Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
What's On in Sunderland & Durham
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SWIMMING LESSONS WITH EVERYONE ACTIVE
1st January-31st December 2025
Venue: Sunderland
Address: SR1-SR6
Website: https://www.everyoneactive.com/courses-lessons/swimming-lessons/
Award-winning swimming lessons at your local Everyone Active leisure centre, for children aged from just 4 months old. Available at Hetton Community Pool and Wellness Centre, Houghton Sports Centre, Silksworth...
DURHAM CATHEDRAL NATURE TRAIL
31st January-31st December 2025
Venue: Durham Cathedral
Address: The College, DH1 3EH
Website: www.durhamcathedral.co.uk
This nature trail has been developed with local school children to help you explore the woodlands & riverbanks around the cathedral. Look out for animals, birds, trees & flowers on your way round....
WWT WASHINGTON APP
11th March-31st December 2025
Venue: WWT Washington Wetlands Centre
Address: NE38 8LE
Website: www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/washington
Browse the NEW WWT Washington app – your digital pocket journey to enjoy before, during and after a visit. Download from Apple & Google Stores now & get 10% off admission.
DURHAM CATHEDRAL NATURE TRAIL
31st January-31st December 2025
Venue: Durham Cathedral
Address: The College, DH1 3EH
Website: www.durhamcathedral.co.uk
This nature trail has been developed with local school children to help you explore the woodlands & riverbanks around the cathedral. Look out for animals, birds, trees & flowers on your way round. The...
SATURDAY ART CLUB
1st February-31st December 2025
Time: 1-3pm
Venue: Arts Centre Washington,
Address: NE38 8AB
Website: www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/our-venues/arts-centre-washington/whats-on/
This Saturday Art Club is suitable for children aged 8+ with an interest in art who would like to develop their skills further. Often taking inspiration from exhibitions & artists working within the arts...
WASHINGTON YOUTH THEATRE
1st February-31st December 2025
Time: 10am - 12pm
Venue: Arts Centre Washington,
Address: NE38 8AB
Website: www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/our-venues/arts-centre-washington/whats-on/
Weekly sessions for 8-12 years olds to practice & develop their theatre skills, increase confidence, & make new friends! £6 per child. Book at sunderlandculture.org.uk/events/washington-youth-theatre.
EXPLORING ANCIENT JAPAN
1st-1st August 2028
Time: 1-3pm
Venue: Oriental Museum
Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH
Website: www.durham.ac.uk/things-to-do/venues/oriental-museum/
Learn about prehistoric Japan & make a clay dogu figure. Free event.1-3pm.
DURHAM CATHEDRAL IN LEGO®
1st October-31st December 2025
Venue: Durham Cathedral
Address: The College, DH1 3EH
Website: www.durhamcathedral.co.uk
After a few years in storage, the LEGO® version of Durham Cathedral has been re-built & is back on permanent display inside the Cathedral museum.
SUNDERLAND CHRISTMAS WINDOW TRAIL
15th November-30th December 2025
Venue: Sunderland
Address: SR1
Website: www.spenditinsunderland.co.uk
One of the best-loved fairy tales, Sleeping Beauty, is getting a whole new look this Christmas – to coincide with the pantomime at the Sunderland Empire. Once Upon A Winter’s Trail will feature unique...
JACK & THE BEANSTALK
20th November-31st December 2025
Venue: Gala Theatre Durham,
Address: DH1 1WA
Website: www.galadurham.co.uk.
A long, long time ago when magic still existed, in a small village on the outskirts of an ancient city lives Jack our hero. A brave & kind-hearted young lad with big dreams who works hard to make ends...
AGLOW
21st November-31st December 2025
Venue: Auckland Palace
Address: Bishop Auckland, DL14 7NR
Website: www.aucklandproject.org/event/aglow-25/
Step into a winter wonderland as Auckland Palace’s dazzling light trail once again transforms the skies above Bishop Auckland – & this year promises to be bigger, brighter, and more magical than ever...
CHRISTMAS AT THE BRIDGES
22nd November-24th December 2025
Venue: The Bridges Shopping Centre,
Address: SR1 3DR
Website: www.thebridges-shopping.com
Take a virtual reality sleigh ride when visiting The Bridges this Christmas & combine it with a visit to Santa's Grotto. Or have Breakfast with Grinch on Sundays 7th, 14th & 21st December. Discover the...
FOREST OF LIGHT
22nd November-4th January 2026
Time: 4-8pm
Venue: Beamish Hall Hotel
Address: Coppy Ln, DH9 0YB
Website: www.beamish-hall.co.uk/forest-of-light
The Forest of Light is a captivating illuminated experience set within an enchanted ancient woodland. A world filled with illuminations, music, interactive props & projections to dazzle & amaze. A unique...
