Here’s hoping that April showers will not interfere with the plentiful array of activities throughout the month.
I promise all the incredible events that are on are no April Fool’s joke. The warmer weather and longer days in April mean that it is an ideal time to go out and have fun.
If you are staying in Newcastle over the Spring Break, take this list as your perfect opportunity to have relaxing rests from studying for end-of-year assessments!
Back for its 6th edition, the Newcastle Puppetry Festival is a lovely opportunity to highlight local creatives.
Over the course of the festival, Moving Parts Arts will put on a variety of exhibitions with something for everyone.
You will have the opportunity to go to the Puppet Film Fest at Tyneside Cinema or to attend puppet and animation workshops at Paddy Freeman’s Park Pavilion.
There are both ticketed and non-ticketed events, so make sure to check out their website for the best event for you.
Under 30 minutes from Newcastle, Alnwick is a quaint Northumberland town packed with natural beauty, and The Alnwick Gardens are no exception.
To mark the celebration of Easter, Alnwick Gardens is offering several duck-oriented activities to celebrate.
Back for the 7th year in a row, the Easter Duck Race offers the chance for your duck to win against over 2,000 duck competitors. You can purchase your duck on the Alnwick Round Table website.
Alongside the Duck Race, there is also the Duck Hunt that involves searching around the gardens for 75 ducks and the chance to vote for ‘best dressed duck’.
Moreover, until 8 April if you fancy, you can get a photo with their giant duck and have the chance to name it! If you don’t have plans for Easter, a trip to the luscious Alnwick Gardens may be worth it.
A returning favourite to the Newcastle market scene, Wylam Brewery will once again host its signature makers’ market.
Offering a different shopping experience from the commercialisation of Northumberland Street, the Crafty Bazaar will have lots of stalls that will offer a plethora of unique gifts.
Entry is £2, but that is a worthy price to pay to support local traders. Buy tickets..
It will also be a perfect opportunity to take a walk around or have a picnic in Exhibition Park in the spring, as all of the flowers bloom.
Don’t think that with Varsity over, that marks an end to this year’s Rugby sporting activities.
With tickets selling out fast on FIXR and Fatsoma, if you like music and rugby, I would recommend getting tickets fast.
The Rugby 7s Festival will see 18 rugby teams compete for the bragging rights of being number 1.
With two stages of music and plenty of food vendors, there is plenty to do even if you are not a rugby fanatic. Lasting from 3 pm until late, this surely will be an outing to remember.
Having been so popular the first time, the Newcastle Fashion Show is back, bigger and better, with even more student models and local designers.
Taking place at St James’ Stack, this black-tie event brings a taste of fashion week to Newcastle as the stylings of Newcastle’s creatives are showcased.
Not only fashion but student music groups and local artists will put on a variety of performances to make sure the crowd is never having a dull moment.
Tickets are available from montizumo and are selling out as the date draws nearer, so make sure you get your tickets soon.
Every year, Newcastle University Students’ Union puts on the Celebrating Success Awards and highlights the accomplishments of students.
These black-tie awards nights are the Newcastle University version of the Oscars.
You can feel the tension in the air as hopeful nominees anticipate their name to be called out as a winner. There is a lovely atmosphere of support that makes it a highlight of students’ time at university.
The dates for each award show are as follows:
Societies Awards: Friday 24 April (Students’ Union)
Student Rep Awards: Monday 27 April (Students’ Union)
Community Impact Awards: Tuesday 28 April (Students’ Union)
Media Awards: Wednesday 29 April (Students’ Union)
Contribution to the Workplace Awards: Thursday 30 April
Athletic Union Awards: Friday 1 May (The FED, Gateshead)
With the warmer weather, it is a student rite of passage to take frequent trips to Tynemouth and soak up the sun on Longsands Beach.
If you happen to find yourself wanting a beach trip at the weekend, make sure, as you step off the Metro, you explore Tynemouth Market.
Having been a tradition for decades, the market is comprised of stalls from local vendors who sell everything from food to clothing to jewellery to knick-knacks.
There is no doubt that you will find a one-of-a-kind gift for yourself or for someone else at the market that beautifully encompasses a spirit of community.