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- 26th Aug 2026
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24 things to do in the North East this Bank Holiday weekend (27th – 31st August)
Looking for things to do in the North East this Bank Holiday? Look no further.
From a festival dedicated entirely to the sandwich and plenty of markets to a vintage car show and lots of activities for the little ones – this is your sign to make the most of the long weekend.
Women’s Walk – County Durham
When: Thursday 27th August
Where: Park Head Station
Price: £5.00
A sociable 5.5-mile wellness walk taking in stunning North East views. Moderate paths with one short hill, free parking and a café serving scones at the finish. For women aged 18+, no dogs allowed.
Padel & Pizza – Darlington
When: Thursday 27th August
Where: Kip & Nook
Price: £15.00 (singles and spectators go free)
Take your pick between a 16-team doubles tournament or a laid-back singles rally. With hand-stretched pizzas, drinks and a live DJ.
Highland Cow Experience – Northumberland
When: Thursday 27th August
Where: Northumberland Highland Cattle Experience
Price: £5.00 booking fee per family/group (donations welcome)
Get up close with the resident Highland cows, with the chance to brush, feed and even help wash them, plenty of photo opportunities included. All ages welcome, children must be supervised.
North Shields Run Club x Three Tanners Bank – Tynemouth
When: Thursday 27th August
Where: Three Tanners Bank
Price: Free (booking required)
An optional 5K social run at an inclusive, conversational pace. Followed by pizza, drinks and 0% options to celebrate the end of summer together. Ages 18+.
Battle Royale – Newcastle
When: Friday 28th to Saturday 29th August
Where: Wylam Brewery
Price: Free entry
Wylam Brewery open its grounds, steps and terrace for its summer Food Battle festival, bringing together the region’s best street food traders, past podium finishers and fan favourites in a battle for the crowd’s approval. Family and dog-friendly, with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options on offer.
In the Square Summer Series – Sunderland
When: Friday 28th to Monday 31st August
Where: Keel Square
Price: Adult tickets from £23.10 (children and family tickets available, prices vary depending on day)
This weekend, Keel Square’s Summer Series continues with The Bootleg Beatles on Friday, followed by a day of house music from Armand Van Helden, SOSA and Sidney Charles on Saturday. Road to Nashville brings country favourites and Wild West fun on Sunday, before Family Fest with K-Pop Live rounds things off on Monday. Expect food, drink and fairground rides throughout, and allow extra travel time given city centre road closures.
Made @ The Bandstand – Sunderland
When: Saturday 29th August
Where: Mowbray Park
Price: Free entry
Mowbray Park’s bandstand becomes a live music venue for a full day of singers, rappers and DJs from across Sunderland’s music scene, plus workshops, local traders and family entertainment. Open to all ages.
Harvest Food & Gift Market – County Durham
When: Saturday 29th to Monday 31st August
Where: Raby Castle
Price: £2.00 entry
Live music from Charley soundtracks a Bank Holiday weekend of handpicked local stalls, stone-baked pizzas and the Estate BBQ, with tickets available market-only or upgraded to include the Deer Park, Gardens and Plotters’ Forest.
Dahlia Floral Workshop – County Durham
When: Saturday 29th August
Where: Raby Castle
Price: £55.00
Learn to work confidently with dahlias alongside Periwinkle Barn, exploring the season’s boldest blooms, choosing and conditioning stems, and leaving with your own finished arrangement plus tips to take home.
The Forage Summer Market – Morpeth
When: Saturday 29th to Sunday 30th August
Where: Rigg & Furrow
Price: £2.00 entry
A thoughtfully curated market bringing together independent makers, creatives and artisans, alongside Rigg & Furrow’s taproom drinks and local street food vendors.
Art & Sip – Whitley Bay
When: Saturday 29th August
Where: Baba Yaga’s House
Price: Free entry (donations welcome)
Newcastle Café Art Club brings the art gang down to the coast for its final Art & Sip of the summer. Bring along an unfinished project, grab a drink and get creative, with a coastal wander to follow if the weather behaves.
Silent Disco: Little Groovers – Gateshead
When: Saturday 29th August
Where: The Glasshouse International Centre for Music
Price: Tickets from £8.50
A family-friendly daytime silent disco with bubbles, glow sticks and three music channels covering family favourites, 90s classics and fresh chart-toppers, all wrapped up by lunchtime. Suitable for children aged 0 to 8.
