Winter in NewcastleGateshead is packed full of different activities and events for the whole family to enjoy. From ice-skating to carol services, special events and Christmas light switch-ons, there’s bound to be something to get you into the festive spirit.
Centre for Life Ice Rink
Sat 10 Nov – Sun 24 Feb (£)
Centre for Life, Times Square, Newcastle
0191 243 8223 http://www.life.org.uk/
Get your skates on! Wrap up warm, lace up your skates and get ready to have some fun this winter at the Centre for Life! Bring the family along and enjoy the winter season in style at the Open Air Ice Rink.
Nearest Metro: Central Station
Quaylink Bus: Q1 Central Station
Champagne & Xmas Wines for the Festive Season
Tues 13 & Thurs 15 Nov, 7pm - 9pm (£)
Blackfriars Restaurant, Friars Street,Newcastle.
Call Newcastle Wine School for tickets and information on 0191 281 8045 http://www.newcastlewineschool.com/
What kind of wine should you choose for your Christmas spread? Come along and sample wines specifically matched to Christmas foods. Starting with an exclusive Grand Cru Champagne with smoked salmon, followed by some delicious whites and reds to complement meats and finishing with sweet Muscat dessert wines for desserts and cheese boards.
Nearest Metro: Central StationQuaylink Bus: Q1 Central Station
Newcastle Christmas Lights
Thurs 22 Nov, from 5pm (FREE)
Grey Street, Newcastle
http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/
See the city centre sparkle and illuminate the festive season when this year’s Christmas lights
are switched on at a ceremony on Grey Street. This fun-filled event sees surprises, special guests and family entertainment.
Nearest Metro: MonumentQuaylink Bus: Q1/Q2 Theatre Royal
Bergen Tree Lighting Ceremony
Thurs 29 Nov, from 5pm (FREE)
Civic Centre, Newcastle
http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/
Celebrate the festive spirit at the Civic Centre when the Lord Mayor hosts the annual lighting
ceremony of the Bergen Christmas Tree. This will also include a traditional carol service at the
Grand Entrance at the Civic Centre including festive music from Norway.
Nearest Metro: HaymarketQuaylink Bus: Q2 Haymarket
The Christmas Hurdle
Sat 22 Dec (£)
Newcastle Racecourse, High Gosforth Park,
Newcastle 0191 236 2020
http://www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk/
The Christmas Hurdle Raceday is the final jumps race meeting of the year at Newcastle Racecourse.
A day at the races is a perfect opportunity to get into the Christmas spirit, relax and unwind with
friends, family or colleagues – you may even be lucky enough to pick a few winners!
Nearest Metro: Regent centre /four lane ends plus FREE shuttle bus to Gosforth Park
Carols by Candlelight
Thurs 20 Dec, 7pm (FREE)
St Mary’s Church, Clayton St West,Newcastle
Join old and young alike for some spirit-raising carols by candlelight, celebrating the true
meaning of Christmas. Come along with voices ready, and enjoy the festive atmosphere and maybe even a mince pie (or two)!
Nearest Metro: Central StationQuaylink Bus: Q1 Central Station
Chinese Tea and Wine Tasting
Saturday 1 - Saturday 8 December 2007
Palace Garden Restaurant
45-51 Stowell Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4YB
0191 221 2888 http://www.palacegarden.co.uk/
A festival treat for the whole family and special friends. Have your name translated into chinese writing. Free gift of two bottles of sparkling wine for parties of 10 people or more. There will be competitions throughout the evening to win prizes including Palace Garden discount cards.
Nearest Metro: St. JamesQuaylink Bus: Q1 Central Station
Bowes Museum Victorian Christmas Market
Sun 16 Dec (FREE)
The Bowes Museum
Barnard Castle, County Durham
01833 690606 http://www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/
This traditional outdoor Christmas Market will get you in the Christmas spirit and provide a great opportunity to stock up on local produce, gifts and stocking fillers with a good selection of farmers market and craft stalls. Live festive music and Father Christmas in his winter wonderland Grotto will add to the magical atmosphere.
Winter Landscapes: Sophie Benson, Paul Gallagher, Brita Granström, Ørnulf Opdahl and Dale Atkinson
Fri 9 Nov - Thurs 22 Dec (FREE)
University Gallery and Baring Wing
Northumbria University Sandyford Road, Newcastle
0191 227 4424 http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/universitygallery/
Through looking at images of bleak winter spaces be imaginatively transported there, shivering as you feel the cold. Enter the world of overwhelming infinity familiar in the work of Friedrich and Turner and experience the more recent exponents of the Romantic Sublime with Rothko and Ørnulf Opdahl, who both in their different ways present visions of man's vulnerability and mortality.
Nearest Metro: HaymarketQuaylink Bus: Q2 Haymarket
Candlelit Christmas Concert Tour 2007
Thurs 20 Dec, 8pm (£)
St George's Church
Jesmond, Newcastle
0191 277 8003
Following the popular success of Christmas Concerts by candlelight in Durham Cathedral, Hexham Abbey and some of the north's finest churches, AM Live presents its Christmas Candlelit Concert Tour, 2007. The English Philharmonic Ensemble and the The Singers (director: Donald Halliday) conducted by David Haslam will be appearing. A special atmosphere pervades these friendly concerts with the twinkling magic of candlelight, the glorious music and the heightened intimacy between musicians and audience, not least during the enjoyment of mulled wine and mince pies at the interval.
