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.
ARBEIA ROMAN FORT
31st March-28th September 2025
Venue: Arbeia Roman Fort
Address: Baring Street, South Shields, NE33 2BB
Website: www.arbeiaromanfort.org.uk
Arbeia Roman Fort once guarded the entrance to the River Tyne & was a key garrison & military supply base to other forts along Hadrians Wall. Step into the fort & immerse yourself in the world of the Romans...
SHAKESPEARE RECOVERED
4th April-2nd November 2025
Time: 11am-4pm
Venue: Durham University Palace Green Library
Address: DH1 3RN
Website: www.dur.ac.uk/palace.green
In December 1998, the Durham First Folio, a copy of William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies, was stolen along with six other items while on display in Cosin’s Library. In 2008, a badly...
WEAVING STORIES
24th May-14th September 2025
Time: 10am-5pm
Venue: Oriental Museum
Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH
Website: www.durham.ac.uk/things-to-do/venues/oriental-museum/
A vibrant free exhibition celebrating the creativity & voices of community groups who regularly collaborate with the Oriental Museum. Spanning generations and cultures, each group explored a different...
DRAGONFLY FESTIVAL
21st June-22nd September 2025
Time: 10am-5.30pm
Venue: WWT Washington Wetlands Centre,
Address: NE38 8LE
Website: www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/washington
Enjoy a self-led dragonfly family adventure! Pick up a spotter guide to help you & head to the amphibian ponds to spend a while exploring the area & seeing what wildlife you can spot. On a sunny day, you...
SUMMER OF PLAY
5th July-2nd September 2025
Time: 10am-5pm
Venue: Gibside NT,
Address: NE16 6BG
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/gibside
Follow the Summer of Play trail, a self-led festival of fun that stretches across Gibside. From Georgian games to racket sports, music making to nature creating, it's a summer packed with discovery. Tiny...
KYNREN 2025 - AN EPIC TALE OF ENGLAND
19th July-13th September 2025
Time: Every Saturday
Venue: 11Arches Flatts Farm,
Address: Bishop Auckland, DL14 7SF
Website: www.kynren.com
Running every Saturday evening throughout the summer from 19th July – 13th September, two thousand years of history, myth & legend rush by in 90 minutes in a truly unique experience not available anywhere...
SUMMER OF PLAY
19th July-3rd September 2025
Time: 10am-4pm
Venue: Crook Hall & Gardens,
Address: Frankland Lane, DH1 5SZ
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/crook-hall-gardens
Get active & challenge your family with self-led outdoor games & activities all summer long. Spend quality time together & make the most of being outside during the school holidays. If you need a break...
SUMMER OF PLAY
19th July-3rd September 2025
Time: 10am-4pm
Venue: Washington Old Hall NT,
Address: NE38 7LE.
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit
Get active & challenge your family with self-led outdoor games & activities all summer long. Spend quality time together & make the most of being outside during the school holidays. If you need a break...
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.
KYNREN 2025 - AN EPIC TALE OF ENGLAND
6th-13th September 2025
Time: Every Saturday
Venue: 11Arches Flatts Farm, Bishop Auckland,
Address: DL14 7SF
Website: www.kynren.com
Two thousand years of history, myth & legend rush by in 90 minutes in a truly unique experience not available anywhere else in the UK. Performed by a 1,000-strong cast & crew on a 7.5-acre outdoor stage,...
MANDALA MAKING
6th-6th September 2025
Time: 1-3pm
Venue: Oriental Museum
Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH
Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum
Paint your own colourful Indian-style mandala onto fabric. Free event.1-3pm.
WOLSINGHAM SHOW 2025
6th-7th September 2025
Venue: Wolsingham Showground,
Address: DL13 3JG
Website: www.wolsinghamshow.co.uk
Celebrate the county’s farming life at England’s oldest & Durham’s biggest open-air Agricultural show. A jam-packed weekend of family-friendly entertainment.
