August Bank Holiday Events in Newcastle

The August bank holiday marks a great way to see off the final few days of what’s been a glorious summer. Whether you’re back to school, university or work when September hits, you can rest assured that Newcastle has you covered for the final hurrah of summer! Check out a few of our top tips on how to get the most out of your bank holiday across the city.
 

If you’ve managed to make it to the Bank Holiday unscathed and your kids are still hungry for activities and adventure, there’s nowhere better than Newcastle! Whether it’s Discovery Museum’s Mascot Design Challenge (Friday 26th and Monday 29th) as part of their Play + Invent series, or Life Science Centre’s huge variety of activities, which include Lightyear-inspired fun to science adventures, fun for under 7s, LEGO creations, creativity and making zones and live science shows. Plus, their summer saver tickets mean for every ticket booked before 31st August you’ll get another two free science centre visits up until 4th September!

In the Ouseburn Valley, Seven Stories’ wonderful variety of literature-themed events and activities will keep your little book worms well entertained. Have a go at designing your own T-shirt inspired by characters from your favourite children’s books (throughout the weekend); expend some creative energy in a magical workshop based around the art of herbology, in which kids aged 7+ can paint with an onion, learn how an avocado can make you blush or how a stone from Afghanistan can colour the sky (Friday 26th & Monday 29th); award-winning picture book author Richard O’Neill will reveal his stick people drawing skills and encourage you to draw your own in a fun-filled workshop (Friday 26th & Saturday 27th); the Summer Story Club focuses on wonderful tales about witches and wizards for 7-10 year olds (from Monday 29th); plus there’s regular daily storytimes and a baby book social on Monday 29th.

NE1’s Summer In The City programme continues until 4th September, and the Bank Holiday provides a raft of activities and events to enjoy including a high energy HIIT workout and gentle guided meditation (both Monday 29th), or a family fitness session courtesy of Newcastle United Foundation (Friday 26th); a drawing workshop for adults (Friday 26th); creative crafts including Henna tattooing (Saturday 27th); a family-friendly pop-up performance from Ella and Pagen; a design your own postcard printing workshop (Monday 29th) or, why not dare yourself to do a zip-wire from the Tyne Bridge! (Friday 26th, Saturday 27th & Monday 29th).
 

Over at Old Eldon Square, there’s an opportunity to get creative with Play Rebellion’s assortment of foam shapes which connect in a myriad of combinations to create playscapes, games, chill out spaces or sculptures. Plus, NE1’s Screen On The Green pop-up cinema is showing some great flicks for all the family over the bank holiday. On Friday 26th enjoy Charlie & The Chocolate Factory at 12pm and King Richard at 6pm, Saturday 27th sees perennial favourite Frozen screened at 12pm and Mean Girls at 6pm, on Sunday 28th watch Raya & The Last Dragon at 12pm and Cruella at 6pm, and Monday 29th sees a couple of big blockbusters come to the big screen, with The Greatest Showman on at 12pm and Phantom of the Opera at 6pm.

There’s more great cinema on offer at Tyneside Cinema on Pilgrim Street, particularly for youngsters. Movies of note include The Neverending Story (Friday 26th), James & The Giant Peach (Saturday 27th & Monday 29th), Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Sunday 28th), plus there’s blockbusting flicks like Mamma Mia (Saturday 27th), a Bourne double bill (Saturday 27th); and cult classics like Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Saturday 27th), Grease (Sunday 28th) and The Grand Budapest Hotel (Sunday 28th) and Belfast (Monday 29th); not to mention a NT Live performance of the tour de force Prima Facie featuring the remarkable Jodie Comer (Sunday 28th & Monday 29th).
 

If it’s live theatre you’re interested in, get yourself to wonderful independent theatre Alphabetti, where you can enjoy innovative hip-hop dance theatre Brotherhood (running until Saturday 10th September). While the subject matter may be heavy, as the production highlights the untold struggles of young Black men in living in the UK, the tale is told with an infectious joy by a young cast who share their origin stories through music and dance, resulting in an uplifting and inspiring production.

Surely it’s not a great Bank Holiday until you’ve had a proper feast, and Wylam Brewery’s Battle Royale (Friday 26th & Saturday 27th) will provide gourmet treats aplenty from some of the best vendors in the city who compete to be crowned the best of them all! If you’ve been to any of their other food battles before, from Battle of the Burger to Slice Wars and Argie Bhaji to Thai Kwondo, you’ll know you can expect top class food, excellent drinks and a wonderful atmosphere!
 

If you’re looking to blow off a little steam, look no further than Bongo’s Bingo Bank Holiday Specials at the Boiler Shop from Friday 26th until Sunday 28th August. Far more than a game of bingo, expect absolutely anything as mayhem reigns supreme in a night filled with dance offs, rave rounds, amazing (and not so amazing) prizes, live performances and much more!

An altogether different kind of full house will be on offer at Digital on Friday 26th when the legendary Ikon club night return for a special club classics dance fest. Ministry Of Bounce – Ikon will be headlined by Monsoon and Dreamwurx, plus there’s a live PA from Lisa Abbott and support from Jon Fazak.
 

If something more chilled out is on the cards, wind down with Hoochie Coochie's Bank Holiday Soul on Sunday Afternoon on Sunday 28th. One of the longest-running Northern and modern soul nights in the UK, Hoochie Coochie’s resident DJs certainly know their stuff, and they’ll be supplemented by special guests too. Expect a warm selection of Northern, modern and nu-soul sounds from 4pm.

You can always rely on The Stand Comedy Club to keep the laughs coming, and their regular weekend shows are a fine place to catch up-and-coming talent alongside top comedy names. Coming up on Friday 26th their mixed-bill four-act show features Gareth Mutch, headliner Matt Reed and more besides, while Saturday 27th sees performances from Mike Milligan, Si Beckwith, Catherine Young and Matt Reed.
 

While the Bank Holiday may seem like the beginning of the end of Summer, Arthur’s at Fenwick plan to keep the sun shining just a little bit longer with their superb cabaret event, Sounds of the Summer on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th. Expect stunning summery sounds courtesy of string band Violetta Duo, whose fresh take on contemporary pop and house music has seen them perform alongside the likes of Beyonce, Ariana Grande and P!nk. The cabaret club menu includes delicious dishes like burrata with prosciutto and charred peaches, Escalivada (a Catalan-style coal roasted vegetable dish) and Amalfi lemon delice.
 

No matter how you choose to spend your Bank Holiday, there’s always something to enjoy in the city. Make the most of it – the next one isn’t until Boxing Day!

Image: Violetta Duo