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.
KNITTED TOGETHER
28th September-4th May 2025
Time: 10am-5pm
Venue: Oriental Museum
Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH
Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum
Drawing on the objects & photographs of the main donors to the Korean collection at the Oriental Museum, Knitted Together details the Korean lives & legacies of Richard & Joan Rutt’s 20 years living...
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...
CANNY COAL TRAIL
1st February-15th March 2025
Venue: Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Address: SR1 1PP
Website: www.sunderlandmuseum.org.uk
Did you know that coal was known as black gold & that the last mine in Sunderland closed in 1993? Follow the trail to discover amazing facts about coal mining in Sunderland & what made coal...
COAL FACE
1st February-15th March 2025
Venue: Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Address: SR1 1PP
Website: www.sunderlandmuseum.org.uk
Explore the stories of Sunderland’s collieries through the faces & the words of 40 of the people who knew them best. Coal Face is a FREE exhibition of film & tintype portraiture from local photographer...
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.
HOLI FESTIVAL
15th-15th March 2025
Time: 1-3pm
Venue: Oriental Museum
Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH
Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum
Welcome the spring season to Durham with Holi Festival! 12-5pm. £3pp. Booking essential.
HORRIBLE HISTORIES
20th-22nd March 2025
Venue: Sunderland Empire
Address: SR1 3EX
Website: http://sunderlandempire.net.
Prepare yourselves for two amazing shows with Horrible Histories live on stage! Using actors & eye-popping 3D special effects, these astounding shows are guaranteed to thrill you & your children. AWFUL...
RED NOSE DAY
21st-21st March 2025
Website: www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday
The funniest day of the year is back on 21 March 2025. Get ready to feel good, give big & do something funny for money. Together we will help people here in the UK & across the world.
THE ANCIENT PERSIANS
22nd-22nd March 2025
Time: 1-3pm
Venue: Oriental Museum
Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH
Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum
Learn about the Ancient Persians, spot a 2,500 year old silver bowl & try simple foil embossing. Free event.1-3pm.
MAKE A CANOPIC JAR
29th-29th March 2025
Time: 1-3pm
Venue: Oriental Museum
Address: Elvet Hill, Durham, DH1 3TH
Website: www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum
Find out about Ancient Egyptian mummification & make your own canopic jar. Free event.1-3pm.
WIZARD OF OZ DRONE LIGHT SHOW
29th-29th March 2025
Time: 5-9.30pm
Venue: Seat Unique Riverside,
Address: Durham, DH3 3SH
Website: www.yuup.co/experiences/wizard-of-oz-drone-light-show-durham
Experience storytelling like never before with a wonderful new 45-minute drone light show adaptation of the classic novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This is more than a show; witness a magical performance...
THE DINOSAUR THAT POOPED
30th-30th March 2025
Time: 12pm & 3pm
Venue: Sunderland Fire Station
Address: High Street West, SR1 3HA
Website: www. sunderlandculture.org.uk
When Danny & Dino’s favourite rock band are playing their last ever concert, they go on a quest to get the last two tickets. But with a villainous band manager lurking, nothing goes to plan. Will the...
DINOSAUR WORLD LIVE
15th-17th April 2025
Venue: Gala Theatre Durham,
Address: DH1 1WA
Website: www.galadurham.co.uk.
Dare to experience the dangers & delights of Dinosaur World Live in this roarsome interactive show for all the family! Grab your compass & join our intrepid explorer across uncharted territories to discover...
THE CRAZIEST SHOWMAN
17th-17th April 2025
Time: 12.30 & 4.30pm
Venue: Sunderland Fire Station
Address: High Street West, SR1 3HA
Website: www. sunderlandculture.org.uk
CBBC’s brightest comedy stars Danny & Mick bring their particular brand of lunacy to their latest high-energy show, causing chaos on stage & bringing screams of laughter from the whole family. Adults...
THREE LITTLE VIKINGS
17th-17th April 2025
Time: 11.30am & 2.30pm
Venue: Gala Theatre Durham,
Address: DH1 1WA
Website: www.galadurham.co.uk.
