, workshops, familyfriendly entertainment and a variety of food and drink stalls to choose from. Tickets can be purchased online. 11
Raring2go! WHAT'S ON BOOK NOW! � 0191 265 6060 NEWCASTLECLIMBINGCENTRE.CO.UK Blanchland & Hunstanworth &1 Show • Fun for all the familyI PUN 'Po"'-'1 e.ve.Y\b � 'VAIR S c <MA rte".' c- tr< Ao� uw .. )1 . F u . . "-'e-c. ofd<.rA1ot1 1tpY \el.<He .�so " ' - � Fe.rre.�s •v CC kr et.Lle .tdt .v? tre ee. .. " 'r -c1 ' 1s1 ru . <.ssA iwt:. ic)oUre�. ss S.. � 60.l-\.k Holtclo'. 1 Mol-\.clo.� 01� 31 Au..9u.s. l: 2026 � 1..10 Clapshaw Road, Blanchland, DH8 9UA (@ m remainder .horses.media 13
Raring2go! WHAT'S ON Pick-Your-Own Fruit at Felton Fruit Farm (Morpeth), Brocksbushes Farm (nr Corbridge) and Border Berries (Kelso). Pick-your-own fruit is fun, hands-on and deliciously rewarding! Talkin Tarn Country Park, Brampton. Boat hire 11 am-4pm during the school holidays. Pre-booking is not required. Visit www.independentadventure.co.uk for a full list of activities. FREE Summer Pop-Up Workshops. Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham. Every Tuesday 10am-12pm. Family-friendly craft workshops will take inspiration from the Discovery Dark Skies exhibition running in the Gallery this summer. www.queenshall.co.uk Summer of Stories at Beamish Museum. Saturday 18th July to Monday 31'' August. Immerse yourselves in stories from the past during the Summer of Fun event at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North. Pick up an activity book from the museum's Entrance, choose an adventure and enjoy a journey through Beamish ......... Wallington - Dragon Cycle Trail Explore Wallington Estate via two familyfriendly cycle trails! Choose the easy 1.5km green route or the more challenging 4.5km blue route. Bring your bike or hire one on-site from April 5th. www.nationaltrust.org.uk The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre. Located just a stone's throw from Hadrian's Wall, The Sill is FREE to enter and features activities, exhibitions, a rooftop walk, cafe and shop. www.thesill.org.uk Newcastle Castle. Pay once and get free returns all year. The Castle roof offers the best views in town plus there are special events, workshops and film screenings throughout the year. To find out more visit www.newcastlecastle.co.uk from the perspective of a person from the past. www.beamish.org.uk Paxton House, Berwick upon Tweed. One of the finest Palladian houses in Step back in time. Every Monday during the holidays. This summer enjoy our hands-on series of Roman and Celticthemed activities. These fun, familyfriendly sessions invite you to explore archaeology, discover Roman life, and get creative with a range of crafts. Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend www.segedunumromanfort.org.uk 14 Britain. Sitting on the border between England and Scotland, a visit to Paxton House makes a great family day out for all the family. www.paxtonhouse.co.uk Whitehouse Farm Centre, Morpeth. Whatever the weather, there is always plenty to see and do at Whitehouse Farm Centre. They have events happening all year round and a selection of experiences for 6-14 year olds including Mini Keepers, raring2go.co.uk
Mini Farmers and Goat Walking. Visit www.whitehousefarmcentre.co.uk for all the details. Room on the Broom Trail -Hamsterley Forest & Kielder Forest. An interactive, self-guided walk specially designed for children to enjoy. Pick up an activity pack from the Information Centre/Team Cycle for just £4. www.forestryengland.uk Gibside - Explorer Trail An easy pushchair and dog-friendly, circular walk passing the nature playscape, den-building area, low ropes course and the Strawberry Castle play area. www.nationaltrust.org.uk Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead. Every Tuesday in the summer holidays Family Crafting - join us for relaxed crafting in the summer holidays. www.shipleyartgallery.org.uk Things That Go! Discovery Museum, Newcastle. Get ready to vroom, whoosh, beep-beep and choo-choo! Discovery Museum's brand-new gallery space will launch this summer with a playful transport exhibition for younger children. www.discoverymuseum.org.uk The Farne Islands. One of the best adventures to have is a boat trip from Seahouses to the Farne Islands. The little ones will be kept amused with plenty of wildlife to spot on the islands and in the air and water. Haltwhistle Swimming & Leisure Centre. heated outdoor pools are open until September. 