There are loads of fantastic Easter activities across the North East for families to enjoy, without breaking the bank! The events below don’t need to be pre-booked so are perfect for those last minute plans, and most are free (or just a few pounds). There’s something for all ages, from egg hunts to the Easter Bunny, funfairs to family fun days galore, and lots more!
You can browse below or check our quick guide in date order here. This list will continue to be updated so do check back. If you have any recommendations to add, please do get in touch here
Details are subject to change, please check with organisers using the links below for the latest updates.
Arbeia Roman Fort – Crafty Romans
📌 Baring Street, South Shields, NE33 2BB
📆 Wed 13th & 20th April 2022
🐣 Free craft packs available to collect: Week 1 – Plant your own Roman herbs to take away. Bring your own clean yoghurt pot to recycle or pots can be supplied. Week 2 – Make and design your own Roman dagger and pretend to be a Roman soldier.
👉 Free entry, no booking needed. More info here.
BALTIC – NEW Installation ‘Do Touch’
📌 Gateshead Quays, NE8 3BA
📆 Wed 20th – Fri 22nd April 2022
🐣 Exploring art through touch, in Julia Snowdin’s sculptural world of squishy monster-like characters, with tactile tentacles, soft spikes, and roaring and rumbling sounds. Based in the Learning Lounge, Level 2.
👉 Free, no booking required. More info here.
Suitable for all ages and abilities
Blyth Beach – Easter Funday
📌 Blyth Beach, Northumberland
📆 Fri 15th April 2022, 10am-4pm
🐣 Funfair rides and attractions (charges apply), free face painter, free competition with over 500 Easter eggs to give away. Everyone welcome.
👉 Free entry, more info here.
Blyth Town Council – Ridley Park Tea Party
📌 Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 3HF
📆 Sat 16th April 2022, 11am-3pm
🐣 Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in Ridley Park, with street theatre, Easter egg hunt, Easter bonnet parade, arts and crafts workshops, competitions, craft fair and more.
👉 Free event, more info here.
Broom House Farm – Easter Egg Hunt
Chester-le-Street, Co Durham, DH7 6TR
9th – 24th April 2022
🐣 Find the 10 boards with Easter eggs and letters hidden across the playfield, solve the anagram to win a chocolate egg.
Free, no booking needed. More info here.
The Burton House Pub – The Canny Crammy Food Festival
📌 Cramlington, Northumberland, NE23 2EE
📆 Sat 16th & Sun 17th April 2022, from 12pm
🐣 Bouncy castle, Easter egg hunt, kids entertainment, games, prizes, crafts, live music, street food & market stalls.
👉 Free entry, £1 fee certain crafts/games. More info and register interest here.
Chester Le Street Riverside Park – Easter Egg Hunt
📌 Chester-le-Street, Co Durham, DH3 3PL
📆 Sat 16th April 2022, 10am
🐣 Easter Egg Hunt hosted by Friends of Riverside Park.
👉 Free. More info here.
Chester Le Street Riverside Park – Funfair
📌 Chester-le-Street, Co Durham DH3 3PL
📆 9th April – 2nd May 2022
🐣 Funfair rides and stalls, open daily (weather permitting) 12 noon – 7pm
👉 Free entry, charges apply for rides. More info here.
Cheeki Monkeys Gateshead – Baby & Children’s Market
📌 Springwell Village Community Venue, Gateshead, NE9 7RP
📆 Sun 10th April 2022, 10am-12pm
🐣 Preloved, craft and business stalls with 1000s of bargains, saving you £££s on nearly new baby and children’s toys, clothes and equipment. Toddler soft play area for little ones and rest/refreshment area. Free goody bags for the first 100 customers, AND 1 lucky person will receive a ticket to Fun Shack Gateshead!
👉 Entry £1 (kids free). More info here.
Coach & Horses Pub – Easter Events Birtley, Gateshead, DH3 1QF Sun 3rd & 10th April 2022
🐣 Sunday Funday: free bouncy castle, frozen cocktails, kids slushes and fresh Sunday dinner! Sat 16th April, 2pm
🐣 Egg Hunt: Easter egg hunt and bouncy castle. Mon 18th April, 2-6pm
🐣 Easter Party: Party games, disco, fancy dress, prizes to be won, slushes and mix ups. Free, no booking needed. More info here.
