Looking for something to do mid-December 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 12th December to Sunday 22nd December.
Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs – Tyne Theatre & Opera House – from now until Sun 5th Jan
We’re starting in Newcastle with a panto and this time, it’s at the Tyne Theatre & Opera House. We’ve got Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which is an absolute panto classic and is ideal for the whole family. This one stars Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions winners, Twist & Pulse, as the Wicked Queen’s henchmen, as well as Dancing On Ice winner, Regan Gascoigne, as the prince. This show is bursting with great songs, fantastic dance routines and plenty of laughter, so it’s a must if you’re looking for a good pantomime this season. It’s on from now until Sunday 5th January and if you fancy booking, you can take a look at the Tyne Theatre & Opera House website.
Christmas By Candlelight – Middlesbrough Town Hall – Fri 13th Dec
If there’s one thing we love in the North East at this time of year, it’s a candlelight concert, and this one sounds extra specially cosy. This is Christmas By Candlelight at Middlesbrough Town Hall, and with this show, you can expect to hear all your favourite Christmas songs performed in the most atmospheric way. A spectacular West End Cast and incredible live band will play a range of classics and sing-a-long tunes, like Let It Snow, O Holy Night and White Christmas, all while surrounded by flickering candles. It’s sure to be absolutely magical and it’s on Friday 13th, so if you’re after a last minute thing to do, get your tickets booked on the Middlesbrough Town Hall website.
Frost Fest – Land of Oak & Iron – Sat 14th & Sun 15th Dec
If you’re after something low cost to do this weekend, then you might be interested in Frost Fest at Land of Oak & Iron. This site is free entry as it is, but over Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th, they’re putting on a variety of family-friendly craft activities, as well as hosting some live music from the Storyteller Street Band and there’ll be two trails to complete. The first is their popular Mischievous Elf trail in the Heritage Centre and the other is the outdoor Two Little Mice trail, both of which are just £1 to do. It should be a really lovely couple of days and a great way to get out into the fresh air. And because it’s free entry, there’s no need to book – just simply visit on Saturday or Sunday, but if you want more info, you can have a look at the Land of Oak & Iron website.
Christmas at Raby Castle – various dates in Dec
Raby Castle are going all in this Christmas with a selection of events, starting with Christmas in the Entrance Hall, where you’ll see the historic and grand entrance hall of the castle decked out to the nines. The State Carriage will be in its rightful home, surrounded by towering Christmas trees, twinkling lights, wrapped presents and a crackling fire in the fireplace. You’ll also have the option to team up this visit with the new Festive Glasshouse Afternoon Tea, which sounds like the perfect combo, in my opinion. That sounds like the cosiest day out to me and the next available dates for these two are Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th. Or if you’re more of a night owl, you might like the Castle Terrace by Torchlight (Saturday 14th and 21st), where you’ll get to see Raby all illuminated at night time, so there’s something for everyone. To book or find more info about anything I’ve mentioned, head to the Raby Castle website.
Six – Stockton Globe – from Tues 17th Dec to Thurs 2nd Jan
If it’s something at the theatre that you’re after, then this could be for you. The international smash hit show, Six, is coming to the Stockton Globe from Tuesday 17th December to Thursday 2nd January, and it’s going to be brilliant. This show tells the history of Henry VIII’s wives in a way that you’ve never seen before. Turning the Tudor Queens into pop princesses, the wives will take to the mic to tell their stories, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a celebration of 21st century girl power. This is a hugely popular show and I personally can’t wait to see it, so if you want to grab any of the remaining tickets, you can get them on the Stockton Globe website.
Fastlove: The Tribute to George Michael – Sunderland Fire Station – Fri 20th Dec
If you’re feeling a bit Christmassed out and maybe want something a bit more music-related, you might live Fastlove at the Sunderland Fire Station. This celebration of George Michael is coming direct from the West End and it has it all – the power, emotion, and as close to the star quality that George had as is possible. This tribute will be featuring all of your favourite George songs and hits such as Freedom, Faith, Careless Whisper and so many more. It sounds like it’s going to be fantastic and it’s regarded as one of the best George Michael tributes, so it’s definitely one for fans to see. It’s on Friday 20th and you can get the last of the tickets on the Sunderland Fire Station website and tie in your visit with some food and drink in the outdoor Fireside tipi too.
A Fairytale Christmas – Ormesby Hall – until Sun 22nd Dec
I love an estate at Christmas when they’ve got all the decorations up and one that you can see in the North East is Ormesby Hall. They’ve set the scene for a fairytale inspired festive season, so the rooms will be adorned with sparkling lights, fairy tale inspired decorations and the fresh sweet smell of winter foliage from the garden. From the moment you step foot inside, you’ll be transported to a magical world, with Christmas trees and decorations from some of the most beloved fairytales, like Cinderella, the Snow Queen and Hansel and Gretel. You can see A Fairytale Christmas at the hall from tomorrow until Sunday 22nd and is available to see with regular admission, so book your tickets via the National Trust.
The Snowman In Concert – The Glasshouse – Sun 22nd to Tues 24th Dec
Last but certainly not least, we’ve got The Snowman in Concert at the Glasshouse in Gateshead. Now, this isn’t on until Sunday 22nd to Tuesday 24th, but this will sell out quickly, so if you want to go, you’ll need to get your skates on. You’ll get to watch the classic and beloved family film, The Snowman, while hearing the Royal Northern Sinfonia play the timeless soundtrack alongside. This will be such an incredible way to see the film and appreciate the music, and it’s one that will absolutely get you into the festive spirit. As I say, this will sell out pretty sharpish, so if you want to get your tickets, I recommend hot-footing it over to the Glasshouse website as soon as you can.
Make sure you check back next week for more amazing events!
