YMCA North Tyneside

14/06/2026

What a day! ☀️

A massive thank you to everyone who came down, grabbed a picnic blanket, and made Picnic in the Park such an incredible day. The atmosphere was amazing, and the food was next-level! 🙌

If you’re already missing the menu or didn’t get a chance to try everything, make sure you give our legendary lineup a follow to see where they are pitching up next:

🥪 Truly Torta – For picnic-perfect Mexican tortas like their Cochinita Pibil pulled pork or Barbacoa beef brisket. 🥪

🍕 LUCCA PIZZA CO. – For the freshest wood-fired slices and specialty hot honey toppings. 🍕

🍔 Jam Jar – For the ultimate smashed burger and loaded fry fix from the Jam Van. 🍔

🍦 ROBS ICES – For keeping us all cool with those classic, nostalgic ice cream treats. 🍦

☕ YMCA Cafe– And a huge shoutout to our own team, who kept absolutely everyone refuelled—not just the kids! Thanks for serving up the kids' boxes, sweets, and plenty of treats for the grown-ups too. 🎈

Support local and head over to their pages to track down your next food fix! 👇

12/06/2026

At last weekend's Picnic in the Park, YMCA North Tyneside officially unveiled our stunning new Community Blanket—a beautiful masterpiece celebrating connection, care, and North Tyneside’s amazing community spirit!

Over the last few months, local residents and charity groups have lovingly crafted unique squares, beautifully stitched together into one giant piece by Sue Yarde.

A massive thank you to our incredible contributors:
💙 Live Well with Cancer | Cullercoats WI (Susanne Moore) | The Lil Community Hub & Soundbites | Keep Well Together | Stroke North | YMCA Youth Group | Age UK | Take Part North East CIC | Holystone Hinnies WI | I Love North Shields (Craft with Amy)

🌟 Special Centrepiece Spotlight: The 16 squares at the very centre were created by the Northumbria Crafters (NHS staff) to spread positivity, raise awareness for bowel cancer and dementia, and celebrate the NHS!

📍 Come and see it! The blanket will soon be proudly put up on display inside the YMCA North Tyneside building for everyone to enjoy.

👉 Were you involved? See if you can spot your square in the photos, tag your group in the comments, and read the full story on our blog: https://bit.ly/49Trrp6

Missed the big reveal at Picnic in the Park? YMCA North Tyneside has officially unveiled its new Community Blanket! Handcrafted by local residents, schools, and local charity groups, this vibrant masterpiece celebrates the very best of North Tyneside's community spirit.

10/06/2026

Next up in our Picnic in the Park thank-yous, we are shining a massive, well-deserved spotlight on our incredible live entertainment! 🎤✨

First, we have to say another huge thank you to the Independent North Shields Supporters Association (INSSA). Because of their generous sponsorship of the main stage, we were able to provide a proper platform for young local talent 💚

For some of our amazing young performers, Saturday was their very first time stepping onto a big stage. For others, it was a fantastic opportunity to share their music and reach a brand-new audience. Honestly? Every single one of them did a brilliant job. They kept the crowd entertained, the energy high, and had our volunteers bopping away at their stalls all day long! 💃🕺

We really do have some exceptional grassroots talent right here in North Shields. Please join us in thanking our wonderful Saturday lineup...and make sure to go give them a follow on all socials:

✨ Mad Magic
✨ True Colours Theatre CIO Foundation
✨ Kody Walker
✨ Mia Rothwell
✨ North Tyneside Steelband
✨ Alation
✨ Helenalilymusic485
✨ Joe Bartley
✨ Yellow.Pages.Music

Thank you all for bringing the magic and making the park come alive! 🎶

👇 Did you catch any of these amazing acts on Saturday? Drop your favourite moments, photos, or videos in the comments below to show them some love!

08/06/2026

What an incredible day Saturday was! Picnic in the Park was a massive success, and we are still on a high from all the energy, smiles, and laughter our North Shields community shared 💚

Events like this don’t just happen...they take a village. We want to extend an enormous thank you to everyone who came out, and a huge shoutout to the core team who helped make the event possible:

✨ Independent North Shields Supporters Association (INNSA) for sponsoring towards the cost of the stage this year—and for already pledging to sponsor next year, too!
✨ Steve Keys - Magician : DJ : Compere for compering the day masterfully and keeping the energy high from start to finish.
✨ Anth and The Two Pennies for keeping everyone refreshed with drinks throughout the day, but mostly, for always being a huge supporter of ours...we don't know what we'd do without you 💚

There were SO many incredible people, performers, vendors, and volunteers who made Saturday possible that Facebook actually won't let us tag everyone all at once!

