Looking for something to do mid-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 8th to Thursday 11th August.
Summer activities at Washington Wetland Centre – until Sun 1st Sept
We’re starting at the Washington Wetland Centre where you’ll find an activity every day throughout August from now until 1st September, so this could be a real hotspot if you’ve got kids to keep busy. As the Wetland Centre is all about nature and preservation, the activities all follow the same theme, so for example, you can do some pond dipping tomorrow, or on Tuesday 13th, you can try your hand at animal tracking. There’s all sorts of other things to enjoy, like den building, natural print making and mini beast hunting, the list just goes on. All of these activities are included in the entry admission or are free if you’re a member, so if you’d like to see the full schedule, take a look at the Washington Wetland Centre website and start planning.
Novum Newcastle – Civic Centre & Great North Museum Hancock – Thurs 8th to Sun 11th Aug
Novum Newcastle is back and it’s bigger and bolder than ever. From Thursday 8th until Sunday 11th, you can experience the huge multi-arts, family-friendly festival with breathtaking performances, interactive installations, workshops and live music. The day times are packed with free things to do and see, like circus skills workshops, acrobatic performances and an art piece that involves shrink wrapping people. And then on the evening, there are ticketed live music events, featuring local, national and international artists, like Middlesbrough’s Amelia Coburn and London’s DJ Yoda, who has shared the stage with the likes of Damon Albarn and Snoop Dogg in the past. It really is a total mixed bag and there’s something for absolutely everyone. That’s happening at the Newcastle Civic Centre and Great North Museum Hancock, but you can find more info and tickets for the live music on the Novum Newcastle website.
Saltburn Folk Festival – across the town – Fri 9th to Sun 11th Aug
We’re going from a multi-arts festival to the Saltburn Folk Festival, which is on from Friday 9th until Sunday 11th. This is a celebration of all things folk, and not just the music, but also dance and storytelling. There’s a whole line up of things to see and do, like ceilidhs, singarounds, Irish and shanty sessions, and of course, lots of live music performances. There are lots of free things to go along to and some ticketed events, so there’s something for everyone. There’s also going to be a food quarter tucked away behind Signals, so if you fancy some street food and live music in the community garden, you can head there on Saturday or Sunday. If you want more info or to check out the line up, take a look at the Saltburn Folk Festival website.
Sedgefield Show – Sedgefield Showground – Sat 10th Aug
From the coast to the countryside now with Sedgefield Show. I didn’t realise this, but this agricultural show has been a thing since 1859 and it’s still going strong to this day with all of the fabulous competitions and livestock. Unfortunately, the entries for the competitions this year are now closed, but you can still go along and see them all laid out, which is all part of the fun of going along to an agricultural show. There’s also stalls to browse, street food and bars to enjoy, kids entertainment and so much more. It’s always a really good day out for families, so if you fancy it, you can get your tickets on the Sedgefield Show website.
The Wizard Of Oz – Sunderland Empire – Tues 6th to Sun 11th Aug
We’re following the yellow brick road to the Sunderland Empire for The Wizard Of Oz. Direct from the London Palladium, this sensational production of one of the world’s most loved musicals is taking the stage from Tuesday 6th to Sunday 11th. 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 Sunderland Empire this August, so join Dorothy, Toto and friends on their unforgettable adventure and book tickets while you can on the Empire website.
Teesside Restaurant Week – region-wide – Mon 12th to Sun 18th Aug
We love a good Restaurant Week in the North East and Teesside Restaurant Week is a phenomenal one, and the August edition is covering a huge area, from Saltburn to as far as Thirsk, so it stretches into North Yorkshire. From Monday 12th to Sunday 18th, 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 Tomahawk Steakhouse in Yarm and Acklam for beautiful steak and chips, Oven in Middlesbrough which offers a hugely varied menu, and The Impeccable Pig in Sedgefield for bistro-style dining, but you can see the full list on the Teesside Restaurant Week website.
Kids Fun Fest – South Shields Amphitheatre – every Tues and Thurs until 22nd Aug
This is another fab option if you’ve got kids to entertain over the school holidays. Kids Fun Fest is on at South Shields Amphitheatre every Tuesday and Thursday until 22nd August, so next week, you can go along on Tuesday 13th or Thursday 15th to join in. These are on as part of the free This Is South Tyneside Festival event calendar, so you don’t have to pay a penny to let your kids enjoy themselves, and they can expect to get stuck games and activities with prizes, live entertainment and so much more. You don’t need a ticket to go along to these events, just turn up at South Shields Amphitheatre between 2pm and 4pm next Tuesday or Thursday, but if you want more info, you can find everything you need on the South Tyneside Council website.
Come From Away – Newcastle Theatre Royal – until Sat 17th Aug
Last, but certainly not least, we’ve got another fantastic musical hitting one of our North East stages. Come From Away is a four time Olivier award winner that tells the true story of the 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Canada during the wake of 9/11, and the small Newfoundland community that invited them into their lives. This is a story filled with hope, joy, humanity and unity in the face of something terrible, with gorgeous soaring music to accompany it. It’s supposed to be a spectacular and really heartwarming show, and we’re so lucky to have it come to the Newcastle Theatre Royal from now until Saturday 17th, so snap up those tickets while you can.
Make sure you check back next week for more amazing events!
