A winter festival to light up the dark winter nights NewcastleGateshead is the place to be for seasonal fun. As well as the city's regular winter activities, such as ice rinks,  pantomimes, theatre, concerts, exhibitions, lights switch-ons and winter markets, NewcastleGateshead Winter Festival presents FREE special elements: Enchanted Parks in which Saltwell Park is transformed into a magical world; Glow which will illuminate Newcastle's medieval town walls; a parade of Glowmobiles to celebrate New Year's Eve; and outdoor artworks by Yoko Ono.

Enchanted Parks - SOLD OUT 
Thursday 4 - Sunday 14 December
Following the success and popularity of last year's Enchanted Parks events, this December Gateshead's Saltwell Park will be brought to life with atmospheric installations, light, sound and performance. Specially-commissioned artworks celebrating stories and themes of wintertime will provide a memorable and seasonal walk in the park. The event is weatherproof and is designed to take place in winter conditions. Please wrap up well and wear suitable footwear. The event is suitable for all ages and accessible to those with reduced mobility and wheelchair users. Please note: all Enchanted Parks performances are currently sold out. We have very few returned tickets and cannot guarantee entry into the park without a pre-booked ticket.

Glow
Thursday 11 to Monday 15 December
This year Glow will highlight some of Newcastle's medieval town walls using large scale architectural light projections to present and join together sites both grand and intimate that are rarely seen by tourists or known to local residents. Several phases of development have radically altered Newcastle's visual landscape, and the trail aims to reveal buildings, spaces and views largely lost to the public, tucked away and "hiding" amongst late 20th century roads, buildings and development.

Glowmobiles
Wednesday 31 December (New Year's Eve)
A dazzling array of Art Cars, transformed and illuminated by artists, will be on display around the city centre on New Year's Eve... new vehicles specially commissioned for this event will be joined by others which are musical, fiery, and magically mechanical. Come and marvel at how each vehicle uses light and sustainable power sources, and dress up yourself with an illuminated costume or glowing motor goggles for the parade! Glowmobiles, created by Walk the Plank, culminates with an early evening firework finale.

YOKO ONO   BETWEEN THE SKY AND MY HEAD
Throughout December
In a groundbreaking first for the North East, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art is working with internationally renowned artist and musician Yoko Ono to present a number of external projects for the region. Yoko Ono is one of the pioneers of conceptual art and has an international exhibition career spanning nearly 50 years.

And that's not all...

NewcastleGateshead is packed full of seasonal events and festive performances for the whole family to enjoy. And with so much variety on offer, NewcastleGateshead is any Christmas shopper's dream. The North East's winter festivities also include winter festivals in Northumberland and Sunderland and special events around the region. This festive season visitors can also attend screenings and events at Northern Lights Film Festival (Sunday 30 November - Saturday 6 December) where the focus is on breakthrough talent and on bringing the most exciting and innovative debut works back to première in the North East.

NewcastleGateshead Winter Festival 08 is part of NewcastleGateshead’s world-class festivals and events programme. Register your details with us and be the first to hear about this and our other world-class festivals and events. You could even win a prize.