GRIMMS' FAIRY TALES
22nd November-28th December 2025
Time: 10am-4pm
Venue: Crook Hall & Gardens,
Address: Frankland Lane, DH1 5SZ
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/crook-hall-gardens
Find a series of enchanting fairytale-inspired art installations inspired by Grimms' Fairy Tales. From familiar classics like Cinderella & Little Red Riding Hood to lesser-known tales, each of the stories...
WOODLAND FAIRY TRAIL
22nd November-18th January 2026
Time: 10am-4pm
Venue: Gibside NT
Address: NE16 6BG
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/gibside
Discover the secrets of the woodland fairies at Gibside. Speak softly & keep your eyes wide, as magic stirs deep in the woodlands. Where the frost clings to fern & holly, whispers of fairy life can be...
SLEEPING BEAUTY
28th November-31st December 2025
Venue: Empire Theatre Consett
Address: DH8 5AB
Website: www.empireconsett.co.uk/
Get ready for the dreamiest pantomime of all in this magical tale of a beautiful princess who fell into an enchanted sleep in the town of Consettivious. Leah Bell & company return this year with their...
ADVENT PROCESSION WITH CAROLS
29th-30th November 2025
Time: 6pm
Venue: Durham Cathedral
Address: The College, DH1 3EH
Website: www.durhamcathedral.co.uk
Join this atmospheric service to mark the start of Advent.The service starts in darkness & the choir starts to sing at the west end of the cathedral as they move slowly through the building to the east...
RIDING THROUGH TIME
29th-29th November 2025
Time: 1-3pm
Venue: Oriental Museum
Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH
Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum
Hop on to the life-size ancient chariot at the Oriental Museum & craft your own mini chariot to take away. Free event.1-3pm.
VICTORIAN CHRITSMAS CARDS
29th-29th November 2025
Time: 11am-1pm
Venue: Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Address: SR1 1PP
Website: www.sunderlandmuseum.org.uk
Learn about the first ever Christmas cards & get inspired by cards from the Museum collections to make your own Victorian Christmas card. Free event between 11am & 1pm.
SATURNALIA TRAIL
1st December-4th January 2026
Time: From 11am
Venue: Museum of Archaeology,
Address: Palace Green, Durham, DH1 3RN
Website: www.durham.ac.uk/things-to-do/venues/museum-of-archaeology/
Explore the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia. Discover how Romans celebrated this festive period with feasts, gift-giving & social role reversals in honour of Saturn, the god of agriculture in this...
WILD WELLY WALKS
1st December-2nd February 2026
Venue: WWT Washington Wetlands Centre
Address: NE38 8LE
Website: www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/washington
Pick up a free Wild Welly Walks activity guide & spot, draw & splash your way through winter. Many fun activity ideas & challenges to complete including spotting & IDing wild birds, counting, making a...
CHRISTMAS EVE
2nd-24th December 2025
Venue: Gala Theatre Durham,
Address: DH1 1WA
Website: www.galadurham.co.uk.
It’s the most magical night of the year but one young girl has realised that something is amiss in Durham. Everyone has lost their Christmas spirit & Eve is on a mission to find out why. Join her on...
DURHAM CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
5th-7th December 2025
Time: 9am-6pm
Venue: Durham City Centre,
Address: DH1 3NJ
Website: www.durhamchristmasfestival.com
Durham City’s Annual Traditional Christmas Festival 3 days, 3 markets & loads of festive fun to start the Christmas season for 20254. Shop to your heart's content in the Craft & Producers' Market, in...
A FESTIVE TREAT
6th-6th December 2025
Time: 11am-3pm
Venue: Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Address: SR1 1PP
Website: www.sunderlandmuseum.org.uk
Buy those special Christmas stocking fillers at the Teenage Market, make decorations from natural materials & follow the Christmas Plants Trail to discover how plant stories are woven into our Christmas...
MUSEUM BUGS
6th-6th December 2025
Time: 1-3pm
Venue: Oriental Museum
Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH
Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum
Find out how them museum stop pests from eating the museum's precious collections & make your own museum bug. Free event. 1-3pm.
CHILDREN'S LANTERN PARADE & SERVICE
7th-7th December 2025
Time: 3.30pm
Venue: Durham Cathedral
Address: The College, DH1 3EH
Website: www.durhamcathedral.co.uk
The whole family are invited to light a lantern & join the parade. Leaving from the Market Place at 3.00pm, the Lantern Parade will follow the Chester-le-Street Salvation Army Band up to Palace Green,...
