Here you can find a list of in-person events local to the north east of England. We cover events happening roughly from York up to Newcastle upon Tyne, although we will sometimes include events as far away as London or Edinburgh as with a bit of planning it is possible to get there and back in a day on the train – one of the benefits of being located in Darlington on the East Coast Main Line! But for most national UK in-person events and also international events please see the Events page on the OBOD website. We have also included a few FREE online UK events.
Mandua Briga ‘Irregular’ Events
Another Darlington Pagan moot is being planned for May 2026 after the success of Is Anybody Out There? The Return of Darlington Pagan Moot! in March last year. The Mandua Briga Seed Group of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids will be inviting those of all pagan paths – Druid, Wiccan, Heathen, Hedge Witch and others – to a friendly, inclusive and informal moot at the Clocktower Café in The Goods Shed at Hopetown Darlington for another irregular pagan moot in the town. The venue is fully accessible. Everyone of good heart is welcome. Exact date to be confirmed.
Regular Events
Moots:
Durham Pagan Moot – open to Druids as well as Wiccans, Heathens and like-minded and / or curious people in the Durham area. On the 1st Tuesday of every month (except January) upstairs at the Head of Steam pub on North Road in Durham starting at 7pm. There is usually a talk on a different topic each month. Whilst the stairs are wide, unfortunately there is no disability access.
Gateshead Pagan Moot – run by Gateshead Wiccans and Pagans, last Saturday of the month at the Cafe Under The Spire.
Wear Valley Moot – open to all pagans and seekers. Meet on the third Tuesday of the month at the The Stanley Jefferson Wetherspoons pub in Bishop Auckland Market Place starting at 7.30pm.
Storytelling:
Half-Man, Half-Myth – third week of the month at Angel’s Cut bar in Darlington. Day of the week varies, check Facebook for upcoming dates.
Astrology:
Durham Astrology Club – Monthly meetings to discuss all things Astrological. Everyone welcome.
Newcastle Astrology Group – meet every second Saturday of the month starting at 2pm at the Cafe Under The Spire in Gateshead with North Yorkshire based Astrologer Ben Potter. Contact Ben to be added to the WhatsApp group, where most information about the group is posted.
Markets:
Misfit Market – For the weirdly wonderful, the strange and unusual. A safe place for all Misfits. The first Sunday of each month at Hopetown, Darlington.
Wolf and Witch Night Market – Wolf and Witch Original and Award Winning Alternative Night Market. Monthly, alternating between Dormans Club, Middlesbrough and Ye Olde Durhams Social Club, Hartlepool.
Seasonal Events
Hurworth Wassail – Gather in the car park at Hurworth Grange Community Centre at 4pm and process to the Hurworth Community Orchard – this year’s Wassail is Sunday January 4th 2026. For up to date information see the Hurworth Grange Bar Facebook page. There is a write up of the 2024 event in The Northern Echo and a video of the 2022 event below:
Dilston Physic Garden Wassailing Ceremony – organised by our very good friend and fellow OBOD Druid Victor Ball at Dilston Physic Garden in Corbridge. Usually the weekend after the Hurworth Wassail.
Humility, Kindness and Love Global Conference – Telford UK. This is a bit out of our normal area but there will be a group from the British Druid Order there and watch out for one of the carnyx players! Saturday 11th April 2026
Black Diamond Day of Dance – Save this date to your diaries – Saturday April 11th 2026. That’s the day we set Darlington’s streets ringing with sounds of Morris bells, clogs, sticks and music. So get yourselves into Darlington town on the 11th April and join us for a full day of fun entertainment. Starts at 10am – various Morris sides will be dancing all day in different places around the town centre and finishing at The House of Hop for drinks and more music and dancing. Not a specifically pagan event, but as our good friend Meggie used to say – pagans who only go to pagan events should get out more!
Waves and Witchcraft: A Coast Line Heritage Tour – A slow paced, informative walking heritage tour of the town of Redcar. We take in the local folklore and superstition of this stunning part of the North East coastline before heading up the Victorian streets to discover more about the history of this coastal town, its beliefs and its local community of witches. £15 pp limited spaces to keep the tour personal and the best experience for everyone. Thursday the 16th April 2026 10am. Tickets available from Hedge Witchery UK. Be quick – the first one which ran in March was a sell-out! More are being planned for later on in the summer if you miss out on this one.
