Newcastle Event and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, UK)

Every single month of the year in Newcastle offers a number of festivals or related things to do, with springtime football matches being followed by summer concerts, flower shows and community events.

Each January or February sees the arrival of the Chinese New Year celebrations, when the vibrant Chinatown district sees an explosion of oriental foods, dancing, firecrackers, lanterns and parades, being based around Thornton Square and the Chinese Arch on Stowell Street. Various Newcastle FC football matches can also be enjoyed at this time of the year, often being staged at the team's home ground of St. James's Park (currently known as the Sports Direct Arena).

Each March, the Newcastle Science Fest is a particular highlight at the Life Science Centre, while further events of note take place at venues such as the city's Racecourse, the Theatre Royal, Caedmon Hall and the City Hall, as well as within nearby Sunderland and Whitley Bay. The Whitley Bay Jazz Festival is worth looking out for each October, as is the Family Day at the Beamish Living Museum of the North, followed by the Gateshead Bonfire and Fireworks Party in November, and December ice skating at Times Square.

National Public Holidays

• 1st January - New Year's Day
• Good Friday / Easter Monday - late March or early April
• First and last Monday in May
• Last Monday in August
• 25th December - Christmas Day
• 26th December - Boxing Day

(If Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the next weekday becomes a public holiday).

Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Cantor Sport Dipper Day - early January, Newcastle Racecourse
• Northern Sinfonia - early January, City Hall
• Newcastle Falcons Rugby Matches - throughout January, Kingston Park
• Newcastle United Football Matches - throughout January, St. James's Park
• Eagles Basketball Matches - throughout January, Metro Radio Arena
• UK Wedding Show - late January, Metro Radio Arena
• Various Concerts - throughout January, City Hall, Metro Radio Arena and Caedmon Hall
• Chinese New Year - January / February, based within the Chinatown district

February

• Jazz Concerts - early February, Caedmon Hall
• Chinese New Year Celebrations and Parade - early February
• Big Eid Asian Celebration - mid-February
• Opera Concert - mid-February, Theatre Royal
• Various Concerts and Event - throughout February, City Hall
• Musical Productions / Theatrical Performances - throughout February, Theatre Royal
• Newcastle Falcons Rugby Matches - throughout February, Kingston Park
• Newcastle United Football Matches - throughout February, St. James's Park
• Science Exhibitions - throughout February, Life Science Centre

March

• Holiday Show - early March, Metro Centre
• Science Fest - mid-March, Life Science Centre
• Guinness St. Patrick's Meeting - mid-March, Newcastle Racecourse
• Musical Productions / Theatrical Performances - throughout March, Theatre Royal
• Various Concerts - throughout March, City Hall, Metro Radio Arena and Caedmon Hall
• Eagles Basketball Matches - throughout March, Metro Radio Arena
• Newcastle Falcons Rugby Matches - throughout March, Kingston Park
• Newcastle United Football Matches - throughout March, St. James's Park

April

• Window on the World Festival (WOW) - early April, Fish Quay
• Gateshead Spring Flower Show - mid-April, Gateshead Central Nursery, Gateshead
• Wedding Fayre - mid-April, Metro Centre
• Ouseburn Easter Beer Festival - mid-April
• Pirelli International Rally - late April, Gateshead International Stadium
• Evolution Music Festival - late April, various city centre venues
• Various Concerts - throughout April, City Hall, Metro Radio Arena and Caedmon Hall
• Newcastle Falcons Rugby Matches - throughout April, Kingston Park
• Newcastle United Football Matches - throughout April, St. James's Park
• Musical Productions / Theatrical Performances - throughout April, Theatre Royal

May

• Green Festival - early May, Exhibition Park
• Family Race Day - early May, Newcastle Racecourse
• Northumbrian Water University Boat Race - mid-May, Quayside
• Community Green Festival - mid-May
• Home and Garden Event - mid-May, Metro Centre
• Fish Quay Family Festival - late May, North Shields Fish Quay
• Newcastle Falcons Rugby Matches - throughout May, Kingston Park
• Concerts - throughout May, City Hall, Metro Radio Arena and Caedmon Hall
• Musical Productions / Theatrical Performances - throughout May, Theatre Royal

