This weekend in Newcastle: 12 canny things to dee
By Paul Clarke · · Draft · 2-minute read
✱ Draft. Every pick is real and was checked against the venue's own page on Tue, 20 Oct 2026, but plans change, so check the link before you set off.
Alreet! Welcome to issue 1 of Howay Out! Every Thursday I pick a dozen or so things worth gannin' to in Newcastle and Gateshead, so you can stop scrolling and start planning.
This weekend: wings at Wylam, The Strokes at the Arena for the first time ever, Our Friends in the North's last shows at the Theatre Royal, and half term kicking off with free stuff for the bairns. Two things to know before you set off: the Tyne Bridge is shut to everyone, walkers included, from 11pm Friday, and there's no Metro between St James and Monkseaton (so no Manors or Byker) from Saturday. More on that at the bottom.
Sport-wise, the Red Bulls host Sale Sharks at Kingston Park on Friday (7.45pm, with a 4.30pm development game on the same ticket), the Eagles are home at the Vertu Motors Arena on Friday and Saturday nights, and the Toon are away at Crystal Palace on Sunday, 2pm.
Want this in your inbox every Thursday? Sign up free. Want to filter by area or budget? Try the weekend finder.
Gan Canny Picks
The editor's top shouts for the weekend.
Lord of the Wings food battle
Wing vendors gan head to head for one wing to rule them all. Fri 3pm til late, Sat noon til late. Free entry, all ages, veggie and vegan options. Pay for your scran.
Wylam Brewery, Palace of Arts, Exhibition Park · Nearest Metro: Haymarket
Our Friends in the North: The Thatcher Years
Tosker, Geordie, Nicky and Mary are back hyem in a new stage version by Peter Flannery. Last shows: Fri 7.30pm, Sat 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Strong language and adult themes.
Newcastle Theatre Royal · Nearest Metro: Monument · Indoors
Howay Out
Nights out, gigs and a laugh.
The Strokes
First time ever in Newcastle. Fat White Family and Alex Cameron support. Strict 4-ticket limit, no under-14s on the standing floor.
Utilita Arena Newcastle · Nearest Metro: Central · Indoors
Soul II Soul
Keep on movin' into the weekend. Doors 7pm, show 8pm, curfew 11pm.
O2 City Hall Newcastle · Nearest Metro: Haymarket · Indoors
The Wedding Present
Marking 35 years of Seamonsters. 14+, under-16s with an adult. Small bags only, A4 max.
Boiler Shop · Nearest Metro: Central · Indoors
Dish, Texas presents The Dishwasher
Debut night of a new local alternative showcase: New-builds, Spider Noises, The Beauty Pageant and Dish, Texas. £5 plus fees, 18+. Manors Metro is shut this weekend, so walk down.
The Cluny · Indoors
Blackout: Fear Loves an Audience
Immersive horror in an old theatre with a reputation. 15+, haze and sudden darkness. Tickets marked limited, so divvent hang about.
Tyne Theatre & Opera House · Nearest Metro: Central · Indoors
Scran and markets
Fill yer boots.
Quayside Sunday Market
Local crafts, art, food and the old-school sweets and plants stalls along the river. The Tyne Bridge is shut, walkers too, so cross by the Millennium or Swing Bridge.
Quayside Market, Swing Bridge to Millennium Bridge · Nearest Metro: Monument
Half-term bairns
Half term starts Friday. Sorted.
Curious Crawlers (woodland theme)
Songs, dens and sensory play for crawlers and pre-walkers. Sessions 10.30am and 1pm. Free, but book ahead: one adult and one child ticket each.
Great North Museum: Hancock · Nearest Metro: Haymarket · Indoors
Things That Go! at Discovery Museum
Half term starts here. Full-size play train, magnetic transport wall and a story corner for primary-age bairns. Free, no booking, Sat and Sun 11am-4pm.
Discovery Museum · Nearest Metro: Central · Indoors
Canny Cheap
Free or next to nowt.
Free Spotlight Tour at Baltic
Bitesize free tours at 11.30, 1.30 and 3.30, Wed to Sun. Don't miss Tish Murtha's Elswick photos in Close to Home on Level 3.
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art · Nearest Metro: Gateshead · Indoors
Rainy day backup
Because it's Newcastle.
Laing Art Gallery and Playspace
Free entry and a free circus-themed Playspace for little ones (til 3.30pm). Saturday only, it's shut Sundays. The Pre-Raphaelites show is ticketed.
Laing Art Gallery · Nearest Metro: Monument · Indoors
Getting about
Big one this week. From Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November there are no Metro trains between St James and Monkseaton, with the 900 replacement bus running instead (Nexus). Central, Monument, Haymarket and Gateshead are still on the Metro, but for the Ouseburn it's a walk down from the city centre.
The Tyne Bridge is closed to cars, bikes and people on foot from 11pm Friday 23 October until 5am Monday 2 November (Newcastle City Council). Walk over the Millennium, Swing or High Level Bridge instead, and expect the roads to be chocka.
Got summat on next weekend?
Running a gig, market, quiz or pop-up? Submit your event and it might make issue 2. It's free.