What’s On Around Hexham in February
Heathergate Boutique Holiday Park, Hexham, Northumberland
Welcome to What’s on in our area in March. We’ve been scouring our sources for interesting events and activities to tempt you out of your winter hideaways. The are new places to try events. Familiar venues but more unusual performers. The links mainly take you to the place where you can get best information. Try something new this month. As always we hope you have fun.
I’ve given a web link in most cases. Please check before you go. As with all exploring, some of our ‘What’s on’ suggestions will be brilliant, some will give you completely new experiences, and others may be a disappointment. Some events have a fee or ticket price. I’m putting this list together based on what I think looks interesting.
Indoor Market and Craft Fair
At Hexham Abbey.
Saturday, March 7, 2020 – 11:00 to 15:00
Featuring a wide range of handmade and quality crafted items from local suppliers.
This free-to-enter monthly event is organised by CH Event and takes place in the Great Hall (and often some of the other function rooms) in the Priory Buildings of the Abbey.
Why not make a day of it and visit the Refectory cafe downstairs then pop across to the Hand-made, Second-hand and Vintage Sale just over the road in Trinity Church Hall from 2.00-4.00pm (entry 50p).
Hear Katrina Porteous and Alice Robinson perform at The Sill
7th March at 4:00.
Join Katrina Porteous and Alice Robinson for a special performance to accompany the Lost Words Exhibition and International Women’s Day.
Much of Katrina Porteous’s poetry is rooted in a detailed and loving celebration of the landscapes, people and wildlife of Northumberland.
Her 2014 Bloodaxe collection, Two Countries, shortlisted for the Portico Prize, was described in The Morning Star as “one of the most distinctive and important collections of the year” and her latest, Edge, was a Guardian “Poetry Books of the Month” choice in January. Katrina also writes in Northumbrian dialect and is President of the Northumbrian Language Society.
For this performance Katrina is joined by former BBC Young Folk Musician of the Year finalist, Northumbrian piper Alice Robinson.
The performance will last for ninety minutes. Free parking is included in the ticket price.
Hexham Race Course Cheltenham Festival Race Day
Thursday 12th March.
Exciting racing at Britain’s most scenic racecourse.
Situated 600 feet above Hexham, the National Hunt course has 15 scheduled race meetings throughout the year including several popular weekend and evening fixtures.
Hexham Racecourse takes full advantage of its natural amphitheatre setting to provide superb viewing of racing. The left handed undulating track extending to 1 mile 4 furlongs places emphasis on stamina and is surrounded by magnificent countryside.
Make your day more memorable, book into the Pavilion Restaurant for a fantastic four course carvery buffet overlooking the racecourse or enjoy the exclusivity of a private box with a bespoke package. Go the extra furlong and sponsor a race to promote your company or a fun way to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries.
White water canoeing on the Tyne
On Saturday 14th march 2020
What else would you want to do on a Saturday, walking round the shopping is just too boring, maybe an action packed day of white water canoeing only 30 minutes from the centre of Newcastle, this rapid filled day will be one to remember with a stunning landscape, amazing wildlife and some big rapids.
Friends, family all welcome as we have some of the UK very best White-water coaches / guilds on hand to keep you safe throughout the day. Highlights – • White water canoes the classic North Tyne. • Coaching by world-class white-water coaches / guilds. • Hot lunch provided. • All top of the range equipment provided. • Photos and Gopro footage of the day. • Easy parking and close to the A69 (Hexham)
What you will need to bring with you – • Swim wear (to go under your wetsuit) • Footwear to get very wet (not croc’s or flip flops) • Full change of clothes including a big towel • Any personal medication • Waterproof jacket (may get wet) • Warm jumper (may get wet)
Included – • All personal protective equipment • White water coaching / guiding throughout the day • All canoeing related equipment • Lunch and hot drinks • Photos / Gopro footage of the day. • GPS tracking of the day so friends and family see you online.
Cost £40 pp * (min age 12 with parent or guardian)
Stitch in time: A knitting cabaret
A Queen’s Hall event held at Hexham Library Tuesday 24 March 7.30pm
A scintillating evening of the lost knitting songs of WWI and WWII from Canada, Britain, America and France. Feel free to bring your knitting (or crochet), and stitch along to these funny, poignant, toe-tapping, needle-clicking tunes.
TRY IT FOR A TENNER!! Try some new shows for just £10. Watch out for others in the Season!!
Tyne Valley Film Festival
Mar 19 2020 – 10:00pm to Mar 29 2020 – 10:00pm
After the successful inaugural event in 2019, Forum Cinema Hexham are proud to present the second Tyne Valley Film Festival, a community programmed film festival which brings together rural film clubs, venues and community organisations for a celebration of film.
The eclectic community-chosen programme includes films from a total of nine countries including Iceland, Australia, Serbia, German and France, as well as films from every decade between 1910-2020 – a century of film! The majority of screenings will take place at Forum Cinema Hexham but Tyne Valley Film Festival will span across the entire Tyne Valley, starting in Ryton and ending in Haltwhistle, with screenings at unique venues such as Ye Old Cross Inn (Ryton), Wylam Institute, Fuse Cinema Prudhoe, Forum Books (Corbridge), Tarset Village Hall, Allendale Village Hall, Hexham Abbey, The Vault (Hexham), Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham Community Centre, General Havelock Inn, and Haltwhistle Train Station.
Opening the festival at the Forum Cinema Hexham on 19th March, in collaboration with Hexham Book Festival and Northumberland Libraries, is a talk by award-winning author Horatio Clare. Horatio will talk about his latest novel Icebreaker: A Voyage Far North, followed by a screening of Chasing Ice, a visually stunning documentary which follows the efforts of nature photographer James Balog to publicise the effects of climate change in the Arctic.
Japanese in Just a Day!
Japanese in Just a Day! Saturday 28th March 2020 10:00 – 16:30
You can learn a lot of basic Japanese in just a day! Website for charges
Although Japanese is typically regarded as a very challenging language to learn, it does in fact work according to simple and ingenious principles and it is possible to pick up the basic greetings and essentials for getting by in almost no time.
The principles behind the Japanese writing system will be explained and you will learn how to write your own name in real Japanese script.
