Blyth Celebrates: A year of festivals, events, and fun for all

17 Feb 2025

Blyth is set to embark on an exciting new chapter with the launch of Blyth Celebrates, a transformative year-long programme designed to bring the community together while showcasing the rich heritage and bright future of Northumberland’s largest town. 

The programme, running from Summer 2025, will transform Blyth into a vibrant hub of creativity, connection and celebration. The festivities will coincide with the grand opening of the Market Pavilion, a state-of-the-art cinema and cultural venue located in the heart of Blyth’s revitalised Market Place. 

As the centrepiece of Blyth Celebrates, the Market Place will host a variety of celebratory festivals, creative events, and community-led activities that highlight the town’s unique identity throughout the year. 

As Councillor Jeff Watson, Cabinet Member for Healthy Lives at Northumberland County Council, explains: “Blyth Celebrates is about putting creativity at the heart of the town’s regeneration, and we’re thrilled to invite everyone to get involved. 

“Building on the success of Blyth’s existing events programme working closely with all our partners in the town including the Town Council, we will be turning the town centre into a hive of activity where our community can come together and visitors can discover what makes Blyth truly special. 

“This town is a UK and global hub for renewable energy, innovation, and opportunity - Blyth Celebrates is a celebration of everything that makes the town extraordinary. With free activities for all ages, we’re making sure everyone can join in the fun and feel part of something special.” 

At the heart of the campaign is the newly launched Blyth Celebrates Fund, an exciting opportunity for communities, organisations, artists, and creative practitioners to actively contribute to the Blyth Celebrates programme. This fund is designed to support innovative and engaging projects that highlight Blyth’s vibrant culture and connect with local audiences. 

The Community Celebrations and Creative Spaces strands offer grants ranging from £500 to £2,500, supporting projects that showcase the town’s unique spirit and foster community engagement. The Community Celebrations strand invites local residents, artists, and community groups to deliver free public events in Blyth’s Market Place. 

Successful projects will be selected by a panel of Blyth residents, ensuring community ownerships and representation. Meanwhile, the Creative Spaces strand provides funding for artists and creative practitioners, from Blyth and beyond, to host cultural activities in the new Market Pavilion encouraging creativity and connection.

 The Artist Commissions strand offers grants of up to £5,000 to support the creation of temporary artworks and interventions in Blyth’s town centre, designed to inspire and enrich the local landscape. 

Anyone interested in learning more about the Blyth Celebrates Fund and how to apply is invited to attend one of the upcoming drop-in sessions. These will be held on Thursday 20 February, from 10am to 4pm, and on Thursday 6 March, from 2pm to 6pm, at the Blyth CVA Community Hub on Market Street in Blyth. Additionally, an online session will take place on Tuesday 4 March at 10am. 

Interested applicants are invited to register interest via Eventbrite to sign up for this session. Blyth Celebrates will invite residents and visitors to enjoy a dynamic programme of events including Blyth’s first play festival, encouraging people of all ages to come together and celebrate the joy and wonder of play; an energy festival, highlighting the town’s dynamic journey in sustainability and renewable energy; a vintage funfair offering nostalgic charm with free family friendly entertainment and sustainable stalls; and special performances that will transform the Market Place into a bustling hub of live music, connection and celebration. 

A stunning fire garden will illuminate the town’s inspiring journey in sustainability and innovation, while a film festival will offer unique cinematic experiences in exciting locations across Blyth. Alongside these highlights, a variety of markets, community celebrations, and creative commissions will ensure there is something for everyone to enjoy throughout the year. 

To learn more about Blyth Celebrates, how to apply for the Blyth Celebrates Fund, and how you can get involved, visit https://www.marketpavilion.co.uk/blyth-celebrates

Blyth Celebrates is part of Energising Blyth, a £95 million regeneration programme to grow, renew and connect the town. It is being delivered by Northumberland County Council, and this project is funded by the UK Government and Northumberland County Council, with support from other partners. With this investment, Blyth is becoming a vibrant hub for culture, community, and economic growth.