Preparations begin for colourful Tyneside festival

Nov 16 2009 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

PREPARATIONS are under way for the colourful New Year’s Eve Winter Carnival.

Artists come to Tyneside every year to turn Newcastle into a sea of colour, music and dance as the festival fuses traditional North East celebrations with a vibrant parade. But this year more than 150 people from local communities from across the city will take centre stage.

And on Saturday an open day took place in Jesmond, Newcastle when budding performers from across the North East met with the event’s producers, Walk the Plank, Newcastle’s Arts Development Team and choreographers to get a taste of what’s in store. They were given the chance to try on the costumes that appear in the parade, and had a dancer taste session. Community participants can get involved in the Winter Carnival in a number of ways, from making costumes and props, or making music on the day.

For more information call (0191) 278-2960.