What's On in Sunderland & Durham

SWIMMING LESSONS WITH EVERYONE ACTIVE

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

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

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

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

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

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.

SHAKESPEARE RECOVERED

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...

EXPLORING ANCIENT JAPAN

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®

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.

MARY POPPINS

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...

CREEPY CREATURES TRAIL

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue: Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens

Address: SR1 1PP

Website: www.sunderlandmuseum.org.uk

Discover amazing facts about creepy creatures on an explorer trail around the Museum & Winter Gardens. Buy your trail from museum reception & collect a prize sticker when you find all the clues & complete...

DIWALI FESTIVAL

Time: 6-8pm

Venue: Oriental Museum

Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH

Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum

Celebrate the Hindu festival of lights with this special late night opening. Visitors can enjoy traditional puja prayers to the goddess Lakshmi, music, delicious food, games & more. Booking essential....

SUPER SAMURAI

Time: 1-3pm

Venue: Oriental Museum

Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH

Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum

Check out the museum's of full suit of fearsome Japanese samurai armour & make your own personal samurai-style paper helmet. Free event.1-3pm.

APRES SKI PARTY

Time: 5-10pm

Venue: Silksworth Ski Centre,

Address: Sunderland, SR3 1PD

Website: www.everyoneactive.com/apresski

Join Everyone Active for an evening packed with fun & alpine vibes. There’ll be ski village fun, including skiing, tubing & winter activities, delicious food & drink, & great tunes from Radio 1 DJ Charlie...

NORTH PENNINES STARGAZING FESTIVAL

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...

Silksworth’s FIRST EVER Ski Party

Time: 5pm – 10pm

Venue: At Silksworth Ski Centre, Sunderland, SR3 1PD

Join Everyone Active for an evening packed with fun and alpine vibes. There’ll be ski village fun, including skiing, tubing and winter activities, delicious food and drink, and great tunes from Radio...

AUTUMN HALF TERM

Venue: Ushaw Historic House

Address: Woodland Rd, Durham DH7 9RH

Website: www.ushaw.org

There are loads of family events going on at Ushaw Hall during the October Half Term. Full details online.

CRAZY CREATURES

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...

HALLOWEEN TRAIL

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue: Raby Castle,

Address: Staindrop, DL2 3LH

Website: www.raby.co.uk/whats-on/

A spooktacular Halloween adventure at The Plotters’ Forest! Dress up, bring your family, & get ready for a Halloween experience like no other. Unleash your inner spookiness & dive into a world of double...

HORSE PLAY

Time: 1-3pm

Venue: Oriental Museum

Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH

Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum

See the magnificent horses on display in the China Gallery & make a hobby horse. Free event.1-3pm.

SUPER NATURAL OCTOBER HALF TERM

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

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

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...

FILM FANTASY

Time: 1-3pm

Venue: Oriental Museum

Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH

Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum

As the museum's Telling Tales: Making Stories Come to Life exhibition comes to a close, there's still time to visit & make your own fantasy film poster inspired by the colourful movie posters on display....

ALL HALLOWS' EVE ILLUMINATED TRAIL

Time: 4.30-9.30pm

Venue: Ushaw Historic House

Address: Woodland Rd, Durham DH7 9RH

Website: www.ushaw.org

Step through the stone gates & leave the everyday behind… if you dare. This spooky season, Ushaw’s historic grounds transform into a haunting illuminated trail, filled with wonder, mystery, & a touch...

PIRATES LOVE UNDERPANTS LIVE!

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...

GLASS DECORATING WORKSHOP

Time: 1-3pm

Venue: Oriental Museum

Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH

Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum

See the beautiful Korean glass jar on display & decorate your own glass jar to take away. Free event.1-3pm.

EXPLORING THE FORBIDDEN CITY

Time: 1-3pm

Venue: Oriental Museum

Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH

Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum

Explore the new exhibition about the Imperial Palace in the Forbidden City where Chinese emperors once lived, which is now a world-class museum. Try the new exhibition trail & make a cute cat puppet. Free...

FESTIVAL OF FIREWORKS

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.

PYROMUSICAL - KYNREN 2025

Time: 7pm

Venue: 11Arches Flatts Farm, Bishop Auckland,

Address: DL14 7SF

Website: www.kynren.com/book-pyromusical/

This 25-minute fireworks display promises a magical, multi-sensory experience lighting up the night skies above Bishop Auckland. Now in its seventh year & produced by the renowned Kynren pyrotechnics...

THE DINOSAUR THAT POOPED A ROCK SHOW!

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...

STANLEY FIREWORKS 2025

Time: 5-7pm

Venue: Oakey's Park

Address: Stanley, DH9 8AW

This free event is funded by Stanley Town Council & organized by Stanley Events Ltd. Gates open at 5 PM, with the fireworks display scheduled for 7 PM. The theme for the 2025 event is "Anthems in the...

MOUNTAIN HIGH

Time: 1-3pm

Venue: Oriental Museum

Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH

Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum

Find out about life in the high mountains of Tibet & make some Buddhist inspired art. Free event.1-3pm.

THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE

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...

GLOW ART WORKSHOP

Time: 1-3pm

Venue: Oriental Museum

Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH

Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum

Spot a cool green, glowing chandelier & make your own glow-in-the-dark artwork. Free event.1-3pm.

JACK & THE BEANSTALK

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

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...

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN MIGHTY MACES

Time: 1-3pm

Venue: Oriental Museum

Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH

Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum

Maces were used in Ancient Egypt as signs of power. Make your very own stick of power! Free event.1-3pm.

FOREST OF LIGHT

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...

SLEEPING BEAUTY

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...

RIDING THROUGH TIME

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.

CHRISTMAS EVE

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

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...