HOT DATES 2012 PREVIEW

By your Hot Dates blogger Stephen Bell

Hello everyone and welcome to the 1^st Hot Dates edition for 2012. Let me begin by wishing you all a happy new year for 2012. A warm welcome also goes out to the new members of the club or anyone looking at the blog for the first time.

As usual the beginning of the year is fairly quiet (hence this preview edition) but as more events are announced and confirmed over the next couple of month’s things should soon liven up for us photographers.

2012 brings two massive one off events to the country namely the Queens Diamond Jubilee and of course the Olympic Games. While most of the attention will be focused on London there will be things happening in this part of the country. The Olympic flame will be passing through various towns in the North East from 15th-17th of June and overnight celebrations will be held in Newcastle on the 15^th and Durham on the 16^th. St James Park is hosting 9 football matches including a quarter final from both the men’s and ladies tournaments. This could bring colour and culture especially if African or South American teams are involved. (Updates to follow soon).

Celebrations for the Queens Diamond Jubilee will be happening from 2^nd to the 5^th of June and updates will be posted when more announcements are made.

For anyone interested in cricket we have Australia and South Africa visiting Durham for International matches in July and September. It’s great to see Durham Riverside being used as an International venue.

Don’t forget, we also have Tony’s set subject challenge “This Sporting Life” to capture too, so get those lenses polished, batteries charged and memory cards cleared and “let’s get shooting”.

Stephen.

HOT DATES 2012 OVERVIEW OF MAJOR EVENTS

TURNER PRIZE AT BALTIC: Still on display until 8^th January 2012

KEITH PATTISON NO REDEMPTION EXHIBITION: Northumbria University until 27^th January. www.northumbria.ac.uk

DRAGON BOATS AND CHINESE FESTIVAL: Sunderland Winter Gardens 28^th January. www.twmuseums.org.uk/sunderland

CHINESE NEW YEAR: Newcastle 29^th January.www.newcastlegateshead.com/events

FOCUS ON IMAGING: Birmingham NEC 4^th-7^th March. www.focusonimaging.co.uk

BIKEWISE EASTER EGG RUN: Durham 8^th April. www.bikewisenews.org.uk

MORPETH NORTHUMBRIAN GATHERING: Morpeth 13^th-15^th April. www.northumbria.org.uk/gathering

WHITBY GOTH WEEKEND: Whitby 26^th-30^th April. www.whitbygothweekend.co.uk

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY SHOW: Corbridge 4^th June. www.northcountyshow.co.uk

APPLEBY HORSE FAIR: Appleby 7^th-13^th June. www.applebyfair.org

DURHAM REGATTA: Durham 9^th-10^th June. www.thisisdurham.com/whatson

TOWN MOOR HOPPINGS FAIR: Newcastle 22^nd-30^th June. www.hoppingsfunfairs.com

MOUTH OF THE TYNE FESTIVAL: North Shields/ Tynemouth 6^th-9^th July. www.northtyneside.gov.uk/festivals

GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW: Harrogate 10^th-12^th July. www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk

DURHAM MINERS GALA: Durham 14^th July. www.thisisdurham.com/whatson

SUNDERLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW: Sunderland 21^st-22^nd July. www.sunderlandevents.co.uk

EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL: Edinburgh 3^rd-27^th August. www.edfringe.com

PICKERING STEAM ENGINE RALLY: Pickering 2^nd-5^th August. www.pickeringsteam.com

STOCKTON INTERNATIONAL RIVERSIDE FESTIVAL: Stockton 4^th-7^th August. www.sirf.co.uk

ALNWICK INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL: Alnwick 4^th-11^th August. www.alnwickmusicfestival.com

PICKERING 1940S WAR WEEKEND: Pickering 12^th-14^th October. www.nymr.co.uk/events

BOXING DAY DIP: Seaburn 26^th December. www.sunderlandevents.co.uk

If anyone has any news or details of any event of interest to photographers please have a chat with me at the club or email me at stephenmbell1(at)talktalk.net