This post has been updated for 2023
There are lots of brilliant things going on in Sunderland for the summer holidays, I thought I would put together one mega list in a handy place for you to come back to when you are looking for inspiration. Click on the blue links to find out more.
*This post may contain Ads or Affiliates
Please do let me know if I have missed anything or you have something running for summer and I will add it to this guide.
If you have a family friendly event that you would like us to include in our guides please click HERE
You can also advertise your business every Friday for free in our very popular Facebook Group. HERE
Keep scrolling to the bottom for lots more ideas
What's On
Sunderland City Centre
Sunderland Bid's Summer in the city is back!
Jurassic Jungle AR Trail - 22nd July-3rd September
Free Crazy Golf - 27th July, 10th, 24th August
Free Inflatable assault course 29th, 30th July
Free outdoor Cinema 5th, 19th August, 2nd September
Free circus skills workshop 16th, 23rd, 30th August
50p climbing wall
WWT Washington
Drawn To water - Quentin Blake - Running until 3rd September
Daily Otter and Flamingo Talks
Wild walk Dragon Flies - 23rd July
Author & Illustrator Storytime and Crafts - 1st August
Wild walk Bees & Butterflies - 5th August
National Glass Centre
Big Science Workshop - 25th July - 31st August
Glass Fusing - Various dates from 29th July
Sandcasting Fish, Car, Cat, Hedgehog from 2nd August
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Tuesday Museum club - Taking place on the first Tuesday of each month
Wild Wonders Trail - 22nd July - 2nd September
Hooray for History - 24th July - 21st August
Arty Wednesdays - 26th July, 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd August
The Wild Escape - 28th July
Discovery Zoo - 4th & 25th August
Minibeast Hunt - 11th August
Bears Museum Adventure - 18th August
Heads Up! Family Emotional Wellbeing Days - 8th August
Arts Centre Washington
Creative You, teenage craft club - Every Other Tuesday
Creative You, Bright lights young artists - Tuesdays
Washington Young Film Makers - Every Monday
Young writers collective - every other Wednesday
Washington Youth Theatre - Every Saturday
Art Club - Saturdays
Right Track Music Project
The Fire Station
The Amazing Bubble Man - 30th July
Fireman Sam Live - Sam saves the circus - 5th August
Souter Lighthouse National Trust
Souter Sports - From 24th July
Nature Crafts for kids - Various dates from 27th July
Moth & Storm Petrel night - 28th July
Seashore safari 4th, 20th August
Wildlife Trust
Damsel & Dragonfly spotting - Rainton Meadows Nature reserve - 29th July
Wildflower wander - Elemore Park - 3rd August
Elemore parks family music festival - 25th August
David Lloyd Sunderland
Summer holiday tennis camp - 31st July, 1st, 2nd, 4th August
Football Camp - 24th-27th July
Sunderland Training and educational farm
Pony Week starting 24th July
Sunderland Empire
Creative learning presents - Theatre school - 24th-28th July
Charlie & The Chocolate Factory - 2nd-13th August
More Info
Nissan
Summer Holiday club - 24th July -1st September
Stack Seaburn
Winkle & Storm pirate show - 26th July, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th August
Magician Marvin 2nd August
17nineteen
Toy Fair - 22nd July
Music for Toddlers 1st August
Creative play - Building & Construction - 4th August
Stained glass suncatchers family workshop - 4th August
Lego Day - 10th August
Make your own fun board game workshop - 16th August
Zine making family workshop - 17th August
Creative play - dressing up - 18th August
Bee beads - National Bee day - 19th August
Make your own fun - playground games - 24th August
Creative play - exploring nature - 24th August
Creative play - Photography & Images 25th August
Make your own fun Marble run - 30th August
Beacon Of Light
The Beacon of light have various summer clubs including:
Football course, FIFA Tournament, Future Lionesses day, summer holiday and lots more
Community Kids Club CIC
Summer club Weeks 1-6
Silksworth Cricket Club
Kids summer fun day - 23rd July
North East Land Sea & Air Museum
Summer Classic Car show - 23rd July
More Info
AP coaching Sunderland
Football Camp 24th-26th July
Seaburn & Roker
The big swim bike run - 29th July
Sunniside Food Market
29th July
Thompson Park
Opening Event 5th August
Kayll Road Community Hub
Summer Market 5th August
Big Bear Beach Clean - Roker 13th August
Herrington Park
Soapbox Challenge 19th August
Choice wellbeing service fun day 26th July
Seaburn Rec
Mini Mania Car Show - 27th August
Seaburn Rec
Historic Vehicle Rally - 28th August
Minster Park
Family Fun Day - 28th August
Hylton Castle
The battle of the Hylton -29th July
Other Ideas
Super tramp is an amazing idea if you are looking for a place for the kids to burn some energy
Empire Cinema - Is always a great rainy day idea and they usually have summer events running
Summer Reading Challenge - You could set your own or you could follow your local libraries who usually have craft/activities sessions throughout Summer.
Sunderland Bowl always have deals running so make sure you check the website for the offers.
Harry's Game Shack is also a great way to kill a few hours and they always have deals running.
Sunderland Sculpture Trail ( You can grab a leaflet from the Glass Centre) we love doing this! Start at the Wearmouth Bridge, work your way along to Roker, enjoy the beach grab an Ice cream then go dolphin spotting along Roker Pier.
Enjoy the gorgeous beaches. We have a few to choose from Roker, Seaburn, Whitburn, Hendon and Ryhope beach are all beautiful. Ryhope beach is not suitable for those with mobility issues or pushchairs as there are lots of steps to get down.
Hike up Penshaw Monument and enjoy the views and then walk down to Cox Green and enjoy a lovely river/woodland walk
Head up Tunstall Hill and enjoy the views, if the grass is short you could also enjoy a picnic
Visit A Play Park!
Roker Park which sometimes has a miniature railway and free crafts/trails on a Sunday
Herrington Country Park - The biggest park in Sunderland. You will find a play park, woodland walk, lots of birds to feed (seed please) and plenty of picnic spots
Silksworth leisure complex has a pretty impressive play area
Hylton Castle which also has a disability swing (you need a radar key to use it)
Mowbray park has a half decent play area and the park is lovely and well kept
Backhouse Park is ideal for those who like somewhere a bit quieter
Ryhope Playing Fields has a fairly new play park
Ryhope Cricket Club has a lovely little play area for the younger kids (it is quite small though)
Thompson Park (Southwick end) has a good play area and loads of room to run around.
Downhill Sports Complex
James Steel Park
Hetton Lyons Country Park
Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve has a lovely wild play area
Barnes Park
Silksworth Park (we love the tennis courts in here!)
Check out these other posts
Our epic summer holiday guide (Coming Soon)
Spring walk ideas (Also nice during summer)