Winter in NewcastleGateshead is packed full of seasonal events for the whole family to enjoy.
Newcastle Christmas Lights Switch On
- Thurs 19 Nov, 5.30pm
- Grey Street, Newcastle
Dancing on Ice star Roxanne Pallett will be gliding into Newcastle to switch on this year’s Christmas lights. Roxanne who is also known as Emmerdale’s Jo Sugden will be the guest of honour at the annual ceremony on Thursday, 19 November at Grey Street. The celebrations begin at 5.30pm when Steve Walls and Real Radio will get the party started.
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Bergen Christmas Tree Lighting
- Thurs 26 Nov, 5.30pm
- Newcastle Civic Centre
The Lord Mayor of Newcastle will carry on another festive tradition when he hosts the annual Bergen Christmas Tree ceremony. Festivities will begin inside the Grand Entrance at 5.30pm with a traditional carol service. Celebrations will then move outside when the Mayor of Bergen will be invited to switch on the traditional white lights of the impressive Norwegian spruce which is given to the city from the people of Bergen, Newcastle’s twin city. This is a free event and everyone is welcome to come along.
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Stinking Rotten Christmas!
- Throughout Dec 2009
- Seven Stories, the Centre for Children’s Books, 30 Lime Street, Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle
- Information: 0845 271 0777
- www.sevenstories.org.uk
For the perfect antidote to too many mince pies, head to Seven Stories as we celebrate festive anti-heroes like The Grinch, a Nightmare Before Christmas and Terry Deary’s Horrible Christmas. Discover the strange, the rotten and the downright weird from festive tales throughout history. Festive fun, frights and frolics for all the family guaranteed, without a sugar plum fairy in sight!
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Skating @ Life
- Sat 14 Nov – Sun 21 Feb
- Life Science Centre, Times Square, Newcastle
- Information: 0191 243 8223
- www.life.org.uk
Get set for some winter fun on Life’s open-air ice rink. A great choice for the family or a group of friends and even for a memorable first date!
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Newcastle Santa Run Sponsored by Northumbrian Water
- Sun 6 Dec, 2pm
- Exhibition Park, Newcastle
- Information: 0191 201 6090
- www.eveningchroniclesunshinefund.org.uk
Santa is looking for some help! Hundreds of Santa’s and children are being sought to run, jog or walk the 4km route through Exhibition Park and the Town Moor. The festive fun run, which is being held to raise much needed funds for the Evening Chronicle Sunshine Fund and Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice, will take place on Sunday 6 December at 2pm, in Newcastle’s Exhibition Park.
If you would like to enter this event please download an application form the Evening Chronicle Sunshine Fund or Real Radio websites or email emma.jamieson@ncjmedia.co.uk
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Northumberland Chase
- Sat 19 Dec
- Newcastle Racecourse, High Gosforth Park, Newcastle
- Tickets: 0191 236 2020
- www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk
Wouldn’t you much rather be racing than shopping on the last Saturday before Christmas? The Northumberland Chase Raceday is a fantastic way of celebrating with family, friends or colleagues. There’s always a great atmosphere on this raceday with everyone in festive mood. Children under 16 go free to all race meetings at Newcastle.
REGENT CENTRE / FOUR LANE ENDS + FREE SHUTTLE BUS
Sunderland Winter Festival
- Wed 25 Nov – 3 Jan
- www.sunderlandevents.com
The festival events in Sunderland include an outdoor ice rink at Mowbray Park from Friday 20 November until Sunday 3 January, a Victorian Carousel and Continental food court in the Market Square from the 23 November until Sunday 3 January 2010. Weekend Christmas entertainment featuring brass bands and choirs from 2.00pm until 4.00pm. The Victorian Carousel will operate from Monday 23 November until Sunday 3 January (closed Christmas Day and New Years Day) and is big enough for even adults to enjoy!
SUNDERLAND
Victorian Christmas
- Gateshead Heritage @ St Mary's
- Wed 2 Dec, 2pm
- 0191 433 4699
- www.gateshead.gov.uk
How did the Victorians celebrate Christmas? Lots of audience participation and a Christmas quiz! Malcolm Grady, Associate Lecturer, University of Sunderland.
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Songs for a Winter's Evening
- Gateshead Heritage @ St Mary's
- Sat 5 Dec, 7pm
- 0191 433 4699
Come and listen to the Low Fell Singers perform a concert of music specially selected for the cold dark days of December.
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Christmas at Gibside
- 5, 6, 12, 13 and 19 Dec
- 01207 541820
- www.nationaltrust.org.uk
- Near Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, NE16 6BG
Experience a magical Christmas with a Christmas Craft Market, Father Christmas grotto (£6 per child, please book in advance), storytelling by a frost fairy and Jack Frost (11am and 3pm) and make your own wooden frost fairy or elf (£2.50). With delicious festive food and drink in the tearoom and more shopping opportunities in Gibside Larder. The Chapel is also open specially to see it decorated for Christmas.
A Christmas Concert in Gibside Chapel
- 13 Dec, 2.30pm - 4pm
- 01207 541820
- www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Enjoy the wonderful, annual Christmas Concert organised by the Friends of Gibside. With the Chapel decorated for Christmas, and complimentary mulled wine and mince pies during the interval, this is a seasonal event with lots of festive spirit. The choir this year are the ever popular Mid-Northumberland Chorus.
River Escapes Santa Cruise
- Sat 20 Dec
- www.riverescapes.co.uk
Join Santa on board this family cruise from the Newcastle quayside to the coast. With fun activities for the children, a Christmas quiz and a family disco. For the adults there’s mulled wine and mince pies.
Adults £12 Children £7 (under 2’s free) Family £31
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Father Christmas & The Butler
- Sat 28 - Sun 29 Nov
- Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, Northumberland NE20 0DX
- 01661 881636
- www.english-heritage.org.uk/belsay
Meet our Victorian Father Christmas for yuletide stories and poems and hear tale of Christmas past with Mr Meakin, the Butler.
Adult £6.50/Conc £5.50/Child £3.30/Family £16.30
