Looking for something to do mid-February 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 22nd to Thursday 29th February.
Butterfly World has reopened – Preston Park Museum & Grounds – from now until winter
We’re starting in Stockton with Butterfly World in Preston Park Museum & Grounds, which has reopened for 2024. Now, as a kid, I loved going to Butterfly World because there was just something so magical about stepping into what felt like a jungle and having the butterflies land on you, and to be fair, I feel exactly the same as a grown up, so while it’s aimed at families and kids, big kids can enjoy it too, especially if you’re a budding photographer. Because of the colder weather having an effect on how quickly the butterflies emerge , they’ve reopened a little later in the year than usual, but I’m pleased to say that the doors are open from now until winter, so go and check it out and maybe tie in a little visit to Preston Park Museum as well while you’re there.
Fire & Ice Durham – throughout Durham city – Fri 23rd and Sat 24th
Fire & Ice Durham is back and you can get involved across Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th. This is always a super popular free event across Durham city that sees the streets lined with ice sculptures and this year’s theme is Stars of the Screen, so keep your eyes peeled to see a Dalek, the Millenium Falcon and Thor’s hammer, to name just a few. There’ll also be live demonstrations, interactive displays, the chance to have a go at carving ice yourself, and the fabulous fire and ice shows at Millenium Place. The event’ll be running from 10am to 5:45pm over both days, so why not have an earlier visit and make a trip of it with a mooch around the city?
Harlem Globetrotters – Newcastle Utilita Arena – Sat 24th
I thought this one was a little bit different and pretty cool for all the sports fans out there, so this Saturday 24th, the Newcastle Utilita Arena will be welcoming the Harlem Globetrotters. This is one of the world’s most iconic basketball teams and they’ll be going head-to-head with the Washington Generals, so it should be a pretty exciting game. The Globetrotters will be bringing their amazing basketball skills, outrageous athleticism and a non-stop good time to the toon, so make sure you grab your tickets while you can. And if you’re a mega basketball fan, there’s also some tickets left for the bench experience, where you’ll get to sit on the bench with the team throughout the game, get your own merchandise, and enjoy a meet and greet with the players.
Magic of the Beatles – Sunderland Fire Station – Sat 24th
If you’re a fan of the Beatles, want to relive the Beatlemania or never got to experience it, then this is for you. Magic of the Beatles is coming to Sunderland Fire Station this Saturday 24th and it’s a fantastic tribute act that’s played to sell-out audiences across the world. The incredible cast not only look and sound like the Fab Four, but they also capture the electric atmosphere perfectly and manage to throw in some of John, Paul, George and Ringo’s humour for good measure. You can expect to hear all the hits, such as Hey Jude, A Hard Day’s Night, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and so many more, so if you fancy it, make sure you check out the Sunderland Fire Station for tickets.
Silent discos – Newcastle Cathedral – Sat 24th
This is another one that I thought was a bit different, but I know there’s a whole load of silent disco fans out there, so I couldn’t not bring it to the table. This Saturday 24th, there’ll be three silent discos taking place in Newcastle Cathedral, the first aimed at families and the later two for adults, but all three are guaranteed to be a right laugh. On the headphones, there’ll be three different DJs to listen to, playing the very best of 80s, 90s and 00s, there’ll be a fully stocked bar with premium drinks, and there’ll be festival face painters too, all in the illuminated surroundings of the cathedral. Tickets for this are selling really fast, so if you want to go along, I’d get in there quick to snatch the last of the tickets.
Lost In Music – Durham Cathedral – Sat 24th
The 70s are hitting Durham Cathedral with Lost In Music this Saturday 24th. This show will take you on a musical journey right to the heart of disco with an incredible live band, a stunning cast and amazing vocals that’ll have you up and dancing in the aisles. It’ll be recreating all the magic of 70s music with hits from Donna Summer, Chic, Earth Wind & Fire, and so many more. It’s sure to be a proper feel-good show and I’m going to say that disco attire is more than welcome, so go all out. If you fancy tickets, take a look at the Durham Cathedral website.
Myths & Mischief – Alnwick Garden – until Sun 25th
Alnwick Garden has been transformed into a mystical, mythical wonderland for half term with the Myths & Mischief trail. Along the trail, you’ll meet a tricky spider, solve riddles and clues, and even take home your own planting activity. It’s packed full of tasks, little quests, games and so much more, all based on myths and storytelling. Now I love a trail and I think it’ll be a lot of fun to explore the gardens in a different way, so if you want to go along, it’s on until this Sunday 25th and the trail is included with your garden entry ticket, so go and get yourself booked in.
Teesside Restaurant Week – from Mon 26th to Sun 3rd March
We love a good Restaurant Week in the North East and Teesside Restaurant Week is a phenomenal one, and the February edition is covering a huge area, from Saltburn to as far as Thirsk, so it stretches into North Yorkshire. From Monday 26th to Sunday 3rd March, there are a huge amount of offers to take advantage of, including the popular three courses for £20, and a massive amount of restaurants getting involved, so you might struggle to pick just one place. But if you want my recommendations, there’s Umi in Middlesbrough who do incredible Japanese food, the Impeccable Pig in Sedgefield for bistro-style dining, and Cafe Lilli in Norton for an Italian brasserie lunch, but you can see the full list on the Teesside Restaurant Week website.
The Full Monty – Newcastle Theatre Royal – from Tues 27th to Sat 2nd March
I feel like this is quite the way to wrap up this week’s list, so if you fancy something with plenty of laughs and maybe a bit of heartbreak, The Full Monty is on at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tuesday 27th to Saturday 2nd March. This brand new production is touring to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the film with all the same 90s vibes that we know and love. The story follows Gaz and his mates who are down on their luck and feel as they’ve been thrown on the scrap heap, but they are determined to fight back and bare a little more than they ever thought they would have to. Now it might come as a surprise to you that the tickets are super limited for this, so if you want to go along you’ll have to get in there quickly.
Make sure you check back next week for more amazing events!
