Brass bands, traditional pipes and a 'mini mela' will see the community come together to celebrate 159 years of the Northumberland Miners' Picnic this summer on what is set to be a day of celebration and remembrance.
The annual picnic, one of the region's longest-running events, is set to draw huge crowds once again to Woodhorn Museum near Ashington on June 10 where pop-up attractions will include performances, join-in activities and plenty food and drink. And besides celebrating local heritage and the area's coal mining roots, the free-entry event will embrace South Indian culture with the mela as well as LGBTQ arts.
The museum is a fitting location for the picnic, being a former colliery site and having always played a central role in the local community as well as housing a collection of work by the famous Ashington group of miners-turned-artists who inspired Lee Hall’s play The Pitmen Painters. Colourful banners, made by local groups, will be on display on the day of the picnic and - in keeping with tradition - it will begin with the miners’ memorial service and wreath-laying, commemorating those who died in the coal mining industry.
