A Summer of fun in Sunderland - Find out what's on in this mega guide
Updated: Aug 1, 2022
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 I have tried my best to make sure everything I have listed is free or cheap. 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.
What's On
Bridges Sunderland - Arr Matey! Beach and a fab list of activities throughout Summer
3rd Aug 12-1.30 Litter Pick at the beach. Make your own sea creature from what you collect
10th Aug 12-1.30 Arts & Crafts. Decorate your own bucket & space to take home
17th Aug 12-1.30 Pirates & Mermaids. A fun interactive story session with tiara/hat making
24th Aug 12-1.30 Fish Hunt. Play catch a fish and make a fish wand
31st Aug 12-1.30 Pirate Picnic. Take along a picnic to enjoy on the beach. Dress up as a sea creature, pirate or princess.
3rd Sep 12-2 End of Summer Party. Seaside themed party with special guests
The beach is open Monday - Saturday 9.30- 4.30 Sunday quiet hour 11-12 followed by 12- 4
suitable for under 8 and is £2 per child. Parental supervision at all times. Tickets to be collected from the customer service kiosk.
Sunderland BID have some fab events on throughout summer.
Pop up park in Keel Square, with free activities and kids entertainment 11-3 every Monday
Fun in the sun sessions 11 - 3 every Monday
Taste Experience every Wednesday
Wake up, Shake up every Saturday
Free Jurassic Jungle VR Trail around the city using the Sunderland Experience app.
Sunderland Roller Rink is a popular addition this year £28 for a family ticket
You can also find Sunderland Wall offering climbs on the mobile wall for 50p!
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens - Another great free attraction in Sunderland.
Plans are going ahead to update the museum. We can't wait to see what they come up with.
Pyrex Pattern Trail 27th July - 21st Oct £2.50 per sheet and you can collect a prize at the end.
Maritime Mondays - Shipwreck 1st Aug 11-12.30 & 1.30 - 3 Free drop in
Arty Wednesdays - Make Kente Patterns 1.30- 3 Free drop in
Maritime Mondays - Creatures of the deep 8th Aug, 11-12.30 Free drop in
Discovery Zoo 24th Aug. Limited tickets left. Meet some of the creatures. £3 per child (Booking is a must for this one)
Arty Wednesdays Taste Tribes 17th Aug, 1.30-3 free drop in, Make textile artwork.
Big Science Bubble Fest. 22 Aug, £5 per child. 11am, 1pm, 2.30pm. Learn about the science of bubbles and lots more
Pyrex Fridays Animal Sculptures 26th Aug, 11, 12.30, 1.30, 3pm Free drop in
Arty Wednesday Pop up winter gardens 31 Aug 1.30-3 Free drop in
Tuesday Museum Club 6th September this runs every month and is suitable for ages 5-11 £3.50 10am-11.30am
Free daily glass demos. Although be warned, it is super warm in there. The Glass Centre is free to enter and you can find a few exhibitions plus kiddies colour area.
Ceramic Sandcastles & Sea Sculptures. Saturday 30th July, 13th, 27th Aug & 3rd Sep also running Wednesdays 27th July, 3rd, 17th, 31st Aug 10am-11.30am. £10 pp limited spaces
Coastal animal glass painting 29th July, 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th Aug 10am, 11.30am, 2pm ages 4+. £4
Marvellous Mobiles 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th Aug 10am, 11.30am, 2pm Ages 4+ £5
Rainbow Rockets Glass Fusing 2nd Aug 10am, 11.30am, 2pm Ages 6+ £12pp
Fantastic Fish Glass Fusing 16th, 30th Aug Ages 6+ £12pp
Musical theatre, drumming & creative cooking workshops 9th-12th Aug, 10am-2pm Ages 8-12. Free to take part
Seventeen Nineteen
Crafts & creativity 15th-19th Aug 10am-2pm ages 4-11. Free to take part
Sunderland College, Bede Campus
Song writing 22nd-25th Aug 10am-3pm ages 13-16
Free Arts Workshops ages 11-19. Tuesdays 1.30pm-3.30pm , Thursdays 10-12 Sign up using the online form
The Tortoise & The Hare, A Suitcase Story £7pp 16th Aug, 1pm, 3pm
Inspector Drake & The Black Widow £6pp. 18th - 20th Aug 7.30pm
Aerial Arts creative workshop & Creative cooking 2nd-5th Aug 12.30pm - 4.30pm Ages 8-12
A range of free activities taking place including games, picnics in the park, arts & crafts, sports and lots more. Everyone is welcome. Suitable for ages 5-12 years. Starting 25th July for 4 weeks 11am-2.30pm
Family art days 30th July - you can book for 2, 3 or 4 people (helps to keep numbers to a minimum) 10am-11am, 11am-12pm
Harry's breakfast club £7.50 Mon-Fri 10am-12pm. You get 2 hours of gaming, pop tarts and juice
Located on Marine Walk Roker, £6pp for a 25 minute experience.Running throughout the holidays until 20th August.
