Free Family Activities
Hello free activities! Welcome to Summer at Eldon Square with free family activities every weekend in August!
Join us for free family fun every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during August in the Community Quarter, opposite Chatime.
Gather the gang with exciting activities for the whole family to enjoy, from creative workshops to educational activities including arts and crafts, face painting, Lego play and more – there’s something for everyone!
Summer activity line-up:
Friday 2 August, 11am – 3pm
North East Autism Society – Arts & Crafts Fun
To kick-start our Summer of fun, we have teamed up with the North East Autism Society, who for over 40 years, has led the way in providing autism-specific care and education for children, young people, and adults across the North-East of England. They are passionate in providing excellent services for autistic and / or neurodivergent people – and their families.
Activity:
- Fun Lego play
- Creative arts and crafts
- Learn more about the fantastic work the North East Autism Society do to support parents and carers.
Saturday 3 August, 11am – 3pm
The Children’s Foundation Summer Fun
The Children’s Foundation is a North East children’s charity which focuses on improving the health and well-being of children and young people in the region. Join them for fun-filled afternoon in the Community Quarter.
Activity:
- Hook the duck
- Face painting
- Lucky Dip
- Summer Crafts
Saturday 9 August, 11am – 3pm
Kynren – An Epic Tale of England
Kynren is a magnificent 8000-seater tribune that offers fantastic views – no matter where you are seated. From 27th July – 14th September, Kynren displays an epic tale of England’s history through a spellbound live-action outdoor theatre spectacular. Kynem immerses you in the telling of a 2,000 year tale: the history of England. The cast and crew of 1000, bring to ground-shaking life the story of invasions, royal splendour, war, heroic sacrifice, daily life and seismic change. Find out more about the incredible events, here.
We welcome members of the crew of Kynren to join us on 9th August in the Community Quarter for the following activity:
- Photo-opportunity and meet and greet with a Viking!
- Medieval props and history of England
- Find out more about the upcoming Kynren events
Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 August, 11am – 4pm
Newcastle Castle was built on the site of the fortress that gave the city its name! The team will be on-site in Eldon Square, for an exciting afternoon for families to learn more about the castle and its history, enjoy fun craft activities, and more!
Activity:
- Exciting craft activities for children.
- Replica medieval weapons and armour that visitors can try on.
- Fun sword training for children.
- Find out more about exciting upcoming activities with Newcastle Castle.
Friday 16 August, 11am – 3pm
Join team Eldon Square for a fun afternoon of creative crafts your little-ones will love!
Activity:
- Arts & Crafts for the whole family to get creative!
Saturday 17 August, 11am – 3pm
Newcastle Hospitals Charity is the official charity for Newcastle Hospitals, one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the UK with two of the world’s best hospitals, providing healthcare to communities across the North East.
They help deliver global excellence and local impact providing support for compassionate and innovative healthcare, education, and research including some of the bet centres for children, heart and lung transplantation, genetics and cancer trials in the world.
Activity:
- Hula Hoop Challenge
- Capture the cones activity
- Fun dress-up
- Meet their mascot, Fudge!
- Learn about the Newcastle Hospitals Charity and the fantastic work they do.
Sunday 18 & Sunday 25 August, 11am – 4pm
Auckland Castle – The Auckland Project
Embark on a Summer of fun with The Auckland Project’s Programming Team and their exciting castle-making workshop! The Auckland Project is a regeneration charity working to establish Bishop Auckland as a must-visit cultural destination. Their attractions bring the rich and surprising story of Bishop Auckland to life for our visitors and the local community through the arts, culture and heritage.
Activity:
- An exciting castle-making workshop to design and build your own pop-up castle to take home! This hands-on activity is perfect for children and adults alike, sparking creativity and providing a fun challenge for all ages.
- The Auckland Castle team will share captivating stories and insights, bringing history to life in an engaging and accessible way.
- Find out about upcoming events and activities on offer at The Auckland Project, this Summer.
Friday 23 August, 11am – 3pm
Calling all automotive fanatics! You won’t want to miss Nissan’s upcoming event in the Community Quarter of Eldon Square. Join The Nissan Skills Foundation for a fun and educational afternoon and find out more about the brilliant work they do with young people in engineering, manufacturing and design.
Activity:
- An exciting range of car-themed crafts.
- Learn more about the skills required in the automotive manufacturing industry, through interactive lessons.
- Find out about the Nissan Skills Foundation and the fantastic services they provide for young people to get involved, in the North East.
Saturday 24 August, 11am – 3pm
Red Sky Foundation raises vital funds for babies and children with heart problems across the North East. Throughout the weekend, you can visit the Red Sky Foundation stand location in Grey’s Quarter to learn more about CPR and the importance of early defibrillation.
- Face painting
- Meet the Red Sky mascot!
- Find out more about the Red Sky Foundation and the work they do.
Friday 30 August, 11am – 3pm
Join the PizzaExpress team in the Community Quarter and enjoy pizza-themed arts and crafts, including getting to colour in your very own chef’s hat! Make a day of it and fuel-up with a delicious meal at PizzaExpress, Eldon Square. Explore opening times, here.
Activity:
- Pizza-themed arts and crafts
- Colour in your own chef’s hat
Saturday 31 August, 11am – 4pm
North East Family Arts Network
The Family Explorers programme is a project that helps families in North East England enjoy a wider range of cultural experiences. The team will on-site, providing fun arts and crafts, dressing up and educational science activities, whilst promoting North East cultural venues to families who may not usually visit them.
Activity:
- Arts and crafts
- Dressing up
- Science activities including lighting an LED powered by a lemon.
- Children will have the opportunity to join in a hip-hop dance routine.
Welcome to Summer at Eldon Square! Make a day of it and visit our family-friendly restaurants where kids eat free, find out more here.
