Looking for something to do at the start of October 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 3rd October to Saturday 12th October.
Houghton Feast – Houghton-Le-Spring, Sunderland – Fri 4th to Sun 13th Oct
We’re starting in Sunderland, but more specifically Houghton-Le-Spring, with the Houghton Feast. This is an ancient festival that dates back to the 12th century and it’s back from Friday 4th until Sunday 13th, giving you a packed programme of free events over the nine days. There’ll be an opening ceremony tomorrow night with the Houghton Pipe Band, Zazz Dancers and the children’s choir, which is then followed by a huge array of entertainment and things to do. There’s too much to mention, but some highlights include the carnival parade this Saturday, a fireworks spectacular on Monday and a number of creative workshops over the week. And of course, there’ll be the traditional roasting of the ox and sandwiches dished out, but it’s recommended that you pre-purchase your sarnie online because they’re really popular. It’s going to be a fantastic week and a bit in Houghton-Le-Spring, so if you want any more info, take a look at the Houghton Feast website.
Pumpkin picking at Baydale Farm Darlington, Cherry Hill Garden Centre and Brocksbushes Farm Shop – from Fri 4th Oct
We’re lucky in the North East to be surrounded by countryside and farmland, and we’re extra lucky that some of these farms offer pumpkin picking at this time of year, so we don’t have to go far to get a homegrown jack-o-lantern for Halloween. We’re going to start to see lots of farms opening their pumpkin fields up over the next week or so, but if you’re itching to get picking, there are three that are starting their sessions on the first weekend of the month. So we’ve got Baydale Farm in Darlington, who are opening their pumpkin picking from Friday 4th, then Brocksbushes Farm Shop in Northumberland and Cherry Hill Garden Centre near Coulby Newham are starting from Saturday 5th. Each of them have got different activities on as part of their pumpkins too, like a Halloween forest trail at Cherry Hill and a food village at Brocksbushes, so if you fancy getting into the spooky spirit, head to their websites to book your spaces.
Teesside Unleashed Comic Con – Teesside University Students’ Union – Sun 6th Oct
For fans of all things comics, sci-fi, horror, gaming or cosplay, you’ll love Teesside Unleashed Comic Con at the Teesside University Students’ Union on Sunday 6th. And no fandom is going to be left out because there’s all sorts of entertainment and attractions on the line up, like film set recreations, retro gaming, a magician and so much more. There’s also going to be a huge market, selling merchandise and collectables from all your favourite franchises, and special guests to meet and greet, like Dave Brown and Mike Fielding from The Mighty Boosh. Tickets are bought in cash on the door and it’s £8 per adult and £5 for under 16s, and it could make for a great day out if you’ve got self proclaimed geeks in the family. If you want to see the full line up for the day, check out the Teesside Unleashed website.
North Tyneside Restaurant Week – Mon 7th to Sun 13th Oct
We love a good Restaurant Week in the North East and we’re lucky that we seem to have them quite regularly, but from Monday 7th to Sunday 13th, it’s all about North Tyneside Restaurant Week. There’s a great mix of offers starting from £15 per person and a massive amount of restaurants getting involved, so you might struggle to pick just one place. But if you want my recommendations, Pizza Rebels are doing a create your own 12” pizza, brownie and drink deal for £15, Horticulture Coastal are doing two brunch dishes for £15 and Al Bear have a super varied three courses for £20, but you can see the full list on the North Tyneside Restaurant Week website and I’d get your tables booked quickly because I think it’s going to be super popular.
Now That’s What I Call A Musical – Newcastle Theatre Royal – Tues 8th to Sat 12th Oct
Get ready to relive the 80s soundtrack with the brand new show, Now That’s What I Call A Musical at Newcastle Theatre Royal. Celebrating 40 years of iconic and chart-topping compilation albums, this fun-filled performance features an unbeatable soundtrack and incredible choreography by Craig Revel Horwood. It’s Birmingham, 1989. Gemma and April, two school friends, are busy with very important business – planning their lives based on Number One Magazine quizzes and dreaming of Rick Astley! Fast forward to Birmingham 2009, and they’re confronted with their worst nightmare… the school reunion! It’s light-hearted, funny and the perfect excuse to dust off your spandex and crimp your hair, so if you fancy it, it’s on from Tuesday 8th to Saturday 12th and you can get your tickets on the Newcastle Theatre Royal website.
Space By Luxmuralis – Durham Cathedral – Wed 9th to Sun 13th Oct
With Space by Luxmuralis, you’re invited to take a journey of exploration through outer space, gaze up at galaxies and experience the human ambition to adventure beyond. It’s a light and sound installation inside Durham Cathedral that projects on to the architecture, completely transforming the building that we all know so well. It’s going to feature original footage of a rocket launch and show the final image of Earth, looking back from space under a blanket of stars, as well as creative interpretations of space, all against a breathtaking soundtrack. I’ve been to a couple of the Luxmuralis installations at Durham Cathedral and they always absolutely outstanding and a total mind-boggling experience, so I recommend getting tickets while you can. It’s on from Wednesday 9th to Sunday 13th and you can book through the Durham Cathedral website.
Durham Book Festival – across the city – Thurs 10th to Sun 13th Oct
If you’re a fan of reading and writing, you’ll love Durham Book Festival, which is taking over the city from Thursday 10th until Sunday 13th. For this long weekend, you’re invited to be inspired, entertained and swept away by 35 different book-themed events, covering history, humour, poetry and philosophy. This year’s line up features Helen Fielding, the author of the much-loved Bridget Jones, Sunderland-born author of the Horrible Histories series, Terry Deary, and Rebecca F. Kuang, author of the global number one sensation, Yellowface. In amongst the author conversations, there’s going to be writing workshops, family-friendly storytelling, and Books and Beats where you can browse the Collected Bookshop after hours with a DJ and a drink. It’s a real mixed bag, but absolutely perfect for the bookworms among us, so if you want to see the full list of events and book your tickets, take a look at the Durham Book Festival website.
The Glittering North – Raby Castle – Sat 12th Oct
We truly are seeing this list out in style with the start of The Glittering North at Raby Castle. This promises to be a never seen before spectacle of live music, dance and captivating puppetry, which all comes alive after dark. This event will be taking over the grounds to create an immersive and interactive free-flow experience that celebrates the region’s Norse and Viking heritage with incredible light art. I won’t spoil it too much, but some of the things you can expect to see are Sleipnir, a giant puppet horse with eight legs, a maze of sweeping valkyries, and fire foxes in the Northern Lights. There’ll also be live music from folk musicians with brass and fiddles, and food and hot chocolate to keep you warm. It sounds like it’s going to be absolutely fantastic and a really unique thing to experience, so if it sounds up your street, it starts on Saturday 12th and is on every weekend until Sunday 3rd November, but I’d book your tickets through the Raby Castle website sooner rather than later because I think it’s going to be very popular.
Make sure you check back next week for more amazing events!
