Looking for something to do at the start of May 2025 or over May Bank Holiday weekend 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 May to Thursday 8th May.
Middlesbrough Local History Month – Thurs 1st to Sat 31st May
We’re starting off in Middlesbrough for something that’s running across the whole of May. So from Thursday 1st until Saturday 31st, the town is celebrating Middlesbrough Local History Month to really shine a light on the heritage and communities there. And over the whole month, there’s a packed programme of things to see and do to really delve into the history, including workshops, guided tours, open days, exhibitions and even a talk about the history of curry in the town. There’s something to do on pretty much every day throughout May, including loads and loads of free things. So if you’re a proud Smoggie or someone who wants to know more about the heritage of the area, this could be for you. You can find info about all of the events on the Discover Middlesbrough Facebook page, as well as any details for those that need to be booked.
Consett Comedy Festival – Consett Rugby Club – Thurs 1st to Sun 4th May
If you’re looking for a laugh this Bank Holiday weekend, look no further than Consett Comedy Festival at Consett Rugby Club. This is on from Thursday 1st until Sunday 4th, so you’ve got four days and multiple comedy events to choose from. Thursday sees the New Material Night hitting the stage, with upcoming comedians testing their newest jokes, Saturday afternoon has a popular family-friendly show that’s suitable for all ages, and Saturday evening offers a stellar line up with headliner Seann Walsh seeing out the night. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, there’s so many other events to check out over the weekend too. You can visit the Consett Comedy Festival website to check out the full programme and to book your tickets.
Slice Wars – Wylam Brewery – Fri 2nd and Sat 3rd May
This is one that is absolutely perfect for foodies, but especially if you’re a fan of pizza. On Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd, you can go to Slice Wars at Wylam Brewery, a festival to try as many pizza slices as you like and help to crown the best in the land. The idea is really easy – it’s free entry to the event, you buy tokens that grant you pizza from a plethora of vendors, some of which also serve veggie and vegan options, then you vote for your favourite with the overall winner taking the crown. There 18 different pizza makers to try, as well as a selection of sides and desserts stalls. There’ll also be a bar on across both days and live music, so it’s sure to be a really lush time. It’s from noon on each day, so just head to Wylam Brewery and grab some tokens to get stuck in, or visit the Wylam Brewery website for more details.
Gateshead Beer & Music Festival – Gateshead Rugby Club – Fri 2nd to Sun 4th May
This Bank Holiday weekend is absolutely packed with festivals and this one is spot on for people who love real ales. The Gateshead Beer & Music Festival has been running for 15 years, so you can expect big things from Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th, including the Society of International Brewers Association’s North East Regional competition. This will feature beers from Northumberland to Yorkshire that are blind tasted before an overall winner is chosen. And if you’re not a beer fan, don’t worry because there’s ciders, gins and Prosecco cocktails, as well as festival food and a mega line up of live music all day, covering genres like soul, rock, ska and Irish. It’s going to be fantastic, especially if the weather decides to hold up, so get your tickets on the Gateshead Beer Festival website.
Darlington Food & Drink Festival – town centre – Fri 2nd to Mon 5th May
Yep, another Bank Holiday weekend festival and this time, it’s in Darlington. The annual Darlington Food & Drink Festival is back on from Friday 2nd to Monday 5th and is bringing a whole host of tastiness to the town centre. Tomorrow will see street food and bars lining the streets, but from Saturday is when things kick up a gear with stalls selling all kinds of treats, from fudge to craft beers, and hot sauces to jam, and these will all be alongside the street food vendors and bars. There’ll also be live entertainment every day, with bands, local performers, and even a circus workshop for kids to get involved with, so this could be an ideal family-friendly day out. This is a free event with no need to book, so just turn up after 4pm on Friday or after 10am from Saturday to Monday and enjoy!
The Music of Star Wars – The Glasshouse – Sun 4th May
Of course, Sunday is Star Wars Day, May the 4th, and the Glasshouse in Gateshead are celebrating with two performances of The Music of Star Wars. The Royal Northern Sinfonia and Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia will be playing some of the most extraordinary pieces of music ever written for cinema, John Williams’ scores for the epic Star Wars films. If you think it sounds good in the cinema, wait till you hear it played live because I can guarantee that this is going to be an experience that whisks you off to a galaxy far far away. And as if hearing the Imperial March played by an orchestra wasn’t enough, you might just see Sith Lords, Jedi, and maybe even a Wookie in amongst the instruments, so why not join in the fun and dress up as your favourite character too? This is on Sunday 4th and there’s a matinee and an evening performance, so take a look at the Glasshouse website to get your tickets booked.
VE Day Anniversary Concert – Sunderland Fire Station – Thurs 8th May
As part of Sunderland’s celebrations to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, there will be a special concert at the Fire Station on Thursday 8th. This will include performances from a bugle player, vintage singers, readings from dignitaries and Veterans, and a segment from Alfie Joey. Tickets for this will cost just £5 and and the concert of part of the wider VE Day celebrations taking place across Sunderland, including a street party on Keel Square, a charitable cake sale organised by the WI, and a lantern parade. It sounds like it’s going to be a lovely way to mark the occasion, so make sure you take a look at the Sunderland Fire Station website if you want to get any of the last tickets.
VE Day 80th Anniversary – Beamish Museum – Thurs 8th May
Last but certainly not least, there’s another fabulous VE Day event happening over at Beamish Museum on Thursday 8th as well. The living museum has planned a day of free activities dotted all throughout each area, including crafting workshop drop ins, demonstrations and live music. You can also expect to see the characters of the museum dressed in the era appropriate outfits to really transport us back to VE Day. Of course, Beamish is all about bringing history to life, so this would be a great option if you really want to immerse yourself in the occasion. All of the activities are free with admission, and when you book a ticket, you get entry for 12 months, which is a nice little bonus, so make sure you get yours via the Beamish Museum website.
Make sure you check back next week for more amazing events!
