What’s on When in Northumberland
Key dates and events to plan your Northumberland 250 adventure around.
January
Allendale Tar Bar'l (New Year's Eve into 1st January) — One of England's most extraordinary and ancient fire festivals, the Allendale Tar Bar'l sees local 'guisers' carry blazing barrels of tar on their heads through the packed streets of Allendale Town to usher in the New Year. A fiercely proud local tradition stretching back centuries, it is one of the great folk customs of northern England.
Northumberland Dark Skies — With the longest nights of the year, January is prime time for stargazing in Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, one of the largest dark sky areas in Europe.
Whooper Swans at Druridge Bay — These magnificent migratory birds overwinter on Northumberland's wetlands and coastal reserves, with Druridge Bay Country Park a key site for spotting them alongside other wildfowl.
Burns Night Celebrations (25th January) — Scottish influence runs deep in border Northumberland, and Burns Night is marked with suppers, poetry, and the skirl of pipes in communities across the county.
February
Scoring of the Hales, Alnwick (Shrove Tuesday) — One of Northumberland's most unusual and ancient sporting traditions, the Scoring of the Hales sees a mass football match played through the streets of Alnwick on Easter Monday. Two teams, the freemen's sons and the tradesmen's sons, compete in a game that has been played since at least the 18th century, with the ball thrown from the battlements of Alnwick Castle to start proceedings.
Northumberland Dark Skies Festival — Held across the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, this dedicated festival brings together astronomers, scientists, and stargazers for a programme of guided night sky events, expert talks, telescope sessions, and after-dark walks. With some of the least light-polluted skies in England, Northumberland offers a genuinely spectacular backdrop for the event.
Snowdrop Season — Carpets of snowdrods begin appearing at historic estates such as Howick Hall, Wallington Hall and Belsay Hall, heralding the first signs of spring across the county's woodlands and gardens.
Cormorant and Seabird Watch — The Farne Islands colony begins to stir, and the coastal cliffs from Seahouses to Bamburgh offer exceptional birdwatching as seabirds start returning to their breeding grounds.
Otter Watching on the Tyne and Coquet — February's bare riverbanks and low vegetation make it the ideal month to spot otters along Northumberland's rivers. The Tyne and Coquet both hold healthy otter populations, and patient, quiet observation at dawn or dusk is often rewarded.
Belsay Hall Winter Gardens — English Heritage opens Belsay Hall's remarkable quarry garden in late winter, where exotic plantings and the dramatic sandstone gorge create an otherworldly landscape that is particularly atmospheric in the low light of February.
March
Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival — One of the UK's most distinctive film festivals, held in the historic border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, screening independent, experimental, and world cinema in atmospheric venues across the town.
Curlew Return — The evocative, bubbling call of the curlew signals spring across Northumberland's upland moors. The county is one of England's most important strongholds for this threatened wading bird.
Daffodils at Warkworth Castle — The grassy banks and surrounds of Warkworth Castle are carpeted in golden daffodils through March, making for one of the most picturesque seasonal sights on the Northumberland coast, the medieval keep framed by spring colour.
St Cuthbert's Day (20th March) — Commemorations mark the death of Northumberland's patron saint, with special services at Holy Island (Lindisfarne) and the remains of the priory that bears his legacy.
April
Cherry Blossom at The Alnwick Garden — The internationally acclaimed Alnwick Garden reopens in full swing with spring colour in the grand cascade gardens and the poison garden, drawing visitors from across the UK.
Puffins Arrive at the Farne Islands — One of Northumberland's most beloved annual spectacles, tens of thousands of puffins return to the Farne Islands to breed from early April. Watching these charismatic seabirds come ashore after months at sea is a truly magical sight, and boat trips from Seahouses begin operating as soon as the colony is established.
Willow Warblers and Spring Migrants — April brings a wave of migratory songbirds back to Northumberland's woodlands and hedgerows. Willow warblers, chiffchaffs, and blackcaps fill the air with song, and the county's coastal watch points at Cresswell and Newbiggin are excellent spots for observing migrant arrivals.
