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 programme of events bigger and better each year and we’re happy to announce we’re bringing last year’s blockbuster event back – 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 event!
What is NE1’s Quayside Carnival?
NE1’s Quayside Carnival brings 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 22nd 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 the Guildhall to past Pitcher & Piano.
What’s going on during Quayside Carnival?
Start your day with a boogie at Freight Island’s Silent Disco in front of the Guildhall from 11am-4pm, or hop on-board at the electric vehicle at the Day Out By Bus Zone from the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority for some adventure storytelling. Parents will also be able to find out more about family days out by bus in the Newcastle area, making this the ideal spot to get some inspiration for the summer holidays!
Meanwhile, Newcastle Card Show will be taking over Kaefer for the Card Trading Zone, where attendees can get themselves some new cards with a lucky dip, and trade with other guests too. With pool tables, table tennis and arcade games to enjoy as well, it’s a chill space to kick back and relax for a minute or two.
Whilst you explore the Quayside Carnival, you’ll pass roaming performers, face painting stations, glitter artists, circus acts and bubble artists. Don’t forget to catch our roaming caricature artist and have your portrait drawn!
Meanwhile in the Active Zone, visitors can work up a sweat with yoga and dance classes. These will be bookable, so check out the full schedule below and get your space sorted!
11:00 – 11:30am: Dance City (book here)
11:45am – 12:15pm: Samba (book here)
12:30pm – 13:00pm: Yoga (book here)
13:15pm – 13:45pm: Zumba (book here)
14:00pm – 14:30pm: Yoga (book here)
14:45pm – 15:15pm: Dance City (book here)
At the heart of the carnival, you’ll find the Circus Stage – complete with performers, workshops and an incredible aerial act to enjoy throughout the day. There’ll also be Live Stage Entertainment featuring plenty of family favourite characters including everyone from Moana and Mirabel to Woody and Jesse!
Then, head over to the Make & Take Zone and get crafting. There’ll be all sorts of crafts and activities including festival badge making, friendship bracelet making and shell painting. No bookings needed, just head over and get making.
Or for something a little different, why not head over to Gino D’Acampo for a spot of mocktail making? Their talented bartender will introduce guests to the world of mocktails, helping them explore different flavours, ingredients and textures. Then, they’ll complete a fun activity sheet to design their very own mocktail which they can bring to life! And with Gino’s kids eat free offer running in the restaurant, it’s a great chance to enjoy some good grub together too. You’ll have to pre-book this one, so grab your spot here.
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), or take on the army’s Hang Tough challenge (by the Play Pavilion), or the Cadets CPR challenge. For those who prefer to keep their adventures at ground level, the Cadets will have paper plane making classes (by the climbing wall), and there’ll be carnival games, big garden games and a hula hoop workshop (outside Pitcher & Piano) too.
To top it all off, Tyne Cruises will be running free boat rides from NE1’s Newcastle City Marina from 11am-3:30pm. Take a trip down the Tyne with the family and see the sights of the Quayside from a whole new perspective. Book your spot here but please 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 (such as the active zone and mini mocktail masterclasses at Ginos) 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. There’ll be crepes, coffee, donuts and a pink lemonade stand from Malmaison hotel, and there are plenty of places to eat nearby, including DOOD, Pitcher and Piano, Head of Steam, Fork Café Bar, Greggs, I Scream for Pizza and Tesco. 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.
It’s set to be a great day out for the whole family – and best of all, it’s free!
Quayside Carnival is taking place on Saturday 22nd August 2026 from 11am to 3pm on Newcastle’s Quayside. For more information, visit the official Quayside Carnival page and check out the event's Facebook page for updates.
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