Looking for something to do at the mid-March 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 14th March to Thursday 21st March.
A Country Night in Nashville – Stockton Globe – Fri 15th March
We’re starting in Stockton where we’ll be transported to the Deep South with A Country Night in Nashville at the Globe. Direct from The Royal Albert Hall, this show recreates the scene of a buzzing honky tonk in downtown Nashville, perfectly capturing the energy and atmosphere of an evening in the home of country music. It promises a plethora of country hits past and present, from Johnny Cash to Dolly, and Willie Nelson to Kacey Musgraves, so it’s guaranteed to have you stomping and singing along. If you fancy it, that’s on Friday 15th for one night only, so get in there quick to snatch up the last of the tickets.
Michael McIntyre: Macnificent – Newcastle Utilita Arena – Fri 15th and Sat 16th March
It’s been five years since Michael McIntyre last did a tour, so he’s coming back in style with dates all across the world, including two at Newcastle Utilita Arena. He’s bringing Macnificent to the toon on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th and it’s sure to have all of the observational comedy and trademark mastery of turning everyday situations into masterclasses of human exasperation that we know and love from Michael. He’ll be turning all the madness of his five year touring break into mirth with the same relatability that we get from his stand up. As I say, that’s on tomorrow and Saturday, but there are tickets available for resale through Ticketmaster, so if you fancy kicking your weekend off with some comedy, this is a great shout.
Superhero Saturday – Darlington town centre – Sat 16th March
Darlington town centre is going to be taken over by all of our favourite superheroes on Saturday 16th and you can go along to see them for free. From Spiderman and Captain America, to Black Widow and the Scarlet Witch, there’ll be heroes dotted in various locations throughout the town for you to meet and greet. There’s also going to be crafts activities in Queen Street Shopping Centre and the Market Hall, glitter face painters, competitions and two silent discos that you can join in with. I’m also going to say that fancy dress is absolutely encouraged, for both little kids and big kids. If you want to book your place on one of the silent discos or see the full list of superhero spots, take a look at the Enjoy Darlington website.
Sunderland Restaurant Week – from Sat 16th to Sun 24th March
We don’t half love a Restaurant Week in the North East and this time, it’s Sunderland’s turn. Their Restaurant Week is on from Saturday 16th right through to Sunday 24th with a fantastic range of eateries offering deals for £10, £15 or £20. And not only are there deals to suit a variety of budgets, there’s a huge assortment of cuisines and dining styles to choose from too. There’s the street food Greek restaurant, Acropolis, at the Seaburn Stack, who are doing any wrap and a drink for £10, there’s one of my personal favourites, Lucky Cat Boba, who are doing a bubble waffle and drink for £10, and the gorgeous Vietnamese spot, Pho 176, who are doing three courses for £20. There are honestly so many places taking part, so check out the full list on Sunderland BID.
British Science Week(end) – North East-wide – Sat 16th and Sun 17th
We’re currently in the middle of British Science Week, but this weekend, there’s plenty of science-themed things happening across the region for little ones and families to enjoy. On Saturday 16th, you can go along to Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens Big Science Party, where there’ll be hands on experiments, demonstrations and messy play. Also on Saturday, the Life Centre in Newcastle will be doing a spotlight on colour, where they’ll be exploring our relationship with food and colour, how colour plays into our emotions, and so much more. And across both Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th, Beamish Museum are hosting a Science Weekend with events and activities happening right across the museum, so there’s some really fab options there for you to choose from.
Toy, Train & Sci-Fi Fair – Rainton Arena – Sun 17th March
We’re going from science to science fiction with the Toy, Train and Sci-Fi Fair at Rainton Arena on Sunday 17th, which will be perfect if you’re a collector or love a bit of memorabilia. There’s going to be over 200 tables to browse, each one offering buy, sell or swap with lots of familiar toy names, like Hornby trains and Corgi, to popular fandoms, like Doctor Who and James Bond. There’ll also be a working model train exhibit that you can along and see for inspiration or just to marvel at the engineering. Tickets are £4 adults and £3 for under-16s, and it’s pay on the door, so you don’t need to worry about booking any tickets, just do make sure you take some cash along for entry and in case you want to grab any new things for your collection.
Bonnie & Clyde – Sunderland Empire – Tues 19th to Sat 23rd March
We’re being transported to the Great Depression and the time of American bandits with Bonnie & Clyde at Sunderland Empire from Tuesday 19th to Saturday 23rd. Coming direct from the West End, this hellraising musical follows the classic story of Bonnie and Clyde, two small town kids from the middle of nowhere who became some of the most well-known bandits in history. It’s a fearless and alluring award-winning production with more love, adventure and crime than you can shake a stick at. It sounds like it’s going to be brilliant and there’s still plenty of tickets across the dates, so I definitely recommend taking a look if you’re fancying a trip to the theatre.
Ben Fogle: Wild – Darlington Hippodrome – Wed 20thMarch
And last but not least, we’ve got tales of expeditions and adventures from Ben Fogle with his show, Wild, at Darlington Hippodrome. He’ll be chatting about a whole host of remarkable stories from his travels, including the extreme environment of Chernobyl, the jungles of Honduras, and the mountains of Nepal. It’s sure to have you on the edge of your seat, as well as give you an inspired and uplifted feeling as he details how all of these journeys have changed and shaped him. I think it sounds truly fabulous, so if you want to go along, that’s on Wednesday 20th and you can grab your tickets from the Darlington Hippodrome website.
Make sure you check back next week for more amazing events!