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS
12th-21st September 2025
Venue: Venues across Sunderland & Durham
Address: SR1 & DH1
Website: www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Heritage Open Days are an annual celebration of England's architecture & culture that allows visitors free access to historical landmarks that are either not usually open to the public or would normally...
DURHAM BRICK SHOW WEEKEND
13th-14th September 2025
Venue: Ushaw Historic House
Address: Woodland Rd, Durham DH7 9RH
Website: www.ushaw.org
Feast your eyes on a fantastic array of intricate LEGO®️ creations at Durham Brick Show. In collaboration with Brick Alley LEGO®️ User Group, see a wide range of displays & trade stands to entertain...
FAB FACES
13th-13th September 2025
Time: 1-3pm
Venue: Oriental Museum
Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH
Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum
Spot the intricately carved wooden face, roots & all, &d make your own fantastical face collage. Free event.1-3pm.
HORRIBLE HISTORIES:GORGEOUS GEORGIANS & VILE VICTORIANS
19th-20th September 2025
Venue: Gala Theatre Durham,
Address: DH1 1WA
Website: www.galadurham.co.uk.
Are you ready to swing with a Georgian king? Does the Duke of Wellington get the boot? Would you stand & deliver to dastardly Dick Turpin? Can you help detectives find the headless man? Dare you dance...
CELEBRATING ROSH HASHANAH
20th-20th September 2025
Time: 1-3pm
Venue: Oriental Museum
Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH
Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum
Find out about Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year festival, & make a shofar musical instrument. Free event.1-3pm.
CHESTER-LE-EATS
27th-28th September 2025
Time: 11am-5pm
Venue: Banks Home Riverside,
Address: Chester-le-Street, DH3 3QR
Website: www.durhamcricket.co.uk/events
Enjoy delicious food, drink & fantastic live music at Chester-le-EATS! A vibrant festival for all ages! FREE entry for all 11am-5pm.
FALLING INTO AUTUMN
27th-27th September 2025
Time: 1-3pm
Venue: Oriental Museum
Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH
Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum
Spot the first signs of autumn & make some autumn leaf art. Free event.1-3pm.
FOUNDATIONS & FUTURES ART FESTIVAL
27th-27th September 2025
Time: 9am-5pm
Venue: Sunderland
Address: SR1
Website: www.mysunderland.co.uk/article/35252/Putting-Sunderland-in-the-frame
Celebrate Sunderland's creative identity, past & future, with creative activities throughout the city. There will be an art market, street exhibitions, live art & family zones with organisers actively...
VIKING WEEKEND
27th-28th September 2025
Time: 10am-4pm
Venue: Ushaw Historic House
Address: Woodland Rd, Durham DH7 9RH
Website: www.ushaw.org
Head to Ushaw for their Viking Weekend where history comes alive! Explore a Viking Village, meet fierce warriors, & immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Norse culture. Entry is free with Ushaw...
ACTIVE SUNDERLAND BIG WALK
28th-28th September 2025
Venue: Herrington Country Park,
Address: Houghton le Spring, DH4 7EL
Website: www.mysunderland.co.uk/article/30157/Active-Sunderland-BIG-Walk
Go along to Herrington Country Park for the ever-popular Active Sunderland BIG Walk. Choose from 3, 6, 9, or 13.5 miles of adventure! The 3-mile route is pram and wheelchair friendly, while the longer...
MARY POPPINS
1st-25th October 2025
Venue: Sunderland Empire
Address: SR1 3EX
Website: http://sunderlandempire.net.
Cameron Mackintosh & Disney’s spectacular production of the the World’s favourite nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane MARY POPPINS featuring dazzling choreography, incredible effects & unforgettable...
THE STORYTELLERS BY LUXMURALIS
8th-12th October 2025
Venue: Durham Cathedral
Address: The College, DH1 3EH
Website: www.durhamcathedral.co.uk
Escape into a world of light & sound projections that bring storytelling to life. Gaze up at literary illuminations on Durham Cathedral’s centuries-old architecture at The Storytellers by Luxmuralis....
