Viking parade and fireworks herald Newcastle's New Year (From The Northern Echo)
For details on how to contact our editorial and commercial departments, click here
Viking parade and fireworks herald Newcastle's New Year
12:10am Tuesday 1st January 2013 in News
By Mark Tallentire, Reporter (Durham)
Thousands turned out for Newcastle's winter carnival
A VIKING-inspired parade heralded the arrival of the New Year in Newcastle.
Thousands took to the streets of the city for a New Year’s Eve Winter Carnival featuring a colourful procession which drew on Norse mythology and Viking folklore for family entertainment.
The early evening event closed with a fireworks finale.
There were more fireworks later on, as Tyneside’s quayside was lit up at midnight for the first time in ten years.
Newcastle City Council scrapped the previously-annual display after 2003’s was disrupted by bad weather.
Its reintroduction last night was the result of sponsorship and private funding.
Carol Bell, from the Newcastle-Gateshead Initiative, said: “We all recognise we’re facing challenging economic times and the council does invest in New Year’s Eve... but the council investment is not going towards the midnight event.
“I think we’re being sensitive in relation to budgets and we’ve been fortunate to get a business sponsor who is covering the cost of the fireworks.”
Comments are closed on this article.
