Annual festival of Northumberland’s traditional music, dance, dialect, crafts, stories, heritage, family events – + special themed Vanbrugh Revisited events for 300th anniversary of Town Hall architect Sir John Vanbrugh.

Many free events. Prices: adult /school age. Under 5s free. Sorry no card/phone payments – please bring cash/ cheque.

Latest update 24 February 2026

Festival Office: – Town Hall

During today performers will visit local care homes

09.30 – 17.00 CRAFTS EXHIBITION + refreshments; craft competition entries, craft displays, stalls, CDs, books, posters, archive photos

Town Hall 50p at door/ accompanied under-12s free

Craft Competition entries to be submitted at Town Hall on Thurs 9^th April 17:30-19:00

09.45–10.30 FAMILY STORIES Taffy Thomas Library free

10.00– 16.00 OUTDOOR ENTERTAINERS Punch & Judy, music, song, history Market Place, Sanderson Arcade – all free

10.00 – 16.30 DANCE WORKSHOPS

All in Town Hall Ballroom £3/£1 at door per session

11.00-13.00 HAVE-A-GO NORTHUMBRIAN PIPES drop-in (beginners: pipes provided) Chantry Bagpipe Museum £3/£1 to be confirmed

13.30 – 14.30 SHANTIES IN THE CHANTRY Singalong with Ian McKone in Chantry Bagpipe Museum £3/£1 at door

14.00 OFFICIAL OPENING of Gathering by the Mayor of Morpeth, Cllr Rachael Hogg Town Hall Corn Exchange

14.15 -16.00 TOWN TREASURES Tours of Mayor’s Parlour, Council Chamber, civic silver, portraits, etc, with Mayor & councillors as your guides Town Hall Free

15.00 – 16.00 GAELIC SONGS AND DULCIMERS WORKSHOP with Linn Phipps and Sandie & Ken Hudson (bring any instrument and/or voice!) Chantry Bagpipe Museum £3/£1 door

16.30– 17.30 FAMILY STORIES Taffy Thomas Library free

16.30 – 17.30 THE BAILIFFS’ BALL dance event recreating a Morpeth grand assembly of 1726 in the Town Hall £3/£1 at door

19.30 – 21.45 SIR JOHN’S DELIGHT Ray Alexander as John Vanbrugh presents his life story “A Life of Irony” with Stewart Hardy (fiddle) Town Hall Ballroom £9/£5 ticket

20.00 SINGAROUND led by Ed Lawrence and Sam Dodds Venue to be confirmed Free (donations welcome)

20.00 MUSICIANS’ SESSION Tap & Spile (donations)

M.N.G.Committee, part of Morpeth Antiquarian Society, Reg. Charity no. 507640, reserves the right to alter event details.

DETAILS/UPDATES: www.northumbriana.org.uk QUERIES: 01670 513308 TICKETS: Morpeth TIC 01670 623455