Looking for something to do in the middle of November 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 November to Friday 23rd November.
Whitby Christmas Market & Festival – Front Marina Car Park, Whitby – Fri 15th to Sun 17th Nov
We’re starting in Whitby for what’s set to be three days of festive fun by the sea with the Whitby Christmas Market and Festival. From Friday 15th until Sunday 17th, Christmas is taking over the coastal town, starting with the opening of the market, live music and the Christmas lights switch on. Then the festival rolls on into Saturday and Sunday with the market open all day for you to buy gifts, grab some hot food and maybe enjoy a cup of mulled wine or two, and there’s a whole line up of entertainment on the stage, like a kids disco, a Christmas music singalong, lots of live bands and a firework display. And the best bit about it all is that it’s free to enjoy, so if you want something family-friendly to do this weekend, this could be a great shout.
Waves Festival 2024 – multi-venue, Sunderland – Sat 16th Nov
We’ve got a bit of a different kind of festival now, so less Christmas and more music. Waves Festival is back in Sunderland for its fourth year bringing international, national and regional artists together for a day of music in the city. This all day event will see multiple venues getting involved, like Pop Recs and The Ship Isis alongside many more, with Sunderland Fire Station acting as the main stage. Headliner, Miles Kane, will be playing his excellent back-catalogue of indie hits and will be joined by an extended list of emerging and established talents from across the UK, fronted up by Sunderland’s very own rising star Tom A. Smith, fresh off the back of a jam-packed festival summer. There’ll also be the brass-infused Red Rum Club heading up from Liverpool, festival faves and racket-makers Dead Wet Things, and Hartlepool’s Michael Gallagher, to name just a portion of the line up. It should be a brilliant day, so if you fancy it, it’s on Saturday 16th and you can get your tickets on the Waves Festival website.
Start of Newcastle Christmas Market – around Grey’s Monument – Sat 16th Nov to Sun 22nd Dec
One place in the North East that feels especially festive at this time of the year is Newcastle, thanks to its Christmas market that runs for over a month. It’s starting from Saturday 16th, so you can expect to see the area around Grey’s Monument transformed into a winter wonderland with a bustling market offering a huge range of gifts and seasonal treats. But that’s not all! There’ll be North Pole igloo pods to enjoy your food and drink in, the Moosenwirt alpine bar, a Santa’s Stories tipi, an elf workshop, a traditional carousel and so much more. You could honestly spend the whole day there, especially if you throw in a visit to Fenwick’s Christmas windows. It’s free entry, so there’s no need to book any tickets, just simply visit between Saturday 16th November and Sunday 22nd December and enjoy!
Kielder Winter Wonderland – Kielder Forest – select dates from Sat 16th Nov to Mon 23rd Dec
Kielder Forest are inviting you to embark on an enchanting fairytale adventure and make amazing Christmas memories at the Kielder Winter Wonderland. This all day experience is running on select dates, starting from Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th, and is designed to bring Christmas to life and create a bit of magic for the whole family. You’ll have time to explore the forest and the lodges dotted throughout the tall trees, but there’s lots of activities to get stuck into as part of your ticket as well. You can meet Santa, help Mrs Claus in her forest kitchen, get up close with snowy owl and friends at the Kielder Birds of Prey Centre and craft a wooden keepsake in the elf workshop. You can also have a go at snow tubing, which looks like a lot fun. You basically sit in a doughnut tube and slide down a slippery slope, a bit like sledging but a bit more spinny. This is a hugely popular event every year and is sure to get booked up pretty quickly, so if you want to get involved, visit the Kielder Winter Wonderland website to book your tickets.
The Rock Orchestra By Candlelight – Stockton Globe – Tues 19th Nov
If you’re not quite ready to get in the Christmas spirit yet, then maybe I can tempt you into seeing The Rock Orchestra By Candlelight at the Stockton Globe. This is a spellbinding 90 minute show that infuses rock and metal anthems from the last 50 years with a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere. In the ethereal, candlelit theatre, the band of 14 classical musicians in rhinestone-decorated skeleton masks will play an array of familiar tunes, which will sound so magical on classical instruments. These shows always bring in absolutely glowing reviews for the music and energy, so if that sounds like a bit of you, it’s on Tuesday 19th and you can get your tickets now on the Stockton Globe website.
AGLOW – Auckland Palace – from Fri 22nd Nov to Sun 31 Dec
This is the first of two light trails starting next week and both are something to be really excited about. So this is AGLOW at Auckland Palace, which is back for its second year with a new route, new light installations and even more sparkle. The trail will take you on a 1.5 mile walk through the Auckland Palace gardens and grounds where you’ll see 22 incredible displays, including some of the largest installations in the country, a 30 metre tall Christmas tree, a light show on the side of the palace and so much more. It’s on Friday 22nd November until Sunday 31st December, and I’d usually say that that’s plenty of time to get booked in, but this is guaranteed to be a sell out event. Head to the AGLOW website to book your tickets now.
Northern Lights Newcastle – Leazes Park – from Fri 22nd Nov to Sun 31 Dec
The second upcoming light trail is the massive Northern Lights Newcastle in Leazes Park, which always makes the park look and feel so incredibly magical. This journey guides you on a mile-long walk with 14 different installations to see along the way, like the psychedelic snails, rainbow road and glittering light garden. There’ll also be pitstops along the way to warm up with a mulled wine or hot chocolate, and maybe toast a marshmallow or two, but make sure you save room for some food in the expanded Christmas Village. Here you can have a gourmet burger, a slice of woodfired pizza or a sweet treat, and enjoy the classic fairground rides. It’s the perfect event to celebrate the season, and again, it’s on from Friday 22nd November until Sunday 31st November, and it’s selling quickly, so grab your tickets now on the Northern Lights Newcastle website.
Christmas Daytimes at Beamish Museum – from Sat 23rd Nov to Tues 24th Dec
Beamish Museum always feels that little bit more special at Christmas because they really go in with the decorations and the old festive traditions. And they’re starting their Christmas daytimes from Saturday 23rd November and you can enjoy those up to Tuesday 24th December. From the Georgian period through to the 1950s, you’ll be able delight in traditional decorations, taste yuletide treats of days gone by, hear festive music and get involved with lots of fun activities to help you count down to Christmas. There’ll also be a cosy Santa’s grotto to visit at Rowley Station Goods Yard, so this is a great option to get the whole family in the festive spirit. Their Christmas evenings will be back in December, but for now, you can enjoy the Christmas daytimes with the standard Beamish admission, so book your tickets online now.
Make sure you check back next week for more amazing events!
