A free mini festival for children, young people, families and the community - full of fun, creativity and community spirit.
This Winter we are bringing creativity and sparkle to Ashington at Hirst Festival. You can enjoy lots of events with creative activities, family fun, a themed silent disco, a magical light installation, a family pop up cinema, and opportunities for the community to come together and have fun.
Have fun, try something new, and embrace the magic of winter!
All events are completely free - but some are pre-bookable.
Hirst Festival Event’s Programme – November to December
Hirst Festival is produced by Ashington-based creative children’s charity Mortal Fools in partnership with Hirst Welfare Centre and supported by Ashington Family Hub and Full Circle Food Project.
Hirst Festival is part of Northumberland County Council’s Animating Ashington Autumn/Winter Festival – a programme of cultural events across the town being funded by UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and North East Combined Authority, with the North East Combined Authority as lead authority. #UKSPF #FundedUKGovernment #NorthEastCA
If you have any questions about the events below, would like to request access info or have a venue query - email [email protected] - we are here to help!
We can't wait to bring our community together for #HirstFestival
Hirst Festival is part of Northumberland County Council’s Animating Ashington Autumn/Winter Festival – a programme of cultural events across the town being funded by UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and North East Combined Authority, with the North East Combined Authority as lead authority. #UKSPF #FundedUKGovernment #NorthEastCA
If you have any questions about the events below, would like to request access info or have a venue query - email [email protected] - we are here to help!
We can't wait to bring our community together for #HirstFestival
Hirst Welfare Youth Café
Thursday 20th November, 5pm-7pm & Thursday 4th December, 5pm-7pm
Hirst Welfare Centre, NE63 9HN
Calling all Ashington teenagers! Escape the dark nights, dodge the rubbish weather and break the boredom at Hirst Welfare’s new drop-in youth café. You can warm up, catch up with mates, chat with our friendly staff and try some new creative activities with Mortal Fools.
Suitable for ages 11yrs+ (school years 7-13)
FREE – just drop in.
Thursday 20th November, 5pm-7pm & Thursday 4th December, 5pm-7pm
Hirst Welfare Centre, NE63 9HN
Calling all Ashington teenagers! Escape the dark nights, dodge the rubbish weather and break the boredom at Hirst Welfare’s new drop-in youth café. You can warm up, catch up with mates, chat with our friendly staff and try some new creative activities with Mortal Fools.
Suitable for ages 11yrs+ (school years 7-13)
FREE – just drop in.
Creative Sparks: Creative Family Drop In
Wednesday 3rd December, 1pm-4pm
Ashington Family Hub, NE63 9EF
Pop into Ashington Family Hub for a free creative family drop in. Mortal Fools will be running fun, creative craft activities and providing drinks and snacks.
This session is for parents, carers or community members to find out more about Mortal Fools and Hirst Festival. Feel free to pop in with or without your little ones.
FREE – just drop in.
Wednesday 3rd December, 1pm-4pm
Ashington Family Hub, NE63 9EF
Pop into Ashington Family Hub for a free creative family drop in. Mortal Fools will be running fun, creative craft activities and providing drinks and snacks.
This session is for parents, carers or community members to find out more about Mortal Fools and Hirst Festival. Feel free to pop in with or without your little ones.
FREE – just drop in.
Magical Melva Movie Day – for Schools
Friday 5th December, all day in school hours
Hirst Welfare Centre, NE63 9HN
School groups will be joining us for a screening of Mortal Fools’ award-winning family film: MELVA's Mountain Adventure. Get ready to meet Melva Mapletree– an aspiring mountain-climbing, sweet-eating, eye-rolling, hilarious 10-year-old, on an adventure to find out what she’s really capable of!
In addition to watching the film, pupils will take part in Melva themed creative wellbeing activities with Mortal Fools practitioners.
This event is by invite only – if you’d like to find out more about Melva, drop us an email on: m[email protected]
Friday 5th December, all day in school hours
Hirst Welfare Centre, NE63 9HN
School groups will be joining us for a screening of Mortal Fools’ award-winning family film: MELVA's Mountain Adventure. Get ready to meet Melva Mapletree– an aspiring mountain-climbing, sweet-eating, eye-rolling, hilarious 10-year-old, on an adventure to find out what she’s really capable of!
In addition to watching the film, pupils will take part in Melva themed creative wellbeing activities with Mortal Fools practitioners.
