Dot & Do · Exploring the UK and Europe with children. Free to use.

🎅 Santa, pantos & Christmas events for children in Newcastle (2026)

On Tyneside, Christmas usually begins with crowds at Fenwick’s famous window and the lights switch-on, followed by the market round Grey’s Monument. The Theatre Royal panto is a much-loved local tradition, and it’s worth heading out to Gibside and Beamish too; popular Santa slots and the steam trains round Gateshead usually sell out early, so book ahead.

Christmas events in and around Newcastle

  • Tiny Sparks! STEM & Storytime
    📅 Fri 13 Nov – Fri 27 Nov · Fridays 13, 20 and 27 Nov, 1-2pm
    Storytime & library events · City centre

    Hands-on science, songs and stories for preschoolers, with themes of light and shadow, magnets and trains. Advance booking essential.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • ELF The Musical
    📅 Wed 18 Nov – Sat 21 Nov · Wed–Sat 7pm; Thu and Sat matinees 2pm
    Shows, theatre & panto · City centre

    Starlight Stage Productions bring Buddy the Elf to the stage in this feel-good festive musical based on the film. A cheerful way to start the Christmas season.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Newcastle Christmas Market
    📅 Thu 19 Nov – Wed 23 Dec · Daily
    Santa & Christmas · Newcastle city centre · Free

    More than 70 mostly local traders around the Monument and nearby streets.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Northern Lights Newcastle
    📅 Fri 20 Nov – Thu 31 Dec · Entry from 4.15pm
    Santa & Christmas · Leazes

    A kilometre-long light trail around the lake in Leazes Park, a short walk from the city centre.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Santa Stories at the Christmas Village
    📅 Sat 21 Nov – Thu 24 Dec · Sessions of about 30-35 minutes
    Storytime & library events · Newcastle city centre

    A Lapland story with Father Christmas in a cosy tipi, where children help with his Nice List and get a certificate.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Santa's Grotto at Dobbies Birtley
    📅 Sat 21 Nov – Thu 24 Dec · Selected dates; 10-minute slots
    Santa & Christmas · Birtley

    A garden centre grotto with a wishing well and a penguin post office, then time with Santa and a penguin soft toy for each child.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Christmas at Beamish
    📅 Sat 21 Nov – Thu 24 Dec · Daily 10am-4pm; Christmas evenings 5-9.30pm on 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 & 18 Dec
    Santa & Christmas · Beamish

    Christmas through the ages in the museum's old town and pit village, with a Father Christmas grotto at Rowley Station.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Jack and the Beanstalk
    📅 Tue 24 Nov – Sun 17 Jan
    Shows, theatre & panto · Newcastle city centre

    Danny Adams and Clive Webb return to the Theatre Royal's famously daft panto, with Joe McElderry in the cast.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Christmas at Gibside
    📅 Sat 28 Nov – Sun 17 Jan
    Santa & Christmas · Rowlands Gill

    A forest fairy trail, willow animals and a storytelling session with Father Christmas, with a small gift, at the stables.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Little Red Reading Hood – Festive Panto
    📅 Sat 28 Nov – Sun 3 Jan
    Santa & Christmas · Ouseburn

    A brand-new mini panto where Little Red Reading Hood visits Grandma at Seven Stories, with mixed-up fairy tales, slapstick and lots of joining in.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Festive Storytimes at Seven Stories
    📅 Sat 28 Nov – Sun 3 Jan · Daily, selected times
    Storytime & library events · Ouseburn

    Cosy Christmas story sessions for little ones at the children's book centre. They tend to sell out, so book ahead.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • The Snow Queen
    📅 Thu 3 Dec – Thu 24 Dec
    Shows, theatre & panto · Haymarket

    A new stage version of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale by North East writer Laura Lindow.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Aladdin – Family Pantomime
    📅 Fri 4 Dec – Sun 3 Jan · Selected dates, matinees and evenings (e.g. 10am, 1.30pm, 7pm)
    Santa & Christmas · City centre

    The Tyne Theatre's big family panto, with Marcus Collins as the Genie, plus songs, special effects and plenty of shouting back. Under-18-month-olds go free on a knee.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Home Alone in Concert
    📅 Sat 5 Dec – Sun 6 Dec · Sat 2pm and 7.30pm; Sun 1.30pm and 5pm
    Music & concerts · Gateshead Quays

    Watch Home Alone on the big screen while Royal Northern Sinfonia and choirs play John Williams' score live. Best for older children who know the film.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Panto! Beauty and the Beast
    📅 Sat 12 Dec – Sun 20 Dec · Selected dates, 1pm, 2pm, 6pm and 7pm
    Santa & Christmas · Heaton

    A homegrown family panto with Belle, the Beast, talking crockery and wisecracking salt and pepper shakers. Under-2s on a knee go free.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • The Canny Christmas Show
    📅 Sat 12 Dec – Sun 20 Dec · Sat 12, Sun 13, Sat 19, Sun 20 Dec: 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm (40 mins)
    Santa & Christmas · City centre

    Three mischievous Geordie elves cause black-and-white festive chaos, with music, laughs and a visit from Santa, then photos with the characters.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • The Great Festive Dinosaur Show
    📅 Sat 19 Dec – Thu 31 Dec · 19–23 and 28–31 Dec: 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm (40 mins)
    Santa & Christmas · Haymarket

    Christmas magic brings the museum's dinosaurs to life in a new festive family show, with a meet-and-greet and photos afterwards.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • The Snowman in Concert
    📅 Wed 23 Dec – Thu 24 Dec · Wed 23 Dec 2pm and 5pm; Thu 24 Dec 11am and 2pm
    Music & concerts · Gateshead Quays

    Royal Northern Sinfonia plays live to The Snowman on the big screen, with We're Going on a Bear Hunt in the first half. Discounts for under-17s.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking

Know one that’s missing? It takes a minute, and we check each one before it goes on the map. Add an event

Tips from people who’ve been

  • Book Santa early: the best grotto times often sell out by mid-November.
  • Check what’s included: a gift, a photo, a craft or a story, and whether grown-ups pay too.
  • Ask about quiet or relaxed sessions if loud music, crowds or queues are hard for your child.
  • Weekday visits and the first slot of the day are usually calmer than weekends.
  • Pantos often have relaxed and signed performances: look for them when you book.

Warm indoor places near Newcastle for a cold day

Within 20 km: Soft play: 10 · Museum & attraction: 29 · Swimming & leisure: 30 · Trampoline & inflatable park: 2 · Cinema: 12

Other places

Christmas with children 2026: Santa, pantos and lights · See everything on the map