Witches Spring Social – join us at this gorgeous community gathering to celebrate Spring and the turning of the wheel. Limited to only 20 magickal spaces, so please don’t wait too long to book on as this usually sells out. Charltons Community Hall, Saturday 25th April 2026. Tickets from Luna Natura.
Sing-Along-A-Wicker-Man in Saltburn!!! Thursday 30th April 2026 7.30pm Saltburn Community Theatre
Celebrate Beltane at Thornborough Henge in North Yorkshire – the circular earthworks known as henges were the cathedrals of Stone Age Britain. At Thornborough, three giant henges where built 5,000-years-ago to form a single ritual complex, making Thornborough Henge one of Britain’s most important prehistoric sacred sites. Each year we gather in this special place to celebrate the festival of Beltane that marks the beginning of summer. Beltane at Thornborough is an opportunity for people to join together in celebration, and connect with the rich spiritual and folk traditions of this ancient land. For up to date information about the next gathering check out their Facebook page. This year’s celebrations are Friday 1st May – Monday 4th May 2026
Whitby Folklore Festival – The festival is all about folklore, with a special lean towards tales from Whitby, the Moors and wider Yorkshire. The festival will have music, visual art, film, storytelling, live performance, talks, comedy, workshops and more… Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd May 2026
Phoenix Rises Camp – A family weekend camping, with stalls, bar, maypole, communal campfire. Beltane celebrations. Sentry Circle, Northallerton 1st May – 4th May 2026.
The History of Folk Horror – Tuesday 5th May 2026 7pm Dance City in Newcastle. Tickets £14 – £33
Hark! – On Sycamore Gap – Poetry inspired by the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree, accompanied by music inspired by the poems. Friday May 15th 2026 at Crown Street Library Darlington tickets £10
Chariots, Treasure & Power: Secrets of the Melsonby Hoard Exhibition starts on Friday 15th May 2026 at the Yorkshire Museum in York. Tickets £10 but remain valid for entry to the museum for a year.
Tees Cottage Pumping Station Steampunk Weekend – Saturday 16th May – Sunday 17th May 2026
Wyldwood Renaissance Festival – Step into Wyldwood, the UK’s Renaissance Festival, at Kirkleatham Showground, Redcar TS10 4QL, for a weekend of history, folklore, and fantasy. Experience live music, artisan markets, shows, duels, and family-friendly adventures where legends awaken. Friday 29th – Sunday 31st May 2026.
Darlington Eco Fair – Saturday 6th June 2026 11am – 4pm in the Market Square Darlington.
Summer Solstice at Sentry Circle – welcome the dawn of solstice. Join others at this friendly gathering where we gather at the Sentry stones and watch the sunrise. Bring your drums, instruments and voices. All are welcome at the circle and especially around the campfire. 19th June -21st June 2026.
Summer Solstice Ball – Saturday 20th June at The Lakes Social Club in Redcar ***TICKETS NO LONGER AVAILABLE – WE THINK THIS MAY HAVE BEEN CANCELLED *** we have messaged the organisers to ask for more information.
Oakleaf Camp – top pagan camp in the north, takes place every summer and from this year at a new venue in Cumbria. This year’s dates are Friday 7th August – Monday 10th August 2026
Mabon at Thornborough Henge – an annual gathering to celebrate the Autumn Equinox at Thornborough Henges, all paths are welcome in friendship and peace. This year’s dates are Friday 18th September to Monday 21st September 2026.
Hopetown Steampunk Weekend– Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th November 2026 at Hopetown Darlington. Discover Darlington’s story of engineering, ideas and invention a perfect location for a Steampunk Weekend.
Northumbrian Gorsedd – run by Victor Ball and Marc Johnstone, who also run the Coventina Seed Group, our sister OBOD seed group based in the Corbridge area. The Northumbrian Gorsedd is a Community Interest Company (CIC) which runs seasonal events and ceremonies throughout the wheel of the year at Dilston Physic Garden, such as the yearly Wassailing ceremony in January. Many of their events are now no longer publicly advertised as they are so heavily over-subscribed (the willow circle at Dilston Physic Garden where they are held only holds a maximum of 35 people). Please email them at northumbriangorsedd@btinternet.com for information about upcoming events and how to book.