Dalton Park – Easter Maze
📌 Murton, Co Durham, SR7 9HU
📆 11th-20th April, 11am-3pm
🐣 Discover Alice’s Wonderland maze, a giant themed outdoors maze located near the Children’s play area. Plus on the 15th and 16th April meet the Red Queen, Alice and the Mad Hatter.
👉 Free, no booking required. More info here.
Discovery Museum – Easter Events
📌 Blandford Square, Newcastle, NE1 4JA
📆 Toy Trail: 9th – 24th April 2022
🐣 Follow the clues to find the toys hiding in the gallery, complete the trail to be in with a chance of winning a Chocolate Hamper prize draw! Trail sheet 50p, available from gift shop.
📆 Street Scientists: Wed 13th & 20th April 2022
🐣 Newcastle University’s Street Scientists will be roaming the galleries 11am-3pm bringing science to life through short interactive experiments and demonstrations.
📆 Easter Crafts: 12th, 14th, 19th & 21st April 2022
🐣 Tuesdays and Thursdays free crafts available, plus special themed crafts at the Play+Invent creation stations, £2 (correct change appreciated). 10am-12pm & 1-3pm, most suitable for ages 6+.
👉 No booking required. More info here.
Durham Castle – World Heritage Open Day
📌 Palace Green, Durham, DH1 3RW
📆 Mon 18th Apr 2022, 11am – 3pm
🐣 Free admission to Durham Castle as part of World Heritage Day, with a Medieval Re-enactment taking place in the castle grounds. Learn about medieval life, try on some chain mail and swing a sword like a Saxon warrior, with re-enactment performances taking place at specific times.
👉 Free, no booking required. More info here.
Suitable for all ages.
Durham Cathedral – Easter Activities
📌 Durham, DH1 3EH
📆 Mon 18th Apr 2022, 12-6pm
🐣 World Heritage Day: for this day only Durham Cathedral will open as an interactive medieval monk experience. See how the monks of the cathedral used to live, along with family crafts and Stations of the Crossing dance performances at 11.15am, 2.15pm and 4.15pm.
📆 18th – 24th Apr 2022
🐣 Crafts & Trail: create your own Easter decoration to take home then follow the Easter trail and match pictures on your decoration to those hidden around the cathedral.
👉 Free. No booking required. More info here.
Suitable for all ages.
Felling Volunteer Library – Spring Fair
📌 Felling Hub, Gateshead, NE10 9LT
📆 Sat 9th April 2022, 11am-1pm
🐣 Meet the Easter Bunny, Hook A Duck, sellers tables, gifts, toys tables, tombola and chocolate tombola, teas and treats.
👉 Free, no booking required. More info here.
Gateshead Children’s Centres – Play Time Centres across Gateshead Selected dates 11th-22nd April 2022
🐣 Themed Play Time sessions, Baby Bunnies sessions for babies aged under 1 year and Hop into Spring sessions from 1 to 4 years. Older siblings welcome. £1 per child. No booking required but places may be limited. More info here.
Gateshead Libraries – Let’s Play!
📌 Gateshead Central Library (Caedmon Hall)
📆 Tuesday 12 April, 11am – 2pm
🐣 A fun family event exploring the riverbank (without getting wet!) at Gateshead Library, discovering, experimenting and creating through a series of free workshops and activities.
👉 Free, no pre-booking required although the stop motion and sound workshops are bookable on arrival. More info here.
Great North Museum: Hancock – Easter Events
📌 Barras Bridge, Newcastle, NE2 4PT
📆 Wed 13th April, 11am-3pm
🐣 Family Fun Day: part of the Hadrian’s Wall 1900 festival with Roman-inspired activities, including chariot demonstrations, meet Roman reenactors and more.
📆 Tues 19th April, 11am-3pm
🐣 Drawing Workshop: family-friendly workshop, draw some of your favourite animals using Biro pens, inspired by the exhibition ‘Where did all the Animals Go?’
📆 Wed 20th April, 11am-3pm
🐣 Astro Adventures: fun activities and intergalactic information points, with flash talks and a new Planetarium show (book slot on arrival).
👉 Free, donations welcome. More info here.
