Whitley Bay Carnival 2026
FOLK

We’re still needing funds for 2026!

It’s been a tough year but with a lot of help from our friends, donors and sponsors,  old and new, and a grant from Arts Council England we are going ahead with one big free day out on Saturday May 23rd.

Please donate here

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/qr/dyR5o0Zn

Saturday 23rd 11am ‘FOLK’ Carnival Parade

11am – 12:30 Whitley Bay Metro Station to The Links via Station Road, Whitley Road, Park View, Marine Ave
Featuring costumed promenaders and giant structures from 16 schools/groups with live music from Spanish City Rollers, Drumdin, & Storytellers Streetband,

Our theme for 2026 is FOLK and as always we have kept it loose enough for very individual interpretations by our carnival costumieres, the carnival clubs and all the 16 participating schools and community groups. Look out for the selkies and other characters from folklore and local tales. We think this might be our most fantastical parade so far. The Amsterdam ‘Fanfare van de Eerste Liefdesnacht’ will be arriving with us fresh from the ferry. See them before the parade sets off on Station Road and later on stage.

Bubble Whisperer will be with us in the parade as it winds it’s way from Station Road along  Whitley Road, Park View, Marine Ave and over to the links and later on the plaza.

Spanish City Plaza

Open Air Stage from 10am – 6pm

We will have an open air stage at the Spanish City Plaza from 10am till 6pm with a programme of live music hosted by DJ  Andrea Roberston.

The Amsterdam Fanfare, The Storytellers Streetband, Drumdin,  Spanish City Rollers, Bay Vox, Whitley Women,  Chilli Road Band, Sax on Tyne, Whitley Warblers and Boozy voices will be part of a love song to Whitley Bay called  ‘A Rendezvous’ written for us by Ken Patterson and Stu Finden, with Chris Bostock The Storyteller telling the tale.

See ‘A Rendezvous’ and join in the chorus at 2pm on the plaza. You can learn the song here: https://rendevouschoirsandbands.wordpress.com/choir-song-scores-and-audio/ Ukulele part here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wIQNp0ysco

At around 4:30pm – take your partners by the hands for the big family ceilidh led by The Storytellers Streetband with caller Alisdair, folk dances tunes played on horns!

We are adding to the programme as the crowd funder allows – see the whitley bay carnival facebook page for updates!