| Where: | Ashington, Northumberland at Woodhorn Museum |
| When: | A Saturday in mid June |
| Time: | 10 am-5pm with Memorial Service 10.30, Massed bands 1.10pm and Parade 2pm (approx.) |
The coal industry was crucial in shaping the landscape and history of the North of England, and though the collieries are now all but a distant memory, the annual Miners’ Picnic commemorates and celebrates mining history and communities each June in Northumberland. This rich heritage includes the brass bands associated with individual collieries, local choirs and a poignant commemoration of the many mining losses and disasters in the region over the years, with floral tributes laid by numerous dignitaries and industrial, political and and community groups. Participants are welcome to bring their own snacks as the name of the event implies, and local food and drink suppliers will also be available on site alongside arts and crafts and activities for children. The event runs all day, with the Memorial service in the morning, and the bands during the afternoon followed by the Parade which has a different theme each year for variety. With its origins in Blyth in the 1860s, the picnic is now held at Woodhorn Museum and Country Park on the outskirts of Ashington, once known as the “biggest pit village in the World”. Woodhorn Colliery operated on the museum site for almost a century until closure in 1981 and at its peak over 2000 pitmen worked the underground seams there; today there are permanent exhibitions on the history of the industry, displays of the elaborate colliery banners, a gallery displaying photographs from Mik Critchlow spanning nearly half a century of Woodhorn Colliery and the local community, and another featuring the artwork of the Ashington Group of Pitmen Painters of the early twentieth century. The museum is appropriately housed in restored buildings from the colliery complex, with an ongoing restoration project to preserve the site for future generations.
Helpful Hints
In 2026 it was on Saturday June 13th- 2027 date is yet to be confirmed.
Admission to the event (including the museum) is free of charge with £5 for onsite parking and it’s very family-friendly. The excellent museum is open year-round and tickets are usually £11 for adults- well worth a visit even if you can’t get there for the Picnic.
Click here for the Museum: https://www.facebook.com/WoodhornMuseum
and here: https://www.northeastmuseums.org.uk/woodhorn/visit
and here for the event listing: https://www.northeastmuseums.org.uk/woodhorn/whats-on/northumberland-miners-picnic-2026
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