What's On Across the North East and Yorkshire This August
Plan your summer with us
On Film
Film fans rejoice. Launching on Yorkshire Day, catch iconic favourites and hidden gems in this city-wide celebration of Yorkshire. Screenings include Phantom Thread on 70mm, The Selfish Giant on 35mm, and My Friend Lanre with a director Q&A – tickets are selling fast!
Epic Yorkshire
1ST–21ST AUGUST
Pictureville and Cubby Broccoli, Bradford
scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk
It’s a Secret
Mentalist and illusionist Derren Brown is back on tour. As always with his mind-bending shows, he’s not going to give anything away until you’re sitting in your seat. But given his previous live showcases, we know you won’t want to miss whatever he has up his sleeves for Only Human.
Derren Brown: Only Human
UNTIL 2ND AUGUST
Sunderland Empire
atgtickets.com
Place Your Bets
As well as the usual thrilling racing action at Catterick Racecourse this summer, children will love the Salute Our Heroes Family Day in association with ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. There’ll be children’s entertainment in the course enclosure, including an assault course and laser battle zone.
Salute Our Heroes Family Day
5TH AUGUST
Catterick Racecourse
catterickbridge.co.uk
Family Fun
Art exhibitions, workshops, music and spoken word combine for this fun-filled festival for all the family. Don’t miss the grand opening in Knaresborough Market Place and the HandleBards’ take on Much Ado About Nothing.
Knaresborough FEVA Festival
8TH–17TH AUGUST
Knaresborough
feva.info
For The Family
Your children won’t want to miss this special event at Dalby Forest this summer where Stick Man will be appearing at various times throughout the day and there will be lots of Stick Man-themed activities. Don’t worry if you miss it. There’s always fun for all the family at Dalby Forest and you can enjoy a full day out with family trails and ziplining at Go Ape, the chance to explore art and a picnic in the sun.
Stick Man
9TH AUGUST
Dalby Forest
forestryengland.uk/dalby-forest
In The Yard
After a successful first year, Live From The Yard will return to Hull and you won’t want to miss Calum Scott’s set. We’re looking forward to hearing who his special guests will be, and we’re sure he’ll perform his popular cover of Robyn’s Dancing On My Own.
Calum Scott, Live From The Yard
9TH AUGUST
Zebedee’s Yard, Hull
livefromtheyard.co.uk
Take Pride
Darlington’s newest visitor attraction is hosting a family-friendly social event with craft activities, face painting and bubbles to celebrate Pride. Bring a picnic and enjoy acoustic music by Tracks Darlington.
Pride Picnic
10TH AUGUST
Hopetown Darlington
enjoydarlington.co.uk
Artful
Don’t miss this solo exhibition by Glasgow-based artist Zoë Tumika, who works under the names Zoë Zo, Zoë Tumika and Zoë Guthrie. You’ll explore ceramics, film and sound, taking the River Tees and River Clyde as starting points to reflect on extraction, resistance and the possibility of repair.
Guiding Entities: Zoë Zo, Zoë Tumika & Zoë Guthrie
THROUGHOUT SUMMER
MIMA, Middlesbrough
mima.art
Coming Up Rosie
Rosie Jones is heading back out on the road with her brand-new stand-up show with her usual cheek and charm. Book tickets now and in the meantime stream all episodes of Pushers, Rosie’s new comedy, on Channel 4. Hear more from the Bridlington-born comedian at livingnorth.com.
Rosie Jones: I Can’t Tell What She’s Saying
11TH SEPTEMBER
The Studio, Bradford
bradford-theatres.co.uk
Bard by Bike
Summer means open-air shows and The HandleBards will return to Raby Castle as just one of Raby’s series of open-air events. This time, audiences will enjoy their bicycle-powered production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing al fresco in the castle’s grass amphitheatre (the first of its kind in the North of England).
