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.

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.

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...

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...