25 metre pool, learner pool and paddling pool with toys for toddler and babies. www.haltwhistleleisure.co.uk Baliffgate Museum, Alnwick. From Ration Books to Moon Landings, discover what life in Alnwick area was like from 1950 to 1970. Free activities for children. Raring2go1 WHAT'S ON a�:�:;h:,:e;rv�:fde ,,,,, Saturday 4th July, 11am - 2pm. • Free Taster Sessions with Tyne Valley Canoe Club • Try kayaking, canoeing, or stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) with qualified instructors • Water safety demonstrations and equipment displays • Meet representatives from Fire & Rescue, Mountain Rescue, and the Police Marine Unit • Family-friendly activities provided by Prudhoe Youth Project FREE EVENT+ FREE GREGGS TREAT* *for children 17 years and under. • LOVE -�Kus> I BRITAIN TIDY PARKS 24 July - 2 August Four easy ways to love your park! 0 0 0 0 Put your litter in the bin or take it home. Keep your dog on the lead and clean up after them. Stay on the path and don't trample the flowers. Respect other park users and report any issues. KeepBritainTidy.org/LoveParks 15
oo� � Buu � Buu � �a cfuxru� �aim = � �� Raring2go! WHAT'S ON EE SWIM -....-:=- O-1.IDAYS FROM WED 22"° JULY TO SAT 29'" AUG EVERY WEDNESDAY 1PM TO 2PM EVERY SATURDAY 2.30PM TO J.30PM JUST TUAN UP TO GET YOUR FAE 80 SLOTS AVAILAB Ashlngton Leisure Keepc.alm Dontsw!mhard Hold onto ;mythmethatflo.ats leanbackto k..p your mouth and nose out of the water Gently move your h•nds ,nd feet to help you float When you're calm, raise your .arm and shout for help Swim to safety If you can Lifeb!! 17
Raring2go! HOLIDAY CLUBS & CAMPS 19
Raring2go! C.UBS & CLASSES 20 With fun activities all day, my son always wants to go back." ***** ifrial sessions available across tl'le UK COMPUTERXPLORERS.CO.UK ..... , ... raring2go.co.uk
You'll Need: 120ml milk 1 tbsp sugar A few drops of vanilla extract Ice cubes 6 tbsp salt 1 small zip-lock bag 1 large zip-lock bag Tried and Tested! Raring2go! RECIPE The Science Bit Salt lowers the freezing point of the ice, making it extra cold. This allows the milk mixture to freeze into delicious ice cream while you shake, roll and squish! Raring2go! Tip: Why not add chocolate chips, strawberries or sprinkles for an extra-special summer treat? What To Do: 1. Pour the milk, sugar and vanilla into the small bag and seal tightly. 2. Fill the larger bag halfway with ice and add the salt. 3. Place the small bag inside the larger bag and seal. 4. Shake, roll and squish the bag for around 5-10 minutes until the mixture turns into ice cream. 5. Remove the small bag, wipe it clean and enjoy your homemade ice cream! I'll admit, I never expect these science experiments to work, so I was pleasantly surprised when this one did! Our ice cream turned out a little milky, but it was edible (and rather nice). My 4-year-old son added plenty of sprinkles and happily ate the lot, so it can't have been too bad! We used ordinary table salt as that's all our local Co-op had in stock, but maybe rock salt might be worth a try. We're also tempted to try cream instead of milk next time to see if it makes the ice cream a little richer. Like most good experiments, there was a bit of trial and error involved, but that's all part of the fun! 25
Raring2go! CTIVITIES Scavenger hunt • LOVE PARKS Safety first - don't touch any potentially harmful plants or insects. Respect nature - items should be observed, not taken. D Oakleaf D Maple leaf D Beech leaf D Daisy D Dandelion D Buttercup □ Bird □ Bee D Squirrel 26 raring2go.co.uk
Raring2go! LOCAL SERVICES 27
ij You're a Bad Man, Mr. GUM! by Andy Stanton ' ' Frve stars. I really enjoyed the 20th anniversary edition of You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum because the extra bonus pages were really fumy and I really liked the original drawings. ' ' Five stars. You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum is a really funny book. My favourite part was when Jake the big dog was saved by some magical dolphin chocolate. My favourite character was Polly because she really cares about Jake the big dog. I've read other books in this series and this is the best one' I really liked the extra bonus material for the 20th anniversary edition, especially seeing the original illustrations far the book and the original ending because they made me laugh. I would recommend this book for children who like funny stories. LoveReading Raring2go! R,1RING2READ Raring2go! would like to thank LoveReading4Kids, for this wonderful review. LoveReading4Kids, the UK's leading children's book recommendation website, is now a bookstore with social purpose, where 25% of the cover price can be donated to a school to buy books. Because books change lives. Buy a Book. Support a School. Make a Difference. Click anywhere on this page to buy this book or visit: www.lovereading4kids.co.uk 4 Kl OS Review by ABI, aged 9 BUY BOOKS CHANGE LIVES 29
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