Hardwick Park – Hop-a-long Bunny Trail
📌 Sedgefield, Co Durham, TS21 2DN
📆 9th – 24th Apr 2022
🐣 Find all the hopping bunnies around the park grounds. Discover the letters to reveal a word then collect a sticker from the gift shop. Trail sheet available from the café and gift shop during opening hours.
👉 £1 per trail sheet. More info here.
Head of Steam Railway Museum – Easter Events
📌 Darlington, Co Durham, DL3 6ST
🐣 Crafts: spring and Easter themed craft sessions on 12th, 19th & 22nd April, and crafts with The Creation Station Darlington 14th & 20th April.
📆 Wed 13 April, 10am-4pm
🐣 Animals About Town: visit the mobile farm on the Museum Field.
📆 Fri 15th & 22nd April, 10am-12pm
🐣 Station Scamps: railway themed play including messy and role play for ages 5 and under.
📆 Sun 17th April, 10am-4pm
🐣 Easter Fun Day: face painting, mini train ride, magic shows, trail around the museum and gardens, and arts & crafts.
👉 Annual family pass from £10. No booking required. More info here.
Most activities included in admission, fees for certain activities £1-2 pp.
High Force Waterfall – Easter Egg Trail
📌 Forest-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle, Co Durham, DL12 0XH
📆 9th – 24th Apr 2022
🐣 Easter egg trail throughout the woodlands en route to the impressive High Force Waterfall. Spot 8 lost eggs around the circular route, with refreshments available at the High Force Hotel.
👉 Admission fees apply, £1-£2.50pp (under 5s free). More info here.
Hirst Park – Easter Funday
📌 Hirst Park, Ashington, Northumberland
📆 Sun 17th April 2022, 10am-3pm
🐣 Funfair rides and attractions (charges apply), Koast Radio, free Easter eggs, egg competition, market and craft stalls, hot food and more.
👉 Free entry, more info here.
The Keel Row Pub – Fun Days
📌 Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, NE25 0QG
📆 Fri 15th & Mon 18th April 2022, 12-4pm.
🐣 Good Friday free bouncy castle in the park 12-4pm and live music from 8pm. Easter Monday free bouncy castles, candy floss, mini disco and games, face painting, and meet & greets with peter Rabbit, Toy Story characters, Rapunzel and Batman. Funfair rides (small charge applies) and live music from 4pm.
👉 Free, no booking required. More info here.
Land of Oak and Iron – Easter Egg Trail
📌 Winlaton Mill, Blaydon, Gateshead, NE21 6RU
📆 9th – 24th April 2022
🐣 Look for the colourful eggs, unravel the clues and work out the winning word! Then claim your little crafty prize to take home with you. Plus, on the 9th April lively folk music from “The Storytellers Street Band” until 2pm.
🐣 Weekly kids crafts club every Sunday, 9am-3.30pm. Self-led activity using a range of materials to create something to take home with you.
👉 Suggested donation £3. No booking required. More info here.
Locomotion – Easter Events
📌 Dale Road Industrial Estate, Shildon, Co Durham, DL4 2RE
📆 9th – 24th Apr 2022
🐣 Free, fun activities on the theme of construction, with a range of construction toys, Easter trail, craft activities and a LEGO speed build challenge, plus Brusselton Incline Egg Challenge on weekdays at 11.30am and 1.30pm (excluding Bank Holidays).*
👉 Free, no booking required. More info here.
Egg Challenge free but places are limited—please book a place at the Welcome Desk when you arrive.
Metrocentre – Metrognomes Sunshine Funtime
📌 Metrocentre, Gateshead (Lower Exhibition Square, near Primark)
📆 Mon 18th – Fri 22nd April 2022
🐣 Watch the new Metrognomes show as Herbert, Sherbet, Maggot and Rusty learn all about friendship and having fun, with lots of chances to get up and join in. 12pm, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm (Bank Holiday Monday 12pm, 2pm and 4pm).
👉 Free. No booking required. More info here.
NERD Arcade – NERD Fest 2022
📌 The Boiler Shop, Newcastle, NE1 3PE
📆 Sun 17th April 2022, 10am-4pm
🐣 Gaming room and retro arcade machines all free to play, competitions and tournaments, local geeky traders, Cosplay competition, walking dinosaur experience, animal petting, and film characters, cars and props from Ghostbusters, Star Wars, Jurassic Park and Back to the Future.
