Sunderland Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, UK)

The coastline and multitude of parkland spaces in the Sunderland area provide the perfect venue for a series of annual festivals and open-air events. Things to do in Sunderland are at their most plentiful during the summer months, when a number of artists and bands perform concerts at the city's Stadium of Light.

One of the biggest events in the city is the Sunderland International Airshow, which usually takes place over the last week in July and is promoted as Europe's largest free air show. Attracting more than 100,000 spectators and best watched from the beaches of Roker and Seaburn, the International Airshow festival has exciting displays by the Red Arrows display team, vintage aircraft, the Royal Marines and the Royal Air Force. There are also various exhibitors, a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight with Hurricane and Spitfire planes, flight simulators and parachute display teams.

Sunderland Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

In June and July, the city stages a plethora of summer concerts, known as the Sunderland Live in the City, which are both free and ticketed, and in the past have included big-name groups, such as Take That and Oasis.

The Sunderland International Friendship Festival is staged at the beginning of July and is very much one for families.This popular event is held on the Northern Area Playing Fields at Washington, and is best known for its world-class demonstrations of kite flying, live music and poetry reading.

The biggest events in September include the Sunderland Heritage Open Days, where numerous private venues around the city open their doors to members of the general public. Soon after, the Houghton Le Spring Feast is an ancient festival dating back to the 12th century and today features a traditional ox roast, fairground rides, a carnival procession and fireworks.

Yuletide festivities appear in Sunderland as December approaches and the yearly Christmas Experience Festival arrives, complete with its seasonal market and traditional pantomime at the Empire Theatre. The Boxing Day Dip is another event not to be missed, with brave locals taking a swim in the freezing coastal waters of the North Sea.

The latest events and festivals listings can be found in the local papers, the Sunderland Echo and the Sunderland Star (free).

Information about annual festivals in Newcastle.