North Tyneside will see the return of one of the region’s favourite Christmas markets this weekend, and it’s bigger than ever before.
North Shields Christmas Market will take place in Northumberland Square and surrounding area, on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 December, for the first time since the ambitious restoration works to revitalise the Cultural Quarter were complete.
This year will see over 70 stalls down Howard Street offering a wide variety of goods including gifts, homeware, crafts and artisan produce, with entertainment, live music and fairground rides. Northumberland Square will be transformed into a festive food and drink market with a plenty of mulled wine and a wide selection of tasty street food, from local favourites such as Fat Hippo, Hadrian’s Wood Fired Pizza and Enigma Tap.
Thousands of shoppers are expected to attend over the weekend to support local traders.
North Tyneside’s Elected Mayor, Norma Redfearn CBE, said: “The North Shields Christmas Market is a fantastic opportunity to get into the festive spirit this December. It’s always a well attended weekend by families, friends and visitors from far and wide, and we’re really excited to showcase what the newly revitalised Square and Cultural Quarter has to offer.
“We’ve linked up with local businesses to bring an excellent range of seasonal traders, food and drink stalls and entertainment to the streets of North Shields, and the recent reshaping of Northumberland Square and Howard Street lends itself to this type of event, creating a more welcoming and pleasant space for everyone to enjoy.”
The market opens at 10am on Saturday morning, with a short service in the Square, and will trade until 5pm. On Sunday the market is open 10am until 4pm. Local schoolchildren will be singing carols throughout the day, and colourful characters will be walking about spreading festive cheer and posing for photos.
The Exchange Theatre will be promoting their upcoming panto season of Dick Wittington and will have free entertainment on throughout the weekend in their courtyard and auditorium on Howard Street. There’s plenty more crafts and activities taking place in the Beacon Centre for little ones across the weekend. North Shields Customer First Centre and Library will be hosting a Swap Shop for unwanted books and clothes, a bi-lingual story time and plenty of crafts, songs and stories for children throughout Saturday.
The town centre will also have free car parking in all council operated pay and display bays and car parks. There will be a manned traffic management around the Square, with Howard Street closed to vehicles.
The event is organised by North Tyneside Council and supported by The Beacon Centre.
For more information visit visitnorthtyneside.com, full programme below:
Saturday 10 December
9.30am-11pm The Exchange Café Bar and Gallery open
10am-5pm Christmas Market stalls open in Northumberland Square and Howard Street with a stage programme of live music and entertainment:
- 10am Opening Church Service with Salvation Army and Amberley Primary School
- 10.30am North Tyneside Brass group
- 11am Sing It Louder Choir
- 11.30am Collingwood Primary School
- 12pm Spring Gardens Primary School
- 12.30pm St Cuthbert's RC Primary
- 1pm New York Primary School
- 1.30pm Battle Hill Primary School
- 2.30pm Cullercoats Primary School
- 3pm Appletree Gardens First School
- 3.30pm King Edward Primary
11am-1pm Bi-lingual story time (French and Spanish) at North Shields Customer First Centre
11am-2pm Christmas Elves and crafts in the Beacon Centre
11am-2pm Swap Shop in North Shields Library
1pm Tenth Avenue Band playing world street music in The Exchange Courtyard
2.30pm Dick Wittington pantomime at The Exchange Theatre (tickets £15-£18pp)
Sunday 11 December
9.30am-9pm The Exchange Café Bar and Gallery open
10am-4pm Christmas Market stalls open in Northumberland Square and Howard Street with a stage programme of live music and entertainment:
- 10.30am Whitehouse Primary School
- 11am Reunion Brass
- 11.30am Martha and Millie
- 12pm Linskill Community Choir
- 12.30pm Spanish City Rollers
- 1pm Jack Denton
- 1.30pm Can’t Sing Choir North Tyneside
- 2pm Annabel Ratcliffe
- 2.30pm Killingworth Community Choir
- 3.30pm Katie Rushworth
11am-2pm Christmas Elves and crafts in the Beacon Centre
11.30am Mouths of the Tyne Choir sing carols in Northumberland Square
11.30am The Sopranos Women’s Singing Group sing carols in The Exchange Courtyard
1pm, 2pm, 3pm Georgian Cluedo by Helix Arts’ Young People’s Company performance at The Exchange Theatre (free ticketed)
2.30pm The Linskill Community Choir sings carols in The Exchange Courtyard
