Still time to take part in Sunderland city centre's festive trail during Christmas holidays

A festive trail featuring Christmas characters has been taking place in Sunderland city centre, providing Covid-friendly outdoor entertainment for families in the area.
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The ‘Christmas in Sunderland’ experience combines a series of city centre light installations with seven ‘magical’ augmented reality (AR) characters, who populate the route mapped out by a custom-made app developed for the scheme.

The AR route, organised by Sunderland BID and Sunderland City Council, was thought up as a solution for families looking to keep youngsters entertained during the holidays in a socially-distanced and Covid-safe way.

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The festive trail - which features hidden elves, reindeer and giant gifts - is already proving a big hit with North East families and there’s still time to take part.

The festive trail app sees the city come alive during some of the darkest days of the year.The festive trail app sees the city come alive during some of the darkest days of the year.
The festive trail app sees the city come alive during some of the darkest days of the year.
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Christmas in Sunderland follows on from a Monsters trail held at Halloween on Wearside, which saw ghoulish creations come to life when visitors scanned a QR code on city centre buildings – a similar scheme based around the idea of the Pokemon Go! app.

“Not only is it huge fun for all ages, but it’s entirely outdoors and, by its very nature, socially distanced,” she said.

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“We need a little Christmas magic more than ever this year, but we also need fresh air and exercise more than ever, too.

“And this trail means families can have fun and stay safe at the same time.”

Besides unlocking the hidden AR features of the trail, the Sunderland Experience app, which can be downloaded free from Apple and Google Play stores, also points up offers at a number of city centre businesses.

“We very much hope it will encourage those following the trail to stay a little while in the city centre and explore our excellent independent and high street shops,” Ms Appleby added.

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The Christmas in Sunderland experience will run until Sunday, January 3.

The Sunderland Experience app is available to download for free from Apple and Google Play stores, or anyone who downloaded it for the Halloween event can use it again by updating it.

Further information is available via the BID website.

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