The Fun Ways To Spend Your Weekend
We have your weekend plans sorted
Lighten up…
Yorkshire’s newest light festival launches this weekend! This all-new festive event, taking place across 14 Scarborough venues, is the first in The Scarborough Fair programme and will see the whole town sparkle and shine from 15th November to 23rd December. Scarborough Lights will launch on 18th November with an impressive drone display over Scarborough Castle. A brand-new winter lights trail will see Peasholm Park illuminated like never before (from 15th) – artists locally and from across the UK and Europe have been involved in creating an incredible display. That’s in addition to a brand-new installation at St Mary’s Church (from 16th), featuring light artworks by Flemish artist Peter Snijder. Want to be in with a chance of winning a family ticket, worth £35, to the Peasholm Park Winter Lights Trail? Simply enter our competition here.
Shop ’til you drop…
It’s time to start shopping (if you haven’t already) with late night Christmas shopping in Tynemouth Village today (16th). Prosecco and mulled wine will be flowing round the village, with tasty nibbles and chocolates to try. Better still, all the shops are only a two- or three-minute walk from each other. The Deli Around The Corner have their Christmas turkey order forms ready and The Leather Mob will have lots on offer. Don’t forget, York Christmas Market returns today too where more than 75 alpine chalets will open their doors on Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square selling unique gifts, and Newcastle’s Christmas Market is back from 18th with independent traders and an alpine-inspired pop-up bar.
Have a laugh…
Ross Noble is at home this weekend (16th–18th), bringing his show Jibber Jabber Jamboree to O2 City Hall Newcastle. Marking his 21st solo stand-up tour, audiences are invited to join him for an evening of the sort of inspired nonsense he’s well known for. The final few tickets remain to see Peter Kay at Utilita Arena Sheffield on Friday – so act fast! One of Britain’s best loved comedians, he has finally returned to stand-up comedy after 12 years and ticket prices start from £35 – the same price they were on his previous tour in 2010.
Be SPOTacular…
BBC Children in Need raises money to support children and young people through thousands of local charities and projects. Their SPOTacular annual appeal is inspiring communities across the UK to come together, raise funds and show support. Whether you’re taking part in a sponsored cycle or hosting a bake sale, there are so many ways to get involved. Tune in to the BBC from 7pm on Friday to see Pudsey Bear’s friends Ade Adepitan, Mel Giedroyc, Chris Ramsey, Alex Scott, Jason Manford and up-and-coming 14-year-old actor Lenny Rush front this year’s appeal night when, ahead of Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary, David Tennant will star as the 14th Doctor in an exclusive scene featuring Mawaan Rizwaan.
See art in a new light…
Led by world-renowned artists, Lumiere 2023 promises to be the biggest yet when it comes to Durham this weekend (16th–19th), featuring more than 40 installations and extending beyond the city to Bishop Auckland. In Madrid in 2019, Canogar projected Amalgama El Prado onto the Prado Museum’s façade. The swirling effects transformed the original artworks and changed how they were seen. In a similar way, internationally acclaimed artist, Daniel Canogar will unveil the treasures of the Spanish Gallery to the public with a projection across the Spanish Gallery’s exterior, attempting to reveal how digital media is transforming our experience of viewing art. Just a short stroll away, Auckland Tower will be reimagined with The Drop – a beacon of light and sound by internationally-renowned lighting designer Phil Supple. Beams, patterns and lights, choreographed to a musical score, will illuminate the full height of the tower and will be visible right across town.
MOVEmber…
Your challenge, should you choose to accept it this weekend, is to move for Movember. MoRunning brings the public together to achieve their goals and put smiles on faces. At Exhibition Park on Saturday you can join a 1.5K (for younger runners), 5K, 10K or Half Marathon MoRun, or simply spectate. Whichever you choose, this event will raise money for charity Movember – which raises awareness of men's health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and suicide.
The Full Monty…
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the film on a national tour, a brand-new production of The Full Monty is on stage at The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford until Saturday. Don’t miss your chance to relive the music of the 90s and have a great night out as this group of lads (including Eastenders’ Danny Hatchard, The X Factor’s Jake Quickenden and Coronation Street’s Bill Ward) work to put on the show of their lives.
Go behind the scenes…
From Roman soldiers to medieval monks, York Theatre Royal has been an important place to be for York’s people for millennia. Throughout the year, they offer a backstage tour of the theatre, with a deep dive into its history – and this weekend (17th and 18th) is the perfect chance to hide from the rain and learn more about how The Grey Lady came into existence, and why you must never whistle on stage.
Family fun in the forest…
We’re well and truly in the festive spirit and the whole family can have fun when The Plotters’ Forest Enchanted Christmas Trail at Raby begins on Saturday. Children can immerse themselves in magic as twinkling lights and festive music form a path through a winter wonderland, and as the sun sets, each corner will be illuminated.
