Halloween at North East Museums

Enjoy the spooky season with Halloween events at museums and galleries in Newcastle, Gateshead, North Shields, South Shields, Ashington and Hexham.

Events for families

Children in Halloween fancy dress at a museum.

Spooky themed Heritage Train Rides

  • This Halloween, our train rides get an eerie upgrade — travel in a specially themed spooky carriage for a hauntingly fun experience. There'll be spooky entertainment from the theatre group, The Moss Troopers.

Stephenson Steam Railway | Thursday 30 October | 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3pm | Tickets £7 | Book for Spooky themed Heritage Train Rides


Make a Horrifying Hand

  • Join us in the Spooktacular Great Hall for this hands-on family event where you can get stuck in with creepy crafting to make your own moveable horrible hand for Halloween.

Discovery Museum | Tuesday 28 October | 10.05—11.05am, 11.30—12.30pm and 1.15—2.15pm | Tickets from £2.50 | Book to make a Horrifying Hand


Spooky Museum Trail

  • Witches have been spotted flying around Discovery Museum collecting ingredients for their potions. They have left behind clues next to cauldrons around the galleries, can you explore the museum to find them? 

Discovery Museum | Saturday 25 October — Sunday 2 November | Trail 50p | Find out more about the Spooky Museum Trail


Spooky Silent Disco

  • Dress in your coolest creepy costume to stomp away to tunes like the Monster Mash at the Spooky Silent Disco.  
    With three music channels to choose from, including Halloween tunes, Families have two hours to dance, strut and boogie around the terrifying Turbinia. 

Discovery Museum | Thursday 30 October | 4.30—6.30pm and 7.30—9.30pm | Tickets £5 | Book for Spooky Silent Disco


Build a Flying Bat

  • Build your own flying bat, and get your haunted hands on other creepy crafts, too.

Discovery Museum | Thursday 30 October | 10—10.45am, 10.50—11.35am, 11.40am — 12.25pm, 1—1.45pm and 1.50—2.35pm | Free activity | Book your session to Build a Flying Bat


Little Artists Plus+ Spooky Special 

  • Discover the Laing Art Gallery with your little ones and support their early development in a fun and relaxed way, exploring a different theme each week. Each session involves a warm up with movement and motion, gallery exploration with fun interactive activities, a practical art activity with various materials. 

Laing Art Gallery | Monday 27 October |10.30—11.30am and 1—2pm | £6 | Book your space on Little Artists+


Pumpkin Trail

  • Pick up your trail sheet and then explore the museum and colliery buildings to try and find all the hidden pumpkins. Count how many you can find and make your way to the Welcome desk with your completed trail sheet for a small sweet treat!

Woodhorn Museum | Wednesday 15 October - Sunday 2 November | Included with Annual Pass | Find out more about the Pumpkin Trail


Hexham Skull Trail

  • Join us for a spine-chilling Skull Trail around the Gaol, inspired by the museum’s dark and grisly history and collections.

Hexham Old Gaol | Wednesday 15 October - Sunday 2 November | Included with Annual Pass | Find out more about Hexham Skull Trail


Halloween Crafts (over 5s)

  • Drop in to get spooky and make Halloween cards, masks and pictures. For ages 5 to 11.

Hatton Gallery | Wednesday 29 October | From 10.30am | Free activity | Find out more about Halloween Crafts


Halloween Crafts (under 5s)

  • This craft session is especially for little ghouls under 5, have fun making Halloween pictures and cards. 

Hatton Gallery | Monday 27 October | 11am — 12.30pm| Free activity | Find out more about Halloween Crafts

Events for adults

Woman at a museum late event.

Halloween Great North Night

  • For one night only, the museum transforms into a spine-tingling spectacle of the strange and supernatural. Dress to distress in your boldest, most bizarre Halloween attire and prepare to explore a labyrinth of eerie delights and macabre marvels.

Great North Museum: Hancock | Friday 31 October | 6—8pm | Tickets from £10 | Book for Halloween Great North Night


Pottery Pumpkins

  • In this three hour session with ceramicist Beth Huttly you'll learn a range of ceramic skills, and make your own pottery pumpkin using clay.

Shipley Art Gallery | Saturday 4 October | 1—4pm | Tickets £35 plus booking fee | Book for Pottery Pumpkins