Northumberland Miners Picnic
Annual celebration of mining heritage with live music, street theatre, kids activities, food stalls, and free entry to Woodhorn Museum.
About This Event
The Northumberland Miners' Picnic is one of the oldest labour movement traditions in England, first held in 1864 at Blyth Links. It returns to Woodhorn Museum near Ashington on Saturday 13 June 2026, running from 10am to 5pm with free entry. The event has been a fixture in the county's calendar for over 160 years, pausing only for the two world wars, the strikes of 1921, 1926 and 1984, and the Covid pandemic. The day begins with the miners' memorial service and wreath laying. Ashington Male Voice Choir, celebrating its centenary, will perform a special song marking 110 years since the Woodhorn Colliery explosion. Four local brass bands take to the main stage, alongside Northern Proud Voices, the New Orleans-inspired Northern Monkey Brass Band, and Ladies of Midnight Blue. Visitors will also be among the first to see The Northumbrian Miner, a new sculpture by artist John O'Rourke celebrating the region's coalmining heritage.
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