Go-ahead Blyth prepares to celebrate
Why regeneration can be fun for all
Regeneration can be fun is the message from Blyth as the Northumberland town prepares to celebrate with a wide ranging programme of events and attractions.
Blyth Celebrates will burst into life with a launch weekend in August and run into next year with a film festival and a festival of energy.
A busy programme of free events, festivals, performances, activities and creative experiences for all ages is promised – and it’s all part of the wider Energising Blyth initiative.
This is the £95 million regeneration programme designed to bring new jobs and learning opportunities, boost the renewable energy industry, improve transport links and attract visitors.
It’s being delivered by Northumberland County Council with funding from the Government, the North East Combined Authority and the county council, and with the support of other partners.
Blyth Celebrates should help with attracting visitors.
Coun. Wendy Pattison, who holds the county council sport and culture portfolio, was delighted to be closely involved with a “fabulous” project.
“Blyth Celebrates is about bringing people together, showcasing creativity and making unforgettable memories right here in the town,” she said.
“It’s about putting creativity at the heart of the town’s regeneration and we’re thrilled to invite everyone to get involved.”
August 23 and 24 is to be launch weekend, with live music and creative workshops in the redeveloped Market Place to coincide with the opening of the new Market Pavilion venue.
The weekend finale will be the People Powered Parade, masterminded by outdoor art and theatre specialists Walk the Plank who are to produce the weekend along with Blyth Town Council and ASP Events.
The parade will wind through the town led by a life-sized but bicycle-powered replica of Stephenson’s Rocket, finishing in the Market Place for a closing event of music and “surprises”.
The following month brings other attractions with Vintage Blyth, scheduled for the weekend of September 13 and 14, showing you can look to the future while appreciating the past.
Produced by ASP Events, it will see the Market Place transformed into a “vintage wonderland” with upcycling, handmade treasures and traditional funfair rides and market stalls.
Salt & Smoke: Stories of Blyth is a Novo Theatre production scheduled for September 26 to 28.
Starting from the Market Place, it will invite people to walk the streets and uncover Blyth’s past, present and future through live storytelling and compelling characters
Autumn half term (October 25 to 28) will see the Market Place enlivened by Luminarium, produced by Architects of the Air, and fun activities inside a luminous inflatable sculpture called Myriad.
October 30 has been set aside for Let’s Play, a family fun day produced by Blyth Town Council with the promise of high energy activities and games.
Then there will be a Halloween Parade on October 31 with participants invited to make a spooky puppet and dress up.
On November 14 and 15 the action moves to Ridley Park for Earth, Wind & Fire Garden, produced by Walk the Plank, and a Friday night lantern parade produced by Headway Arts.
The Christmas lights will be switched on in the Market Place on November 22 heralding a busy Blyth Celebrates festive period with an advent trail and other attractions throughout December.
Blyth Film Festival, in February 2026, will see screenings across the town in familiar and unexpected places across the town.
The Festival of Energy, in March, will also embrace various locations as Blyth’s leading role in clean energy innovations is explored with events, exhibitions and behind-the-scenes experiences.
It’s billed as a festival of exploration produced with partners Port of Blyth, ORE Catapult, Newcastle University and Energy Central Campus, the state-of-the-art education and training facility opened last year at Port of Blyth.
For further details and updates, visit the Blyth Celebrates website.
What a waste of money and so farcical the residents and businesses in Blyth have to suffer broken pavements bycicles on pavements untold/dangerous pavement parking parking on double yellow linings weeds everywhere broken glass litter etc why would anyone want to visit let alone take a walk.