Christmas Market, The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle on Friday, 3-8pm and Saturday/Sunday 10-6pm. 

The Bowes Museum’s annual Christmas Market – a firm favourite in the region’s calendar – has been extended this year. 

It will be bigger and better than ever, with over 100 hand-picked stallholders offering original locally sourced Christmas produce, live music, seasonal entertainment, prize draws from Smooth Radio.

  • Admission £5 adult, child £2.50. Plus £5 per car to park onsite (Sat & Sun only). 01833-690606. 

Castle Players present A Christmas Carol, The Witham, Barnard Castle, on Saturday

Join The Castle Players for this traditional family treat. Scrooge is all about hoarding and keeping, but with mulled wine, mince pies, carol singers, and excited children, there's no escape from Christmas.

  • Performances start at 3.00pm and 7.30pm. 

Tickets on 01833-631107. 


The Northern Echo:

The Demon Barber, Sage Gateshead on Saturday, 7pm

The Lock In 'Christmas Carol' half gig, half dance show and half panto. 
Join the BBC award winning team of musicians and dancers for 150% of the very best festive live music, song and dance.

It’s Christmas Eve and the regulars of The Olde Fighting Cocks are excited about the night ahead, it’s going to be the folk and hip hop dance party of the year.

To their dismay the landlady, Jasmineezer Scrooge, has more profitable ambitions and is preparing to launch her new business, the ‘Oompah Techno Bar’. Cheap alco-pops, luminous lighting and mind-numbing bass beats are all in danger of alienating the local community and ruining Christmas. Fortunately, some insightful souls are at hand to lead her back to her senses.

  • Tel: 0191-4434661. 

The Wizard of Oz, Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond

Click your heels together and transport yourself to the wonderful world of Oz! 

This year’s pantomime is based on the much-loved story of Dorothy and her friends the Lion, Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and, of course, Toto the dog. 

This centuries-old tale has captivated generations and is sure to be a hit with audiences of all ages, from those who remember the original 1939 movie to those who are taking the yellow brick road for the first time.

Over the years, The Georgian Theatre Royal has built up an enviable reputation for its pantomimes, which are well-known throughout the region for the very best in festive entertainment. We promise star-quality performances, catchy songs, dazzling special effects and oodles of hilarious family-style fun.

  • Runs until January 7. Tel: 01748-825252. 

The Northern Echo:

Beatlemania in ‘Pepper Again’, Stockton ARC on Saturday, 8pm

Beatlemania are the world's leading Beatle tribute band and effortlessly create the sound, look and stage presence of the fab four. 

1967 was the year of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and this tour will pay tribute to this album as well as Magical Mystery Tour. There has never been (nor probably will ever be) a year in which a single band produced so much quality material as The Beatles did during the year 1967. 

This includes both the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour albums along with several promotional videos, a live television special, and their third film.

  • Tickets on 01642-525199. 

The Book Of Dragons, Theatre Royal Studio, York, runs until January 6

It all began when something flew into Effie’s eye – it felt like a red-hot spark, but it seemed to have legs and wings as well… “I know what it is. It’s a dragon like St George killed.” 

The next day the news was full of reports of the wonderful ‘winged lizards’ that were appearing all over the country, though the newspapers of course never called them dragons, no one believes in dragons nowadays, and they didn’t want to look silly. Small ones, tall ones, fiery ones, icy ones, friendly ones, scary ones, there is an alarming plague of dragons. 

Come and pick your perfect dragon among these madcap tales, and find out about all the different ways that clever people have outwitted them. A festive treat for all the family.

  • Tickets on 01904-623568. 

The Northern Echo:

Victorian Christmas, Castle Museum, York, runs until December 24

Take a stroll over the cobbles of our twinkling Victorian street this Christmas and experience the magic and festive traditions of days gone by. 

Journey back in time to discover how Christmas would have been celebrated 150 years ago on York Castle Museum’s enchanting Kirkgate; the ideal backdrop for a month of Christmas festivities, music and cheer. 
Hear about the history of gingerbread with special demonstrations. 
Chris Cade will be performing his immersive one man family show of the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol.