What is on for Halloween at The Word in South Shields?

The Word usually runs family sessions around half-term, in past years including a Spooky Daytime Disco for younger children and a teen art workshop such as Paint a Dementor for ages 12 to 16. Sessions are often free or a couple of pounds and book up fast, so check this year's programme and reserve early.

What free Halloween things can families do in South Shields?

You do not need a ticket to enjoy the season. South Marine Park is lovely for an autumn wander with its lake and miniature railway, and the seafront at Ocean Beach and Littlehaven gives you bracing, atmospheric coastal walks. Wrap up warm and finish with something hot from the cafes on Ocean Road.

Children

Halloween in South Shields

Q: Is Arbeia Roman Fort worth a Halloween visit?

For older children who like a shiver, Arbeia Roman Fort is an evocative day out, with its reconstructed gateway and quarters bringing nearly two thousand years of history to life. Check whether the fort is running any themed events around Halloween before you go.

Family Halloween in South Shields: spooky sessions at The Word, autumn walks by the coast and marine park, and haunted history at Arbeia Roman Fort.

SouthShields.org·16 September 2026

South Shields does autumn well, with a proper seaside town's mix of indoor family fun and bracing coastal walks. Here is what tends to run in and around Halloween. Dates and programmes change every year, so always check this year's listings and book ahead where you can, as the popular family sessions fill up fast over half-term.

Family Halloween at The Word

The Word, the National Centre for the Written Word on the riverside, is usually the heart of the town's family Halloween. Around half-term it has run things like a Spooky Daytime Disco for younger children and creative teen art sessions, including a "Paint a Dementor" ink and watercolour workshop for ages 12 to 16. Sessions are often free or just a couple of pounds, but they do get booked up, so check this year's programme and reserve a place early. It is a warm, welcoming spot with plenty for children of different ages under one roof.

Autumn by the coast and the parks

You do not need a ticketed event to enjoy the season here. South Marine Park, with its lake, boating and the little miniature railway, is lovely for a crisp autumn afternoon and a leaf-kicking wander. Along the seafront, Ocean Beach Pleasure Park and the long sands at Littlehaven give you that blustery, atmospheric coast that feels made for late October. Wrap up warm, take in the big skies over the mouth of the Tyne, and finish with something hot from one of the cafes on Ocean Road.

Spooky history and season nearby

For older children who like a shiver, Arbeia Roman Fort makes an evocative day out, with its reconstructed gateway and quarters bringing nearly two thousand years of history to life. It is worth checking whether the fort runs any themed events around Halloween. Further afield, Seaton Delaval Hall up the coast puts on a substantial family Halloween programme, and there are pumpkin patches, spooktaculars and ghost walks right across the area. For the full round-up, see Halloween across the region.

Know a South Shields Halloween event we should add? Get in touch via our contact page.