This event is by invite only – if you’d like to find out more about Melva, drop us an email on: m[email protected]
Magical Movie Night: Melva's Mountain Adventure
Friday 5th December, 5pm-7pm
Hirst Welfare Centre, NE63 9HN
Hirst Welfare Centre is transformed into a magical cosy cinema for a screening of Mortal Fools’ award-winning family film: Melva’s Mountain Adventure.
Melva Mapletree is a mountain-climbing, sweet-eating, stroppy and hilarious nearly-11-year-old - on an adventure to find out what she’s really capable of! A feel-good film about tackling your fears and achieving things you didn’t think you could.
Families can see our magical light installation outside of Hirst Welfare Centre, enjoy creative activities & free movie snacks provided by Full Circle Food, and sit in the real set from the movie!
Suitable for all ages – but aimed at ages 5-11 and their grown-ups.
FREE – but ticketed - book free tickets in advance .
Note: We will have a small number of walk-up tickets on the day.
Friday 5th December, 5pm-7pm
Hirst Welfare Centre, NE63 9HN
Hirst Welfare Centre is transformed into a magical cosy cinema for a screening of Mortal Fools’ award-winning family film: Melva’s Mountain Adventure.
Melva Mapletree is a mountain-climbing, sweet-eating, stroppy and hilarious nearly-11-year-old - on an adventure to find out what she’s really capable of! A feel-good film about tackling your fears and achieving things you didn’t think you could.
Families can see our magical light installation outside of Hirst Welfare Centre, enjoy creative activities & free movie snacks provided by Full Circle Food, and sit in the real set from the movie!
Suitable for all ages – but aimed at ages 5-11 and their grown-ups.
FREE – but ticketed - book free tickets in advance .
Note: We will have a small number of walk-up tickets on the day.
The Stars Come Out at Night – A Light Installation by Stellar Creates
Friday 5th December 2.30pm – 7pm & Saturday 6th December 11am-6pm
Outside Hirst Welfare Centre, NE63 9HN
‘The Stars Come Out at Night’ is a spectacular rotating artwork projecting starlight patterns all around as you listen to beautiful music and enjoy the glimmers of winter.
Wrap up warm and drop by Hirst Welfare Centre anytime during the opening times to see the magical light installation come to life!
FREE – just drop by
Friday 5th December 2.30pm – 7pm & Saturday 6th December 11am-6pm
Outside Hirst Welfare Centre, NE63 9HN
‘The Stars Come Out at Night’ is a spectacular rotating artwork projecting starlight patterns all around as you listen to beautiful music and enjoy the glimmers of winter.
Wrap up warm and drop by Hirst Welfare Centre anytime during the opening times to see the magical light installation come to life!
FREE – just drop by
Stars & Wishes: Family Festival Day
Saturday 6th December, 11am-1pm, 2pm-4pm & 4pm-6pm
Hirst Welfare Centre, NE63 9HN
A day full of creative fun with loads of things to see, do and enjoy!
Hirst Welfare Centre is transformed into a spectacular starry space with:
Recommended for children, families and young people up to 14yrs.
FREE – but ticketed – book free tickets in advance
Ticket slots at 11am-1pm; 2-4pm and 4-6pm
Note: We will have a small number of walk-up tickets on the day.
Saturday 6th December, 11am-1pm, 2pm-4pm & 4pm-6pm
Hirst Welfare Centre, NE63 9HN
A day full of creative fun with loads of things to see, do and enjoy!
Hirst Welfare Centre is transformed into a spectacular starry space with:
- Drop-in art activities, drama games & storytelling
- Free face painting
- Our Melva Movie set!
- A silent disco & photo booth
- A Magical Outdoor Light Installation
- Free refreshments
Recommended for children, families and young people up to 14yrs.
FREE – but ticketed – book free tickets in advance
Ticket slots at 11am-1pm; 2-4pm and 4-6pm
Note: We will have a small number of walk-up tickets on the day.
Merry & Bright Boogie Night – Children’s Disco
Friday 12th December, 5pm-7pm
Hirst Welfare Centre, NE63 9HN
Get ready to jingle all the way down to Hirst Welfare for a merry mix of music, magic and mayhem at our family Christmas disco.
This party is for little elves and grown up grinches a like! Enjoy creative festive activities, dance the night away to the best Christmas tunes (Mariah included!), Santa will be paying us a special festive all the way from the North Pole, strike a pose in our festive photo booth, and we’ll have party games, prizes and seasonal sparkle galore!
Come dressed to sleigh and we promise, yule love every minute!
Refreshments included; Hirst Welfare Café will be serving some festive specials!