Much Ado About Nothing
14TH AUGUST
Raby Castle, Staindrop
raby.co.uk
Family Fun
A music festival for all the family, this year’s Hardwick Festival line-up includes the Scissor Sisters, Sam Ryder, Pet Shop Boys and Olly Murs. There’ll be various bars, a dedicated family area, magic shows and workshops to get involved in throughout the weekend too.
Hardwick Festival
15TH–17TH AUGUST
Hardwick Hall Sedgefield
hardwickfestival.co.uk
So Silly
The Silly History Boys are a hilarious historical troupe and their interactive shows explore the silliest (and most gory) parts of medieval history through songs and jousting. The shows will take place in Alnwick Castle’s Inner Bailey.
Silly Shows
17TH–22ND AUGUST
Alnwick Castle
alnwickcastle.com
The Wonderful World of Words
Following on from her hit show The Secret Life of Words, Susie Dent is back with a new collection of fun facts. So whether you’ve often wondered why a group of crows is called a ‘murder’ while owls form a ‘parliament’, or just how many words there are for being drunk, you can find out all that and more from everyone’s favourite wordsmith.
Susie Dent: Word Perfect
20TH AUGUST
Darlington Hippodrome
darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk
All Together Now
Robbie Williams, Kings Of Leon, Kaiser Chiefs and Little Mix’s Perrie lead an impressive line-up for this all-new festival coming to Newcastle’s Town Moor. Also featuring some of the hottest up-and-coming artists around, and local favourites Andrew Cushin, Cortney Dixon and Sonny Tennet, Come Together Festival is planned to be the North East’s biggest ever music festival.
Come Together Festival
20TH & 22ND AUGUST
Town Moor, Newcastle
cometogetherfestival.co.uk
Bet on It
Featuring York Racecourse’s oldest, richest, fastest and most famous races, the Sky Bet Ebor Festival is in every keen racegoers diary. The highlight is of course Ladies’ Day where guests will dress to impress for prizes on the Ebor Fashion Lawn.
Sky Bet Ebor Festival
20TH–23RD AUGUST
York Racecourse
yorkracecourse.co.uk
We Are Family
Ouseburn-based identical twins and painters Laura and Rachel Lancaster have exhibited nationally and internationally but this exhibition at Baltic is the first institutional exhibition showing their paintings side by side.
Laura Lancaster & Rachel Lancaster Remember, Somewhere
THROUGHOUT SUMMER
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead Quays
baltic.art
Tide’s Out
Redcar’s outdoor, family-friendly festival, Between the Tides, is free to attend and boasts a programme of street theatre, puppetry, circus, dance, storytelling and music. Don’t miss inflatable Luminarium’s tunnels and domes, courtesy of Architects of Air.
Between the Tides
23RD & 24TH AUGUST
Redcar
redcarcleveland.co.uk
Family Folk
Folk Off (pronounce that carefully) is a vibrant, family-friendly festival at Alnwick Playhouse filled with live music, storytelling and community spirit. There’ll be performances from popular folk artists, interactive workshops and activities to keep the whole family entertained.
Folk Off
29TH–31ST AUGUST
Alnwick Playhouse
alnwickplayhouse.co.uk
Into The Woods
This summer RHS Garden Harlow Carr is celebrating nature with hands-on activities to encourage children to get outdoors, by sparking creativity and encouraging teamwork. Children will become garden detectives, get involved in forest schools and build a den.
The Great Woodland Adventure
UNTIL 31ST AUGUST
RHS Garden Harlow Carr
rhs.org.uk
Swashbuckling Shenanigans
Pirates are taking over Bamburgh Castle this summer! Children and their families will meet some of the animals pirates might have kept as pets, take on a crafty adventure and make their mark, hunt for treasure, join a Pirate School and enjoy live-action fun – and lots more. Don’t miss out!
Ahoy at the Castle
UNTIL 31ST AUGUST
Bamburgh Castle
bamburghcastle.com
For The Kids
Children will have endless fun in Sledmere’s enclosed activity paddock with a variety of activities and games to get involved in, plus trails within the Sledmere grounds. Then head to the Rare Breed Farm Park, adventure play area and Walled Garden.
