Spooktacular series of events to launch new Animating Ashington Autumn Winter Festival
Northumberland County Council are pleased to announce that Ashington is set to come alive with an exciting programme of family-friendly, free to attend events with a host of spook-tacular Halloween activities.
This new Animating Ashington Autumn Winter Festival of events comes on the back of the success of the programme earlier this year which saw more than 20,000 people visit and participate in a wide range of parades, family events and visual activities.
Starting this Half Term from Tuesday 28th October are a host of events from Mortal Fools, Hirst Welfare, and Northern Butterflies. It includes a lively mix of activities for all to enjoy including drama workshops, Halloween-themed arts and crafts, a spooky disco, and creative sessions led by professional artists.
Halloween Highlights include:
- Fun with art and colour with Northern Butterflies at Ashington Library 10am til 2pm on Tuesday 28th October, Wednesday 29th October and Friday 31st October at Ashington Library and Thursday 30th October at Hirst Welfare
- Creative Sparks Drama Workshops with Mortal Fools at Ashington Family Hub 10.30am til 2.30pm on Wednesday 29th October
- Spook-tacular Family Crafting 9.30am til 11.30am and 1pm til 3pm on Wednesday 29th October at Hirst Welfare
- Monster Mash Disco Bash – Children's Halloween Disco 5pm til 7pm Friday 31st October at Hirst Welfare
- Visitors can also enjoy seasonal outdoor fun at the Heart of Woodhorn event on Tuesday 28th October and Wednesday 29th October with bulb planting at Woodhorn Museum to create a spectacle of floral colour in Spring next year. Visitor entry fees may apply at Woodhorn - see the museum website.
The majority of events are all being held in and around the town centre on Station Road and at Hirst Welfare.
Hirst Festival information, including ticketing, can be found at: www.mortalfools.org.uk/hirst-festival
Supporting Local Culture
Six local organisations have been awarded funding through the Animating Ashington Cultural Events Grant Scheme to organise and deliver the events from October to December 2025, featuring arts, entertainment, and seasonal celebrations for all ages. This latest phase focuses on supporting and strengthening local capacity to deliver event programmes in Ashington.
Festive Fun Ahead
Later this year the annual Christmas Light Switch-On and Magical Lantern Parade will launch a bumper set of festive activities on Thursday 13th November delivered by Ashington Town Council, with support as part of Animating Ashington.
These include the annual Christmas Light Switch-On and Magical Lantern Parade on Thursday 13th November, a Christmas Craft Market on Friday 14th November on Station Road, a creative family day including silent disco, artist workshops, and a light installation bringing the magic of the night sky to the Hirst.
Programme of Events
| Date of event | Time | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| OCTOBER | |||
| Tuesday 28th, Wednesday 29th, Friday 31st | 10am til 2pm | Fun with art and colour - Northern Butterflies | Ashington Library |
| Tuesday 28th & Wednesday 29th | 11am til 3pm | Heart of Woodhorn – Woodhorn Museum | Woodhorn Museum |
| Wednesday 29th | 10.30am til 2.30pm | Creative Sparks: Free October Half-Term Drama Workshop - Mortal Fools | Ashington Family Hub |
| Wednesday 29th | 9.30am til 11.30am & 1pm til 3pm | Spook-tacular Family Crafting - Hirst Welfare | Hirst Welfare |
| Thursday 30th | 10am til 2pm | Fun with art and colour - Northern Butterflies | Hirst Welfare |
| Friday 31st | 2.30pm til 4.30pm | Spook-tacular Family Crafting - Hirst Welfare | Hirst Welfare |
| Friday 31st | 5pm til 7pm | Monster Mash Disco Bash – Children's Halloween Disco - Hirst Welfare | Hirst Welfare |
| NOVEMBER | |||
| Thursday 13th | 3pm til 7pm | Ashington's Christmas Lights Switch On - Ashington Town Council | Ashington High Street/Masonic Hall |
| Friday 14th | 11.30am til 7pm | Ashington Christmas Market - Ashington Town Council | Ashington High Street |
| DECEMBER | |||
| Wednesday 3rd | 1pm-4pm | Creative Sparks: Creative Family Drop In | Ashington Family Hub |
| Wednesday 3rd | 3.30pm til 5pm | Fun with art and colour - Northern Butterflies | Ashington Library |
| Thursday 4th | 5pm til 7pm | Hirst Welfare Youth Café - Mortal Fools & Hirst Welfare | Hirst Welfare |
| Thursday 4th, Friday 5th, Wednesday 10th & Thursday 11th | 3.30 til 5pm | Fun with art and colour - Northern Butterflies | Ashington Library |
| Friday 5th | 5pm til 7pm | Magical Melva Movie Night - for Families – Mortal Fools | Hirst Welfare |
| Saturday 6th | 11am-6pm (various slots throughout the day) | Creative Family Day - Mortal Fools | Hirst Welfare |
| Friday 12th | 5pm - 7pm | Merry & Bright Boogie Night - Children's Christmas Disco – Hirst Welfare | Hirst Welfare |
Important Information
- Some events have age restrictions which will be on the website with full details - some workshops are for 5-11 year olds
- Please note that for the Heart of Woodhorn event on Tuesday 28th October and Wednesday 29th October visitor entry fees may apply - see https://www.northeastmuseums.org.uk/woodhorn/whats-on/heart-of-woodhorn for further details
