The 2021 edition of Jesmond Community Festival will go ahead in May, organisers have announced. The month-long festival, which has provided an annual showcase of activities around Jesmond since 2005, will feature a range of events, from nature trails and bike rides to poetry readings and tombstone tours.

Last year’s festival had to be cancelled just two weeks before it was due to begin, because of the pandemic. This year’s festival, however, is scheduled to kick-off on May 1st with another Teddy Bear Trail organised by Jesmond Library. A similar trail proved popular in the autumn, encouraging locals of all ages to discover different parts of Jesmond.

Friends of Jesmond Old Cemetery will be offering virtual tours of some of its most famous tombstones, including that of George Orwell’s wife, Eileen Maud Blair (Orwell’s real name was Eric Arthur Blair).

Chris Clarke, one of the festival organisers, said he hopes there will also be events featuring university students, similar to the performance by the Newcastle University Jazz Band in 2019.

“Jesmond Community Festival is a great way for people from different age groups to meet,” said Clarke. “This year we plan on focusing on what people want and when they want it during the whole month of May.”

According to Clarke, the ongoing pandemic means further restrictions could dictate which events can be held indoors and which are moved outdoors. For the latest information, visit the Jesmond Community Festival website or Facebook page.