Food Heroes Tasting Market

Food Heroes Tasting Market returns bigger and better for 2009 with a handpicked selection of 60 of the region's most exciting food and drink producers and street food vendors.

Here you can try everything from Archers Ice cream to Xocolatyl Chocolates, all locally produced and fantastically delicious. Legendary local specialities, like Craster kippers, Wylam beer and award-winning delights such as Rothbury's Sausages and Trees Can't Dance's chilli products, will be available for you to stock up on and take home.

Food Heroes Night Market
Do something different with your Friday night, the market will stay open until 8.30pm and take on a more relaxed attitude. Stop off to shop on your way home, or on your way out, and enjoy the Food Adventure Playground, street food, beer, wine and tasting events.

Botany of Gin with Centre for Life A chance to discover the history of the great British tipple, explore the science behind the brands and discover which are genuinely different and which are just advertising hype. Tastings throughout! Price: £15 Time: 7.15 - 8.15pm. Call 0191 230 5151 to book.

Extreme Beer The ‘outer limits' are explored in this lively tasting hosted by award-winning journalist Alastair Gilmour with some of the most exciting flavours to be found in Britain's national drink. Price: £15 Time: 5.45 - 6.4pm. Call 0191 230 5151 to book.

The Lates Shows
If you're coming along to the night market don't forget the North East's free culture crawl is back for the third year running and this year promises to be bigger than ever. NewcastleGateshead will come alive with culture as The Late Shows hit the streets once again - and this time for two nights. In celebration of the international ‘Museums at Night' event, more than 20 cultural venues - usually closed in the evening - are staying up late.

Giant Edible Map of the North East
In 2008 schools across NewcastleGateshead made a giant Angel Cake of the North to celebrate the iconic sculptures 10th birthday. This year we're broadening our sights and creating a food map of the whole region with all the Food Heroes marked on it and including edible towns and cities made by local school children. The map will be created during the two day market.

Food Heroes Demonstration Theatre
Take a seat in the marquee and enjoy the great programme of cooking demonstrations as top local chefs and producers reveal their secrets.

Food Adventure Playground
Brand new for 2009 and completely unmissable - welcome to the Food Adventure Playground. A magical other-world where food becomes fantastic and fun, a smorgasbord of delights so wild and whacky, you won't know where to start.