Definitely a date for your diary, this yearly event is bigger and better than ever with special events all over Newcastle involving culture and the arts from music, food, readings and art shows to performances. Best of all, it’s free!

Attendees wander round at their leisure from venue to venue on foot with other visitors (you’ll recognise each other by the luminous wrist bands you are given, it’s amazing to see how many other people are attending), or using the free bus which takes you round. More details are available here: http://www.thelateshows.org.uk/

I was there last year and had a great time, it was such a good atmosphere everywhere we went. Two folk musicians playing fiddles upstairs in Blackfriars mediaeval hall were so brilliant that my fiancé and I booked them on the spot for our wedding.

The Late Shows event is scheduled for Friday 18th to Saturday 19th May.