Blythfest 2025 runs from Saturday 21st June to Saturday 5th July.
Blythfest is a celebration of Blyth’s art and culture, brought to you by Blyth Culture Network. Over two/ three weeks each year in June-July we showcase the best of Blyth culture with an abundance of events, festivals, exhibitions, shows and workshops.
Download the Blythfest 2025 programme
Looking for info about Open Call Exhibition? Click here…
Blythfest 2025 event list – text version:
PRE-BLYTHFEST SPECIAL
2pm – 4pm Third Thursdays at Headway Arts on Thursday 19th June. Monthly music & social afternoon. Share a tune, song, or spoken word, or just relax & enjoy the show. Honesty bar with tea, coffee & soft drinks. FREE entry, donations welcome.
Saturday 21st June 2025
10am – 2pm Bede Academy Show at rePUBlic Gallery
11am – 9pm Blyth Live at Blyth Beach
Sunday 22nd June 2025
11am – 4pm Blythfest Tea at Blyth Battery
Monday 23rd June 2025
1.30pm – 3pm Inclusive Dance Workshop at Headway Arts
6pm – 9pm Blyth Patchwork Quilters at The Isabella Centre
Tuesday 24th June 2025
9am – 3pm Bede Academy Show at rePUBlic Gallery
11am Storytime at Blyth library
12pm – 3pm Tuesday Art Group at Buffalo Community Centre
6pm – 8pm Open Call Exhibition Preview & Auction at Headway Arts,
7.30pm Open Mic at The Top House
Wednesday 25th June 2025
9am – 3pm Bede Academy Show at rePUBlic Gallery
1pm – 3pm Open Call Exhibition at Headway Arts
2pm – 3pm Crafts for Adults at Blyth Library
8pm – 10.30pm Open Mic at The Waterloo
Thursday 26th June 2025
9am – 3pm Bede Academy Show at rePUBlic Gallery
10am – 4pm LV50 Open Day at South Harbour
1pm – 3pm Open Call Exhibition at Headway Arts
6pm – 9pm Lace Making Class at The Isabella Centre
8.30pm Open Mic at The Masons Arms
Friday 27th June 2025
9am – 3pm Bede Academy Show at rePUBlic Gallery
9.30am Friday Art Group at Buffalo Community Centre
1pm – 9pm Open Call Exhibition at Headway Arts
2pm – 4pm LEGO® Prime for Adults at Blyth Library
6.30pm Café Bohème at Headway Arts
7.30pm Blythfest Ball at Headway Arts. [Get Your Tickets]
7.30pm Top Hat & Heels at Phoenix Theatre
8pm Open Mic at Blyth Sports & Social Club
Saturday 28th June 2025
10am – 2pm Bede Academy Show at rePUBlic Gallery
11am – 4pm Blythfest Tea at Blyth Battery
7pm – 10pm The Sonic Tonic Radio Show Blythfest Special on Lionheart Radio
Sunday 29th June 2025
11am – 4pm Blythfest Tea at Blyth Battery
7.30pm Class of 55 at Phoenix Theatre
Monday 30th June 2025
1.30pm – 3pm Inclusive Dance Workshop at Headway Arts
6pm – 9pm Blyth Patchwork Quilters at The Isabella Centre
Tuesday 1st July 2025
11am Storytime at Blyth library
12pm – 3pm Tuesday Art Group at Buffalo Community Centre
1.30pm – 3pm Star Gaze Free Press Open Studio at Headway Arts
7pm – 9pm Blyth Valley Samba drumming workshop at Headway Arts
7.30pm Open Mic at The Top House
Wednesday 2nd July 2025
10am – 4pm Family History Support Sessions at Blyth Library
Thursday 3rd July 2025
6pm – 9pm Lace Making Class at The Isabella Centre
8.30pm Open Mic at The Masons Arms
Friday 4th July 2025
9.30am – 11.30am Friday Art Group at Buffalo Community Centre
10.30am Cine Break at Teakisi’s Tales Without Borders
1pm – 3pm Blyth Tall Ship Shanty Singers Workshop at Headway Arts
6pm – 8pm Luke McTaggart Exhibition Opening Night at rePUBlic Gallery
7.30pm Legends of Motown at Phoenix Theatre
Saturday 5th July 2025
10am – 2pm Luke McTaggart Exhibition at rePUBlic Gallery
11.40am Blyth Town Carnival Parade, from Renwick Road Car Park
12pm – 4pm Blyth Town Carnival at Keel Row/Simpson St. Car Park
Blythfest logo (click to expand)
Blyth Culture Network commissioned Star Gaze Free Press to create a fresh new logo for Blythfest 2023.
Star Gaze Free Press is a printmaking collective supported by Headway Arts with funding from the 1989 Willan Trust. Learning disabled creatives use different printmaking techniques to create unique and imaginative designs for printed products, commissions and exhibitions.
The brief was to explore imagery that had not been previously used to depict Blyth. The design created shows one of Blyth’s greatest assets: our beautiful South Beach. The local dolphins leap out of the water in joyful celebration of all the good things about Blyth, symbolic of the rise of our great Blyth community.
The design process was initially explored by the artists as a collagraph. A collagraph is essentially a collage of materials of various textures glued on to a short run printing plate, often card or wood, or as in this case recycled card. This was then inked up and printed in various tones on Headway Arts’ great flatbed hand press. This vibrant version was selected as the one to become the logo.
It was then digitally scanned and refined as it needed to have a high dpi for professional print. The handmade quality was retained.
The text is in Salmela Script font which is a free design from GenesisLab and shows dynamic flow, and a rustic sense chosen for its universal and jaunty appeal. It’s informal but reads clearly. Originally text was to be a dark blue, but thoughtfully changed to black as it was to be used by lots of different organisations and individuals within the Blyth Culture Network for their Blythfest event publicity. A black would be more easily matched to their existing marketing materials. It would also be very clear and accessible for everyone to read, whether large on a banner or small on a business card.