How To Spend Your Weekend (and What to Do On The Longest Day)
Summer's officially here! Let's just hope the weather gods heard that…
Celebrate longer days…
The summer solstice is today (Thursday 20th June, 9.50pm) meaning this is the longest day of the year – what’s not to celebrate? Why not celebrate with a tour of Newcastle Castle this evening where, after a refreshment break in the Great Hall, you’ll head up to the roof of the Keep for sweeping views across the city to take photos whilst the sun is at its highest. Or how about evening yoga? Yonder are celebrating with a sunset yoga wellness event in Pontefract Castle’s grounds tonight. On Saturday (22nd), Raby are running a late (5pm–8pm) session in the remodelled walled gardens to enjoy a bite to eat or a glass of wine in the Vinery with music and garden talks.
Go al fresco…
Scarborough Open Air Theatre is back with its open air concerts and this weekend is the turn of Anne-Marie (Thursday 20th June). Grab your last minute tickets now to see this much-loved popstar perform live. If you can’t make it, Tom Jones will be on stage in less than a week, but we suggest you book your tickets fast!
See a Show….
Packed with the iconic songs Jolene, 9 to 5, Islands in the Stream and I Will Always Love You, Here You Come Again is a new musical telling the story of a diehard fan whose fantasy version of Dolly Parton gets him through trying times (at Newcastle Theatre Royal). If you’re more of a Richard Gere fan, you’ll fall in love with An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical at Lyceum, Sheffield based on the award-winning movie (read our review here to see why). Underdog: The Other, Other Brontë at Northern Stage is a must-see starring Leeds's star of stage and screen Gemma Whelan – here’s why we loved it. All three of these shows are on stage until Saturday. If you’re up for a laugh, don’t miss Sheffield-born Jessica Fostekew’s brand new stand-up show tonight (Thursday 20th June) at City Varieties Music Hall.
Experience Scarborough’s first Fringe…
The first Fringe to ever take place in Scarborough will bring theatre, music, comedy, spoken word and children’s shows to the coast from Friday 21st to Sunday 30th June. There’ll also be tours and workshops to get involved in. On Friday there are acoustic music sets by local Scarborough performers and bands for those into the genre. This event’s sister festival, Scarborough Art, is another new event (taking place until Sunday 4th August at various venues across Scarborough town centre and beyond) celebrating the joy of art with the opportunity to get hands-on.
Paint and pints…
Paint along with a Bob Ross tutorial on the big screen tonight (6pm at Tyne Bank Brewery) and experience the calming presence of this iconic artist as you create your own masterpiece. All supplies are included, all skill levels are welcome and street food and fresh Tyne Bank beer will keep you fuelled.
In with the new…
It’s festival season and a brand new arts festival is coming to Bishop Auckland, bringing music, cinema and live performances to the town. This weekend it opens with the opportunity to sing along to the world’s number one touring ABBA tribute on Saturday or an evening of country music on Sunday. The fun continues ’til July!
Fun for all the family…
Head along to Tickton Farm on Sunday for a family fun day from 10am to 4pm complete with craft stalls, food, farm produce, a bouncy castle, vintage tractor, face painting and plenty for the kids to get involved in. It’s the perfect chance to support small local businesses.
Hop on, hop off…
Hop aboard the free Alnwick Attractions Bus this weekend with a circular route that takes around 45 minutes and stops at several major attractions including Alnwick Castle, The Alnwick Garden, Alnwick Playhouse, Barter Books and the Aln Valley Railway. Look out for the 11 Alnwick Attraction Bus Stops around the town to make the most of your time in the historic town. The bus runs every weekend until 1st September.
Pack a picnic…
If you missed International Picnic Day on Tuesday, why not head out this weekend? Let’s just hope the weather’s a bit brighter by then! Here’s some inspiration for the perfect picnic snacks, from picnic pies to indulgent tiffin, and here are the most beautiful places to go for a picnic across the North East and Yorkshire. If it’s another wash out, there’s nothing wrong with an indoor picnic. Curl up in front of the TV, and catch up on what we’re watching this month (Bridgerton on repeat, tbh).
Thinking ahead…
Get a jump on your summer calendar by booking the best must-see shows now before tickets run out. We don’t know about you, but we can’t wait to see Chariots of Fire at the Crucible at Sheffield Theatres between Saturday 6th July and Saturday 27th July. Based on the extraordinary true story of Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell and their performance at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games as they competed to become the fastest men on Earth. Relive the highs and lows of this classic with a brand new production (and a soaring musical score from Mike Bartlett to match). Visit sheffieldtheatres.co.uk to find out more (and snap up their season ticket offer).
