Christmas lovers, rejoice. As the temperatures creep lower and lower and shopping starts to feel like a reenactment of The Hunger Games, the festive season in Newcastle rolls into full swing.
This year, there are loads of Christmassy events and things to do in Newcastle. From festive activities in the Toon to special events, Christmas pop-up bars to pantos; you won’t be short of places to go in Newcastle this Christmas.
Here’s my guide to what’s on in Newcastle for kids and adults this Christmas 2022. Just call me Santa, ‘cos I always give you what you want…
17 Festive Things To Do In Newcastle
1. Warm Up After Christmas Shopping At Lazy Bear
Located just outside Central Station, Lazy Bear is the perfect hideaway when you’re sick of trawling the shops for presents.
With fire pits to huddle around wrapped in blankets and a festive drinks menu that includes a bespoke ‘Lazy Bear Spiced Gin’ made in collaboration with Poetic License, this is the new winter tipi to visit in Newcastle this Christmas.
You can pick up a coffee from the hut from 8am or pop in later for a pie and a pint. There will also be a Santa’s grotto for kids.
The festive menu launches in December alongside a calendar of Christmassy events taking place each Saturday.
Entry: Free
Open: Daily from 12pm – Midnight, closes at 11pm on Sundays
2. Take A Stroll Through An Enchanted Park
This Winter, Gateshead’s Saltwell Park will once again be transformed into a magical and mythical wonderland. Wrap up warm and go for a stroll.
Tickets are sold out but I hear there’s limited availability on the door at the on-site Welcome Marquee at Saltwell Park’s Joicey Road Carpark Entrance. Time slots are at half-hour intervals from 5pm – 8.30pm.
Adult tickets £5.00 for ages 16 and over, kids go free when accompanied by an adult.
Open: until 12th December 2022
3. Dine In An Igloo
Could this be the best thing to do in Newcastle this December? In the run up to Christmas, you can book a private festive dining pod in the Urban Garden on the Quayside for yourself and up to nine friends.
This year, the menu has been created in partnership with the team at Fusion from Ramside Hall to bring a unique Asian – inspired menu to the pods, and you can enjoy views of the river as you eat.
Bookings are available for 6, 8 & 10 people at £45 per person. 100 deposit required.
Various dates from Thursday 17th November 2022
4. Watch It’s A Wonderful Life at Tyneside Cinema
Is there anything that gets you in the festive spirit more than watching a Christmas film with the family?
The festive run of this classic film has become a tradition at the Tyneside Cinema, but this year they’re also showing Polar Express, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Elf, Home Alone and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
You can make it extra special by booking afternoon tea at the Tyneside Coffee Rooms beforehand. I love the sound of The Holiday Popcorn & Prosecco event they’re running too!
Tickets: Afternoon Tea with fizz is priced at £32.50 / £37.50pp (with fizz)
Screenings of It’s A Wonderful Life run 2nd – 24th December
5. Gaze at the most famous window display in the city
The grand unveiling of Fenwick’s Christmas window display signals the beginning of the festive season in Newcastle each year, and window shoppers of all ages love it.
It’s just as magical as always this year. The theme is Clarice Bean: Think Like an Elf, which magically depicts the much-loved character Clarice Bean trying ‘exception-ordinarily’ hard to save her family’s Christmas and stop the Christmas spirit floating away.
Sun 6 Nov 2022 05:00 pm – Tue 3 Jan 2023 08:00 pm
Free
6. Don Your Feather Boa For Boulevard’s Christmas Spectacular
Boulevard is a Newcastle institution, but did you know that their Christmas calendar has more than 50 events for you to choose from?
There are more sequins, glitter and hilarity at Danni Dee and her Broadway dancers’ show in the run up to Christmas. What better way to get ready for the big man than with a cabaret?
Standing tickets £10.00, seating starts at £25.00
5th November – 1st January
7. Browse the Newcastle Christmas Markets
It comes every year but it’s still one you shouldn’t miss in 2022. With a mix of international and local traders, the market, which spans Grey Street, Grainger Street and Old Eldon Square, will also have a bar for Christmas 2022.
Food-wise, you can expect all the usual traditional Christmas fare and some foreign favourites.
Entry: Free
Open: Saturday 19 November until Friday 23 December 2022
8. Go Ice Skating
The Life Science Center has an open air ice skating rink open in Times Square throughout the festive season.
There’s also a ‘festive fiver‘ promotion running all season, where you can enjoy a live show full of magical light, experience the Winter skies in the center’s planetarium andmake a glow-in-the-dark Christmas card.
Prices and dates for ice skating at the Life Science Center
12th November – 15th January
Skate Family of 4 (Max. 2 adults) £40.00
Skate Adult (aged 18 and over) £13.50
Skate Carer (Please bring proof) £0.00
Skate Child (aged 10-17) £12.00
Skate Child (aged 9 and under) £10.00
9. Take The Kids To The Panto
This year’s Theatre Royal Christmas pantomime is Cinderella. Delight the little ones with the timeless tale of the glass slipper and the girl who just wanted to stay out on the Toon.
Cinderalla is showing from Tue 29 Nov 2022 – Sun 15 Jan 2023.
Alternatively, Tyne Theatre & Opera House are doing Beauty and the Beast (9th Dec 2022 to 8th Jan 2023) and NATIVITY! The Musical (14th Nov 2023 to 18th Nov 2023).