👉 From £6 pp (under 5s free). Tickets in advance or available on the door. More info here.
The Nest Cafe – Easter Events
📌 Durham Road, Low Fell, Gateshead, NE9 5AN
📆 Paint & Play: Thurs 14th April, 10-11.30am
🐣 A session of painting and toys. Let your little ones create a masterpiece and we will deal with the clean up! £2.50 per child (£1 sibling). Suitable for 0-6 years.
📆 Toddle Club: Fri 22nd April, 10.45am-12.15pm
🐣 Toddler Club playgroup will be running as usual with toys, songs and story time. £2 per family. Suitable for ages 0-5 years.
📆 Boob Club: Thurs 21st April, 9.30–11am
🐣 Boob Club will be running as usual, a friendly social group providing a supportive space for breastfeeding women to meet, chat and make new friends! Older children are also welcome during holidays, there’s a range of toys and Wi-Fi to keep them entertained! Free.
👉 No booking required, more info here.
Newcastle Parks – Easter Bug Hunts
📌 Various parks across Newcastle
🐣 Join the Urban Green Newcastle rangers on a guided mini-beast hunt, then visit the crafting station to make your own bug gliders, bug masks, and bug wooden magnets. Plus face painting with bug-themed designs! 10am-3pm, bug hunts start at 10am.
📆 Tues 12th April – Tyne Riverside Country Park
📆 Thurs 14th April – Leazes Park
📆 Fri 15th April – Walker Park
📆 Tues 19th April – Gosforth Central Park
📆 Thurs 21st April – Heaton Park
📆 Fri 22nd April – Nuns Moor Park
👉 Free, no booking required. Find out more here.
Northumberlandia – Easter Egg Trail
📌 Cramlington, Northumberland, NE23 8AU
📆 Fri 15th – Mon 18th April 2022, 10am-3.30pm
🐣 Download and follow the map to find the brightly coloured eggs in the woodland, with questions and an anagram to solve to collect a chocolate treat from the café. Either print the guide or bring a pencil and paper to mark down your answers.
👉 £3 per child, available to download here.
Riverside Delight – Easter Fair
📌 Dunston Community Centre, Gateshead, NE11 9EB
📆 Sat 16th April 2022, 12-5pm
🐣 Easter fun and games, a visit from the Easter bunny, local small business stalls, sweet treats and foods, tombola and raffle.
👉 Free entry, no booking needed, More info here.
Royal Quays – Easter Events
📌 Royal Quays Shopping Centre, North Shields, NE29 6DW
📆 Sat 9th & Sun 10th April 2022, 11am-3pm
🐣 Easter trail and meet and greet with Alice & The Mad Hatter. Find the rabbits hiding around the centre to win a prize. Trail sheet available from participating stores.
👉 Free, no booking required. More info here.
Secret Garden – Seaton Delaval
📌 Double Row, Seaton Delaval, NE25 0PP
📆 Sundays, 12pm
🐣 Kids Club: weekly entertainment every Sunday, with Toy Story characters (10th April), Peter Rabbit (17th April) and Superheroes (24th April). Doors open at 12pm with characters coming on stage at 1pm.
📆 11th-24th April
🐣 Kids Eat FREE – with every adult meal purchased from Carlos Pizzeria and Baba Khass Kebabs.
📆 Wed 13th April, 1pm
🐣 Peter Rabbit movie
📆 Sun 17th April, 1pm
🐣 Easter bunny & Easter egg hunt
👉 Free. No booking required. More info here.
Shiremoor Adventure Playground – Easter Funday Shiremoor, Newcastle, NE27 0PR Wed 20th April, 11-4pm
🐣 Bouncy castles, face painting, bunny visit, nutty professor, adventure playground. Free, no booking needed. More info here.
Souter Lighthouse – Easter Events
📌 Coast Road, South Shields, South Tyneside, SR6 7NH
📆 11th, 13th, 19th & 20th April, 11am-3.30pm
🐣 Souter Sports: outdoor games and mini-sports activities in the Foghorn Field for all the family, including football, badminton and archery. Tips and encouragement given. Free.