Because of that, we are going to be dedicating individual shoutout posts over the coming weeks to properly celebrate all of our amazing live performers, fantastic food vendors, creative activity makers, and our wonderful community blanket partners. Keep your eyes peeled for those!

And finally, a massive thank you to YOU, our incredible community, for showing up and making it a day we won't forget anytime soon 📸

06/06/2026

And we’re off! Get yourselves along to Northumberland Square and enjoy the day 🎶🎉

06/06/2026

PICNIC IN THE PARK IS TODAY! 🎉

We are kicking things off at 10:00 AM with a brilliant morning of family-friendly entertainment and activities perfect for the kids. Then, things really get moving at 12:00 PM as our main stage bursts into life with non-stop music from our incredibly talented young lineup, running all the way until 4:00 PM! 🎤✨

We've attached the event map so you can plot your route to all the amazing food, games, and activities. Just in case the weather decides to do its thing, make sure to pop your brollies and rain macs in your bag so nothing stops the fun! ☔🧥

See you all very soon! 💛

Mad Magic True Colours Theatre CIO Foundation Yellow.Pages.Music The Two Pennies Truly Torta LUCCA PIZZA CO. Jam Jar ROBS ICES Candy Floss Events Independent North Shields Supporters Association

05/06/2026

TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY! PICNIC IN THE PARK IS FINALLY HERE! 🥳

We are so excited to welcome you all to Northumberland Square tomorrow (Saturday 6th) from 10am to 4pm for an unforgettable day of community celebration!

The main stage is set to be packed with sensational young local talent, alongside a spectacular lineup of delicious food stalls, sweet treats, and refreshing drinks 🎤🍕✨

Around the square we'll have giant garden games, arts and crafts, face painting, a live art workshop, and even tortoise petting. You can also join the scouts for outdoor fun, witness the unveiling of our community blanket, and check out the big debut of our brand-new mobile community Y-Bus! 🚌🎨

Just a quick practical note before you head out: remember to pack your waterproofs, brollies, and wellies for the little ones so we're ready for anything. Also, while we hope to accept card payments, cash is highly preferred to keep things moving quickly at the stalls.

We have so much to celebrate and can't wait to see the square packed with smiling faces. See you tomorrow! 💛

Mad Magic True Colours Theatre CIO Foundation Helenalilymusic485 Yellow.Pages.Music The Two Pennies Truly Torta LUCCA PIZZA CO. Jam Jar ROBS ICES Candy Floss Events

05/06/2026

✨ PITP: Alation ✨

Turn the volume up! Next to take the stage is a powerhouse five-piece indie rock band shaking up the North-East music scene: Alation! 🎸⚡

⏰ STAGE TIME: 1:35 PM 🎵 FOR FANS OF: Oasis, The Beatles, The Stone Roses

Formed in 2021 and fronted by twin brothers Ethan and Charlie Boreham—alongside Josh Peters, Matty Kirkley, and Will Thurkettle—Alation blends classic British rock influences with a fresh, modern edge and an unmistakable Newcastle spirit.

From writing their first tunes together back in school to playing packed local venues, these lads have built a massive reputation for high-energy live shows and massive, anthemic originals. Make sure you're ready to move when they play their crowd-favorite track, 'Be Free'!

05/06/2026

✨ PITP: Kody Walker ✨

Next up on our line-up is a familiar face who has been absolutely taking the local music scene by storm: Kody Walker! 🎸

⏰ STAGE TIME: 12:05 PM 🎵 FOR FANS OF: Bob Dylan, Sam Fender, Paolo Nutini

Returning to Picnic in the Park with serious momentum, Kody has quickly become a staple of the North Shields circuit, frequenting local favourite spots like Salt Market Social, The Low Lights, and Penelope O’Shea’s. He started out at busker's nights at just 14 years old, now runs his own nights, and has his ultimate professional sights set on playing Newcastle City Hall! 🚀

Known for his magnetic charisma and a soulful, gravelly depth that has earned him the title of the "Bob Dylan of North Shields," Kody specialises in slow, evocative covers that completely command the crowd. We can't wait to welcome him back!