DURHAM BOOK FESTIVAL 2025
10th-12th October 2025
Venue: Durham City,
Address: DH1
Website: www.newwritingnorth.com/durham-book-festival/
The festival takes place in & around the city of Durham each October. Take part in creative writing workshops, join a children’s story time, explore the mysteries of the cosmos, uncover history’s hidden...
NORTH PENNINES STARGAZING FESTIVAL
24th October-5th November 2025
Venue: Various Locations in County Durham
Address: DH1
Website: www.northpennines.org.uk/what_we_do/dark-skies/north-pennines-stargazing-festival/
The North Pennines is the darkest mainland National Landscape & is one of the darkest areas in the country. The festival has been running since 2017 to make it easy for people to celebrate the area’s...
CRAZY CREATURES
25th-25th October 2025
Time: 10.30am-4pm
Venue: Durham University Botanic Garden,
Address: Hollingside Lane, DH1 3TN
Website: www.durham.ac.uk/things-to-do/venues/botanic-garden/whats-on/tours-talks-trails/
Get interactive with Crazy Creatures who are visiting the Garden for the day. Animal encounters with rabbits, frogs, snakes, spiders, mice & other animals to enjoy. Free event but normal admission charges...
SUPER NATURAL OCTOBER HALF TERM
25th October-2nd November 2025
Venue: WWT Washington Wetlands Centre
Address: NE38 8LE
Website: www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/washington
Enjoy a fun-filled Halloween, bubbling over with magical activities for the whole family this October half-term at WWT Washington. Escape the ghouls & goblins, & step into a super natural adventure through...
THE WORDS THAT BIND US
27th-31st October 2025
Venue: Durham Cathedral
Address: The College, DH1 3EH
Website: www.durhamcathedral.co.uk
Walk through a river of words with The Words That Bind Us. Taking inspiration from the artwork, craft a fish with a hidden message & move it through the light.
CELEBRATE SCIENCE 2025
28th-29th October 2025
Time: 10am-4pm
Venue: Locomotion - The National Railway Museum at Shildon,
Address: DL4 1PQ
Website: www.dur.ac.uk/celebrate-science
Celebrate Science in 2025 is a partnership between Durham University & Locomotion, part of the Science Museum Group. It will be 2 fun-packed & fascinating days of FREE activities celebrating science at...
PIRATES LOVE UNDERPANTS LIVE!
30th-31st October 2025
Venue: Gala Theatre Durham,
Address: DH1 1WA
Website: www.galadurham.co.uk.
These pirates SO love underpants! Join a swashbuckling party of pirates on their quest to find the fabled Pants of Gold for the Captain’s Treasure chest! Dodge hungry crocs beneath Long-John...
FESTIVAL OF FIREWORKS
1st-1st November 2025
Time: 4.30-7.30pm
Venue: Banks Home Riverside,
Address: Chester-le-Street, DH3 3QR
Website: www.durhamcricket.co.uk/events
Lasers, fireworks, live music, food & drink plus lots more. Tickets Adults £10.00, Child £6.00, Family £27.00. Book online.
THE DINOSAUR THAT POOPED A ROCK SHOW!
1st-1st November 2025
Time: 12.30pm & 3.30pm
Venue: Gala Theatre Durham,
Address: DH1 1WA
Website: www.galadurham.co.uk.
A new musical adventure live on stage based on the bestselling books by Tom Fletcher & Dougie Poynter. When Danny & Dino’s favourite rock band are playing their last ever concert, they go on a quest...
THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE
11th-15th November 2025
Venue: Sunderland Empire
Address: SR1 3EX
Website: http://sunderlandempire.net.
Celebrating the 75th anniversary of C.S. Lewis’s classic novel, step through the wardrobe into the magic kingdom of Narnia where a world of wonder awaits. Join Lucy, Edmund, Susan & Peter as they meet...
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...
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...
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...
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...