What's On in Sunderland & Durham

SATURDAY ART CLUB

Time: Sat 1-3pm

Venue: Arts Centre Washington,

Address: NE38 8AB

Website: www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/events/saturday-art-club

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: Sat 10am - 12pm

Venue: Arts Centre Washington,

Address: NE38 8AB

Website: www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/whats-on/washington-youth-theatre-ages-8-12/

Build life-long skills in performance & confidence while making new friends! Join these weekly sessions for 8- to 12-year-olds. Develop theatre skills like presentation, improvisation & cooperation, while...

THE GREAT DINOSAUR ESCAPE

Venue: Life Science Centre, Times Square,

Address: NE1 4EP

Website: www.life.org.uk

Dinosaurs have taken over Life Science Centre this Easter with the North’s biggest collection of animatronic dinosaurs. Follow the trail around the centre to hunt them down, from towering four-metre-high...

BRILLIANT BIRDS TRAIL

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue: Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens

Address: SR1 1PP

Website: www.sunderlandmuseum.org.uk

Discover the birds of the Sunderland coast with this fun, family-friendly trail at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens. Follow the clues, explore the galleries & learn about Sunderland’s brilliant birds...

RIDE THE WAVE

Time: 1-3pm

Venue: Oriental Museum

Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH

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

Spot the boats in the museum & make a 3D sea sculpture. Free event. 1-3pm.

SACRISTON PARTY IN THE PARK

Time: 11am-3pm

Venue: The Fulforth Centre, Sacriston,

Address: DH7 6JT

Free community fun day including fairground rides, inflatables, climbing wall, face-painting & much more! Cafe inside to buy food & drink. Fun for all the family!

DISCOVER FESTIVAL

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue: Newcastle University City Centre Campus,

Address: NE1

Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/discover-fest

Fun for all the family, Discover Festival on Newcastle University’s City Centre campus is preparing to inspire everyone – young & old minds alike – to try out new things, experiment with experts,...

DURHAM REGATTA 2026

Venue: City Boathouse

Address: Green Lane, DH1 3JU

Website: www.durham-regatta.org.uk

The 193rd Durham Regatta. A spectacular weekend of racing & bank-side entertainment. The Durham Regatta not only offers a spectacular weekend of thrilling racing, but also a variety of attractions for...

MAGIC CARPETS

Time: 1-3pm

Venue: Oriental Museum

Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH

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

Make a mini paper carpet inspired by colours & patterns in the Silk Roads Gallery. Free event. 1-3pm.

THE HOPPINGS FUNFAIR 2026

Time: 1-11pm

Venue: Newcastle Town Moor,

Address: NE2 4PZ

Website: www.hoppingsfunfairs.com

Europe's Largest Funfair is back for 2026 daily from 1pm! The Hoppings hosts over 400 of the country's biggest & brightest atttractions from traditional favourites to the latest jaw dropping thrill rides...

POWERFUL PATTERNS

Time: 1-3pm

Venue: Oriental Museum

Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH

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

Try crafting your own paper patterns inspired by the Ainu people of Japan. Free event. 1-3pm.

ALL DRESSED UP

Time: 1-3pm

Venue: Oriental Museum

Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH

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

Visit the newest exhibition at the museum - Everyday Elegance; Daily Lives of Women in Late Qing China, featuring beautiful Chinese clothing & make your own fancy collar, inspired by Chinese patterns &...

DURHAM COUNTY SHOW 2026

Time: 9am-5pm

Venue: Durham County Show Showfield

Address: Thornley, DH6 3LY

Website: www.durhamcountyshow.com

The Annual Durham County Show with so much to see & do over the show weekend. Be sure to keep checking the website for updates on all the events. Adults £10, Child £5, Family £25.00.

DURHAM MINERS GALA 2026

Time: From 8.30am

Venue: Durham Market Place,

Address: DH1

Website: www.durhamminers.org/gala

The Durham Miners' Gala is the world's greatest celebration of community, international solidarity, & working class culture. It is a unique & inspiring spectacle.  Beautiful banners celebrating the region’s...

SOUTH TYNESIDE SUMMER PARADE 2026

Time: 1-5pm

Venue: South Shields Town Hall,

Address: NE33 2RL

Website: www.southtynesidefestival.co.uk

An afternoon not be missed, & one of the highlights of the region's event calendar -the biggest carnival of its kind in the North East. The parade makes its way from South Shields Town Hall in the Town...

ACTIVE SUNDERLAND BIG BIKE RIDE

Time: 9am-4pm

Venue: Beacon of Light

Address: SR5 1SN

Website: www.mysunderland.co.uk/bigbikeride

Take the family on a 5 mile traffic free led ride, attempt a 12-mile adventure, stretch your legs on the 20-miler or challenge yourself to the 38-mile route (approx route distances). Cycle through a mixture...

BEYOND VAN GOGH

Venue: Utilita Arena,

Address: NE4 7NA

Website: www.utilitaarena.co.uk

Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience comes to Utilita Arena Newcastle transforming the arena floor into a 10,000 sq ft world of colour, light & sound. This spectacular event will bring more than 300...

KYNREN – THE STORIED LANDS

Venue: 11Arches Flatts Farm, Bishop Auckland,

Address: DL14 7SF

Website: www.kynren.com

Step into a world where history, myth & legend come to life at Kynren – The Storied Lands – the UK’s first live-action show park opening this summer in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. Across one...