Heart North East joins New Year celebrations in Newcastle

Heart North East will be joining Newcastle’s New Year’s Eve celebrations this year as the event’s official media partner. As well as promoting the event on-air, Heart Breakfast co-presenter Kelly Scott will be warming up the crowds on the night at Newcastle Civic Centre ahead of the New Year’s Eve Winter Carnival firework finale. Kelly will be joined by the Heart Angels promotion team who will be out in force as the streets come alive with performers, musicians and some fiery surprises. NewcastleGateshead Initiative’s New Year’s Eve Winter Carnival is one of the biggest New Year events in the country, attracting up to 40,000 visitors every year. The theme for this year’s event is wild beasts and dark streets. Scary monsters, a cauldron of fire and dancing bears with giant claws will roam the streets around Monument as part of the early evening New Year’s Eve Winter Carnival. Feel the heat as fiery torchbearers lead the spectacular procession of artists and local community groups along Northumberland Street to Newcastle Civic Centre for an explosive firework display set to music. Visitors to the New Year’s Eve Winter Carnival are encouraged to come in their best ‘beastly’ fancy dress – everything from wild-fanged wolves to grizzly Gruffalos. The approximate timings for the New Year’s Eve Winter Carnival parade are: From 16:30:   Music and carnival starts to gather at Monument. From 17:15:   Parade leaves for Newcastle Civic Centre via Northumberland Street. 18:00:              Fireworks finale at Newcastle Civic Centre. Carol Bell, head of culture and major events at NewcastleGateshead Initiative said: “We’re delighted to be working with Heart North East on this year’s New Year celebrations. The team are all really enthusiastic and will no doubt add to the fantastic atmosphere on the night.”  Kelly Scott, Heart North East’s breakfast show presenter said: ''I’m honoured to be hosting the New Year’s Eve Winter Carnival. The city’s end of year celebrations are well known for being a fantastic, feel good family event and I’m really excited that the Heart North East team and I will be getting the party started. Our Heart Angels will be with me all evening too, giving people the chance to kick-start their New Year by winning some great prizes! Newcastle, let the countdown begin!'' In addition to the early evening celebrations, revellers celebrating New Year’s Eve in Newcastle City Centre will once again be treated to a short midnight firework display at the quayside. The midnight display is made possible thanks to the support of local quayside businesses. For more detail about the New Year’s Eve Winter Carnival and the wider NewcastleGateshead Winter Festival, please visit: www.NewcastleGateshead.com/WinterFestival