Everything You Need to Know About: Newcastle Mela
What to expect from this year's Newcastle Mela celebrations
Now in its 31st year, Newcastle Mela returns to the city this August bank holiday weekend in celebration of South Asian culture.
The party atmosphere will be taking over the Toon from Saturday 23rd August to Monday 25th August and there’s something for everyone to get involved with.
From captivating performances to mouth-watering food stalls, this multi-cultural event promises plenty to entertain and engage, but if you need a hand with some of the key details, we’ve got the low-down right here.
What is Newcastle Mela?
Newcastle Mela is a celebration of Pakistani, Bengali, Indian and other South Asian cultures – giving visitors a taste of the music, food, and entertainment associated with those cultures over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
When is Newcastle Mela happening?
The Mela celebrations kick off with Mela in the City on Saturday 23rd August, a fantastic free day of events and activities at Grey’s Monument. The main Newcastle Mela celebrations then follow up on Sunday 24th and Monday 25th August at Exhibition Park.
Where is Newcastle Mela happening?
Mela in the City takes place at Grey’s Monument – handy for the Metro! The Mela weekend will be at Exhibition Park, roughly a fifteen minute walk from Haymarket Metro station.
What should I expect to find at Newcastle Mela?
This family-friendly festival really has something for everyone. From traditional displays of South Asian culture to colourful crafts and delicious food. On top of that, there’ll also be some unmissable performances from world-class performers.
During Mela in the City, there'll be performances from the likes of singer-songwriters RV Narang and Navin Kundra alongside arts and crafts, henna tattooing and drumming, Bollywood and Bhangra workshops.
Over at the main Newcastle Mela celebrations at Exhibition Park, you’ll find stalls selling everything from delicious food to clothes and jewellery plus performances from circus acts, dancers and world-class musicians including Sona Walia, Juggy D, Rafaqat Ali Khan and Lehmber Hussainpuri.
Check out the Mela in the City programme below and which musical artists will be performing on Newcastle Mela's main stage below - stay tuned for exact timings!
Mela in the City programme
10am – Spice FM Roadshow
11am – Breeze George
11:20am – Mi Marathi Dhol & Tasha Group
11:40am – Punjabi Virsa
12pm – Punjabi Roots
12:20pm – Rajasthani Circus
12:50pm – Breeze George
1pm – Mi Marathi Dhol & Tasha Group
1:10pm – RV Narang
1:30pm – Punjabi Virsa
1:40pm – Rajasthani Circus
2:10pm – Punjabi Roots
2:30pm – Breeze George
2:50pm – Rajasthani Circus
3:20pm – Navin Kundra
Newcastle Mela Main Stage programme
Sunday 24th August
12pm - Spice FM Roadshow / Community Stage
3:30pm - Official Opening of Mela 2025 / Punjabi Roots
4pm - Breeze George
4:30pm - Abdullah Shahid / Hassan Javed
5:10pm - Nooran Lal
5:55pm - Rafaqat Ali Khan
6:50pm - Harbhajan Talwar
7:25pm - Hunterz
Monday 25th August
12pm - Spice FM Roadshow / Community Stage
3:30pm - Punjabi Roots
4pm - Mi Marathi Dhol Tasha & Lezim Group
4:20pm -Breeze George
5:10pm - Sona Walia
5:50pm - Sliime
6:20pm - Juggy D
7:25pm - Lembher Hussainpuri
Who can attend?
Newcastle Mela is a free family event that’s open to anyone and everyone! However, some performances might be more suited to older audiences, so keep your eyes peeled for the official Mela programme for more details on each event.
How much are Mela tickets?
Both Newcastle Mela and Mela in the City are free to attend and no tickets are needed - perfect for a fun and affordable outing this August bank holiday weekend in the Toon!
So whether you join for the full bank holiday weekend, or just a day, Newcastle Mela promises to be an unforgettable experience for everyone – whether you’re young, or young at heart! We’ll see you there.
Mela in the City takes place on Saturday 23rd August at Grey's Monument and Newcastle Mela takes place from Sunday 24th August to Monday 25th August at Exhibition Park. For more information visit www.newcastlemela.co.uk.
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