Suitable for ages 12 and under – children must be accompanied by an adult.
Friday 12th December, 5pm-7pm
Hirst Welfare Centre, NE63 9HN
Get ready to jingle all the way down to Hirst Welfare for a merry mix of music, magic and mayhem at our family Christmas disco.
This party is for little elves and grown up grinches a like! Enjoy creative festive activities, dance the night away to the best Christmas tunes (Mariah included!), Santa will be paying us a special festive all the way from the North Pole, strike a pose in our festive photo booth, and we’ll have party games, prizes and seasonal sparkle galore!
Come dressed to sleigh and we promise, yule love every minute!
Refreshments included; Hirst Welfare Café will be serving some festive specials!
Suitable for ages 12 and under – children must be accompanied by an adult.
Hirst Winter Festival Partners
Hirst Festival is produced by Ashington-based creative children’s charity Mortal Fools in partnership with Hirst Welfare Centre and supported by Ashington Family Hub and Full Circle Food Project.
Mortal Fools is an award-winning creative learning charity. We run free activities all year round in Ashington for children, young people, families, and the community, including:
Hirst Welfare Centre is a welcoming, community-run facility in the heart of Ashington. Hirst Welfare Centre exists to build a healthier, more connected, and inclusive Ashington.
Mortal Fools is an award-winning creative learning charity. We run free activities all year round in Ashington for children, young people, families, and the community, including:
- Free weekly youth theatre groups for ages 5-19
- Free creative community workshops
- Performances, live events, films and resources
Hirst Welfare Centre is a welcoming, community-run facility in the heart of Ashington. Hirst Welfare Centre exists to build a healthier, more connected, and inclusive Ashington.
In addition to being a host festival venue and collaborating on various event, Mortal Fools will be supporting the team to increase their capabilities around marketing and event production.
Ashington Family Hub sits at the heart of the Ashington community providing support, advice, resources and family events, with midwives, health visitors, early years and mental health professionals on hand. The Family Hub is a host festival venue and audience development partner.
Full Circle Food offers hands on cooking experiences and education for all ages from families with young children to older people in Ashington and beyond.
Stellar Creates is a community interest organisation with over 40 years’ experience of producing high quality cultural projects and events, specialising in outdoor arts. They will be supporting the programme with a light installation and supporting Mortal Fools production and producing team to feel more confident in larger scale, outdoor arts activity.
Ashington Family Hub sits at the heart of the Ashington community providing support, advice, resources and family events, with midwives, health visitors, early years and mental health professionals on hand. The Family Hub is a host festival venue and audience development partner.
Full Circle Food offers hands on cooking experiences and education for all ages from families with young children to older people in Ashington and beyond.
Stellar Creates is a community interest organisation with over 40 years’ experience of producing high quality cultural projects and events, specialising in outdoor arts. They will be supporting the programme with a light installation and supporting Mortal Fools production and producing team to feel more confident in larger scale, outdoor arts activity.
“Hirst Welfare are really excited to be working with Mortal Fools! We are looking forward to opening our doors and welcoming in the local community across Autumn & Winter, especially welcoming Ashington families and young people for festive fun and seasonal activities.”
- Helen Rae, Hirst Welfare Community Engagement & Fundraising Officer
“We’re delighted to be part of Hirst’s Winter Festival this year, bringing The Stars Come Out at Night to the town. It’s a joy to help create moments of light and togetherness for the community during the darkest months of the year.”
- Rachel Willis, Stellar Creates Co-Director
Animating Ashington Autumn/Winter Festival
Hirst Festival is part of a wider programme of events happening across Ashington from October – December.
Our friends at Ashington Town Council, Full Circle Food, Pride Action North & Woodhorn are also running events and activities – check their websites and social media for more information.
Hirst Festival is part of Northumberland County Council's Animating Ashington Autumn/Winter Festival - a programme of cultural events across the town being funded by UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and North East Combined Authority, with the North East Combined Authority as lead authority. #UKSPF #FundedUKGovernment #NorthEastCA
Our friends at Ashington Town Council, Full Circle Food, Pride Action North & Woodhorn are also running events and activities – check their websites and social media for more information.
Hirst Festival is part of Northumberland County Council's Animating Ashington Autumn/Winter Festival - a programme of cultural events across the town being funded by UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and North East Combined Authority, with the North East Combined Authority as lead authority. #UKSPF #FundedUKGovernment #NorthEastCA
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More ways to engage with Mortal Fools!
