Preparations are well under way for the annual Paddy Fest in Newcastle which this year will involve a move to a new indoor location.
The festival, which celebrates St Patrick's Day and normally takes place in a giant marquee in Times Square, is this time being hosted at the NX Newcastle club where highlights are set to be a "stadium-size" Kroud Karaoke singalong and big screen live rugby. Organisers say the change of venue is to avoid the cost of constructing the temporary festival site in tough economic times which would mean having to pass on some rising costs in ticket prices.
Instead the NX music venue, which opened last autumn in the former 02 Academy on Westgate Road, will host the big March 17-18 weekend party with 'more decor, more bands and louder DJs', say the Paddy Fest team. The festival, now in its fifth year, has previously attracted more than 10,000 to Times Square for lots of Irish-theme entertainment and several pints of Guinness and it is now promising mammoth party sessions in its new home, with early bird tickets currently available.
Read more: The story behind St Patrick's Day
Among the attractions on March 17, St Patrick's Day itself, will be popular mass singalong Kroud Karaoke in the evening then during the March 18 day-long event fans can watch the final of the live Six Nations England v Ireland rugby action on a huge LED screen. Throughout the festival they also will be able to dance on the benches to a mix of traditional and modern Irish music from live bands plus DJs and enjoy a range of food and drink.
There will be entertainers throughout the day and evening and free memorabilia and giveaways. There are currently still some early bird tickets available - costing £8, plus £2 booking fee - for the Kroud Karaoke at Paddy Fest on March 17: see here. Standard release tickets for that day will cost £10 then the final release will be £12, both with the fees to add on top.
First release tickets for the Saturday, 12 noon to 12 midnight, session are already sold out while the second release ones are available for £12.50 plus the booking fee. For more information about the festival see here.
This Sunday, February 26, will see NX Newcastle host a fanzone, in collaboration with Central Park, for Newcastle United fans to watch the Carabao Cup Final action from Wembley. Tickets for this, however, are now sold out.
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