What’s Going On this Christmas in the North East?
Here is your ultimate Christmas guide to what is going on this Christmas!
Happy November! As soon as midnight struck and it went from 31 October to November 1, everyone had Christmas and Christmas shopping on their minds. So, to give you some ease below we have the ultimate Christmas guide to what there is to do around the North East for you and your families!
Newcastle
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… Newcastle City Council has announced their plans for Christmas. The traditional curtain-raiser to the season- The Christmas lights switch on will take place on the evening of Tuesday 15 November with more details being released soon.
The Grainger Market will play centre stage in the city’s festivities this year with Santa’s Grotto and a programme of special events to be announced. Moreover, following last year’s success the Christmas market will have traders hand-picked mainly from the local area and will run from Saturday 19th November until Friday 23rd December. It will extend and have an avenue of stalls on Grainger Street and towards the top of Grey Street and Old Eldon Square.
North Shields
North Shield is planning to have a Christmas market which will be taking place on the 10th and 11th of December in and around Northumberland Square. It will have stalls selling all-season gifts and produce and festive entertainment, tasty food and drink available including mulled wine.
The opening times are 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday. Be sure to wrap up warm!
South Tyneside
South Tyneside is set to sparkle this festive season with the return of its Christmas programme of events. The official countdown to Christmas begins with the Borough’s spectacular lights switch-on events in the Borough’s three town centres.
The light’s switch on events are taking place at South Shields Market Square (Wednesday 23 November, 5-6 pm); Jarrow Town Hall (Friday 25 November 4-5 pm) and Hebburn Fountains Park (Monday 29 November, 4-5 pm)
The Christmas Parade will also return to Ocean Road, South Shields on Friday 9 December and will feature community groups, dazzling costumes and family-friendly entertainment.
Talented children from local schools across South Tyneside will unite for the Christmas Carol Concert on Monday 5 December at Temple Park Centre. Bands and school choirs will also be returning to town centres after a two-year absence
Full Programme: http://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/christmas
Durham
The Durham Christmas Market is also making a return! It will be running from Friday 2 December to Sunday 4 December. You can come and enjoy loads of Christmas shopping with more than 200 independent traders planning to be there as well as seasonal for all the family. It will have four markets and three days of entertainment throughout the city of Durham and it will be the perfect opportunity for you to tick loads of items off your Christmas shopping list.
The Children’s Lantern Parade also returns after a two-year break and it is one of the highlights of the Durham Christmas Festival. It will be taking place on the afternoon of Saturday 3 December departing from Durham Market Place at 2.30 pm. Then the parade leaves the Market Place following the Chester-le-Street Salvation Army Band up to Palace Green and arriving at Durham Cathedral for the St Nicholas Service at 3 pm. Lanterns for the events can be reserved in advance and collected on the day from Market Place.
Sunderland
Sunderland will also have a Christmas Light Switch on which will be taking place on Thursday 17 November in Keel Square. The Mayor of Sunderland will be there to switch them on and there will be a programme of festive music and family fun for anyone who is attending.
Furthermore, the Festival of Light is running every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 12 November in Roker Park.