End of Summer Family Fun Day – County Durham
When: Saturday 29th August
Where: Derwent Manor Boutique Hotel
Price: Tickets from £2.00 (under-2’s go free)
A bouncy castle, kids’ party with Project DJ, and fabulous food and drink, including ice creams, across the hotel’s Grand Hall and lawns. Face painting and candy floss available at an extra charge, free parking on site.
Make a Mini Wetland – Washington
When: Saturday 29th August
Where: Washington Wetland Centre (Water Lab)
Price: Included in admission
Reserve wardens help you build your own mini wetland using stones, logs and natural materials during the Dragonfly Festival, learning how these tiny habitats support insects, amphibians and birds. Your finished wetland becomes part of the reserve, supporting real wildlife long after your visit.
End of Summer Silent Disco – Gateshead
When: Saturday 29th August
Where: The Glasshouse International Centre for Music
Price: £20.00
An August Bank Holiday boogie on The Concourse overlooking the Tyne, with three channels playing everything from 80s synth gold to fresh chart favourites – plus bars on hand and golden-hour views across the river.
An Evening of Kate Bush – Newcastle
When: Saturday 29th August
Where: Newcastle Cathedral
Price: Tickets from £22.74
A ten-piece band and string quartet perform Kate Bush’s music chronologically, from The Kick Inside to Aerial, taking in classics like Running Up That Hill and a full performance of the Ninth Wave suite from Hounds of Love.
Brocksbushes Summer Car Show – Northumberland
When: Sunday 30th August
Where: Brocksbushes Farm Shop
Price: Free entry
A stunning lineup of classic, super, vintage and retro cars takes over the farm shop’s car park. Owners are on hand to share the stories behind their machines, plus live music and food from the Brocksbushes Bites van.
RESTORE + SOUND – North Shields
When: Sunday 30th August
Where: We Rise Wellness Studio
Price: £25.00
James and Vera Powles pair restorative yoga with an immersive sound bath for a full 90-minute reset, beginner-friendly and suited to all skill levels. Not suitable during pregnancy.
Sandwich Jam – Newcastle
When: Sunday 30th August
Where: Summerhill Bowling Club
Price: Free entry
The North East’s first-ever festival dedicated to the sandwich, with signature bites from Lita, Handsome Sandwich and Cubanos, a fully stocked bar, live music and “The Bake Sale Of Dreams” in aid of local charities. Bring a picnic blanket for the bowling green.
Mamma Mia Brunch – Newcastle
When: Sunday 30th August
Where: Fenwick Newcastle (Roof Thirty Nine)
Price: £30.00
A Mamma Mia-themed brunch with a live DJ on the roof, the perfect way to kick things off before heading to Screen on the Green. Includes a drink, a large plate and a side.
ABBA on the Terrace – Darlington
When: Sunday 30th August
Where: Walworth Castle Hotel
Price: £25.00
Absolutely ABBA brings a live tribute performance to Walworth Castle’s terrace, with drinks, BBQ food, and the Tiki Bar is open until 6pm, for an afternoon of dancing and Bank Holiday fun. 18+.
Courtside by LUVO – Newcastle
When: Sunday 30th August
Where: Padel Court Club, Quorum Park
Price: £36.00
Club LUVO and the new Padel Court Club team up for an afternoon of social padel, with three teams per court, 20-minute rotations, a live DJ and fresh pizza from CIRCO. Come solo, bring a friend or enter as a team of four, no experience required.
Garden Pilates & Brunch – Newcastle
When: Monday 31st August
Where: Reform Studio
Price: £35.00
A 45-minute outdoor mat Pilates class in Reform Studio’s private garden, followed by a smoothie or matcha and homemade açai bowl with Tyne Bridge views. Limited to 10 guests, suitable for all abilities.
Mosaic Coaster Workshop – Gateshead
When: Monday 31st August
Where: The Kiln Studios
Price: £30.00
A peaceful, beginner-friendly workshop creating your own mosaic coasters, with all equipment provided, including two bamboo coasters and plenty of colourful glass tiles. Tiles are grouted and ready to collect afterwards. Must be 14+.
Molly Ferry
CONTENT ASSISTANT
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