Tickets available online at http://www.candlelitconcerts.com and from Newcastle Tourist Information 8-9 Central Arcade, Newcastle upon Tyne
Nearest Metro: JesmondQuaylink Bus: Q2 Haymarket
Glenn Miller Ochestra Christmas Special
19th December, 7.30pm (£)
The Sage Gateshead
St Mary's Square, Gateshead NE8 2JR
0191 443 4661 http://www.thesagegateshead.org
Director: Ray McVay with guest artist the legendary Eric Delaney.
The incomparable Glenn Miller sound and style swings again as this authentic big band takes you on a memorable journey through classic 40s hits and wartime chart toppers. The band is joined by legendary percussionist and band leader, Eric Delaney, who was a hugely popular British performer from the 40s onwards, leading his own bands in the 50s. This is an evening of happy nostalgia, with music that has stood the test of time and is loved by those who remember it from first time round and those who are hearing for the first time.
Nearest Metro: GatesheadQuaylink Bus: Q1 The Sage Gateshead
Peter and the Wolf: The Film
29th (2pm) & 31st December, (11.00am & 3.00pm) (£)
The Sage Gateshead
St Mary's Square, Gateshead NE8 2JR
0191 443 4661 http://www/thesagegateshead.org
Northern Sinfonia, Alan Fearon: Conductor
Prokofiev, Peter and The Wolf: The Film
Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker
Peter and The Wolf, based on an old Russian fairy tale, has long been a favourite introduction to classical music for children: it's hard to mention it without immediately starting to hum or whistle the tune. Here for the twenty-first century is a brand new and highly-acclaimed animated film, directed by Suzie Templeton, accompanied by Prokofiev's music played live by Northern Sinfonia. Completing this programme is some of the most popular Christmas music ever written, and a great seasonal favourite - Tchaikovsky's ballet music for ‘The Nutcracker', which is also based on a Russian fairy tale.
This event is suitable for children aged seven upwards.
Nearest Metro: GatesheadQuaylink Bus: Q1 The Sage Gateshead
White Christmas: Willard White, Carl Davis & Northern Sinfonia
28th December (£)
The Sage Gateshead
St Mary's Square, Gateshead NE8 2JR
0191 443 4661 http://www/thesagegateshead.org
The Sage Gateshead welcomes Willard White, a musician, singer, actor and entertainer par excellence, with his beautiful, profound, sonorous voice and huge, charismatic personality, for a Christmas entertainment with Carl Davis, Northern Sinfonia and Quay Voices. The programme includes their selection of classical, traditional and modern music, including excerpts from Tchaikovsky's ‘The Nutcracker', Santa Claus is coming to Town, O Holy Night, Prayer from Humperdinck's ‘Hansel and Gretel', Angels from the Realms of Glory and, of course, Irving Berlin's classic White Christmas.
Nearest Metro: GatesheadQuaylink Bus: Q1 The Sage Gateshead
Fenwicks Christmas Window
Until 5th Jan
Fenwicks, Northumberland Street, Newcastle
The first animated Christmas theme appeared in Fenwick's windows 36 years ago in 1971 and has become famous. As with every year, Fenwick will be sure to have us queued up for a peek through the crowds, noses pressed against the glass enthralled by the magical, moving display.
Nearest Metro: MonumentQuaylink Bus: Q2 Haymarket
Stephenson Railway Museum
First 3 weekends in December
Middle Engine Lane, North Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE29 8DX
0191 200 7146, http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/stephenson
Relive the glorious days of the steam railway at Stephenson Railway Museum. The Museum is home to George Stephenson's 'Billy', a forerunner of the world-famous Rocket, and many other engines from the great age of steam. Plus fun events and activities for all ages.
Meet Santa Claus on the Christmas train before he gets too busy preparing for the big day! Storytelling, activities and refreshments will also be on offer. Booking essential
Winter Christmas Market
Wed 12 Dec - Sun 16 Dec
Grey's Monument, Newcastle
Head to the festive market for t some unique Christmas presents for your friends and family. 40 traders will be selling gifts and crafts. This market also incorporates the monthly farmers market.
Nearest Metro: MonumentQuaylink Bus: Q1/Q2 Theatre Royal
A Christmas Carol
Sun 11 Nov – Sat 12 Jan (£)
Northern Stage, Barras Bridge, Newcastle, NE1 7RH
0191 230 5151 http://www.northernstage.co.uk
Ebeneezer Scrooge is the meanest man in England. Nothing is closer to his heart than money. But Ebeneezer is about to learn the true spirit of Christmas, in the most terrifying lesson of his life.
Funny, touching and full of Christmas cheer, a Christmas Carol is a breathless, heart stopping ride through the darkest night of Ebeneezer's life and its brightest dawn, on Christmas Day.
Nearest Metro: HaymarketQuaylink Bus: Q2 Haymarket
