Now that the rugby weekend is over, many of us are left feeling more than a little bit - so we want to know what next there is to look forward to.

The May 10-11 European Rugby Finals hosted at St James' Park brought a buzz to the entire city and even those who aren't true fans sharedthe party vibe, thanks to the range of entertainment in the Champions Rugby Village on the Quayside and the pop-ups around town.

Well, the big event might be all played out but the good news is that not only does another Bank Holiday beckon - on May 27 - but there are also plenty upcoming events on the cards which are bound to soon have us feeling cheery again.

And, while the weather has been changeable, more summery weather beckons, which will have families digging out the sun cream and dusting off BBQs soon enough.

So, as we keep fingers crossed for further opportunities to soak up the rays, here's a look ahead to a pick of 10 sizzling events that are guaranteed to keep us entertained around Newcastle over coming weeks.

NE1’s Summer in the City programme. Quayside Seaside.
NE1’s Quayside Seaside will be making a summer return too

And, covering a mix of big music festivals, family entertainment, grand social affairs and smaller fun days, there's something here for everyone.

Quayside Seaside

Simple pleasures are to be had for young ones with a bucket and spade and once again the beach in the city will be making a return so that families won't have to travel out to the coast.

The Newcastle Quayside area might have just played a role in Champions Rugby Village fan zone over the weekend, where it was cleared for tables so that visitors could sit and relax with a drink, but it soon will be transformed and filled with sand, deckchairs and beach toys for its annual seaside role.

Read more about it here .

The Late Shows

This crowd-pleaser will be back on May 17-18 with its annual invitation to families to explore a range of galleries, museums and cultural venues across Newcastle and Gateshead after hours - for free.

What's great for regulars is that the event also throws up something new each year. This time around the Dynamix Skate Park in Gateshead will be among those taking part for the first time and on the Saturday night it will be hosting free taster sessions of BMX and skateboarding.

Returning favourites will include tours of the Victoria Tunnel and Swing Bridge but these are already booked up. However, the good news is that there is plenty more to be enjoyed for those who adopt a go-with-the-flow attitude and make use of the programme guide and free tour bus to explore what's on offer.

See here .

Dippy as seen recently at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery © Birmingham Museums Trust
Dippy the dinosaur © Birmingham Museums Trust

Dippy

A first for Newcastle sees the famous dinosaur skeleton pay a visit to the city and, in keeping with the scale of the guest, it's to be a long one.

The Great North Museum: Hancock has been picked as one of just eight UK venues to play host to Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure and the 21.3-metre long Diplodocus skeleton cast will be taking up residence there from May 18 until October 6.

It's travelling for the first time outside of London - where it was one of the Natural History Museum's most famous exhibits for years - and while visitors can see it for free at the museum, they are advised to pre-book a viewing slot as Dippy is expected to be popular.

See here .

People in Newcastle City Centre enjoy the hot weather and sunshine

This is Tomorrow

Setting the tone for a summer of music, Welsh rockers Sereophonics will be headlining this outdoor gig after the previous night's bill-toppers Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds have taken flight.

The stars will take to the stage at Exhibition Park on May 26 to close the event which will be opened there by Foals on the Friday , May 24, with Gallagher and band slotting in between, on the Saturday night, May 25.

It's no surprise that North East music fans have been hugely excited since hearing the announcement of this three-night festival and have pencilled it in their diaries as a highlight of the summer.

The Stereophonics news , in particular, has gone down a storm and anyone who caught their gig last year at the Arena will know we're in for something pretty special from the enduring favourites who have now clocked up a second Decade in the Sun - and then some.

See here to book tickets.

Spice Girls to play Stadium of Light in 2019
Spice Girls play Stadium of Light in June

Spice Girls

A hot attraction this summer will be - ok - not the famous five but four of the stars of one of the biggest girl bands of all time.

Fans already excited by last year's news of their reunion could hardly contain themselves on hearing that Emma, Geri, Mel C and Mel B would be including Sunderland's Stadium of Light on their 2019 tour.

The big day finally arrives on Thursday, June 6 and, just to ratchet up that excitement even further, Jess Glynne will be offering them support on the night.

It's no surprise that tickets were snapped up but there are some still available - at a price. See here or here .

It promises to be quite a night. Posh won't know what she's missing.

Northumberland Plate Day

The big racing day of the year takes place at Newcastle Racecourse on June 29.

The famous event, formerly called the Pitmen's Derby, is now worth a whopping £150,000 - which is said to make it the richest two-mile handicap in Europe - and it is the centrepiece of Gosforth Park's Race Week.

Adding an extra element of fun will be ska band Madness, playing after the day's racing, and the bets are that Suggs and co. will be serving up plenty of their back catalogue's 15 top 10 hits.

Special ticket packages are available to enjoy the whole on- and off-course action. See here .

Northumberland Plate 2018 at Newcastle Racecourse
Northumberland Plate at Newcastle Racecourse

Wasteland

Newcastle's newest music festival is set to make its debut on July 12-14 - in style.

The outdoor showcase will be bringing indie icons Bloc Party; punk-folk favourite Frank Turner and former Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft to Spillers Wharf.

These three top attractions will each headline a night of the festival which will play out on the banks of the Tyne with more bands yet to be announced.

See here .

Northern Pride

Formerly called Newcastle Pride , the city celebration - said to be the UK’s biggest free LGBT+ festival - is about to get even bigger.

This year's three-day party, running from July 19-21, will be spread across two sites for the first time: Exhibition Park and the Town Moor.

And it will include a new second stage to be run by the Curious Arts, the local not-for-profit body which also runs the annual Curious Arts Festival.

See here .

Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer in 24

SummerTyne with Kiefer Sutherland

Yes, really, the Hollywood star will be heading to Gateshead when the festival returns like a breath of fresh - warm - air inviting music-lovers to soak up the Americana vibe.

Those who know Sutherland  only as an actor will get to see a whole new side to the 24 star when he takes to the stage on July 21, the closing night of the three-day annual event.

He is bringing out a new album too - Reckless & Me  - if you want to hear a taster of what to expect. See here .

Also included in this year's programme are the likes of K D Lang and New Zealand singer-songwriter Marlon Williams who appeared alongside Bradley Cooper in Oscar-winner A Star is Born.

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Ladies Day

Newcastle Racecourse's second main event of the year - and certainly the biggest in the fashion stakes - will see an array of posh frocks and eye-catching headwear out on parade on July 27.

Full name the Collingwood Insurance Beeswing Ladies Day, this is a social highlight of the year and for many Geordies it's a proper marker of summer - even if it's been known to rain on the day, sending glamorous ladies scurrying for their cleverly-concealed handbag umbrella. Colour-ordinated of course. See here .