Looking for something to do at the end of February 2025 or in half term in the North East? I’ve got you covered with this list. As part of my feature on BBC Tees and Newcastle, I select my top picks of things happening across the North East, and here’s what I’ve chosen for Thursday 20th February to Friday 28th February.
Mudfest – Washington Wetland Centre – Sat 22nd Feb to Sun 2nd March
We’re starting off in Washington at the Wetland Centre for half term fun for kids who love the outdoors and mud. From Saturday 22nd Feb to Sunday 2nd March, you can get stuck into Mudfest, a series of events and activities that are dedicated to the driving force of the wetland. There’s going to be a mud obstacle course to clamber over, crawl under and creep through. There’s going to be a chance to make some mud clay art or printing. And there’s some non-messy options too, like well throwing, pond dipping and wild walks. All of the Mudfest activities are free with a general admission ticket and you could make a real day of it by exploring the rest of the site, saying hello to the resident offers and having lunch in the cafe. If you want more info or to book your admission, visit the Washington Wetland Centre website.
For The Love of a Good Book Half Term – National Trust Ormesby Hall and Seaton Delaval Hall – Sat 22nd Feb to Sun 2nd March
If your kids are a bit more into reading than splodging, they might like the activities at Ormesby Hall or Seaton Delaval Hall over the half term. Both of these National Trust sites are running book themed weeks from Saturday 22nd Feb to Sunday 2nd March, each with their own things to do and see. So at Ormesby Hall, there’ll be a storybook trail through the house, gardens and stables, book-themed craft sessions, interactive storytelling and drop in drawing sessions with an illustrator. At Seaton Delaval Hall, they’ll have a story dice game to create your own stories, a poetry board to experiment with in the winter gardens, shadow puppet making and so much more. Again, all of these activities are free with a general admission ticket or National Trust membership, so head to their website to book your entry time.
Super Space Half Term – Ushaw House – Sat 22nd Feb to Sun 2nd March
This is another week of half term activity ideas, but this time, at the fabulous Ushaw House. They’re offering a whole schedule of space-themed things to do from Saturday 22nd Feb to Sunday 2nd March, so it’d be a great option if you’ve got sciencey kids. Their schedule includes a number of intergalactic-inspired ideas, like bottle rocket workshops with all materials provided and free craft session drop ins where little ones can make a number of out of this world creations. There’s also going to be a Searching for Stars indoor trail that will take you round the house and chapel on a quest to find the wonders of the night sky. The bottle rockets require a ticket, but all the other activities are free with Ushaw membership or a day pass, but if you need any more info at all, take a look at their website.
The Wrong Trousers: Wallace & Gromit LIVE – Sunderland Fire Station – Sun 23rd Feb
I’m loving the Wallace and Gromit renaissance we’re sort of going through at the minute, and if you want a bit of nostalgia, you will love The Wrong Trousers with the EverReady Band at Sunderland Fire Station. It’s always so lovely to watch the old films back, but what about watching the classic that is The Wrong Trousers with a band playing the iconic soundtrack alongside? This is on Sunday 23rd Feb and as you might expect, it’s down to the very last few tickets, but I think it’ll be a whole lot of fun and a really unique way to watch Wallace and Gromit. If you want to go, head on over to the Sunderland Fire Station site to book ASAP.
Darlington Restaurant Week – Mon 24th Feb to Sun 2nd March
If it’s something tasty you want to sink your teeth into to see out February, then we’ve got Darlington Restaurant Week. The start of the year has been a smoking hot time for Restaurant Weeks in the North East, but it’s Darlington’s turn from Monday 24th Feb to Sunday 2nd March with lots of options throughout the town centre and in the surrounding villages. Now it’s so difficult to whittle it down, but some of my top picks include two courses for £15 at Mexican restaurant Casa Del Alma, a sort of build your own starter, curry and side for £20 at South Asian restaurant, Babul’s, and two small plates and a dessert for £20 at the brand new tropical-themed Zuu. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg, there’s so many other places getting involved and offers to try, so take a look at the Enjoy Darlington website for the full list and get your tables booked.
The Koala Who Could – Northern Stage – Tues 25th Feb to Sun 2nd March
We’ve got a bit of half term theatre now and it’s perfect for kids aged 3 and over. This is The Koala Who Could, an empowering and chuckle-out-loud story about embracing change – whether we like it or not. This show is based on the multi-million copy selling book by Rachel Bright and Jim Field, featuring Kevin the Koala, who is the king of staying still. With his wombat and kangaroo friends, he sets off on an outback adventure and discovers that life can be great when you try something new. It features some very cute puppets, and fun music and lyrics, so this is sure to be something that the whole family will love. It’s on at Northern Stage from Tuesday 25th Feb to Sunday 2nd March and you can get your tickets on their website.
Fire & Ice Durham – city centre – Fri 28th Feb and Sat 1st March
The end of half term sees the return of the super popular Fire and Ice in Durham, where the city will be transformed into a wonderland of things to see and do. Stunning ice sculptures, carved by world-class artists, will be displayed throughout the streets, each themed around music for this year. Then as day turns to night, fiery performances will ignite the atmosphere with dazzling displays of heat and flame. There’s also going to be interactive installations and live entertainment to keep you busy between sculptures. This is a totally free event and there’s no need to book, so simply visit Durham city on Friday 28th Feb or Saturday 1st March to join in the excitement.
Story Fest 2025 – Alnwick – Fri 28th Feb to Sun 2nd March
We had book activities for little ones earlier on and now we’ve got grown up book activities with Alnwick’s Story Fest 2025. This event is for readers and writers alike with inspiring workshops, author talks and even a few children’s events thrown in too. It’s on from Friday 28th Feb to Sunday 2nd March with a jam-packed schedule, including a talk from Teesside’s Adele Parks, a workshop on how to write and publish books for kids, and storytelling sessions in the Alnwick Playhouse. There’s something for all level of reader or writer and the programme is so packed that you definitely won’t be short of things to do that weekend. Each event is individually ticketed, so to see the full programme and book your spaces, visit the Alnwick Story Fest website.
Make sure you check back next week for more amazing events!