📆 Wed 13th & 20th April 2022
🐣 Health Walk: free weekly guided walk exploring the coast. Children welcome accompanied by an adult. Meet outside lighthouse cafe at 1.20pm. Free.
📆 Fri 15th-Mon 18th April, 11am-4pm.
🐣 Easter Trail: explore the outdoors and tick off spring-themed activities to complete the self-led trail and collect your Rainforest Alliance chocolate egg. £3.
📆 Tues 19th & Thurs 21st April, 11am-1pm.
🐣 Seashore Safari: join rangers to search for sea creatures on Souter’s rocky shore, with lots of watery wildlife facts. Meet at the National Trust van in car park. Wear your wellies! £1 pp.
👉 No booking required. More info here.
Recommended age 4-11 (must be accompanied by an adult)
South Shields Museum & Art Gallery – Tremendous Tuesday
📌 South Shields, NE33 2JA
📆 Tues 12th & 19th April 2022, 11am-3pm
🐣 Activities and crafts inspired by the exhibitions and collections. Make torn paper landscape pictures based on the John Peace exhibition, then the following week make your own Hobby Horse stick puppet.
👉 Free, donations welcome. No booking needed. More info here.
South Tyneside Libraries – Easter Events
📌 Various locations across South Tyneside
🐣 Baby Bounce: gentle bouncing and action rhymes for babies, from birth until mobile.
📆 Cleadon Park: 11th April, 10.30am
📆 Jarrow Focus: Tues 12th & 19th April, 10.15am
📆 The Word: Tues 12th & 19th April and Fri 22nd April, 10.30am
📆 Hebburn Central: Wed 13th & 20th April, 2pm
🐣 Planting Sunflower Seeds: suitable for families and children of all ages.
📆 Cleadon Park: Wed 13th April, 10am-12pm
📆 Jarrow Focus: Wed 13th April, 2-3pm
📆 The Word: Wed 20th April, 11am-3pm
📆 Hebburn Central: Fri 22nd April, 10am-12pm
👉 Free. Drop-in, spaces available on a first come basis. More info here.
Spanish City Funfair – Easter Entertainment
📌 The Links, Whitley Bay, NE26 1PS
📆 15th – 21st April 2022
🐣 Pop-up funfair with rides, stalls, giant bungee trampolines and more. Special entertainment on Easter Sunday (17th April) and free Easter eggs and free face painting.
👉 Free entry, charges for rides/stalls. More info here.
Springwell SVCV – Family Spring Fest
📌 Springwell Village Community Venue, Gateshead, NE9 7
📆 Sat 9th April 2022, 11am-6pm
🐣 Games, competitions, live music, DJ, dancing, birds of prey, kids tepees, stocks, Science Buddies, arts and crafts and more! Cafe and bar open.
👉 Free entry (some activities are chargeable). More info here.
Stephenson Steam Railway – Make & Take Thursdays
📌 North Shields, NE29 8DX
📆 Thurs 14th & 21st April 2022, 11am-3pm
🐣 Craft activities for families. Week 1 – plant a seed to take home to grow wildlife-friendly plants (suitability 3-11 years). Week 2 – learn all about train timetables and the station clock (suitability 3-7 years).
👉 Free, donations welcome. More info here.
Booking recommended for Heritage train rides here.
St Mary’s Lighthouse – Easter Trail
📌 St.Mary’s Island, Whitley Bay, NE26 4RS
📆 13th – 18th April 2022
🐣 Complete the ‘run around the island’ trail to collect a prize. Climb the lighthouse, watch the seals and birds and get takeaway drinks.
👉 £1 per child, no booking required. More info here.
Active Sunderland – Easter Family Fun Day
📌 Herrington Country Park, Houghton-Le-Spring, Sunderland, DH4 7EL
📆 Thurs 14th April 2022
🐣 An afternoon of family friendly activities including character led walks, family games, Penshaw Bowl Easter egg roll, and cycling and running challenges including the Foundation of Light’s speed cage.
👉 Free event, registration required for Egg Roll here (ages 9 and under).
Sunderland BID – Easter Trail & Workshops
📌 Sunderland City Centre
📆 2nd – 30th April 2022
🐣 Easter Trail: find the 6 giant colourful eggs around the city centre, along with 7 interactive fun spring characters. Download the Sunderland Experience app on your smartphone.
