FINAL preparations are underway for the Great Exhibition of the North showcasing the best of region’s art, culture, design and innovation.

The packed programme, including trails and venues across Newcastle and Gateshead, will officially open at 1pm on Friday with the day culminating in a spectacular evening event, which will see the Quayside burst into life.

From 7pm crowds will be immersed in a world of bands, choirs, dance, animation and street performances, This will be free and unrestricted until 8pm when the performers will make their way into the ticketed areas.

The highlight will be the switching on of the spectacular “Angel of the North” water sculpture, measuring 80m in length. After dark, the water sculpture will turn on in sync with a stunning light display and specially commissioned musical collaborations by Maximo Park and Kate Rusby with Royal Northern Sinfonia and Darkstar.

Maximo Park, will be performing live from the River Tyne and a new anthem for the North will be unveiled and performed live by renowned writer, poet and playwright Lemn Sissay.

The celebration, led by destination marketing agency NewcastleGateshead Initiative, is expected to be enjoyed by around 3m visitors over three months and provide an economic boost of an estimated £184m to the region.

It will be centred around three major exhibition hubs – Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle and, across the river, Baltic and Sage Gateshead.

Visitors are encouraged to get out and about exploring on foot too, with the opening of three walking trails, each with a focus on arts, design and innovation and threading through a different area.

Key destinations on the routes will be brought to life by performers, visual artists, architects, musicians, scientists, engineers, inventors, writers, creatives thinkers, designers and digital makers.

One of the many highlights is Aeons, a new sound walk along the River Tyne by Martin Green of the visionary folk trio Lau, commissioned by Opera North.

Featuring Becky Unthank (The Unthanks), Mogwai’s Dominic Aitchison, the Chorus and Orchestra of Opera North and field recordings made along the river, Aeons is an epic, original piece of music designed to be heard on a half-hour walk along Hadrian’s Wall Path.

People can collect a pair of headphones from Gateshead Millennium Bridge and head west on a unique sonic adventure, immersed in a musical world that evolves as they move through the physical landscape, under six historic bridges and out to the fringes of Newcastle’s city centre.

Fusing the latest virtual reality technology with one of the flagship inventions of the 19th century, Stephenson’s Rocket locomotive at the Discovery Museum gives visitors a chance to experience the Rocket at its finest. Produced by northern tech firm Hedgehog Lab, the installation combines virtual and augmented reality to take visitors on a ride back to the early steam age.

The Workers Maypole, an installation by artists Zoe Walker and Neil Bromwich will see Grey’s Monument transformed into a vibrant maypole.

Carol Bell, executive director of the Great Exhibition of the North, said: “We’re really excited for the launch of the Great Exhibition of the North this Friday. The opening event marks the start of an incredible 80-day programme which is jam-packed full of accessible exhibits, live performances, displays of innovation and behind the scenes opportunities for all audiences.

“We encourage visitors from far and wide to come and join us, for what promises to be an amazing summer.”

DJ, presenter and Sunderland native Lauren Laverne is curating a week-long showcase of gigs, talks and exhibitions celebrating the music of the north, held at Sage Gateshead.

Which Way North features more than 200 objects at the Great North Museum, including astronaut Helen Sharman’s space suit, the last piano played by John Lennon, the sonic screwdriver from the 11th Doctor Who and David Hockney’s painting Le Parc des Sources, Vichy.

Dance City has partnered with Yorkshire Dance and choreographer Vanessa Grasse to bring the people of Newcastle together with dynamic choreographic research project.

On selected dates an eclectic group of professional dancers and local residents will take to the streets of Newcastle to perform a series of interactive dance pieces. After the opening event, the water sculpture will run several times a day.

For more information visit https://getnorth2018.com.