Looking for something to do at the end of May 2025 or over late May Bank Holiday weekend 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 22nd May to Saturday 31st May.
Mexican Stand Off – Wylam Brewery – Fri 23rd and Sat 24th May
We’re starting in Newcastle for something that is absolutely perfect for foodies, but especially if you’re a fan of tacos. On Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th, you can go to the Mexican Stand Off at Wylam Brewery, a festival to try as many tacos as you like and help to crown the best in the land. The idea is really easy – it’s free entry to the event, you buy tokens that grant you tacos from a plethora of vendors, some of which also serve veggie and vegan options, then you vote for your favourite with the overall winner taking the crown. There are 15 different taco stands to try, as well as a selection of sides and desserts stalls. There’ll also be a bar on across both days and live music, so it’s sure to be a really lush time. It’s from noon on each day, so just head to Wylam Brewery and grab some tokens to get stuck in, or visit the Wylam Brewery website for more details.
The British Street Food Awards – Sunderland Fire Station – Fri 23rd to Sun 25th May
We’re going from one food-themed event to another and this time, it’s in Sunderland. From Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th, you can go along for free to The British Street Food Awards Northern heat at the Fire Station. Nine street food vendors will be going head-to-head, serving up their specialty dishes in a bid to win the favour of a panel of culinary virtuosos. The judging panel will be headed up by The Hairy Bikers’ Si King, but all the fun isn’t just for him to have – you can try out the food too and get involved in a public vote. There’s also going to be live music and DJs across the whole weekend too, so it’ll be a great way to spend a Bank Holiday. This is a free event, but you do need to book a ticket, so grab yours on the Sunderland Fire Station website.
Whitley Bay Carnival – Fri 23rd to Sun 25th May
We’ve got something a bit different now with Whitley Bay Carnival, which is taking place from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th. This annual event started life in 2014 as a tiny parade and afternoon of live music and street theatre, but now, eleven years on, it’s taken on a life of its own with three days of amazing costumes, multiple music stages and even a ball. The fun all kickstarts at 6pm on Friday with a Northern Soul dance event, followed by the huge parade on Saturday. It’ll start at the Whitley Bay Metro station and feature around 2000 people, all from local schools and community groups, dressed up to the nines. There’ll be live music, entertainment and food across the rest of the day and into Sunday. There’s also the ball that I mentioned and tickets to that are £6, but the rest of the carnival is completely free, so if you’d like to start planning your trip, take a look at the Whitley Bay Carnival website.
Festival of Transport – Beamish Museum – Sat 24th May to Sun 1st June
There are loads of things going on over the next week for half term, so the first I wanted to talk about was the Festival of Transport at Beamish Museum. From Saturday 24th May through to Sunday 1st June, Beamish will be full of all things travel history. This includes a celebration of the passenger steam railway bicentenary with steam train rides, a Puffing Billy replica and lots of locomotives in action. There’ll also be vintage cars and motorbikes, post-war vintage buses and restored trams, so it’s a great time to visit if you love the transport of times gone by. This is all alongside the regular activities and exhibitions around Beamish, and of course, when you buy an entry ticket, it lasts for 12 months, so that’s a really nice little bonus too.
Half term at Washington Wetlands Centre – Sat 24th May to Sun 1st June
If you’re fancying something outdoorsy for half term, you might like everything that’s going on at the Washington Wetlands Centre. From Saturday 24th May to Sunday 1st June, there’s something different on every single day for families to get involved with and there really is something to suit all ages and interests. There’s pond dipping, bug house making, den building, mini beast hunting and so much more. The best bit is that all of these are included with the site admission or free with membership, and are also running alongside the Aardman Lloyd of the Flies trail, so this would be a great option for a full day out. You can find out more about all of the different activities and book your admission on the Washington Wetlands Centre website.
Half term at North East National Trust – Sat 24th May to Sun 1st June
Something else to add to your plans if you’re looking for lots of different options this half term is the National Trust. There’s absolutely loads going on across all of the North East sites with something for all ages and interests from Saturday 24th May to Sunday 1st June. For example, there’s Musical Mayhem Week at Ormesby Hall, where you can try out different instruments, make junkyard music and take part in music-themed craft activities. There’s sports and garden games on at Crook Hall, including quoits, tennis and football, creepy crawly crafts and bug bingo at Wallington. You could visit lots of different sites over the week and do something completely different every time, so it’s a fab option to keep in mind. You can see all of the different events and activities on the National Trust website and find out more about booking your admission.
Redcar Beach Live – Sun 25th May
We’ve got live music now with Redcar Beach Live. This will be bringing song and dance to Majuba Beach this spring Bank Holiday Sunday with a day full of fantastic performances from artists within and outside of the area alike! Following on from the success of the festival’s debut last year with The Libertines as headliners, this year sees Ocean Colour Scene, The Coral and The K’s taking to the main stage, with support from local acts like We Tibetans and End Credits. It’s set to be a fantastic day and one that fans of rock will particularly love, so if you want something to do on Sunday 25th, make sure you visit the Redcar Beach Live website to get your tickets booked.
Spitfire Girls – Darlington Hippodrome – Thurs 29th to Sat 31st May
Last but certainly not least, we’ve got a show at Darlington Hippodrome. Spitfire Girls is on from Thursday 29th to Saturday 31st and it tells the extraordinary true stories of the women who dared to fly during WWII and the incredible bond that tied them together. Decades after answering the call, two women separated by the war meet again as the rain hammers down on the windows of The Spitfire pub. As we hear their story, we’re transported back to a time when female pioneers defied expectations and soared through the skies. It’s funny and heart-warming, and an untold story of strength, courage and loss. But above all else, hope. If that sounds up your street, head to the Darlington Hippodrome website to book your tickets.
Make sure you check back next week for more amazing events!
