Looking for something to do at the end of November 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 November to Friday 29th November.
FireSide – Sunderland Fire Station – starting Thurs 21st to Sat 23rd Nov, then select dates until Wed 1st Jan
We’re starting in Sunderland at the Fire Station as they kick off their festive season with FireSide. This is their own free entry little winter wonderland pop up experience that you can enjoy whether you’re seeing a show there or not. There’s going to be an outdoor marquee with winter cocktails, boozy and non-alcoholic hot chocolates, and craft beers. There’s also going to be artisan woodfired pizzas, Christmas doughnuts, live DJs and music line ups, and an indoor bar if you’re a bit chilly sitting outside. It’s going to be the perfect pre-show warm up or if you just fancy an alternative evening out. It starts on Thursday 21st until Saturday 23rd, and then runs on select dates until Wednesday 1st January, but you can find everything you need to know on the Sunderland Fire Station website.
Discovery Nights: The Good Life – Newcastle Discovery Museum – Fri 22nd Nov
Speaking of an alternative evening out, I think this sounds brilliant. The Discovery Museum in Newcastle is opening its doors after hours for ticket holders for their first ever Discovery Night on Friday 22nd. This one is called The Good Life and invites adults to go along to the museum to find out more about sustainable living, but in a fun way. So there’s going to be expert-led tours of the museum’s costume stores, some crafting, a chance to make your own cosmetics, a clothes swap, and stories about the history of cotton. And alongside all of that, there’ll be a DJ to set the mood, drinks from a local micro-brewery and pizza in the museum cafe. The tickets for this are running low, so if you fancy doing something tomorrow night, head over to the Discovery Museum website to get yourself booked in.
Winter Wonderland – Sunderland Live Arena – Fri 22nd Nov to Tues 31st Dec
Christmas is landing at the Sunderland Live Arena from tomorrow with the launch of their Winter Wonderland. This sounds like it’s going to be absolutely brilliant for families because there’s so much to see and do. There’s going to be outdoor ice skating, fairground rides, a Santa’s grotto, a Grinch ranch with meet and greets, and a naughty elf trail, where you’ll different magical rooms and complete the tasks as you go. And of course, there’ll be plenty of hot food and drinks to keep you warm in this chilly weather. It’s going to be a brilliant event, so as I say, it starts on Friday 22nd and is on until New Years Eve, so you’ve got plenty of time to get yourself booked in. If you want any more info at all, take a look at the Sunderland Live Arena website.
Start of Christmas at Ushaw House – Sat 23rd Nov onwards
Another Christmas launch now and this time, it’s at Ushaw House. This spot is always so gorgeous over the festive season and you can see it for yourself from Saturday 23rd November until Sunday 22nd December. They’re kicking things off with their Angel Wings and Winter Things indoor trail which will take you around the historic house and chapels to discover angel-themed artworks and installations. That’s included with an Ushaw day pass or annual membership, but there are some other upcoming festive events there that require tickets, like wreath making, a Christmas stop motion animation workshop, and willow workshops. You can find out more about all of that and their upcoming December events, like the Snowman with a live orchestra and Activate’s elf theatre, all on the Ushaw House website.
Santa’s Enchanted Elf Journey – Whitehouse Farm, Morpeth – Sat 23rd and Sun 24th Nov
This one sounds like it’s going to be brilliant for kids and the tickets are already running super low, so you’ll have to be quick if you want to get in there. So when you buy a ticket to Santa’s Enchanted Elf Journey at Whitehouse Farm, you’re able to stay at the event for up to 7 hours and you aren’t going to be short of things to do, so it’s great to fill a whole day. You start by collecting your elf in training passport, then you’re on your way to do a whole host of activities, like head to the Enchanted Forest to meet Santa and the reindeers, watch the Tinsel Toy-mas interactive show, do some biscuit decorating, enrol in elf school and so much more. Each activity has a stamp for the elf passport and there are 12 to collect along the way. And this is all alongside Whitehouse Farm’s usual line up of things to do, so you can also do some all-weather tubing, drive the go karts, meet some animals, the list is absolutely endless. The first dates are Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th, with other dates across the rest of the year. As I say, this is getting booked up really quickly, so if you want to get your tickets, head to the Whitehouse Farm website ASAP.
Redcar Light Switch On and Illuminations Parade – Redcar high street – Sun 24th Nov
The Christmas season is kicking off in style in Redcar on Sunday 24th with the lights switch on and Illuminations Parade. The fun starts from 12pm with performers and entertainers on the high street, a Santa meet and greet, and a festive street food market. Then there’ll be a musical main stage and an illuminations parade. Hundreds of participants will fill the streets with artwork created with professional artists, including lanterns, costumes and amazing visual spectacles that will light up the route from the Civic Centre to Redcar Town Clock. This year, the parade will have a panto theme, so look out for all of your favourite characters, like Snow White, Peter Pan and Sleeping Beauty. This event is free to attend, so need to book any tickets, and it’s being compered by our very own Scott Makin, so why wouldn’t you want to go?
The Little Mermaid – Newcastle Theatre Royal – Tues 26th Nov to Sun 12th Jan
We’re dipping our toe into panto season with this one! We’ve got The Little Mermaid at Newcastle Theatre Royal, which is a new pantomime spectacular with a magical under the sea adventure. Pantomime superstar, Danny Adams, plays Danny Crabstix, best friend to Ariel, the bravest mermaid in King Triton’s kingdom, who must fight-off the evil Sea Witch after she steals her voice in return for the ability to live amongst the humans. They’re also being joined by Theatre Royal faves, Clive Webb, Chris Hayward and Joe McElderry, so there’s a really fun line up in store for this enchanting extravaganza. This starts from Tuesday 26th all the way until Sunday 12th January, but many of the dates are running low on tickets, so head to the Newcastle Theatre Royal website to book yours.
Christmas at the Carriageworks: Enchanted Forest Reindeer Trail – Hopetown Darlington – Tues 26th Nov to Tues 31st Dec
Christmas is heading to Hopetown Darlington from Tuesday 26th with the launch of Christmas at the Carriageworks. There’s going to be a couple of events as part of this, but the first is the Enchanted Forest Reindeer Trail. It’s almost midnight on Christmas Eve and Santa has steamed into Hopetown Darlington on Locomotion No.1. He’s taking a quick rest before he sets off all around the world delivering presents, but there’s just one problem – his reindeer have escaped! Can you look for them so they can pull his sleigh? The historic carriageworks building will be transformed into a fantastical forest of magical trees and woodland creatures, so you can take a wintery walk, hunt for clues and find all the reindeer so Santa can get on his way for his most important journey. It’s free entry to get into Hopetown and take a look around the museum, but the carriageworks entry is £5 per person, so I recommend booking ahead for this on the Hopetown website.
Bishop Auckland Christmas Town – Fri 29th Nov to Sun 8th Dec
I mentioned this a couple of weeks back, but I thought I’d bring it back for a quick mention, just to make sure that everyone’s got their tickets. So Bishop Auckland’s Christmas Town is launching on Friday 29th until Sunday 8th December and it’s bringing a whole host of festive fun to the market square. I’m talking about traditional fairground rides, ice skating, craft workshops, character meet and greets, and so much more. Entry to the site is free, so you can look around at the market and tipi without having to spend a penny, but some of the activities are ticketed. I wouldn’t want anyone to miss out, so if you want to book or get more info, take a look at the Bishop Auckland Christmas Town website.
Make sure you check back next week for more amazing events!
