Looking for something to do towards the end of March 2024 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 21st March to Thursday 28th March.
Holi Festival and Powder Throwing – Durham Oriental Museum – Sat 23rd March
We’re starting in Durham this week for Holi Festival and Powder Throwing at Durham Oriental Museum. Holi Festival, also known as the Festival of Colours, is an Indian celebration to welcome in spring, and Durham are bringing in the new season in style with this event. On Saturday 23rd at the Oriental Museum, there’ll be Asian food, craft activities, storytelling, live music, rangoli drawing and more, including bookable powder throws. Powder throwing is a Holi Festival tradition where brightly coloured powders are thrown into the air and over each other, resulting in a fabulous rainbow of colours. There a few timeslots to choose from for the powder throwing, so if you want to get involved or if you simply just want to go along for the rest of the Holi celebrations, take a look at the what’s on page on the Durham University website.
Deer Park At Dusk – Raby Castle – Sat 23rd March
Because Wednesday 20th was the spring equinox, we’re going to notice the nights getting even lighter from now on, which is very exciting, if you ask me. But while we’re still in that middle-y bit where the sun is setting at about half 6ish, Raby Castle are making the most of it with a Deer Park At Dusk event. On Saturday 23rd, you’ll be able to get tickets to access the park between 5pm and 8pm when the nature should come alive in the evening light. It should be a really ambient and relaxing experience, and I think you’re more likely to see the deer during the evening, so I think this could be the perfect event for photographers, as well as people who want something super tranquil to do this weekend. You can get tickets for that on the Raby Castle website.
Discos For Grown Ups – Middlesbrough Town Hall – Sat 23rd March
This is the opposite of a calm and tranquil Saturday evening, like the Raby Castle event. This is Discos For Grown Ups at Middlesbrough Town Hall, and as you might be able to guess, this is for those among us who want a fun, feel good night out with our dancing shoes on. You can expect all of your favourite 70s, 80s and 90s disco, soul and pop hits from a whole host of artists, like Donna Summer, ABBA, Erasure and so many more. And if that wasn’t enough, the whole thing is giving school disco vibes with glow sticks and retro sweets as well, so I think it’ll be an absolute hoot. If you fancy it, that’s on Saturday 23rd and there are both regular and VIP tickets available from the Middlesbrough Town Hall website.
Easter egg trails – Seaton Delaval, Ormesby Hall and Gibside – from Sat 23rd March into April
Easter is quickly upon us and the National Trust are getting in there early by kicking off the celebrations from Saturday 23rd into April. There are going to be Easter egg trails at a few sites in the North East, including Seaton Delaval, Ormesby Hall and Gibside, giving little ones a new and fun way to explore the grounds and hidden spots of each site. And not only will you be able to take part in the trails and bag a chocolate egg, there’s also going to be welly throwing, sunflower seed planting, wheelbarrow racing and so much more. There’s no need to book for the trail or the activities because they’re included with the admission price, but the dates and times do vary for each site, so make sure you take a look at the National Trust website for all the details.
Arbeia Roman Fort reopening – South Shields – Mon 25th March to Sept
I spotted this completely by accident online and I thought it would be a cool and unique thing to bring to the table. So Arbeia Roman Fort in South Shields is back open to the public from Monday 25th until the end of September after being closed for the winter, so if you’re looking for something different to go and see over this year, this could be a great shout. Standing at the entrance of the River Tyne, this fort guarded the main sea route to Hadrian’s Wall, so it plays a key part in the Roman history of Britain and has a whole wealth of stories within its walls, like tales of the Scottish invasion and murder plots to ancient love stories. And alongside the reopening this Monday, there’s a new exhibition to enjoy all about plants in the Roman era, such as in food, medicine, religion and decoration. And it’s completely free entry, so what’s not to like?
The Drifter’s Girl – Sunderland Empire – Tues 26th to Sat 30th March
There’s a couple of brilliant shows on at our theatres at the end of March, starting with The Drifter’s Girl at Sunderland Empire from Tuesday 26th to Saturday 30th. As the name might suggest, this show is all about the incredible story of The Drifters and the woman who made them, their manager, Faye Treadwell. From the highs of hit records to the lows of legal battles and personal tragedy, their legendary manager refused to give up on the group she loved and made them into the name we know today. The show obviously has a fantastic soundtrack too, including Drifters hits like Saturday Night At The Movies and Stand By Me, and it was nominated for Best New Musical at the 2022 Olivier awards, so it should be amazing. Take a look at the Sunderland Empire website for tickets.
Edward Scissorhands – Newcastle Theatre Royal – Wed 27th March to Sat 6th April
This is the second show that I think everyone should take a look at and as a Tim Burton fan, it really sings to my soul. So we’ve got a magical dance production of Edward Scissorhands on at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Wednesday 27th to Saturday 6th April, featuring all the same storyline and haunting music from the film. Edward, a boy with scissors for hands created by an eccentric inventor, lives in a castle high on a hill overlooking a quaint, peaceful town. But will he find his place in the well-meaning community who struggle to see past his unusual appearance? You’ll have to go along and find out! If you fancy it, have a look at the Newcastle Theatre Royal website for tickets.
Scarecrow Festival – South Causey Inn – Thurs 28th March to Mon 15th April
Last but not least, I’m rounding off the list with something pretty unique and fun. So from Thursday 28th to Monday 15th April, we’ve got the Scarecrow Festival at the South Causey Inn, and this is supposedly their biggest and best to date. The South Causey have made it a bit of a tradition to hold an annual Scarecrow Festival, but their last was in 2017, so this has been a good few years in the making. There will be 50 scarecrows displayed across the inn’s grounds and a trail map to follow so you can tick them all off. Plus, there’ll be a prize for whoever takes the best photo with a scarecrow, so make sure you share your pictures to social media to be in with a chance of winning. And as you’ll be at the South Causey, you can make a bit of a trip of it too with some lunch or dinner in their lovely restaurant. Have a look at the South Causey Inn website if you need any more info.
Make sure you check back next week for more amazing events!