Lindisfarne Pilgrimage Walks — Easter draws pilgrims and walkers across the ancient causeway to Holy Island, following in the footsteps of medieval pilgrims along the Pilgrim's Way marked by wooden poles across the tidal sands.
Cherry Blossom at The Alnwick Garden — The internationally acclaimed Alnwick Garden reopens in full swing with spring colour in the grand cascade gardens and the poison garden, drawing visitors from across the UK.
May
Kielder Osprey Watch — Ospreys returning to nest at Kielder Water can be observed from dedicated viewpoints operated by Northumberland Wildlife Trust, offering one of the most reliable osprey watching opportunities in northern England.
Northumberland County Show — Held at Bywell, this is the county's premier agricultural show, celebrating farming, livestock, crafts, and rural traditions that have defined Northumberland's landscape for centuries.
From the Land Beer Festival (2nd & 3rd May) — Hosted at Rigg & Furrow's family farm at Acklington Park in the heart of the Northumbrian countryside, From the Land is a two-day invitational beer festival celebrating the very best of craft brewing and fermentation.
Wildflower Meadows in Bloom — Northumberland's hay meadows burst into colour with yellow rattle, cowslips, and orchids.
Events at Bamburgh Castle — The season of outdoor events at Bamburgh Castle gets underway, with medieval re-enactments, jousting tournaments, and heritage weekends set against the iconic sea-cliff fortress.
June
Summer Solstice — The longest day draws gatherings at sites across the county.
Arctic Tern Colonies on the Farnes — June is peak season for Arctic terns on the Farne Islands, where one of Britain's largest colonies nests. Visitors should expect to be dive-bombed by these fiercely protective birds, a wildly memorable experience at close quarters.
The Northumbrian — Northumberland's flagship long-distance triathlon sends competitors swimming, cycling, and running through some of the county's most spectacular scenery. Starting and finishing at Kielder Water, the event draws athletes from across the UK and beyond, and the wild landscape of the Border Forest makes it one of the most memorable and demanding courses on the British triathlon calendar.
Great North Swim — One of the most scenic open water swimming events in the country, the Great North Swim takes place on the vast expanse of Kielder Water, with distances to suit everyone from first-time open water swimmers to seasoned long-distance competitors.
July
Alnmouth Arts Festival — The charming estuary village of Alnmouth hosts its annual arts festival, bringing together visual artists, musicians, and makers in one of Northumberland's most picturesque coastal settings. Exhibitions, open studios, and performances spread across the village make this a highlight of the early summer cultural calendar.
Cheviot Hill Walking Season — July marks the height of the walking season in the Cheviot Hills, with long daylight hours and settled weather making it the ideal time to tackle The Cheviot itself, or to explore the ancient hillforts and drove roads of the border uplands.
Alnwick International Music Festival — One of the North East's most celebrated community music festivals transforms the medieval streets of Alnwick with live performances spanning folk, classical, jazz, and traditional Northumbrian music.
Rothbury Traditional Music Festival — This intimate festival in the heart of Coquetdale celebrates traditional music from Northumberland and the wider British Isles, with sessions, workshops, and performances held across the town's pubs, halls, and open spaces.
Seabird Fledging Season — July is the height of the breeding season on the Farne Islands, with puffin chicks ('pufflings'), guillemots, razorbills, and Arctic terns all raising young. Boat trip demand peaks and pre-booking is essential.
Northumbrian Smallpipes and Folk Tradition — Summer festivals and village events throughout July celebrate the distinctively quiet and haunting Northumbrian smallpipes, one of the county's most unique cultural traditions.
August
Heather in Bloom — The Northumberland moorlands and uplands are transformed into a sea of purple heather in mid to late August, with the Cheviots and the moors above Rothbury among the most stunning locations.
