Looking for something to do late 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 22nd to Thursday 29th August.
Durham Restaurant Week – Fri 23rd to Fri 30th Aug
We’re starting in Durham with something for the food fans among us. Durham Restaurant Week is back from Friday 23rd to Friday 30th with a great opportunity to make the most of some seriously good offers across the city’s restaurants and eateries. It’s so difficult to choose from the huge range available, but some of my recommendations are two courses for £20 at the BBQ hotspot, Notch, three tapas and a drink for £15 at Tapas Factory, or a starter and main for £15 at dirty burger restaurant, Fat Hippo. But there are offers from £15 to £25, so there’s something to suit a range of budgets. You can find the full list of participating restaurants on the Durham BID website and you’ll want to get booked up quickly because tables will go fast!
Between The Tides Festival – Redcar – Sat 24th and Sun 25th Aug
If you’re looking for something family-friendly over Bank Holiday weekend, Between The Tides Festival in Redcar could be a really good shout. On Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th, the streets of the seaside town will come to life with the children and family festival, which will offer theatre, puppetry, dance, storytelling and so much more, completely for free. There’ll be sea monster mayhem around Coatham Boating Lake Park, a circus show that revolves around a spinning parasol, and a giant silver whale that you can step inside. The super popular Luminarium will also be back at Kirkleatham Museum from today until Sunday as part of the festival, which is a huge inflatable labyrinth of light tunnels. There’s so much to see and do, so take a look at the Enjoy Redcar & Cleveland website to see the full schedule and plan your trip.
Bishop Auckland Family Festival – Jane Armstrong Park – Sat 24th and Sun 25th Aug
As the name might suggest, the Bishop Auckland Family Festival is another family-friendly option for Bank Holiday weekend. This is also on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th, and is taking over Jane Armstrong Park with all sorts of fun activities with a bit of a prehistoric theme. There’ll be fossil finding, bug handling, dinosaur meet and greets, cave painting and so much more. And if the dino thing isn’t your cup of tea, then don’t worry because there’ll also be live music, family theatre shows, street food and a bouncy castle, so there’s something for everyone. And the best bit is that this is totally free to attend and enjoy, so it could be a great option if you’re after something to do in County Durham, so take a look at the Bishop Auckland Family Festival Facebook page for more info.
Great North Feast – Bents Park, South Shields – Sat 24th to Mon 26th
This is another fabulous one for the foodies, so if you’re looking for something delicious to do in South Shields over the weekend and into Bank Holiday Monday, you might like Great North Feast. This is happening in Bents Park from Saturday 24th to Monday 26th, and it’s going to be filled with street food serving up all kinds of deliciousness, like dirty smash burgers, woodfired pizzas and loaded naans. And alongside them, there’ll be artisan food traders, well-stocked bars and some live music, and to make it even better, it’s free entry too. These events have been running for a good few years and they’re always really popular, so I’d say to get yourself to Bents Park earlier rather than later to make sure nothing is sold out. But if you want more info, take a look at properfoodanddrinkfestivals.co.uk
Classic Car & Bike Show – Ushaw Historic House & Gardens – Sun 25th Aug
The Ushaw Classic Car & Bike Show is a great option for this Sunday and offers something for absolutely everyone to get stuck into. Ushaw Historic House & Gardens are hosting theirClassic Car Show on Sunday 25th, where you’ll be able to see hundreds of classic and retro vehicles across the estate, and plenty of auto-themed stalls. But if you’re not much of a petrolhead, then don’t worry because there’s plenty more to see and do. There’ll be lots of family-friendly activities to get stuck into, Northern Soul DJs, and plenty of street food. It sounds like a great way to spend the day and you can enjoy it for free with annual membership or a day pass to Ushaw. Take a look at their website for more info.
Newcastle Mela – Exhibition Park – Sun 25th and Mon 26th Aug
As if we didn’t already have so many amazing events over this weekend, here’s another fantastic one to think about. Newcastle Mela is back Sunday 25th and Bank Holiday Monday 26th to bring you a vibrant and fun festival in Exhibition Park. This event invites people to celebrate South Asian culture by experiencing the associated music, food and entertainment, so you can enjoy Bhangra dancing, Bollywood music, Rajasthani circus, henna painting and so much more. The programme is absolutely jam-packed, so there’s definitely something to suit absolutely everyone and this truly is an event that welcomes all. Plus, it’s another one that’s free to attend, so if you fancy it or want more info, check out the Newcastle Mela website for more details.
Ghost The Musical – Sunderland Empire – Tues 27th to Sat 31st Aug
Get your pottery wheels at the ready because the magical love story of Ghost The Musical is heading to the North East. The show follows the same storyline as the 1990 film, with Sam being tragically murdered and leaving his girlfriend Molly alone and lost without him. But with the help of a phony storefront psychic, Sam tries to communicate with Molly in the hopes of saving her from danger. But of course, this show is a musical, so you can expect the classic Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody, as well as brilliant songs co-written by Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart. It’s set to be an emotional one, so if you’re in the mood for a trip to the theatre, this is on at Sunderland Empire from Tuesday 27th to Saturday 31st, and you can get your tickets online now.
101 Dalmatians – Newcastle Theatre Royal – Tues 27th Aug to Sun 1st Sept
And last but certainly not least, the second of our fabulous North East theatre shows is 101 Dalmatians at the Newcastle Theatre Royal. When fashionista Cruella de Vil, played by Corrie’s Kym Marsh, plots to swipe all the Dalmatian puppies in town to create her fabulous new fur coat, there’s trouble ahead for Pongo and Perdi and their litter of adorable, tail-wagging young pups. This musical is brought to life with amazing puppetry, showstopping choreography and brilliantly catchy songs, so you would be barking mad to miss out on it. It’s a great one for kids too, so if you’ve got Disney fans in the family, you could be on to a winner. It’s on from Tuesday 27th to Sunday 1st September, and you can grab tickets on the Newcastle Theatre Royal website.
Make sure you check back next week for more amazing events!
