Looking for something to do at the start of August 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 1st to Sunday 11th August (I usually do Thurs to Thurs, but there’s some great events I couldn’t leave out!).
SIRF – Stockton town centre – Fri 2nd to Sun 4th Aug
This week, we’re starting in Stockton town centre for SIRF or the Stockton International Riverside Festival. This event sees the high street transform into an arts and culture stage, bringing local, national and international performers together from Friday 2nd until Sunday 4th. The programme is jam-packed with live music, circus skills, dance, the much-loved community carnival and so much more. There’s absolutely tons to see, but just a few that I’ve picked out include 15 Feet 6, who are fast-paced rollerskating extraordinaries, Tea Club, which is a roaming piece of dance theatre about how much the Brits love tea, and the finale, Between Realms, which will be an outdoor aerial spectacular. And the best bit is that all of this is free to enjoy, so this is a fantastic family-friendly option for this weekend.
Happy Rooms – Old M&S building, Middlesbrough town centre – Sat 3rd Aug to Sun 22nd Sept
This is another event that’s perfect for families and it’s running across the school holidays from Saturday 3rd August, right up to Sunday 22nd September. The Happy Rooms is bringing a big dose of colourful fun to Middlesbrough’s old Marks & Spencer building by turning it into an interactive space and creative trail. There will be 12 rooms to explore, each of which has been designed by different artists with different things to see and do. For example, one room houses a giant marble run made from all kinds of household objects. Another has a giant disco ball and headphones for a mini silent disco. And in another, you can grab a free ice cream, so there really is all sorts. Both big kids and little kids are guaranteed to have a fab time, so grab your tickets on the Happy Rooms website.
Elements Street Art Festival – Stepney Bank, Ouseburn – Sat 3rd and Sun 4th Aug
This is another lovely, creative event that’s great for people who love a bit of art and colour. Elements is Newcastle’s first ever street art festival and you can enjoy it on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th on Ouseburn’s Stepney Bank. The festival will be bringing together a collection of artists to create large murals, graffiti and street art pieces, and visitors can go along to watch. Alongside these new artworks in the making, there’ll be free workshops to take part in across the weekend, like canvas art, graffiti art and screen printing, as well as food, a creative market and live DJs. It sounds like it’ll be a really cool and different thing to do this weekend, so if you fancy it, take a look at the Elements Street Art Festival Facebook page for more info.
Seaham Food Festival – Sat 3rd and Sun 4th Aug
We’re going from an arts festival to a food festival, so if you want something tasty to sink your teeth into this weekend, listen up. Seaham Food Festival is back and taking over the sea front again with oodles of artisan food traders, street food, a live cookery stage and for the first time ever, a live music stage. If it’s choice you want, you won’t be disappointed here because you’ll find absolutely all sorts to eat and drink, like crispy fried chicken, mac and cheese, amazing pies… the list just goes on and on. There’s also a fab bunch of names taking to the stage to do some delicious cooking demos, like TV chefs Rosemary Shrager and Phil Vickery, as well as Masterchef’s and Bishop Auckland’s Mike Bartley. And with all of the extra entertainment and music to enjoy, you’ve got a full day out, so don’t miss Seaham Food Festival on Saturday 3rd or Sunday 4th.
The ELO Experience – Sunderland Empire – Sun 4th Aug
The ELO Experience have been performing the music of Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra for around 18 years now, and they’re heading back to the North East with a stop off at the Sunderland Empire on Sunday 4th. Now, ELO and their legacy barely needs any introduction, but here’s a fun little music fact for you – between 1972 and 1986, they achieved more combined UK and US. Top 40 hits than any other band on the planet, and the ELO Experience will bring those hits back to the stage with their amazing show. They’ll take you on a magical musical journey through time with this amazing tribute, featuring a sensational string section, stunning light show and large screen projection. I’ve been to see the ELO Experience in the past and it was fantastic, so if you love ELO or 70s music in general, snap up the last of the tickets on the Sunderland Empire website.
Newcastle Restaurant Week – city-wide – Mon 5th to Sun 11th Aug
Newcastle Restaurant Week is back and bringing a touch of tastiness to the North East summer from Monday 5th to Sunday 11th. This is one of the biggest Restaurant Week’s in the region with over 100 venues taking part across the city with offers for £15, £20 and £25 per person. As a food lover, it’s hard for me to pick out my highlights, but some examples of the offers include three courses for £20 at Indian street food restaurant Dabbawal, a main and a dessert for £15 at the Hawaiian Hula Co, and huge sushi platters for £25 from the fabulous Sushi Me Rollin. We’re totally spoiled for choice and there’s something for absolutely everyone, so take a look at the full list of participating restaurants on the Get Into Newcastle website and get your tables booked.
Summer Music Nights – Alnwick Garden – Fri 9th Aug
This sounds like such a different and fun way to see the Alnwick Garden, so if you like live music and being in nature, this could be right up your street. The Summer Music Nights sees eight different musicians stationed around the Alnwick Garden, so you can move between them to enjoy the different sounds, find a spot to sit and soak in the atmosphere. The Northern String Quartet will welcome you into the garden, but you’ll also be able to see a harpist, singers, a guitarist and everything in between. You’re free to take along a picnic and a blanket to get comfy, or enjoy food from the visiting vendors and the bar in the Pavilion. The next Summer Music Night is Friday 9th, followed by Friday 23rd, so if you fancy it, take a look at the Alnwick Garden website to book your tickets.
Northern Kin Festival – Thornley Hall Farm, Durham – Fri 9th to Sun 11th Aug
Last but not least, we’ve got another event for the music lovers and although this isn’t until next weekend, I thought I’d bring it to the table today to make everyone has got their tickets. Northern Kin Festival is a blues and rock festival that’s on at Thornley Hall Farm from Friday 9th to Sunday 11th, and they’re bringing an amazing line up of musicians to Durham. I’m talking about forty different artists, including The Waterboys, Billy Bragg, Bay City Rollers, Jools Holland and so many more. These will be across three big top tent stages, alongside a street food village, bars and stalls. There’s also camping available if you want to make a proper weekend of it and it’s family-friendly with activities for kids too. If you like the sound of that, you can get your tickets on the Northern Kin Festival website.
Make sure you check back next week for more amazing events!
