- Play Hard
- 20th May 2026
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21 things to do this bank holiday weekend in the North East
Golden Hour Twilight Spa Series – Seaham
When: Friday 22nd May
Where: Seaham Hall
Price: from £145
Enjoy a peaceful Golden Hour Twilight Spa Series at Seaham Hall!
Northumbria University Fine Art Graduate Exhibition – Gateshead
When: Friday 22nd May 10:00am – Sunday 31st May 6:00pm
Where: BALTIC
Price: free
Come explore a new exhibition at the Baltic – a culmination of three years of student-artist learning on Northumbria’s BA (Hons) Fine Art degree.
Queer Brew – Whitley Bay
When: Friday 22nd May 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Where: Brew & Bind
Price: free
A weekly meet-up for the LGBTQIA+ community at a queer-owned venue!
Words For Well-being – Whitley Bay
When: Friday 22nd May 12:30pm – 3:00pm
Where: The Station Masters Community Wildlife Garden
Price: from £11.55
Enjoy an afternoon of slowing down, taking notice and embracing your senses. There will be an introduction to mindfulness, hot drinks and cake, as well as plenty of time to write and explore the space.
Sunset Social Run – South Shields
When: Friday 22nd May 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Where: Ferry View
Price: £6.15
Join for an incredible summer social plod, perfectly timed for the beautiful sunset!
Pottery Painting Workshop – Whitley Bay
When: Friday 22nd May 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Where: Hotpotz
Price: £22
Come for a few relaxing hours of pottery painting. Chose your pot, pick your paints & grab your drink. Let Your creativity flow!
Northumbrian Coastal Foray and Feast – Bamburgh
When: Saturday 23rd May 11:00am – 4:00pm
Where: Waren Mill
Price: £115
Join for a coastal adventure on salt marsh & beach, then settle down for a sumptuous wild gourmet feast amongst the dunes!
Treat Yourself To A Martini – Newcastle
When: Friday 22nd May – Sunday 24th May
Where: Newcastle
Price: free
Whether you’re a dirty martini devotee (us), an espresso martini convert, or a purist who likes theirs bone dry with a twist, Newcastle and its surrounding suburbs are quietly building an impressive martini scene. Here’s where to order yours.
Blackfriars Beer Festival – Newcastle
When: Saturday 23rd May 12:00pm – 10:00pm
Where: Blackfriars
Price: £11
Get ready for an unforgettable May Bank Holiday weekend as Blackfriars host their annual Beer Festival! Set in the stunning surroundings of their 13th-century medieval friary, it’s the perfect way to relax and enjoy some of the best local brews.
Paint & Sip – Gosforth
When: Saturday 23rd May 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Where: Brandling Arms
Price: from £22
Join for a unique fun filled Paint Party for beginners and painters of all levels. Unleash your creativity!
Rent A Bike To Explore The Toon – Newcastle
When: Friday 22nd May – Sunday 24th May
Where: The Cycle Hub
Price: TBD
Tucked on the edge of Newcastle’s iconic Quayside, The Cycle Hub is more than just a café or a bike shop – it’s a proper community hub where people come together over great coffee, delicious food and a shared love of everything two-wheeled. Check it out, rent a bike and start exploring!
KPOP Fantasy – Durham
When: Saturday 23rd May 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Where: Durham Gala
Price: £23
KPOP Fantasy is a high-energy theatrical celebration of the global phenomenon that is K-pop. Blending electrifying choreography with outstanding live vocals, this immersive stage show brings the spectacle, precision, and passion of K-pop to life in a thrilling theatre experience.
Pick Up Padel – Northumberland
When: Friday 22nd May – Sunday 24th May
Where: Vallum Padel
Price: free
If you haven’t tried padel yet, consider this your sign. The sport that has taken Europe by storm is now firmly on the North East’s radar, and Vallum Padel is leading the charge with a venue that is every bit as stylish as the sport is addictive.
Print and Pride Workshop – Sunderland
When: Saturday 23rd May 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Where: Port Independent
Price: free
Help create a Poetry Zine celebrating queer work in our city! This is the first of two totally free workshops, which are aimed at inspiring and supporting you to create poetry for the zine.
BAFTA Games in Concert – Gateshead
When: Saturday 23rd May 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Where: Glasshouse
Price: from £34.70
Come enjoy a landmark live concert celebrating two decades of BAFTA-nominated and award-winning games music, performed by Royal Northern Sinfonia.
Mat Hunsley – Durham
When: Saturday 23rd May 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Where: Claypath Delicatessen
Price: £11.55
Mat Hunsley brings his alt-folk sound to Durham as the Newcastle songwriter tours his acclaimed debut, The Things We Need.
Explore An Abandoned Place – North East
When: Friday 22nd May – Sunday 24th May
Where: North East
Price: free
Across the region – and just beyond – there are abandoned and historic sites that have been carefully opened up, offering everything from underground tours to striking ruins you can wander around at your own pace. Safe, accessible and full of character, these are the places that let you explore a different side of the North East.
Clay & Coffee – Kirkharle
When: Sunday 24th May 10:00am – 12:00pm
Where: Rebecca Ridley Ceramics
Price: from £25
Join this relaxed pottery workshop, held in a working pottery studio!
The UK’s Biggest Thrift Market – Newcastle
When: Sunday 24th May 11:00am – 5:00pm
Where: Vertu Motors Arena
Price: from £2.06
Clothes Cycle is back and bigger than ever — bringing you the ultimate sustainable shopping experience. Discover vintage gems, designer steals, Y2K fashion, unique jewellery, streetwear & more — including plus-sized, womenswear and menswear.
Terry Mac – Stockton
When: Sunday 24th May 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Where: The Boathouse Stockton
Price: free
Join this May Bank Holiday Sunday for a fantastic afternoon of live entertainment and great vibes!
Twilight Wildlife Safari – Gateshead
When: Sunday 24th May 8:45pm – 10:15pm
Where: Pipewellgate Car Park
Price: free
Join local wildlife guides Wild Intrigue for a family-friendly, wild night out on the Gateshead Quayside.
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