Looking for something to do in late March 2025 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 20th March to Saturday 29th March.
Feastopia – Times Square, Newcastle – Fri 21st to Sun 23rd March
We’re starting in Newcastle for the first of two food and drink events in this week’s list. We’ve got Feastopia, the newest food festival event, which will be taking over Times Square from Friday 21st until Sunday 23rd March. There’ll be mouthwatering food from the North East’s best street food traders, live bands and DJs, eating challenges and cook-off competitions, and a fully heated giant tent and tipi for if the weather doesn’t hold up. Entry to this is free, and dogs and kids are welcome too, so it could be a great option for a family weekend. If you need any more info at all, take a look at the Feastopia website.
Newcastle Cocktail Week – Fri 21st to Sun 30th March
As if things couldn’t be tastier in Newcastle, the second annual cocktail week kicks off on Friday 21st as well! Until Sunday 30th, you’ll be able to enjoy a huge variety of offers in a range of the city’s bars and restaurants. All you need to do is grab a wristband from the Newcastle Cocktail Week website and this will unlock exclusive menus at a ton of venues, such as Banyan, Leila Lily’s and Prohibition Cabaret Bar. There’s lots of cocktail deals to choose form, but many spots are also offering deals on food, so you can have giant pizza slices for £5 at Twenty Twenty, 25% off the main menu at Bar & Block, and three snacks for £15 at Horticulture. If you want to get your wristband or read more info, head to the Newcastle Cocktail Week website.
Art in the Park – Sunniside Gardens, Sunderland – Sat 22nd March
Sunniside Gardens is being taken over by all things creative and colourful with Art in the Park. This is on Saturday 22nd and sounds like a fabulous and free day out for families. The programme is jam-packed with things to see and do, like view a pop up art exhibition and sculpture garden, get some pet photography done, try out some workshops like pebble painting and rag brooch making, and so much more. This is also taking place alongside the regular Local Heroes market, so there’ll be lots of stalls to browse alongside the art traders, so it should be a really good, varied day. This is completely free to go to and there’s no need to book tickets, but you can find out more about Art in the Park on the Sunderland BID website.
Ostara: Spring Equinox – Jarrow Hall – Sat 22nd and Sun 23rd March
Thursday 20th is the spring equinox and Jarrow Hall are celebrating in Saxon style over Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd. This is another one that’s absolutely full to the brim with things to see and do, like egg decorating, leaving your mark on the collaborative glass installation, see Anglo-Saxons preparing a traditional equinox feast, and meet the newly hatched chicks. Sunday will also see Jarrow Hall launching their Discovering Inspiration programme with a drop-in clay workshop, where you can make pinch pots, beads and charms to take home the same day. All of this is free with an annual pass, so you’ll be able to explore the rest of the farm, village and museum too. Find out more on the Jarrow Hall website.
Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors and Awful Egyptians – Darlington Hippodrome – Thurs 27th to Sun 30th March
If it’s a bit of family-friendly theatre that you want, then look no further than Horrible Histories at Darlington Hippodrome. There’s actually two different shows on next week, starting with Terrible Tudors from Thursday 27th to Saturday 29th, then Awful Egyptians from Thursday 27th to Sunday 30th. Both of these shows use actors and eye-popping 3D special effects to bring history to life, and awaken the historical figures and events that we all know… or at least we think we know. From Henry VIII to Ramesses The Great, these shows will have both you and your kids laughing out loud, and maybe learning something new. You can find tickets for both of these shows on the Darlington Hippodrome website.
Last chance for All Change tickets – Kynren site – Sat 29th March
I mentioned All Change back in February when the tickets were released, but now you’ve all got about a week to grab your tickets. So S&DR200 is a 9 month festival of events all themed around the 200 years since the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. And to mark the start of the celebrations, there’s going to be an opening event called All Change at the Kynren site on Saturday 29th. It will speed through 200 years of railway history and major historical moments, from the Industrial Revolution, two World Wars to the present, celebrating the transformative power of trains on the landscape and our lives. Think large-scale set pieces, 400 drones, 80 performers and original music to bring an absolute spectacular to the stage. Tickets for this are just £5 each and are down to the very last few. You can book your spots now via the S&DR200 website.
Helios – National Trust Seaton Delaval Hall – now until Sun 6th April
Helios is a brand new 7-metre diameter sculpture by internationally renowned artist, Luke Jerram. If you went to see Museum of the Moon or Gaia when they were at Durham Cathedral, you’ll know that he’s famed for his celestial artwork, and Helios is no different. You’ll be able to get up close to the sun, with rippling lights and solar imagery projected on to the huge, suspended ball, accompanied by sounds recorded by NASA. Scaled so that each centimetre represents 2000 kilometres of the real sun’s surface, this is a unique opportunity to take a closer look at the star and details such as sunspots and solar flares. This artwork will be suspended in the Entrance Hall and you can see it with a general admission ticket or National Trust membership, meaning you can explore the rest of the site too. It’ll be there from now until Sunday 6th April, so if you want any more details or want to book admission, visit the National Trust website.
Make sure you check back next week for more amazing events!