June

• Tyne and Wear Youth Games - early June, South Tyneside
• Summer Solstice Festival - mid-June, Ouseburn Valley
• Northumbria University Fashion Show - mid-June
• Hoppings Festival - mid-June, Town Moor
• De Vere Seniors Classic - late June, Slaley Hall
• Northern Rock Gosforth Park Cup - late June, Newcastle Racecourse
• The Northumberland Plate - late June, Newcastle Racecourse
• UK and Ireland Corporate Games - late June
• Various Concerts - throughout June, City Hall, Metro Radio Arena and Caedmon Hall
• Musical Productions / Theatrical Performances - throughout June, Theatre Royal

July

• Durham City Summer Festival - early July, Durham, England
• Sunderland International Festival of Kites - early July, Sunderland
• Outdoor Summer Concert - mid-July, Gibside
• Ouseburn Festival - mid-July
• Pride on Tyne / Northern Pride - mid-July, various venues throughout the city
• Stockton International Riverside Festival - mid-July
• North Tyneside International Youth Football Tournament - late July / early August, Whitley Bay
• Durham Folk Party - late July, Durham, England
• Beeswing Ladies Day - late July, Newcastle Racecourse
• Sunderland International Air Show - late July, Sunderland, England
• Gateshead Summer Flower Show - late July / early August, Gateshead Central Nursery
• Various Concerts - throughout July, City Hall, Metro Radio Arena and Caedmon Hall
• Musical Productions / Theatrical Performances - throughout July, Theatre Royal

August

• NSPCC Charity Race Day - early August, Newcastle Racecourse
• Women's National Cricket Competition - mid-August, Durham, England
• Newcastle Mela - mid-August
• Live Lines - mid-August
• Alnwick International Music and Dance Fest - mid-August
• Family Festival - mid-August, Metro Centre
• Blaydon Races - late August, Newcastle Racecourse
• Various Concerts - throughout August, City Hall, Metro Radio Arena and Caedmon Hall
• Musical Productions / Theatrical Performances - throughout August, Theatre Royal

September

• Tyne and Wear Heritage Open Days - mid-September
• BUPA Great North Races - mid-September
• Hexham Abbey Festival - mid-September
• Whitley Bay Kite Festival - mid-September, Whitley Bay
• Employment Fair - mid-September, Metro Centre
• Chinese Moon Festival - mid-September
• Various Concerts - throughout September, City Hall, Metro Radio Arena and Caedmon Hall
• Musical Productions / Theatrical Performances - throughout September, Theatre Royal

October

• Sunday Fun Day - mid-October, Newcastle Racecourse
• Family Day - mid-October, Beamish Living Museum of the North
• Motoring Week - mid-October, Metro Centre
• Half-Term Fun - late October, Life Science Centre
• Various Concerts - throughout October, City Hall, Metro Radio Arena and Caedmon Hall
• Musical Productions / Theatrical Performances - throughout October, Theatre Royal
• Whitley Bay Jazz Festival - late October, Cobalt Park, Whitley Bay

November

• Gateshead Bonfire and Fireworks Party - early November, Saltwell Park, Oliver Henderson Park and Derwent Park
• Christmas Lights Switch-On - mid-November
• Christmas Present - mid-November, Shipley Art Gallery
• Christmas Decorations Unveiled - late November, Metro Centre
• Various Concerts - throughout November, City Hall, Metro Radio Arena and Caedmon Hall
• Royal Shakespeare Society Season - throughout November, Theatre Royal

December

• Christmas Fashion Shows - mid-December, Metro Centre
• Open-Air Ice Skating - mid-December, Times Square
• Christmas Hurdle - mid-December, Newcastle Racecourse
• Various Concerts - throughout December, City Hall, Metro Radio Arena and Caedmon Hall
• Musical Productions / Festive Theatrical Performances - throughout December, Theatre Royal
• New Years' Eve - December 31st, throughout the city