How To Spend Your (Hopefully) Sunny Bank Holiday Weekend
There's fun for all the family this Bank Holiday weekend
Place Your Bets
The Sky Bet Ebor Festival is back at York Racecourse where Yorkshire’s finest racing combines with its foremost social occasion – four days of outstanding sport and fabulous fashion. Today is Ladies’ Day (the social highlight), where racegoers will dress to impress for prizes on the Ebor Fashion Lawn but Friday features the fastest race, the Group 1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe, which regularly ranks as the highest rated 1,000m sprint in the world. Saturday is the big race day featuring the Ebor and you won’t want to miss it (Ebor is York Racecourse’s oldest and most famous race). Tickets are still available at yorkracecourse.com
Treat Your Tastebuds
On Friday and Saturday, head to Wylam Brewery in Newcastle’s Exhibition Park for a delicious day out. The Battle Royale is a summer street food olympics where the best from the Battle Of The Burger, Slice Wars, The Mexican StandOff, ThaiKwondo and The ArgieBhaji will battle for the ‘best dish’ and ‘best genre’. Expect tacos v burgers, pizza v curry, and the best sides, ice cream, beer and coffee.
Go to Battle
In a new event for this Bank Holiday, Vikings are taking over Ushaw. There’ll be warrior training in the arena, Kiddie-Vike (where younger visitors can practice shield wall drill), archery and weaponry displays, re-enactments and the big battle. But will you be brave enough to take them on? Meanwhile at Binchester Roman Fort, on Sunday and Monday, you can discover what life was like in the Roman Army with weaponry demonstrations and equestrian displays.
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Jump for Joy
Bounce into the August Bank Holiday this Saturday with The Alnwick Garden’s giant inflatable assault course (this weekend only), and why not book tickets to see the outdoor performances of Wind in the Willows while you’re there?
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Join The Crowd
The last few tickets for Leeds Fest are still up for grabs if you act fast, with Sunday proving popular now The 1975 have been added to the lineup. Billie Eilish is headlining on Friday evening, while North East hero Sam Fender is headlining Saturday night when Wet Leg, Yard Act and Mimi Webb will also be performing. The world’s biggest silent disco sounds like it should be plenty of fun too.
Grab the Popcorn
A silent disco, local food traders, a fully stocked bar and your favourite classic movie under the stars – what more could you ask for? The Village Screen are showing four of your favourite films across the weekend at Sheffield’s Kenwood Hall – Grease on Thursday, Dirty Dancing on Friday, Moulin Rouge on Saturday and La La Land on Sunday. Bring your friends along and don’t miss this always-fun movie night.
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Be Entertained
Newcastle Mela is bringing a new programme of performances, singers, musicians, stalls and family-friendly activities to Exhibition Park this weekend. Attracting up to 40,000 visitors from across the region, Newcastle Mela has been taking place for over 25 years – based around Pakistani, Bengali, Indian and other South Asian cultures, this is your chance to experience the music, food and entertainment associated with them. It’s a party for everyone, no matter your age or background.
Wine not?
Monday isn’t just a Bank Holiday, it’s also National Red Wine Day. The perfect excuse to have a glass or two, right? Click here for the best local wine merchants to get a bottle for the weekend or here to find the best bars and terraces to raise a glass, click here for expert wine knowledge from former Rugby Union player and owner of Jesmond Wine Company Jon Welsh, or have a go at cooking with red wine – this slow-cooked beef ragu pasta is delish!