Three brave little Viking girls save the day in this bold & funny adventure story for little rebels, by the creator of the New York Times Best Illustrated Book Little Red & I Can Catch a Monster, Bethan...
HANSEL & GRETEL
19th-19th April 2025
Time: 2,4 & 6pm
Venue: Gala Theatre Durham,
Address: DH1 1WA
Website: www.galadurham.co.uk.
Northern Ballet’s brand-new balet for children brings Hansel & Gretel to life with bold sets, bright costumes & brilliant live music & dance – the perfect way for you & your child to experience the...
CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG
22nd-27th April 2025
Venue: Sunderland Empire
Address: SR1 3EX
Website: http://sunderlandempire.net.
Based on Ian Fleming’s timeless story for children meet absent-minded inventor Caractacus Potts who restores a broken-down old racing car with the help of his children Jemima & Jeremy. Soon the family...
THE AMAZING BUBBLE MAN
22nd-22nd April 2025
Time: 2pm
Venue: Gala Theatre Durham,
Address: DH1 1WA
Website: www.galadurham.co.uk.
Louis Pearl explores the breath-taking dynamics of bubbles, combining comedy & artistry with audience participation & enough spellbinding bubble tricks to keep everyone mesmerised. Tickets from £12.50,...
MILKSHAKE LIVE ON HOLIDAY
24th-24th April 2025
Time: 12.30pm & 3.30pm
Venue: Empire Theatre Consett
Address: DH8 5AB
Website: www.empireconsett.co.uk/
Join your favourite Milkshake! friends on Holiday with Dora, Pip & Posey, Blue from Blues Clues & You!, Milo, Milkshake! Monkey plus two of your Milkshake! presenters for an all-new adventure! It’s a...
NICK COPE - I'VE LOST MY BOBBLE HAT
25th-25th April 2025
Time: 11am & 2pm
Venue: Gala Theatre Durham,
Address: DH1 1WA
Website: www.galadurham.co.uk.
Help Nick find his beloved bobble hat in this fun filled musical hour with all your favourite Nick Cope hits & more. With his charming songs & humour Nick engages, entertains, & enthrals all generations....
THE WORST PRINCESS
1st-1st May 2025
Time: 1 & 4pm
Venue: Sunderland Fire Station
Address: High Street West, SR1 3HA
Website: www. sunderlandculture.org.uk
Full House Theatre’s new family show about feisty Sue not your everyday fairy tale superstar but The Worst Princess. After being rescued by her twit of a prince she’s ready to start her happy end....
MICHAEL MORPURGO'S FARM BOY
11th-12th May 2025
Venue: Sunderland Fire Station
Address: High Street West, SR1 3HA
Website: www. sunderlandculture.org.uk
It sometimes felt as though time had stood still down on the farm - the old Fordson tractor quietly rusting away at the back of the barn, Grandpa tending his chickens - that is, until the summer his grandson...
TOM GATES' EPIC STAGE SHOW
28th-28th May 2025
Time: 1 & 3.30pm
Venue: Gala Theatre Durham,
Address: DH1 1WA
Website: www.galadurham.co.uk.
Based on the bestselling books by Liz Pichon, this brand new Stage Show comes to Gala Durham bringing alive the illustrations & music that makes Tom Gates hugely popular around the world! Tickets from£15.50,...
FLOWERS & FRIENDSHIPS BRACELETS
31st-31st May 2025
Time: 6pm
Venue: Empire Theatre Consett
Address: DH8 5AB
Website: www.empireconsett.co.uk/
The Ultimate Pop Concert to celebrate the biggest hits from the hottest artistes of the moment including tributes to Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rodrigo & Sabrina Carpenter. Tickets £22.50.
HAMILTON
17th June-26th July 2025
Venue: Sunderland Empire
Address: SR1 3EX
Website: http://sunderlandempire.net.
This is the story of America's Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington's right-hand man during the Revolutionary War & helped shape the very foundations...