Everything You Need to Know About.... Mela
Now in its 30th year, Newcastle Mela returns to the city this August bank holiday in celebration of South Asian culture.
The party atmosphere will be taking over the toon from Saturday 24th August to Monday 26th August as Mela in the City returns for 2024 – and there’s something for everyone to get involved with.
From captivating performances to mouth-watering food stalls, this multi-cultural event promises plenty to entertain and engage, but if you need a hand with some of the key details, we’ve got the low-down right here.
What is Mela?
Newcastle Mela is a celebration of Pakistani, Bengali, Indian and other South Asian cultures – giving visitors a taste of the music, food, and entertainment associated with them over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
When is Mela happening?
The Mela celebrations kick off with Mela in the City on Saturday 24th August, a fantastic free day of events and activities at Grey’s Monument. Mela then follows up on Sunday 25th and Monday 26th August across Exhibition Park.
Where is Mela happening?
Mela in the City takes place at Grey’s Monument – handy for the Metro! The Mela weekend will be at Exhibition Park, roughly a fifteen minute walk from Haymarket Metro station.
What should I expect to find at Mela?
This family-friendly festival really has something for everyone. From traditional displays of South Asian culture, to colourful crafts and delicious food. On top of that, there’ll also be some unmissable performances from world-class performers.
On Sunday, Circus Raj brings its breathtaking acts to Exhibition Park, promising that plenty of laughs, thrills and adventure for all ages. It’s definitely not one to miss.
Meanwhile, Monday sees Spark! Theatre show arrive at Mela with their mesmerizing performance, combining diverse rhythms – from samba percussion to dance – with captivating lighting design that will wow audiences.
There’s also plenty of live music to enjoy across the Bank Holiday weekend. From the award-winning Raghav and Pakistani folk music scene sensation Zeeshan Khan Rokhri, to Soniya hitmaker Veronica and top 10 Channel I Shera Konto 2012 finalist Bonna Talukder – you’re sure to find a sound you love, or something altogether new!
Who can attend Mela?
Mela is a free family event that’s open to anyone and everyone! However, some performances might be more suited to older audiences, so keep your eyes peeled for the official Mela programme for more details on each event.
How much are Mela tickets?
Both Mela and Mela in the city are free to attend!
Saturday Mela in the City Programme:
10:00am - Spice FM Roadshow
11:00am - Local performers/Spice FM roadshow
11:05am - Lucky E and Jaggi Dholi
11:30am - Menzo Menjunjes
12:00pm - Creative Seed
12:30pm - Freddieno
13:00pm - Punjabi Roots
13:15pm - Local act/Spice FM roadshow
13:20pm - Lucky E and Jaggi Dholi
13:50pm - Menzo Menjunjes
14:20pm - Punjabi Roots
14:50pm - Freddieno
15:30pm - VERONICA
Sunday Programme:
12:00pm - Spice FM & Community Stage
2:45pm - Bona Talukdar
4:10pm - Chahat Mehmood Ali Qawwal
5:00pm - Punjabi Roots
5:20pm - Lucky E & Jaggi Dholi
5:40pm - Azaad
6:25pm - VERONICA
6:50pm - RAGHAV
7:25pm - JUGGY D
Monday Programme:
12:00pm - Spice FM & Community Stage
3:30pm - Punjabi Roots
4:00pm - Lucky E & Jaggi Dholi
4:10pm - Amar Chotai
4:35pm - Zeeshan Rokri
5:55pm - Channi Singh OBE Alaap
6:35pm - EZU
7:15pm - F1RSTMAN
So whether you join for the full Bank Holiday weekend, or just a day, Mela promises to be an unforgettable experience for everyone – whether you’re young, or young at heart! We’ll see you there.