The Gaderung (Lammas) - A celebration of Northumbria’s rich food, culture, and heritage in Wooler.
Lindisfarne Arts Festival — Holy Island hosts an intimate arts and music festival celebrating the creative heritage of the island, with exhibitions, concerts, and events inspired by its extraordinary spiritual and natural setting.
Wader Passage at Druridge Bay — From late August, Druridge Bay's wetlands and shore become a staging post for wading birds moving south, with greenshank, spotted redshank, little stint, and curlew sandpiper all possible among the flocks.
September
Allen Valleys Folk Festival — Held in and around the beautiful Allen Valleys near Allendale, this much-loved festival celebrates traditional folk music, dance, and Northumbrian culture across a weekend of performances, sessions, and ceilidhs and culminates in the burning of a giant wolf effigy.
Lindisfarne Festival — Held on the breathtaking tidal island of Holy Island, the Lindisfarne Festival is one of the most atmospheric music and arts festivals in the north of England.
Salmon Run — Autumn rains trigger the Atlantic salmon run up the River North Tyne and into Kielder Water's feeder streams, one of the great wildlife spectacles of inland Northumberland.
Whooper Swan Arrivals — The first whooper swans of autumn begin to arrive from Iceland in late September, their bugling calls overhead one of the most evocative sounds of the turning season on the Northumberland coast.
Harvest and Agricultural Auctions — Northumberland's farming calendar reaches its climax with sheep sales at marts such as Hexham and Bellingham, where Cheviot and Blackface tups are sold in sales steeped in centuries of tradition.
October
Red Squirrel Spotting Season — Autumn is ideal for spotting red squirrels as they forage and cache food. Kielder Forest holds one of England's largest red squirrel populations, and hides at Kielder and Wallington offer reliable sightings.
Autumn Colour — Northumberland is ablaze with autumn colour, drawing walkers and photographers to some of Northumberland's finest landscapes.
Kielder Marathon — Set within the vast Kielder Water and Forest Park, the Kielder Marathon is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful marathon courses in Britain. Runners follow trails through ancient forest and along the shores of Kielder Water, with the remote and dramatic landscape making it as much a celebration of Northumberland's wild interior as it is a sporting challenge.
Deer Rut — October brings the red, sika and roe deer rut to Northumberland's forests and moorland fringes. The sight and sound of stags bellowing and clashing antlers at dawn in the forests around Kielder and the Cheviots is one of the most primal wildlife experiences the county can offer.
November
Grey Seals Pupping Season — December sees the end of the grey seal pupping season on the Farne Islands, with young pups basking on rocks and adults hauled out along the Northumberland coastline, a wonderful and quieter wildlife spectacle to close the year.
Bonfire Night (5th November) — Communities across Northumberland to mark Guy Fawkes Night with bonfires and firework displays, with events in Alnwick, Hexham, and Berwick-upon-Tweed drawing large crowds.
Pink-Footed Geese Arrival — Vast skeins of pink-footed geese arrive from Iceland to overwinter on Northumberland's farmland and coastal marshes. Dawn and dusk flights over Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve are among the most dramatic wildlife sights in England.
Hexham Abbey Advent Concerts — The magnificent Abbey Church of St Andrew in Hexham, one of the finest medieval churches in northern England, hosts a series of candlelit advent concerts and choral events throughout November and into December.
December
Christmas Markets and Events — Northumberland comes alive with festive spirit throughout December, with Christmas markets, craft fairs, and seasonal events held across the county.
The Gaderung (Yule) - A celebration of Northumbria’s rich food, culture, and heritage in Wooler.
Northumberland Winter Solstice — The winter solstice on the 21st December is celebrated across the county.
Allendale Tar Bar'l (New Year's Eve) — The year closes as it opens in Allendale, with the Tar Bar'l fire festival drawing crowds from across the region to witness guisers carry blazing barrels through the streets in one of England's most spectacular and ancient New Year traditions.