SLEEPING BEAUTY
12th December-4th January 2026
Venue: Sunderland Empire
Address: SR1 3EX
Website: http://sunderlandempire.net.
A wonderfully wicked panto starring BBC’s Call the Midwife star Laura Main as the spellbinding Fairy Snowfall & Channel 5 Milkshake! presenter, David Ribi, as the dashing Prince Vincent with...
WINDOWS ON THE WORLD
13th-13th December 2025
Time: 1-3pm
Venue: Oriental Museum
Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH
Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum
Explore the Silk Roads gallery, see the beautiful Islamic window grill & make a window decoration. Free event. 1-3pm.
LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE
14th-14th December 2025
Time: 3.30pm
Venue: Durham Cathedral
Address: The College, DH1 3EH
Website: www.durhamcathedral.co.uk
A family favourite service where the lights on the cathedral’s giant Christmas tree are lit, & the nativity scene which was carved by a local miner, Michael Doyle & features unique north-eastern twist...
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
17th-17th December 2025
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Durham Cathedral
Address: The College, DH1 3EH
Website: www.durhamcathedral.co.uk
On Christmas Eve night, the miserly & cold-hearted businessman Ebenezer Scrooge embarks upon a journey through his past, present, & future, learning along the way to appreciate the true meaning of Christmas. A...
CINDERELLA PUPPET PANTO
20th-21st December 2025
Time: 12.30pm & 1.30pm
Venue: Crook Hall & Gardens,
Address: Frankland Lane, DH1 5SZ
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/crook-hall-gardens
Experience the classic tale of magic, princes, glass slippers & pumpkins at the Crook Hall Gardens puppet theatre. Free, normal admission applies. No need to book, join in on the day at 12.30pm & 1.30pm.
COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS CRAFT WORKSHOP
20th-20th December 2025
Time: 1-3pm
Venue: Oriental Museum
Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH
Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum
Find out how Christmas is celebrated around the world & decorate a Christmas decoration to take home. Free event. 1-3pm.
FESTIVE FAMILY CRAFTS
20th-22nd December 2025
Time: 1-3pm
Venue: WWT Washington Wetlands Centre
Address: NE38 8LE
Website: www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/washington
Drop-in to the Discovery Centre between 1 & 3pm to enjoy making painted art with mud! Use brushes, sponges & other tools or get truly stuck-in & hands on using your hands & fingers to finish your masterpiece!...
VIVALDI FOUR SEASONS AT CHRISTMAS
29th-29th December 2025
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Durham Cathedral
Address: The College, DH1 3EH
Website: www.durhamcathedral.co.uk
Enjoy an outstanding musical evening in the days after Christmas with a performance of Vivaldi's timeless classic, The Four Seasons, in the spectacular candlelit setting of Durham Cathedral. Tickets...
NEW YEAR'S EVE FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR
31st-31st December 2025
Time: 6.30pm & 12am Midnight
Venue: Keel Square,
Address: Sunderland, SR1 3LH
Website: www.mysunderland.co.uk/article/36072/New-Year-s-Eve-Firework-Spectacular
A dazzling double fireworks spectacular is set to light up the night sky across Sunderland this New Year's Eve. Two free firework displays will take place at 6.30pm & Midnight with other events including...
TOM GATES EPIC STAGE SHOW
24th-24th February 2026
Time: 12.30pm & 3.30pm
Venue: Sunderland Fire Station
Address: High Street West, SR1 3HA
Website: www. sunderlandculture.org.uk
Based on the bestselling books by Liz Pichon, & brand new for 2026, Tom Gates EPIC Stage Show comes to our theatre bringing alive the illustrations and music that makes Tom Gates hugely popular around...
ZOG
24th-26th February 2026
Venue: Gala Theatre Durham,
Address: DH1 1WA
Website: www.galadurham.co.uk
Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler’s classic, feel-good story is brought to roaring, soaring life in this delightful musical for children. Zog is the keenest dragon in Madam Dragon’s school. He’s also...
BLUEY'S BIG PLAY
25th-29th March 2026
Venue: Sunderland Empire
Address: SR1 3EX
Website: http://sunderlandempire.net.
Bluey, Bingo, Bandit & Chilli are heading to Sunderland! Featuring brilliantly created puppets, this theatrical adaptation of the Emmy® award-winning children’s television series is packed with music,...
HORRIBLE HISTORIES
17th-18th April 2026
Venue: Sunderland Empire
Address: SR1 3EX
Website: http://sunderlandempire.net.
For the very first time, your favourite songs & actors from the award-winning Horrible Histories TV series will be appearing live on stage in Sunderland! When William Shakespeare is asked to create the...