While hugely popular annual events such as the Sunderland Airshow, Illuminations and Festival of Light and Penshaw Bowl will already be on many family calendars, there will be many other dates to follow as a huge range of sport, music and cultural events are confirmed throughout the year.
This year’s city calendar sees classic favourites appearing alongside brand new listings. From families and foodies to music and sports lovers, the new additions to this year’s city events calendar promise to cater for a whole range of tastes and interests.
Returning this year is the well-established and hugely popular BIG event series – the Active Sunderland BIG 3k, BIG Bike Ride and BIG Walk.
The school summer holidays will see different areas of the city play host to a BIG Community Sports Festival as well as a new BIG Summer Festival at Herrington Country Park.
A brand new weekend event at the end of summer will celebrate Sunderland’s riverside setting, while the city centre prepares to take on a brand new music festival in the Autumn.
Sunderland City Council Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture, Councillor John Kelly said: “We want to build upon our national and international reputation as an ‘events city’ capable of staging large scale cultural, sporting and music events throughout the year.
“Sunderland already hosts some of the largest annual outdoor events in the country along our award winning seafront and in our award winning parks, and we still have so much to offer with venues like the Stadium of Light, Herrington Country Park and Keel Square.
“Events attract tens of thousands of people into our city, and help showcase Sunderland as a visitor and cultural destination ready to welcome the world.”
Sunderland City Council Head of Events, Victoria French added: “2018 was a great year for Events in the city and one that we are looking to build on in 2019 and beyond.
“The events programme that is being developed with partners will grow the city’s status as an Events city and ensure we have a dynamic and vibrant programme of events.
“The programme will promote the city and help establish Sunderland as a tourist destination as well as generating significant economic benefits for the city.”
For more information about events in Sunderland visit www.seeitdoitsunderland.co.uk where information will be updated throughout the year.