Summer Fun
UNTIL 31ST AUGUST
Sledmere House & Gardens
sledmerehouse.com
Rail-y Good
This summer audiences are invited to see The Railway Children like they’ve never seen it before – on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, where the original 1970 film was shot. Find out what to expect from this special show’s director at livingnorth.com.
The Railway Children
UNTIL 7TH SEPTEMBER
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
visitbradford.com
Happy Birthday!
Immerse yourself in Miffy’s world and the artwork of her creator, illustrator Dick Bruna. This interactive exhibition celebrates 70 years of Miffy with creative displays and activities your kids will love.
Miffy’s 70th Birthday
UNTIL 7TH SEPTEMBER
Leeds City Museum
museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk
Weaving Together
Before it’s dismantled, don’t miss your chance to see this unique structure in Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s Chapel by Derbyshire-based Laura Ellen Bacon. You can even walk inside this willow sculpture which was installed over an eight-week period. Several smaller woven willow works are also on display (and the Chapel is a great retreat when the great Yorkshire weather isn’t playing ball).
Laura Ellen Bacon: Into Being
UNTIL 7TH SEPTEMBER
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton
ysp.org.uk
(His)tory
The award-winning live action show, Kynren – An Epic Tale of England, is back this summer on Saturday nights with its 1,000-strong cast and crew of volunteers, and this year will celebrate its milestone 10th anniversary season. Kynren has just been voted the North East’s Event of the Year by Destination North East England, making it the must-see event this summer. There’s also a reimagined royal scene for 2025 featuring brand-new choreography and an original score bringing Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee to life. Look out for the new baby goat, Snowdrop, who has joined Kynren’s talented animal cast (and has already become a firm favourite amongst the cavalry team).
Kynren
UNTIL 13TH SEPTEMBER
Flatts Farm, Bishop Auckland
11arches.com
Full Steam Ahead
Take a trip back in time to 200 years ago – the world’s first ever public passenger train journey! At The Station join Little Loco on a voyage of discovery and uncover some whistle-stop facts and endless activities. If you complete the trail you’ll find your prize in The Station Shop.
All Aboard Little Loco! - Summer Activity Trail
UNTIL 22ND SEPTEMBER
The Station, Richmond
thestation.co.uk
Pinnies & Petticoats
Pinnies, petticoats, booties and breeches – Lotherton’s family-friendly exhibition for 2025 explores the history of children’s fashion from the 1600s to the modern day. See the changing styles worn by babies through to teens and what they can tell us about society’s attitudes towards growing up. Discover the development of the ‘teenager’ and how the onesie is not as modern as you may think! Accompanied by a programme of related events.
Fashion at Play: Children’s Clothing Through the Ages
UNTIL 12TH OCTOBER
Lotherton Hall
museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk
Mum’s The Word
This summer, The Hepworth Wakefield is celebrating motherhood with a new exhibition, bringing together paintings made by Scottish artist Caroline Walker over the past five years exploring themes of motherhood and early-years care. She is known for her paintings which reveal the experiences of women living in contemporary society. This exhibition includes paintings of the daily life of the artist’s sister-in-law, Lisa, becoming a mother. After the birth of her second child, Caroline made a rare self-portrait which will be shown for the first time at The Hepworth Wakefield.
Caroline Walker: Mothering
UNTIL 27TH OCTOBER
The Hepworth Wakefield
hepworthwakefield.org
Living History
Three rare Magna Cartas from Durham Cathedral’s collection will
go on display to mark the 800th anniversary of the 1225 issue, and three artists have been commissioned to create bespoke temporary installations throughout the cathedral. See the only surviving 1216 Magna Carta, along with issues from 1225 and 1300, while a ‘river of words’ will flow through the Nave of the cathedral.
Magna Carta and the North
UNTIL 2ND NOVEMBER
Durham Cathedral
durhamcathedral.co.uk
