Everything You Need to Know About: NE1’s Quayside Carnival
Get set for an action-packed day of family fun with NE1’s Quayside Carnival
Here at NE1, we’re always trying to make our popular Summer in the City programme bigger and better each year and we’re happy to announce we’re bringing a brand-new event this summer – NE1’s Quayside Carnival!
There’ll be fun activities for the whole family to enjoy all day long, so read on for all the info you need to know to make the most of this fantastic new event!
What is NE1’s Quayside Carnival?
It’s a brand-new addition to NE1’s Summer in the City programme, bringing an action-packed family fun day to the Quayside with tonnes of great activities to enjoy!
When is it happening?
It’s taking place on Saturday 9th August from 11am to 3pm.
Where is it happening?
It’s happening on Newcastle’s iconic Quayside, taking over the riverfront and stretching all the way from NE1’s Newcastle City Marina to past Pitcher & Piano.
What’s going on during Quayside Carnival?
It’s set to be a great day out for the whole family, with tonnes of fun things happening throughout the day!
Wander amongst the roaming performers en route to the face painting station, glitter tattoos, balloon and bubble artists. Don’t forget to catch our roaming caricature artist – who’ll be wandering from the Marina to Wesley Square between 12pm-2pm – and have your portrait drawn!
Meanwhile in the Active Zone, visitors can work up a sweat with family yoga classes. These will be bookable, so reserve a space here if you fancy coming along for that!
At the heart of the carnival, you’ll find the Circus Stage – complete with performers and workshops to enjoy throughout the day.
We’re expecting it to busy day down on the Quayside, so why not plan ahead to make the most of your time? See below for the schedule!
11:00 Circus performance
11:30 Bluey & Friends
11:45 Aerial display
12:15 Aerial display
12:30 Circus carnival performance
13:15 Aerial display
13:30 Ice Extravaganza
13:45 Aerial display
14:00 Circus performance
14:30 Bluey & Friends
14:45 Aerial display
Please note that each act will last 30 minutes.
Then, head over to the Make & Take Zone and get crafting. Thanks to our partner sponsor the Life Science Centre, imaginations are sure to be inspired here! There’ll be all sorts of crafts and activities including paper rockets from Life Science Centre, to origami animals with North East Museums, to making your very own slime. Or, why not make your very own friendship bracelet to remember the day by? No bookings needed, just head over and get making.
That's not forgetting that LUSH will also be on-hand to help you create your very own bath bomb! Booking's required for this one though, so make sure you've reserved a space here.
And as if all that wasn’t enough, the Character Zone offers young’uns the chance to meet some of their very favourite characters! From an ice extravaganza (1:30pm-2pm approx.), to Bluey and Friends (11:30am-12:30pm + 2:30pm-3:30pm approx), plus a special Quayside Carnival performance at 12:30pm! It’s the ideal way to enjoy a spot of memory making together.
Then, it’s time to get competitive with some crazy golf by the pavilion, and earn those all-important bragging rights. And hey, if you score a hole-in-one, then you can always celebrate with some free candy floss by The Swirl!
The more adventurous Quayside Carnival explorers can reach dizzying new heights with a trip up the climbing wall (situated in-between The Pavilion and The Blacksmiths Needle), but for those who prefer to keep their adventures at ground level, there’ll be some carnival games to enjoy opposite The Pavilion too.
To top it all off, free boat rides will be running from NE1’s Newcastle City Marina from 11am-3pm. Take a trip down the Tyne with the family and see the sights of the Quayside from a whole new perspective. Even better, there’s no booking required – just queue from the entrance of the marina! Just remember that all children under 18 in each group must be accompanied by a responsible adult, and all children under 12 must wear a life jacket.
Do I need to book a ticket?
Nope! NE1’s Quayside Carnival is completely free to attend and no tickets are required to enter the area. However, some activities on the day (including family yoga and bath bomb making) do require pre-booking.
Anything else I should know?
Now for the stuff that’s a bit more boring… but super important, since we’re expecting it to be a busy day! It’s set to be a scorcher on Saturday, so make sure you bring plenty of water and sunscreen with you. Please note that there will be no food stalls on the day, but there are plenty of places to eat nearby, including Greggs, I Scream for Pizza and Tesco. Don’t forget that it’s also Restaurant Week, so why not treat the gang to some good grub with fantastic discounts at DOOD and Pitcher and Piano, or pick from our list of family-friendly dining options? Lastly, we also ask that you kindly use the on-site toilets provided for the event – two of which are accessible/baby-changing friendly, should you need them.
We’d always recommend that you travel by public transport where possible, but there’s parking at the Quayside Multi-Storey, Sandgate, and Merchants House nearby if you’re driving in.
Quayside Carnival is taking place on Saturday 9th August 2025 from 11am to 3pm on Newcastle’s Quayside. For more information visit NE1’s Summer in the City website.
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