The name for the promotion of the programme of events was born from the GPS coordinates of the North of Tyne, as Newcastle sits 55° North and Berwick-upon-Tweed 56° North. The North of Tyne Combined Authority’s events programme has already been a great success, with a number of fantastic events having already taken place and with many more in the calendar to look forward to.
Whitley Bay Carnival kicked things off with their 10th birthday celebration, followed by Morpeth Town Fair which was also a shining success, as thousands flocked to Morpeth to enjoy a day of live music and entertainment.
Newcastle city centre was bursting with colour during Northern Pride, which saw over 15,000 people take part in the march through the city. And NOVUM Festival, which took place from 11-13 August, put on a captivating celebration of art, music, performances, and monumental installations as the iconic Civic Centre and its gardens transformed into an immersive cultural playground. The Great North 5k launched the Great North Run weekend celebrations in style on Friday 8th September, with celebrations along Newcastle Quayside continuing long after runners had crossed the finish line.
Ian Thomas, Destination Director, NewcastleGateshead Initiative said: “55-56° North is an excellent example of quality and exciting events benefitting our region. We are continuing to work with partners to utilise our channels, promote the upcoming calendar of vibrant events to new visitors, and drive spend into our visitor economy.
“We have a successful history of hosting brilliant events across the region, and we are looking forward to extending our famous Geordie welcome to even more visitors both returning to the destination and visiting for the first time.”
Andrew Fox, chair of Visit Northumberland, said: “It’s vital to take a collaborative approach as a region and promote our offering as a whole, and 55-56° North does exactly that. Showcasing the exemplary events the region has to offer, as well as all of the fantastic things you can do in Northumberland once you get here, attracts an even wider range of visitors who are fascinated by Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland as a package.”
There are a number of exciting events still to take place. An exciting winter festival filled with a spectacular events calendar is due to be released soon, as well as Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival, taking place from Friday 3 March to Sunday 5 March 2024. The festival is a place for audiences and filmmakers to come together, with screenings, talks, free exhibitions and club nights taking place all across the historic town of Berwick-upon-Tweed.
A full programme of events is due to be released soon and can be found on Visit Northumberland and NewcastleGateshead Initiative’s websites.