Metrocentre Winter Weekender – Gateshead
Metrocentre rounds off its 40th anniversary year with a three-day Winter Weekender, a festive finale across Exhibition Square and Town Square that builds towards the Christmas lights switch-on.
Friday: live music with Thomas Nicholas
The weekend gets going from 3pm in Exhibition Square with HMV Presents Thomas Nicholas, the band fronted by actor and musician Thomas Nicholas, known as Kevin Myers in the American Pie films. North East acts Mitch Laddie and Matt Fairley are the support, and limited poster signings follow at HMV in Lower Blue Mall.
Saturday: parade, characters and snowballs
A Christmas parade sets off from 11am, with the Metrognomes, the Grinch, Santa and his elves among the cast. Stay on afterwards to meet the characters and catch gameshow entertainment on stage, with prizes up for grabs. Younger visitors can burn off their Christmas excitement in the giant 3m x 5m snowball pit in Town Square, which is there all weekend.
Sunday: Martin Kemp and the lights switch-on
Famous animated and big-screen characters make appearances through the day, ahead of the main event from 3pm. BBC Radio Newcastle’s Anna Foster hosts the traditional Christmas lights switch-on, and Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp plays a live DJ set of retro and seasonal hits before leading the countdown.
