Looking for something to do mid April 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 11th April to Thursday 18th April.
Cherry blossoms in bloom – Alnwick Garden – until Mon 22nd April
Today we’re starting at the Alnwick Garden for something that a lot of people wait with baited breath for. So the famous cherry blossom orchard is now in full bloom and it truly is absolutely magical to see. This is actually the largest Taihaku cherry blossom orchard in the world and now it’s in full bloom, you can expect a canopy of pink and white petals to walk and sit beneath, and it’s just so peaceful. The only catch is that the petals won’t be around for long, so you’ve only got about 2 weeks to go and see the orchard, so if you want to catch the blossom at its best, I’m going to say you need to book a trip to the Alnwick Garden before Monday 22nd.
Craft & Crust Festival – Newcastle Civic Centre – Sat 13th April
This is the first time that Craft & Crust Festival is coming to Newcastle and I think it’s going to be a massive hit. This unique event brings together craft drinks, such as beers, ciders and gins, with crusted food accompaniments, like pizzas and pies, which I think is just a match made in heaven. The organisers stock some of the top nationally recognisable brands, as well as independent brands from across the UK, so might just discover a brand new favourite. There’ll also be live music from local artists and pie eating contests, so if you fancy it, that’s on Saturday 13th at the Newcastle Civic Centre and you can get your tickets from the Craft & Crust Fest website.
Comic Con North East – Newcastle Utilita Arena – Sat 13th and Sun 14th April
This is one of Europe’s largest pop culture conventions, so it’s a total must for fans of comics, sci-fi, horror, gaming or cosplay. Comic Con North East is on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th at the Newcastle Utilita Arena and it’s set to bring thousands of people together for a weekend of fandoms. They’re bringing some big names to the toon, including John Barrowman, Jenna Coleman and Warwick Davis to name just a few, but there’ll also be unique props and set builds to see, retro and modern gaming areas, a cosplay stage, trader and artist areas to browse, and so much more. It sounds like it’s going to be an absolutely jam-packed weekend, so if it’s up your street, you can get you tickets on the Comic Con North East website.
Irish Annie’s – Darlington Hippodrome – Sat 13th and Sun 14th April
You’re invited for a session at Irish Annie’s pub in the brand new musical play that celebrates the best of Irish culture, from the music through to the comedy. Meet landlady Annie and her regular madcap customers, including the brilliant Ricky Tomlinson, with original tracks written for the show, as well as some all-time favourite Irish tunes, like Tell Me Ma, Dirty Old Town and Danny Boy. And what’s even better is that singing along is absolutely encouraged and lyric sheets are handed out to all attending. I think this sounds absolutely fantastic and if you think so too, it’s on at the Darlington Hippodrome on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th, and you can get your tickets from the Hippodrome website.
East Cleveland Classic elite cycle race and celebrations – across Redcar & Cleveland – Sun 14th April
If you’re a sports fan, you might love this one. Redcar and Cleveland are hosting a new elite level cycling event and it’ll be racing into the borough on Sunday 14th. The East Cleveland Classic will feature both men’s and women’s races, covering Skelton, Guisborough, Brotton and Saltburn. But I know that sports aren’t for everyone, so I’m pleased to say there are a whole host of other fun things happening on the day for the whole family, including urban games and street drawings on Saltburn’s Marine Parade, art workshops on Westgate in Guisborough, sloths on bikes at Lingdale Village Hall, live music across the borough and so much more. Take a look at the Enjoy Redcar & Cleveland Facebook page to find all the details.
Happy Hoppy Easter Holidays – Ushaw House – until Sun 14th April
We’re coming to the end of the Easter holidays, so I thought it was only right to include a couple of options for the final weekend. So the first is Happy Hoppy Easter Holidays at Ushaw Historic House & Gardens. This is on until Sunday 14th and has plenty of activities to keep kids busy, including an endangered animals outdoor trail, that will take kids around the gardens to find endangered animals dotted across the seven continents. There’s also an indoor trail that will take you on a journey through time to complete your globetrotting passport. Both of these are included with Ushaw membership or a day pass, and there’s lots of other bookable activities too, so if you want to see the full list and get your pass booked, take a look at the Ushaw House website.
Spring Trail and Lego exhibition – Paxton House – until Tues 30th April
This is another great option for seeing out the end of the Easter holidays and beyond, so we’ve got the Spring Trail at Paxton House in Berwick-upon-Tweed. This a problem solving and navigation skills trail that takes you around the grounds and gardens with the very cute Ruby rabbit. You can pick up a trail map at the gift shop and the trail costs £4 per child and adults will need a grounds pass. That’s on until the 30th, but then once you’ve completed the trail, you can head into the house to see the back-by-popular-demand Lego exhibition. There’s a whole range of incredible Lego creations on display with recognisable icons from Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Cars, to name just a few. There’ll also be a Lego build station for little kids and big kids to test their creative powers. This exhibition is included with the grounds pass and kids up to age 15 are free, but you can find all the info you need on the Paxton House website.
Ranulph Fiennes: Mad, Bad and Dangerous – Sunderland Empire – Mon 15th April
You are invited to spend an evening in the extraordinary company of Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE, one of the world’s greatest living explorers, as he goes beyond his record-breaking achievements to explore the man behind the myth. He’s circumnavigated the globe from pole to pole, became the first person to cross the Arctic and Antarctica on foot, and despite his fear of heights, is the oldest Briton to summit Everest. His stage show, Mad, Bad and Dangerous, he’ll share stories of his legendary adventures, as well as tales from his childhood and military days with never-before-seen photos and home videos. If you fancy it, he’s on at Sunderland Empire on Monday 15th and you’ll have to get in there quick to get tickets.
The Wizard Of Oz – Newcastle Theatre Royal – Tues 16th to Sun 21st April
Last but certainly not least, we’re following the yellow brick road to the Newcastle Theatre Royal for The Wizard Of Oz. Direct from the London Palladium, this sensational productions of one of the world’s most loved musicals is taking the stage from Tuesday 16th to Sunday 21st. It features the iconic original score from the film, including Over The Rainbow, Follow The Yellow Brick Road and We’re Off To See The Wizard, with additional songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice too. There really is no place like Newcastle Theatre Royal this April, so join Dorothy, Toto and friends on their unforgettable adventure and book tickets while you can.
Make sure you check back next week for more amazing events!
