Things to do in and around Sunderland for families across the 2022 school holidays

The summer holidays have now kicked off and sites across Sunderland and beyond are making sure families will be able to make the most of the longest break of the year for students.

This year’s summer holiday for schools started on Friday, July 22 and runs until September 5.

From roller discos to art and craft sessions, these are some of the top things for families to do in the opening weeks of the summer holidays.

As always, Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens has plenty of activities for children to enjoy throughout the summer. Bosses there are labelling the start of each week ‘maritime Monday’, giving children a chance to make their own nautical themed creations, including sea creatures, lighthouses and shipwrecks.

The site is also allowing kids to design their own plate patterns through their Pyrex100 sessions. Children are encouraged to create designs which will be made into plates at the end of the session with support from artist Amy Carter-Taylor. The museum is also hosting sessions around the Festival of Archaeology and animals, where kids can get up close and personal with snakes, millipedes and more.

Arty Wednesdays are also happening throughout the summer, where kids are able to take part in drop-in sessions and create a new picture for the Winter Gardens. Another Monday session sees children attempt to create textile artwork surrounding their tastes and those of others around them.

The museum is also part of Sunderland BID’s jurassic augmented reality trail which is running throughout the summer.

Over the river, the National Glass Centre is hosting its regular glass fusing and painting sessions throughout the summer. With topics including space rockets, coastal animals and hanging mobile decorations, there is something for everyone.

Families can also take advantage of an earlier start to the football season with Sunderland AFC’s Championship campaign kicking off in July rather than August. Due to the winter World Cup this December and the resulting month-long break, the Black Cats started their season on Sunday, July 31 with a 1-1 draw against Coventry City.

The Stadium of Light will also be hosting league fixtures on August 13 against Queens Park Rangers, August 27 against Norwich City and August 31 against Rotherham.

For those looking for a longer trip, Sunderland will be playing away games at Bristol City, Sheffield United, Stoke City and Middlesbrough before the end of the summer holidays.

Those looking for something different can head to Keel Square throughout the summer for a go on the site’s new roller rink. The attraction, which is under a canopy in case of bad weather, is open 11am – 8pm, daily, with live DJs on-site between 7pm and 8pm each night.

Another popular site, the Stack at Seaburn, has a huge range of events happening for kids throughout the summer. In addition to live music every day, families can enjoy sessions dedicated to Disney films, musicals and more.