All Free to enjoy
Winkle & Storm Pirate Show 28th July 12pm-2pm
Magic Monday with Magician Marvin 12pm-2pm, 4pm-6pm
Mickey & Minnie mouse 2nd Aug 12pm-2pm
Toy Story 3rd Aug 12pm-2pm
Little Mix Tribute 4th Aug 1pm-3pm
Winkle & Storm Pirate Show 6th Aug 12pm-2pm
Magician Marvin 8th Aug 12pm-2pm, 4pm-6pm
Frozen & Belle 9th Aug 12pm-2pm
Cinderella 10th Aug 12pm-2pm
Magician Marvin 15th Aug 12pm-2pm, 4pm-6pm
Celebration of Encanto 16th Aug 12pm-2pm
Peter Pan & Tinkerbell 17th Aug 12pm-2pm
Winkle & Storm Pirate Show 18th Aug 12pm-2pm
Magician Marvin 19th Aug 12pm-2pm, 4pm-6pm
Celebration of Paw Patrol 23rd Aug 12pm -2pm
Rapunzel & Jasmine 24th Aug12pm-2pm
Winkle & Storm Pirate Show 25th Aug 12pm-2pm
Magician Marvin 29th Aug 12pm-2pm, 4pm-6pm
Mickey & Minnie Mouse 30th Aug 12pm-2pm
Celebration of Encanto 31st 12pm-2pm
Big Chef Little Chef series, Kids Cookery Workshops with Mateo Baran from Posh Street Food on Selected Mondays 8th, 15th, 25th Aug 5th Sep. For Ages 6+ Maximum of 10 kids
Running the Adventure days sessions throughout August and I think it is such a bargain.
Suitable for ages 8-16 years. Kids get to experience kayaking, canoeing, Rifle shooting, Archery, Paddleboard. £8 per session or £30 for the Adventure days
Junior Wetland Rangers can enjoy a full timetable of activities such as pond dipping, animal tracking, den building, nest detectives, moth mornings, bug hunts and lots more. 23rd July - 3rd September
Fancy A Day Out programme running Monday & Wednesday for ages 5-11 years. Lunch is provided and places must be booked in advance
Hendon Together free family fun event in Barley Mow Park 29th July 11am-2pm
Durham Wildlife Trust, Rainton Meadows
Wild Green Days 8th Aug-10Aug 10.30-2.30
A three day summer school. Lunch is provided, booking is essential although it is free.
Please note days 1 & 2 will take place at Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Day 3 will take place at Hetton Lyons Country Park so you must be able to travel to the locations each day.
Seashore Safari 31st July, 14th & 30th August. £1 per child
Summer of sports running until 31st August. Free event. 11am-3.30pm
Bird ball making 4th, 25th Aug 11am-4pm £2.50
Create a Cress Head 11 Aug & 1st Sep 11am-4pm £2
Attenborough's Apprentices 28th July 1pm-2pm & 2.30pm-3.30pm £5 per child
Minnie & Mickey Family Fun day 31st July 1pm-4pm Meet & Greet, Disco, Crafts, Games and more. £5 per child
Massive range of activities throughout the holidays check out the website for more. See below for an idea of what's on offer.
All 28th July
Little Dribblers Playgroup 9.30-11.30 £3
Robots Primary under 11 - 10am-12pm £10
Futsal ages 12-14 1pm-3pm £8
Summer Reading Challenge with Libraries
Gadgeteers - Various activities taking place for free. Call into your local libraries to find out more.
