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FAMILIES ENJOY THE SUN AROUND REGION
Brian Liu, six, at Whitley Bay The Whitley Bay Proper Food and Drink Festival at the Spanish City Plaza. IT seemed summer had officially arrived on Saturday as soaring temperatures greeted crowds at The Hoppings.
Lured by the good weather forecast, families flocked to Newcastle Town Moor to enjoy the first full day of the fair.
While the sky had remained dull on Friday, as the rides and stalls were set up, the weekend’s weather was off to a good start on Saturday morning with signs that the predicted highs of 26 degrees might be on the cards after all.
All ages turned out to check out the latest additions to The Hoppings whose white knuckle highlights this year include new arrivals Exciter, an aerial heart-pumper; the nightclubtheme Ice Jet; the high-octane Air and zip-wire ride Skyfall.
But for the young ones among Saturday’s early visitors it was the more sedate charms of the children’s attractions – such as the Frozen and Cars rides – that appealed, alongside the sideshows which include the traditional hook-a-duck.
The 135-year-old fair’s official launch day was marked with a Newcastle Military Show, showcasing hi-tech equipment and displays.
And visitors enjoyed an eye-catching performance from The Fifth Fusiliers marching band who played their musical instruments while spinning around on the carousel.
The military show will take place again on Sunday, while The Hoppings – whose 300-plus rides this year range from the popular Take Off, which returns from spending four years in Dubai, to the ever-popular waltzer and family favourites the dodgems, helter skelter and ghost