V CHRISTMAS SHOW: The annual art extravaganza for Christmas present hunters. Biscuit Factory, Stoddart Street, Newcastle. Today 11am to 5pm, entry free. Call 0191-261 1103. V CHRISTMAS PRESENT: The 17th annual selling exhibition. Shipley Art Gallery, Prince Consort Road, Gateshead. Today 2pm to 5pm, entry free. Call 0191-477 1495. V BALTIC CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART, South Shore Road, Gateshead: FRESH AS TOMORROW: Local artist Ant Macari responds to the Baltic’s spaces. SQUARE DREAMS: An apocalyptic vision of western consumerism from artist Kander Attia. IRRESPEK TIV: Art work by Kendell Geers which pushes moral codes and principles to collapse, then builds them up again. THE ZABLUDOWICZ COLLECTION — WHEN WE BUILD, LET US THINK WE BUILD FOREVER: Newcastle-born Anita Zabludowicz is an innovative collector of emerging and established artists. All exhibitions open today 10am to 6pm, entry free. Call 0191-478 1810. V GEORGIAN CHRISTMAS MUSIC: Join our costumed duo Hautbois for a warming Christmas celebration as they perform advent hymns from the 18th century. Belsay Hall, Castle and garden, Northumberland. Today11am to 4pm. Admission £3.10 to £6.10. Call 01661-881636. V NEWCASTLE BACH CHOIR: Four of the world’s finest early music singers, the choir and the period instrumentalists of Newcastle Baroque perform the magnificent Messiah by Handel. Part of the Newcastle Early Music Festival. The Sage Gateshead music centre, St Mary’s Quay, Gateshead. Today 7.30pm, tickets £8 to £22. Call 0191-443 4661. V ENCHANTED PARKS: Newcastle’s Leazes Park will come to life at night time with atmospheric installations, lights, sounds and mesmerizing live performances. Part of the NewcastleGateshead winter festival. Today. Free but booking essential. Call 0191-230 5151. V UNSILENT NIGHT: A unique audience participation event for anyone with a portable CD or cassette player. Mima, Centre Square, Middlesbrough, today 3.30pm. Free. Call 01642-729138. V SKATING@LIFE: Times Square, Centre for Life, Newcastle. Today 11am to 6pm. Child £4.95, under 4s £4.95, adult £5.95. Family tickets £17.95 and £18.95. Groups of 10 or over will receive a discount if booked in advance. Call 0191-243 8223. V BRIGHT SPARKS: GRADUATE SHORT FILM SHOWCASE: Tyneside Coffee Rooms, Tyneside Cinema, Old Town Hall, West Street, Gateshead. Today 5pm to 9pm, admission free. Part of the fifth Northern Lights Film Festival. V LAING SOLO: MANUEL SAIZ: Japanese disco dancers in a forest and a lama in a supermarket both feature in a new exhibition. Laing Art Gallery, New Bridge Street, Newcastle. Admission free. 2pm to 5pm. Call 0191-232 7734. V SEVEN STORIES: Christmas Pop-ups. 10am to 4pm.The Centre for Children’s Books, Lime Street, Newcastle. Open 11am to 5pm. Admission £5, child £4, family £15. Call 0845-271 0777. | 
