What To Do This Weekend
Festivities and Fender should be top of the agenda this weekend
Away in a Manger
Not feeling festive yet? The Auckland Project’s Christmas at the Palace will get you in the spirit. Explore 12 expertly-decorated decorated rooms fit for royalty, giving the historic interior of the palace a touch of Christmas sparkle, alongside the famous artworks. At the Faith Museum, see the Neapolitan Nativity – a Baroque crèche which forms a giant, true-life nativity scene unlike anything you’ve seen before. Measuring 11-feet tall with 421 individually-carved figures, it is one of the most impressive examples outside of Italy.
Oh Christmas Tree
From Friday 29th until Tuesday 3rd, St. Andrew’s Church in Corbridge will host their Tree Festival. The church will be filled with beautiful trees specially decorated by groups, schools and businesses from the parish. Last year, the festival had more than 7,000 visitors with 91 trees on display and this year, they hope to achieve even more. The programme of entertainment includes piano and trumpet jazz, carol singing and community carolling and refreshments will be served throughout the day. Trees are also the focus at Cragside – or, rather, one specific tree. Standing at 42 metres tall, the UK’s tallest Christmas tree at Cragside is dressed in more than 2,000 lights and serves as the end point to the Twilight Lantern Walk, which begins this Saturday 30th. As the sun sets, carry a lantern through the Debdon Valley and across the Iron Bridge until you reach the tree, for a magical Christmas experience.
Seasonal Sips
One of our favourite things about the festive season is undoubtedly the limited-edition seasonal cocktails crafted by our local bars. This year, All Bar One have once again collaborated with Little Moons to create cocktails topped with their popular ice cream mochi balls. The Cinnamon Bun Espresso, topped with toffee crumble and a salted caramel Little Moon, has our name all over it and with branches in Newcastle, Leeds, Harrogate and Sheffield, everyone can enjoy it. Be At One’s Christmas menu has everything from frozen Tequila Rose-based cocktails to Whisky Wonderland, a strong sip served with a Ferrero Rocher – head to their Leeds venue to try them out. Jalou Newcastle also launch their Christmas cocktails this Thursday 28th – their famous Rudolph reindeer cocktail returns alongside Terry’s Chocolate Orange and candy cane-inspired drinks.
Foodie Festivities
This Sunday 1st, The Mowbray in Sheffield will host their annual Festive Festival. With the recent opening of their new venue, Victoria, this year’s festival promises to be an exciting one, hosted across both venues. Expect a food hall with traders such as Neal’s Yard Dairy and Tenaya Wine. Head chef Emma will be creating festive treats and there’ll be two cocktail and coffee bars from Mows Coffee, with a festive tipple to greet you on arrival. Three choirs will be performing and the Christmas market section of the festival will offer glorious gifts to buy for the special people in your life.
Save a Slice
Before it becomes all roast dinners and Boxing Day buffets, why not go out for a pizza this weekend? For a fresh take, head to Square in Newcastle for their deep dish, Detroit-style square shaped slices. In Yorkshire, Rudy’s are a classic with three locations across the region (Leeds, Chapel Allerton and Sheffield), all serving Neapolitan pizzas fired in a traditional oven. See our full lists of the best pizzas in the North East and in Yorkshire for more stellar slices or make your own with this Neapolitan pizza dough recipe – just add toppings.
Fender Fans
Didn’t get Sam Fender tickets in the presale? Not to worry – tickets for his upcoming London and Newcastle June shows will go on general release this Friday 29th. Sam will return to St James’ Park following his sell-out shows there last summer – so anyone who missed out then has another chance to see the singer on his home turf. This time around, he’ll be supported by brilliant Irish singer CMAT, too. If there’s one thing you should be doing this weekend, it should be having the foresight to get tickets – you’ll have major FOMO next summer if you don’t!
All-Star Sport
There’s plenty of sport to keep you occupied this weekend. Sheffield United play Sunderland in the Sky Bet Championship on Friday 29th and in the FA Cup, Harrogate Town will play Gainsborough Trinity. On Saturday 30th, Newcastle United will play Crystal Palace in the Premier League and Middlesbrough will go head-to-head with Hull City in the Sky Bet Championship. In rugby, Newcastle Falcons will face Saracens on Friday 29th in the Gallagher Premiership so join them at Kingston Park for a fun Big Night OOT. And the 2024 UK Snooker Championship will conclude this Sunday 1st, at the York Barbican, where it was first staged in 2001.