Lunch With Moana 4th Aug
Drama Class for ages 4-6 4th Aug
Rockpool School 18th Aug very limited spaces
Rockpool School 25th Aug limited places
Teddy Bears Picnic 30th Aug
Everyone Active have a range of summer activities for free. Places are limited.
Just a few ideas (contact your local centre to find out more) usually for ages 8-11
Hetton Lyons Community Pool
Raich Carter Centre
Silksworth Sport Complex
Washington Leisure Centre
Active Sunderland Summer Family Fun Days
Free activities for all, no booking needed. You can expect giant garden games, mini tennis, mini golf, obstacle course and lots lots more
3rd Aug Princess Anne Park - Washington
10th Aug Barnes Park
20th/21st Roker Park
31st Mowbray Park
Usworth Welfare Park
6th Aug Washington Miners Picnic 11am-3pm. Parade, face paints, crafts and more
Oxclose Play Park
Pop up play- Every Thursday until 1st Sept. 4pm-6pm Free fun activities plus free packed lunch contact the centre to find out more or to book
Thorney Close Action & Enterprise Park
Running 3rd, 5th, 10th, 12th, 17th & 18th Aug Free summer of fun activities includes a free lunch plus snacks Suitable for ages 10-17 Booking recommended. contact the centre to find out more.
Also running for ages 8-11 3rd,5th,10th,12th,17th,19th Aug contact the centre to find out more or to book
Shiney Row Holiday Summer Zone Penshaw Community Centre - Indoor & Outdoor activities with free snacks & lunch
Running :
2nd,3rd,4th 9.15am-1.15pm
8th,9th,10th,11th Aug 9.15am-1.15pm
15th,16th,17th,18th 9.15am-1.15pm
Booking is recommended contact the centre to find out more or to book
Hylton Castle Craigavon Road - Free fun activities for ages 7-11 with free snacks and lunch
Running:
2nd, 4th, 5th 12pm-4pm
9th, 11th, 12th 12pm-4pm
16th, 18th, 19th 12pm-4pm
contact the centre to find out more or to book
Houghton Rec Park Holiday Zone
Free Activities
Running:
8th 4pm-6pm
15th 4pm-6pm
22nd 4pm-6pm
30th 4pm-6pm
contact the centre to find out more or to book
Flatts Youth Centre Summer Holiday Zone
Free activities plus lunch
Running: 2nd & 6th Aug 11.30am-1.30pm
contact the centre to find out more or to book
Coalfields Summer Holiday Zone
Kirklea Playing Field - 9th,16th,23rd Aug & 1st Sep. 2.30pm-6.30pm
Houghton Sports Centre 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st Aug. 2.30pm-6.30pm
Claremont Drive 8th, 15th, 22nd, 30th 2.30pm-6.30pm
Copt Hill Fridays from 3.30pm-5.30pm
contact the centres to find out more or to book
Harraton Community Association
Fridays until 2nd Sept. 12.45-2.45
contact the centre to find out more or to book
Carnival House & Kitchen Southwick
2nd Aug - Preschool Fun 10am, Baby Bop 1pm
3rd Aug - Baby Bootcamp 10am, Animation Workshop 1pm
4th Aug - Preschool Fun 10am, Crazy Crafts 10.30am, Baby Bop 1pm
5th Aug - Baby Bootcamp 10am
6th Aug - Family Magic Show 11am
Few spaces available for
2nd Aug - Forest School 9.30am-12.30pm School Years 1/2/3
3rd Aug - Multi-sports 9.30am-11pm School Years 1/2/3
3rd Aug - Multi-sports 11.30am-1pm School Years 4/5/6
3rd Aug - Cookery & Sports 1.30pm-5.30pm School Years 4/5/6
4th Aug - Youth Club 2pm-3.30pm School Years 1/2/3
4th Aug - Youth Club 4pm-5.30pm School Years 4/5/6
5th Aug - Nicks Nutty Games 9.30am-1.30pm School Years 1/2
5th Aug - Forest School 2pm-5pm School Years 3/4/5
(Booking is needed and it is first come first served)
Other ideas you can do for free include
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens - Take a look around the museum, wander through the winter gardens and look out for the fish!
Sunderland Sculpture Trail ( You can grab a leaflet from the Glass Centre) we love doing this! Start at the glass centre, 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
What's on guide for Summer 2022
13 places to go for a walk in Sunderland
32 things to do in and around Sunderland