NORTH TYNESIDE 2023
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Season’s Greetings Welcome to the North Tyneside Winter Festival. This year sees another fun programme of festive events taking place across the borough. From November through to January there will be Christmas markets, events in our libraries and parks, pantomimes, the chance to meet Santa and lots more. There’s so much to see and do here, so whatever you choose I hope you have an enjoyable time with friends and family. On behalf of North Tyneside Council, I would like to wish you well for the festive period and offer my best wishes for 2024.
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Wallsend Winter Events – Liz Million and Paul Cookson Wallsend Winter Events – Children’s Character Appearances Wallsend Winter Events – Kristina Stephenson ‘The Museum of Marvellous Things’ show Wallsend Winter Events – Holly Sterling Wallsend Winter Events – Lucy Farfort Wallsend Winter Events – Children’s Crafts and Character Appearances Wallsend Winter Events – The Gruffalo Tynemouth Station Christmas Market Tynemouth Village Christmas Shopping Night Spanish City Christmas Market Whitley Lodge Christmas Tree Lighting Whitley Bay Late Night Christmas Shopping Tynemouth Winter Wonderland Cullercoats Community Advent Santa at St Mary’s Rising Sun Christmas Fayre Elf Express – Stephenson Steam Railway Park View Santa’s Grotto The Wallsend Market Christmas Market Santa’s Grotto – Royal Quays Outlet Centre Fiesta Whitley Bay Quorum Business Park Christmas Fair Cinderella – Playhouse Whitley Bay North Shields Christmas Market Christmas Fun at the Beacon Centre Aladdin – The Exchange Theatre Winter Warmers – Stephenson Steam Railway Woodlawn Pudding Fun Run New Year’s Day Morris Dancing Humpty Dumpty – Tynemouth Priory Theatre Jack & the Beanstalk – Playhouse Whitley Bay
www.visitnorthtyneside.com Dame Norma Redfearn DBE Elected Mayor of North Tyneside
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All information is correct at the time of going to print but is subject to change. Please check online for the latest updates.
Wallsend winter events for children Saturday 18 November
Liz Million and Paul Cookson Sessions start 9.30am, 10.30am and 11.30am Wallsend Customer First Centre (in the library) Come and say hello and enjoy a fully interactive session with the fantastically funny duo – poet Paul Cookson and whacky illustrator Liz Million. Paul will be performing his poems with his ukulele which includes lots of audience participation. While Liz will be creating lots of big drawings and will show you how to draw some amazing artwork at the end. Free event, just turn up.
Children’s Characters – the Frozen Sisters
12noon – 2pm Wallsend Market area, Forum Shopping Centre Look out for some special guest appearances from the Frozen sisters – say hello and have your photo taken. Free event, just turn up. 3
Saturday 25 November
Kristina Stephenson ‘The Museum of Marvellous Things’ show Shows start at 10.30am and 1pm with puppet making and crafts in between Wallsend Memorial Hall Welcome to The Museum of Marvellous Things show, where the impossible can happen! Expect giant puppets, magical effects, interactive storytelling, live music and a chance to make your own special puppet. This is a fun-filled family show based on the picture book by Kristina Stephenson, creator of Sir Charlie Stinky Socks. This is a museum like no other – it’s made from the magic imagination! Free ticketed event. To book tickets visit www.ticketsource.co.uk (search ‘Kristina Stephenson’).
Holly Sterling 10am – 11am Wallsend Customer First Centre (in the library) Meet award-winning author and illustrator Holly Sterling for a super Christmassy illustration workshop. Gain an insight into her creative processes and hear all about her sources of inspiration. She will also be introducing you to her latest book, Ballet Kids, which follows the first in the series, Karate Kids. And of course, you will have the opportunity to create your very own ideas and artwork, full of the sparkle and joy of Christmas! Free event, just turn up.
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Saturday 2 December
Lucy Farfort Saturday 2 December, 11am – 12pm Wallsend Customer First Centre (in the library) Join Lucy’s ‘In Our Hands’ creative workshop. After a talk and book reading, Lucy will invite you to re-create yourself as a character in a book. Through a drawing session, you'll design a character based on you, who has the ability to change or to improve something in the world. Through this empowering workshop, children are encouraged to view themselves as tools for change! Free event, just turn up.
Christmas Crafts & Children’s Characters – the Frozen Sisters Saturday 2 December, 10am – 1pm Wallsend Customer First Centre (in the library) Look out for some special guest appearances from the Frozen sisters – say hello and have your photo taken. Enjoy some Christmas crafts too. Free event, just turn up.
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Saturday 2 December
Come and say hello to the Gruffalo at the market in the Forum Shopping Centre Wallsend. Appearances will begin on the hour. www.visitnorthtyneside.com
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Tynemouth Station Christmas Market Weekends in November and December, 9am – 3.30pm Visitors to the popular market can shop for Christmas gifts and quirky stocking fillers from around 200 unique, independent stalls. www.tynemouthmarkets.com
Tynemouth Village Christmas Shopping Night 16 November, until 8pm Selected Tynemouth businesses will be opening late and offering discounts, mulled wine, mince pies and a raffle (with proceeds going to charity). Search for Tynemouth Village Christmas Shopping Night on Facebook.
