'Nova' By Studio Vertigo

"Emily Carter & Something Positive Solutions CIC

Where Hope Shines is a creative exploration of emotion and light, where students transformed words such as love, compassion, hope, and gratitude into luminous works of art.

A glowing boat drifts through Wintertide. Its sail becomes a night sky of constellations, glowing in the dark above the crowd. Along the hull, phosphorescent sea creatures shimmer as though they’ve risen from the depths of the North Sea.

Guided by the stars (and the audience), this comedic walkabout performance invites families to help the duo navigate their way using dot-to-dot star charts, bubbles, sea sounds and laughter.

In 1977, the twin Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft were launched, and they are still exploring interstellar space where nothing from Earth has flown before. It was like a time capsule for extraterrestrials, and this workshop is your chance to send a message on the same journey through space.

Step into the streets of Hartlepool Headland and hear the voices of the people who call it home. As part of Wintertide Festival, artist Ben Phillips has worked with locals to capture their memories, myths and everyday stories, creating an immersive audio journey through the place we call home.

Constellations have long guided sailors across the seas and inspired poets and artists to dream among the stars. In this hands-on workshop with textile artist Holly Capstick, you’ll create your own night-sky-inspired artwork — a beautiful 6-inch textile hoop piece that’s truly one of a kind.

To launch the Young Producers Project, following our opening parade, we'll start the Festival's music programme off with a bang! Start Making Sense is a passionate, high-energy Talking Heads tribute band made up of ten dedicated young musicians with an average age of just 18.

Pause: Reimagined blends cutting-edge technology with visual artwork created by Hartlepool residents. Using photography, printmaking and abstract mark-making, participants explored their connection with place and time.

Step right up and experience the magic of Murphy’s Funfair, a much-loved highlight of Wintertide Festival! Bringing colour, laughter and excitement to the Headland, the fair lights up the High Street with a nostalgic mix of traditional rides, thrilling attractions and family favourites.

Decorate your own illuminated star, make a wish and add your message of hope or love and help us create a live constellation of stars in the Festival finale.

Wintertide Festival continues its reputation for incredible live and loud music with an evening dedicated to some of the most talented artists around. Join us for an evening at Headland Social Club with Leaders of Men, Perfect Chicken, Moss and Lurcher.

We’re thrilled to welcome Carley from The Little Silver Kiln back to Wintertide for a dazzling, hands-on silversmithing experience! Guided by Carley’s expert touch, you’ll create your own cosmic-inspired jewellery, capturing the shimmer of starlight and the mystery of the night sky.

Get into the festive spirit with our hands-on Lino Printed Christmas Card Workshop! Explore a variety of pre-cut Christmas lino designs and create your very own collection of unique Christmas cards.

Myth meets the modern North Sea in this powerful new project by SIDEQUEST. Reimagining the legend of Heracles through Hartlepool’s own stories of pride, friendship and everyday strength, familiar places become sites of modern myth. From boxing gyms to piers and car parks.

Step into the world of Northern storytelling through a curated selection of short films created by talented local and regional filmmakers from across the North — celebrating the talent, culture, and creativity that make our northern communities so vibrant.

Join Roger Codner, a local historian known for his Hartlepool Mail photo feature, as he takes you around the heritage places across the Headland. This free, 40-minute walking tour starts and ends at the Headland Baptist Church, where you can get a warm drink from their cafe.

Pupils from High Tunstall College of Science have come together to create vibrant, large-scale murals inspired by our Constellations theme. Each reflects personal stories, dreams and connections, combining individuality into a bold, unified vision.

Inspired by traditional withy weaving and lobster creel techniques, the structure is draped with handmade and reclaimed fishing nets, including salvaged ghost nets, connecting craft, community, and care for the seas.

“Constellations of Us” is a large-scale illuminated installation that draws on the visual and symbolic language of the stars. It explores how our individual stories form a shared constellation of community life.

If you, or someone you know, loves bows as much as we do, join one of our 1-hour bite-sized bow-making workshops in the Art Studio.

Discover creativity at the Wintertide Makers Market, where local artists, designers, and independent makers bring their brightest creations to the heart of the Headland.

Your individual birth chart is as unique as your fingerprint. It is a personal cosmic blueprint that reveals your personality, purpose, and path in life.

Come visit us at Art at 18 and discover what the stars have in store for you!

In this demonstration, you will be introduced to the basic fundamentals of working with Jesmonite, including its unique properties and practical handling tips. We will also explore a variety of creative techniques.

Imagine a star falling on the shore, and another star falling, a thousand stars all drifting down to shine on the night waves landing. Take a journey to the heart of a spiral galaxy and make a wish upon the stars.