Sundays 12pm, 2pm & 4pm
10. Eat breakfast with Mrs Claus at Seven Stories
Seven Stories, the National Center for Children’s Books, is offering a whole host of events for kids in Newcastle for Christmas.
Give little ones the chance to eat breakfast with Santa’s Mrs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings throughout December 2022. Alternatively, they can meet the Grinch on Friday 23rd December (morning or afternoon timeslots available).
After school, go along to a storytelling session with Santa’s elves featuring some of the best children’s books.
Tickets: Breakfast with Mrs Claus costs £12.50 for a child
11. Join Santa At Fenwick
Newcastle’s Fenwick store’s fifth floor cinema will be screening Christmas flicks throughout the festive season.
Fenwick’s cinema tickets include a complimentary mulled wine, or a spiced apple juice for adults, while little ones can sip hot chocolate or juice.
You can even upgrade to the Roof Thirty Nine Pre-Cinema Experience, priced at £35. Arrive one hour before the screening and enjoy a festive feast overlooking the Newcastle skyline as the team treat you to a merry Cocktail, nibbles and a main course consisting of either a Festive Burger or a Vegan Festive Burger.
I’ve eaten at Roof Thirty Nine before and the food was fantastic, so this is sure to please!
Kids will love Afternoon Tea with Santa, Santa’s Supper Club or Santa’s Breakfast Club, each priced at £27.50 per person.
Alternatively, there are Christmas story writing workshops and Story time sessions with Santa’s elves.
Cinema tickets: £17.50 (adults and children).
Santa clubs available from 9th November – 23rd December
Christmas cinema available 10th November – 23rd December
Christmas Story Writing Workshop available 17th November – 17 December
Afternoon tea with Santa available 13th November – 18 December
Storytime with the elves available 12th November – 24th December
Santa on the Roof at Fenwick is sold out
Please check prices and availability on the website
12. Get festive at Sage Gateshead
Over the water in the iconic Sage Gateshead, there’s loads planned for Christmas 2022.
You can look forward to family favourites like The Snowman and Home Alone in concert, a sing-along with Gareth Malone,
There’s also a Christmas Cabaret series with Ginger Johnson, Jaii Andrew, Carmen & Lady Annabella
1st – 31st December
13. Go full Geordie at Greggs’ Festive Bake Brunch
I mean, has there ever been an event so MADE for Newcastle? The Greggs Festive Bake Brunch will be coming to Dean Street for loyal fans of every Northerner’s favourite bakery.
Diners can enjoy Greggs-inspired cocktails including Greggspresso martinis and plenty of festive bakes during a 75 minute brunch.
The event booking link is set to go live on Greggs’ social media channels at 12pm on Friday, November 4, and will be available to book through DesignMyNight.
There will be three sittings for brunch on Saturday, November 26 2022.
14. Join the revelry at The Purple Peacock
The Purple Peacock always promises to be a great night out, and this Christmas they’re bringing their Jingle Jangle Christmas Spectacular to the Toon. George Michael fans can also book the tribute show.
If you’re looking for a Christmas show for the kids in Newcastle, they’re also running a family-friendly Santa and the Elves show, or Grinch & The Elf on Sundays.
15. See the Quayside lit up
With 6 sites and over 25 lasers, this year’s Laser Light City is Newcastle’s largest yet.
This event is an interactive experience where you can use your phone to control the position, colour and style of super bright laser beams that can be seen for miles.
The lights will emanate from each of the six sites, which include the Tyne Bridge, Baltic, Sage Gateshead and Malmaison.
30 December : 17:00 – 23:00
31 December : 17:00 – 01:00
1 January : 17:00 – 22:00
16. Visit the Christmas Clock
Join Eldon Square’s countdown to Christmas with a visit to the stunning Christmas clock crowing the Northumberland Street entrance.
Inside, you can find ‘Jingle and Bell’ the Express train situated at St Andrew’s Way or go and see this year’s spectacular Christmas tree, which is located outside Clarks and Boots.
17. Wonder at Winter Wonderland
This year’s Winter Wonderland at Newcastle Racecourse features a fairground, zip wire, ice skating, toboggan slide, bungee.
It’s not all action though – there are plenty of food stalls, and a German beer bar for anyone who prefers a slower pace.
There are a number of Christmas-themed events taking place including aOnce Upon a Princess show at 3 pm every Saturday in December, a Fairy Godmother Christmas Singalong at 6 pm, a Superhero Party at 3 pm every Sunday in December, and Meet the reindeer from 4 pm every Thursday.
Of course, there’s also a Festive Grotto.
17th November – 24th December, 4 pm to 9 pm on weekdays and 12 pm to 9 pm on weekends. Extended hours from 12 pm to 9 pm all week during the Christmas school holidays.
Adults and children over 12 tickets are £9.50, children aged between three and 11 cost £7.50. A family ticket, for two adults and two children, costs £29.
Check out my full guide to things to do in Newcastle if you’re looking for inspiration that’ll keep you busy all year round.
More North East England guides
The best walking trail to see Newcastle’s attractions
Where to eat and drink in Sunderland
Have I missed any Newcastle Christmas events? You can contact me on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter if you think there’s something I should add. I’ll be updating this post as and when I get wind of festive events in the Toon.
Click here to join my UK Travel Deals group on Facebook. We share lots of great ways to save money on UK trips and fun ideas for days out and places to visit in the UK.
Don’t forget to share this post with your friends who love Christmas in Newcastle too!