Spanish City Christmas Market 24 - 26 November Spanish City, Whitley Bay A variety of traditional, craft, gift and food stalls. www.spanishcity.co.uk
Whitley Lodge Christmas Tree Lighting 29 November, from 3pm Whitley Lodge Shops Tree lighting, local school choir and Santa’s grotto. 7
Whitley Bay Late Night Christmas Shopping 30 November & 1 December Whitley Bay town centre, selected businesses Festive shopping, food, drink and offers. www.whitleybaychamber.co.uk
Tynemouth Winter Wonderland Tynemouth Cricket Club Selected dates in December Meet Santa, have a story with Mrs Claus and make a Christmas decoration with the elves in the Nordic Tipi Village. To book, search Tynemouth Winter Wonderland on Eventbrite.co.uk.
Cullercoats Community Advent 1 – 30 December Throughout December, residents and businesses in Cullercoats will host festive window or garden displays. Each evening a new display will be illuminated and revealed in the style of a ‘living’ advent calendar. Search for Cullercoats Community Advent on Facebook.
Santa at St Mary’s 2 & 3 December (10.30am – 3.30pm), 16 December (10.30am – 2pm) 17 December (10.30am – 3pm) St Mary’s Lighthouse, Whitley Bay A visit to Santa in his grotto including gift. Booking essential. £8 per child. To book, call 0191 643 4778. 8
Christmas Fayre 2 December, 11am - 3pm The Rising Sun Countryside Centre Enjoy stalls, wreath making, fairground rides, festive entertainers, Christmas carols by Rising Sun neighbours and performance by Sax on the Tyne. Free event. Visit Santa from 11am - 3.30pm (pay on the day).
Elf Express Selected dates/times, 2 – 24 December Stephenson Steam Railway Museum Meet the Chief Elf and enjoy an interactive show before jumping onboard a heritage train. There will be live entertainment and photo opportunities along the way, as well as a present from Santa. www.stephensonsteamrailway.org.uk
Park View Santa’s Grotto 2, 9, 16, 23 December, 11am – 2.30pm Park View Shopping Centre, Whitley Bay Shoppers can get in the Christmas spirit and visit Santa on selected days throughout December. These events are organised by the Rotary Club of Whitley Bay who will be raising funds for local causes.
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The Wallsend Market Christmas Market 2 December, 10am – 3pm The Wallsend Market, Forum Shopping Centre Market stalls and free festive crafts and games.
Santa’s Grotto 2 and 9 December, 11am – 3pm Royal Quays Outlet Centre, North Shields Meet Santa in his Grotto. Free entry, no booking required. www.royalquaysoutletcentre.com
Fiesta Whitley Bay 3 December, 11am - 3pm Whitley Bay town centre and St Paul’s Church grounds Market stalls, street food, free creative crafts, fun activities and live music. Search Fiesta Whitley Bay on Facebook.
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Quorum Business Park Christmas Fair 6 December, 11am – 2.30pm Over 40 stalls, street food, mulled wine and a performance from the choir of Benton Dene School. www.quorumpark.com
Blue Genie Entertainment presents ‘Cinderella’ 8 December – 6 January Playhouse Whitley Bay Starring Louie Spence and North East comic Steve Walls, this year’s all-singing and all-dancing panto will be packed with lots of laughs. www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk
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NORTH SHIELDS
MARKET
9 - 10 DECEMBER 10AM – 5PM SATURDAY 10AM – 4PM SUNDAY NORTHUMBERLAND SQUARE, HOWARD STREET AND TRANSPORT HUB, NORTH SHIELDS TOWN CENTRE The popular annual market returns with over 70 stalls along Howard Street offering a wide variety of goods including gifts, homeware, crafts and artisan produce. Extra stalls will also be located just outside the new Transport Hub. There will be entertainment, live music and fairground rides for children. A pop-up food and drink village can be found in Northumberland Square – there will be lots of seating as well as mulled wine and a wide selection of tasty street food. Search for North Shields Christmas Market on Facebook.
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Christmas Fun at the Beacon Centre 9 - 10 December, 11am – 2pm The Beacon Centre, North Shields Festive character appearances, crafts and games.
Aladdin Pantomime 14 – 24 December The Exchange Theatre, North Shields Join a whole host of hilarious and colourful characters on an enchanted journey of magic. www.theexchange1856.com
Winter Warmers 26, 30, 31 December Stephenson Steam Railway Museum Enjoy a relaxing heritage train ride on the four mile historic urban line. £7 adults, £5 children. www.stephensonsteamrailway.org.uk
Woodlawn School Pudding Fun Run 26 December, 10.30am Links, Whitley Bay Work off Christmas Dinner with this annual charity fun run, organised by North Shields Polytechnic Club and Woodlawn Parents & Friends Association. All finishers receive a Christmas pudding. www.nspoly.co.uk 13
New Year’s Day Morris Dancing 1 January, 12noon Ship Inn, Monkseaton The award-winning Morris dancers return with their traditional annual dance.
Humpty Dumpty 12 - 21 January Tynemouth Priory Theatre A traditional pantomime at the charming Priory Theatre. www.tynemouth-priory-theatre.com
Whitley Bay Panto Society present Jack and the Beanstalk 16 – 21 January Playhouse Whitley Bay The award-winning Whitley Bay Pantomime Society are back with their annual production. www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk
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. e m o h r u o y e Shar . e r u t u f r i e h t e p a h S Could you offer the right home, at the right time for a child or young person through fostering? Find out more at Fosterwithnortheast.org.uk