📆 Sat 9th & 23rd April, 10-1pm
🐣 Pop Recs Workshops: learn circus skills, fun games, circus-themed crafts and more!
📆 Tues 12th & Thurs 21st April, 10-1 pm
🐣 Betsy Jenny Workshops: free face painting, juggling tricks, and Easter and woodland themed crafts.
📆 Thurs 14th & Tues 19th April, 11-2pm
🐣 Geek Retreat Workshops: meet the Easter Bunny, play games, themed crafts and join Miss Spring in the Easter Grotto for Storytime.
👉 Free. More info here.
Booking is not essential but it would be appreciated if you could register your interest if attending.
Sunderland Bridges – Easter Events
📌 Sunderland, SR1 3DR
📆 9th-24th April
🐣 Visit the free Ping Pong Parlour located opposite H&M or the pop-up soft play in Central Square (£2 for 20 minutes with a goodie bag for each child at the end). Also arts and crafts activities are located in central park.
📆 Wed 13th & 20th April
🐣 Kids Club: Week 1 – meet the Easter Bunny and other characters. Week 2 – pottery painting, themed crafts, drama workshops and games.
🐣 Bedknobs and Broomsticks trail: follow the magical trail to find six letters and spell out a secret word, beginning at Customer Services. Enter the competition by 11th April to win prizes!
👉 Free. No booking required. More info here.
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens – Spring Trails
📌 Sunderland, SR1 1PP
📆 Dino Egg Hunt: 2nd– 22nd April 2022
📆 Little Dog Trump Trail: 9th April – 20th May 2022
🐣 Complete the Dino trail to find the dinosaur eggs and babies and claim a themed prize. Complete the Trump trail to find the little pug dog and discover stories based on the Grayson Perry exhibition, then try the different drawing challenges to claim a prize. Trail sheets available from the Museum Shop.
👉 Free entry, £2.50 per trail. More info here.
Trinity Square – Easter Extravaganza
📌 Ellison Walk, Gateshead, NE8 1AG
📆 Fri 15th April 2022, 11am-3pm
🐣 Free family entertainment, Easter bunny and friends, petting zoo with chicks and rabbits, arts and crafts, chocolate eggs, fun and games.
👉 Free, no booking required. More info here.
Tyne Bank Brewery Tap – Easter Sunday Tap Social
📌 Walker Rd, Newcastle, NE6 2AB
📆 Sun 17th April 2022, from 12pm
🐣 Easter egg hunt and crafts for the youngsters to enjoy. Relax and chill with some tunes, and food provided by the Tyne Bank Kitchen with loaded nachos, chilli and hot dogs.
👉 More info here.
Ward Jackson Park – Family Funday
📌 Hartlepool, Co Durham, TS26 0QL
📆 Sun 17th April 2022, 1-4pm
🐣 Funfair rides (charges apply) and free Easter eggs for all. Everyone welcome.
👉 Free entry, more info here.
Watergate Cafe – Easter Pottery Painting
📌 Watergate Park, Gateshead, NE11 0AN
📆 Thurs 14th April 2022, 10-11.30am
🐣 Choose from a variety of Easter themed and general ceramics to paint, hosted by Popolo Ceramico Gateshead. Once painted items are taken away to glaze and fire and returned to the Café 2 weeks later for collection.
👉 Ceramics £8 each, no booking required. More info here.
Suitable for the whole family, age 1 upwards.
Wharton Park – Easter Trail
📌 Wharton Park, Durham City, DH1 4FJ
📆 9th-24th April 2022
🐣 Cin-Egg-Matic Superstar trail with famous egg faces hiding in the park. Complete the trail then collect a sticker at the end. Trail purchased from the café during opening hours, cash only, correct change required.
👉 Trail sheet £1. No booking required, more info here.
Wheelbirks Parlour – Chick Holding
📌Stocksfield, Northumberland, NE43 7HY
📆 9th-29th April (excluding 11th April)
🐣 Children can have a little hold and stroke of a fluffy chick, just come along at 10am or 2pm.
👉 50p per child, no booking required. More info here.
There’s plenty on Gateshead Mumbler to help keep little ones (and big ones!) busy, check here for more ideas and info for playgroups, classes and fun days out from tots to teens!
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