This post has been updated for 2024
There are lots of brilliant things going on in Sunderland for the summer holidays, I thought I would put together one handy list in a certain place for you to come back to when you are looking for inspiration.
Make sure you head over to the attraction websites to double check dates and to check for cancellations.
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 This post will be updated regularly so keep checking back.
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
WWT Washington
Summer postcard Trail - 20th July - 1st September
Wild walk big butterfly count 20th July
Woodland Animals summer art workshops 22nd July
Mini beast hunt 23rd, 28th July, 6th 11th, 24th August
Moth Morning 24t July, 18th, 22nd, 31st August
Animal tracking 24th, 30th July, 7th, 13th, 28th August
Den Building 25th, 31st July, 8th, 16th, 20th, 25th August
Pond Dipping 27th July, 1st, 9th, 15th, 21st, 30th August
Swans summer art workshop 29th July
Guide in the hide 3rd August
Beautiful botanicals art workshop 5th August
Wild walk insects 10th August
Bugs summer art workshop 12th August
Nature print & clay faces 14th August
Bees summer art workshop 19th August
Birds summer art workshop 26th August
Wild walk wetland birds 27th August
National Glass Centre
Free daily glass demonstrations
🌞Glass fused birds or fish - 22nd July - 2nd September
🌞Glass fused postcards - 24th July, 7th, 21st August
🌞Wonderful welly boot planters - 25th July
🌞Stained glass dragon fly 26th July - 24th August
🌞Glass painted pets 2nd August - 30th August
🌞Decorate a ceramic bird feeder 8th August
🌞Stained glass butterfly wings - 28th August
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
🌞Root Notes until 2nd September
🌞Changing Childhoods trail 20th July - 14th September
🌞Wonderful wings & stupendous Stings 24th July
🌞Big Science parties 26th July - 16th August
🌞Portrait station - 20th July-24th August
🌞Bug tastic facts & Crafts 31st July
🌞Arty Fridays 2nd Aug-23rd August
🌞Sunderland Teenage artisan market - 3rd August
🌞Bears museum adventure: Daring to Dinosaur 7th August
🌞Bug hunt in the garden 14th August
🌞Grow your own pizza 21st August
🌞Bug tastic facts & crafts - 31st July
🌞History Mondays
🌞Arty Fridays
Arts Centre Washington
Washington 60 until 31st August
Creative you teenage craft group every other Tuesday
Creative you film makers club - Mondays
Creative you young writers - every other Wednesday
Youth Theatre every Saturday
Saturday Art Club
Music Club - Fridays
Little movers - Every Tuesday
Artventures - Every Thursdays
Tie dying tshirts 30th July
Rock & Coal Family Choir - 8th August
Souter Lighthouse National Trust
Seashore Safari 21st July
Souter Sports 23rd 30th July, 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th August
Moth Night 23rd August
Wildlife Trust
Wildlife watch - Rainton Meadows 21st July
Sunderland Training and educational farm
Family Fun Open Days 30th July, 1st, 6th, 8th, 13th, 15th, 20th, 22nd August
Summer Holiday camp 22nd July - 2nd September
Pony Activities week 25th July, 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 30th August
Stack Seaburn
Winkle & Storm Pirate Show 24th, 31st July, 21st August
Magician Marvin 7th, 14th, 28th August
Dive into the Blue - Immersive experience
Beacon Of Light
There's lots going on at The Beacon of Light over the Summer so head to the website for dates. Here are some of the fab events taking place:
Comic Con Mania
Future Lioness day
Taste of the world
FIFA Tournament
Disability multisport
Football clubs
Summer holiday club
Candle making
Pot painting
Sensory Circuits
Retro Gaming
Train like a pro
and lots lots more.
Seascapes
Family Rockpool ramble - 22nd July Whitburn Beach
Family Whale & Dolphin watch - Roker pier 24th July
Shore search - Roker 27th July
Family Rockpool Ramble - Roker 8th August
Sunderland Bede Campus
Mama Mia Summer Workshop - 22nd-26th July
Aladdin Summer Workshop - 5th-9th August
Disney Summer Workshop 5th -8th August
Other events throughout Summer
Monument Fest - Herrington Park 20th July
Active Sunderland Family Fun day 24th July - 21st August
Sunniside Market - 27th July, 24th August
Back on the map cook together 23rd July - 27th August
Bradley Lowry Fun Day Tesco Extra 27th July
Emergency services day North East Land Sea And Air Museum 4th August
Harvester family fun day 24th August
Regional Sports Tug Of War Silksworth Sports centre 20th July
Summer Art Camp - The Art Room
Family Fun Day Day Filipino Community - Lambton Street 31st August
Coasteering Adventure Sunderland 8th August (Ages 8+)
Free Weekend Learn To Row Sessions - Sunderland Rowing Centre (1 free Trail session per person)
Summer Party Saint Josephs RC Millfield 21st July
Sunderland Careers fair - Stadium Of Light 28th August
Teenage Takeover - Pop Recs 1st August
Other Ideas
Super tramp is an amazing idea if you are looking for a place for the kids to burn some energy
Omniplex Cinema - The cinema Is always a great rainy day idea and Omniplex who now run the cinema in Sunderland have a fab pass for £11.99 for a month
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)
