Looking for something to do towards the end of September 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 19th September to Thursday 26th September.
Pride & Prejudice (Sort Of) – Newcastle Theatre Royal – from Thurs 19th to Sat 28th Sept
We’re starting in Newcastle for a multi-award winning show at the Theatre Royal. Coming direct from the West End where it won the Laurence Olivier award for Best Comedy, we’ve got Pride & Prejudice (Sort Of) on from Thursday 19th until Saturday 28th. Men, money and microphones will be fought over in this production where the stakes couldn’t be higher when it comes to romance. It’s a unique and audacious retelling of Jane Austen’s iconic love story with a few pop classics thrown in for good measure, like Young Hearts Run Free and You’re So Vain. So head to the Newcastle Theatre Royal website if you fancy some tickets because it’s the 1800s and it’s party time, so let the ruthless matchmaking begin.
Whitby 60s Weekend – Whitby Pavilion – from Fri 20th to Sun 22nd Sept
If it’s music you’re after, you might be interested in the Whitby 60s Weekend. That’s on from Friday 20th until Sunday 22nd and is the perfect way to relive the groove of the era. Get ready to dance the night away to iconic hits, indulge in delicious retro bites, and join in on fun activities throughout the weekend. And in terms of live music, the line up is headlined by The Manfreds, who include original Manfred Mann members, Paul Jones and Tom McGuinness, so you can expect to hear their hits, like Mighty Quinn and Pretty Flamingo. If you want to relive the golden age of music, this is the perfect event for you. It’s on at the Whitby Pavilion and you can get your tickets from their website.
Family Bat Walks – Washington Wetlands Centre – Fri 20th, Tues 24th and Sat 28th Sept
While the nights might’ve started getting darker, it’s not all bad and one place that knows that better than anyone is the Washington Wetland Centre. This is a fab place to visit during the day, but it’s still full of life during the night and to welcome the darker evenings in, they’re running Family Bat Walks. At the moment, the dates are Friday 20th, Tuesday 24th and Saturday 28th, but I’d keep your eyes peeled on the website to see if any more are released. You start the night with a hot chocolate or orange juice, then you get to hear about the different bats you might find in the UK with a show and tell activity, then you head out for a walk with the bat detectors. It sounds like a really fun and different thing to do with your kids this season, especially if your littles like being out in nature. If it sounds up your street, take a look at the Washington Wetland Centre website to book.
Stokesley Show – Stokesley Agricultural Society Showground – Sat 21st Sept
We’re in country show season at the moment, having Sedgefield Show not too long ago and now we’ve got Stokesley Show on Saturday 21st. This will be it’s 165th year and continues to be one of the largest shows in the country. Now while the base of this show is all about agriculture, there truly is something for everyone. So you’ve got all of the competition marquees for those who want to enter their prize vegetables or homemade jam, or if you just want to have a nosy like I usually do. But there’s also so much more, like a Scrumptiously Stokesley food hall, cooking demos, live entertainment, animal competition rings, the list just goes on. This is a fab family-friendly option with tons to see and do, so if you fancy it, you can find out more and get your tickets on the Stokesley Show website.
American Car Show – Bamburgh Castle – Sat 21st Sept
What could be more exciting than cars and castles? And that’s exactly what you’ll get on Saturday 21st at Bamburgh Castle. Established in 2016, American Cars R Us host shows across the north east in premier locations and they’ll be hosting an American Car Show exclusively in the gorgeous castle grounds. From classic and modern muscle cars, to pick ups and super saloons, they’ll be bringing their fantastic fleet for us all to see. And the best bit is that the show is included in your castle admission ticket, so you can enjoy a day mooching in the rooms and grounds, and seeing the historic treasures. Find fantastical tales of The Last Kingdom, Vikings, knights and dragons and fall in love with legends. It should be a great day out, so book your tickets on the Bamburgh Castle website.
Festival Of Thrift – John Whitehead Park, Billingham – Sat 21st and Sun 22nd Sept
If you’re after another family-friendly option that’s free and packed with lots to see and do, you might enjoy Festival of Thrift. That’s on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd at John Whitehead Park in Billingham and it’s a celebration of all things fun, colour and above all, sustainability and making it something that’s exciting and accessible. There’s a Fix It Cafe where you can bring your broken items to be repaired. There’s arty workshops, like lino printing, scrap banner making and willow bird feeder weaving. There’s plenty of live music, a fashion swapshop and even giant playable models of classic retro games. And that really is just the tip of the iceberg, the programme is full to the brim and you won’t be short of things to fill the time on your visit. Entry to the festival is free, but you will need to book and pay for parking or the park and ride, but if you need any more info, you can take a look at the Festival of Thrift website.
Wicked – Sunderland Empire – from Tues 24th Sept to Sun 20th Oct
The smash-hit theatre show Wicked is flying back to Sunderland Empire and this is one you don’t want to miss if you’re a theatre buff. Based on the acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire, this musical explores the backstory of The Wizard of Oz, and reveals the magic that shaped the destinies of two unlikely friends on their remarkable journey to becoming Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. It’s the 10th longest running show in West End history and is regarded as a true modern classic, so it’s very exciting that it’s heading to the North East. It’s on from Tuesday 24th all the way through to Sunday 20th October, and I’d usually say that that gives you plenty of time to see it, but tickets are running low, so you’ll need to get to the Sunderland Empire website quickly if you want to book.
Tim Peake: Astronauts – The Quest to Explore Space – O2 City Hall Newcastle – Thurs 26th Sept
If you fancy a trip to the theatre, but don’t quite want a musical, then you may be interested in this. Tim Peake is appearing at the O2 City Hall in Newcastle with his show Astronauts: The Quest to Explore Space on Thursday 26th. In this show, he will recount stories from his own journey to space and bring to life iconic and groundbreaking missions from the past. He’ll reveal what spaceflight is really like: from the amazing view of Earth, living in weightlessness, the unique dangers and unexpected moments of humour, to the years of training and gruelling psychological and physical pressures an astronaut must endure. It should be a really magical evening and there are just a handful of tickets left for this, so head to the O2 City Hall website to grab yours.
Make sure you check back next week for more amazing events!
