Christmas in Sunderland your guide to the season’s events

City Centre Information Free Parking

Late Night Shopping & More!

Free After Three and all weekend!

Extended shopping hours return to the city centre for the festive season.

Drivers using City Council car parks in the run up to Christmas can enjoy free parking after 3pm on Thursdays and Fridays and all day on weekends.

Late Night Thursdays return to Sunderland city centre on Thursday 14th November.

When? Thursday 14th November Friday 3rd January. After 3pm Thursday & Friday, all day Saturday & Sunday. Where? St Mary’s Multi-Storey, Sunniside Multi-Storey, Civic Centre, and all other council operated car parks.

From toys to tinsel and jewels to jumpers there will be a little something for everyone, from your best loved local independent businesses to your well-known High Street retailers. Later opening hours are then extended through all weeknights in December. Opening until 8.00pm from Monday 9th December, and then until 9.00pm from Monday 16th December. See www.sunderlandlive.co.uk for more details

Welcome to

Christmas in Sunderland This festive season will see the city centre come to life with a magical array of light and activity. Sunderland’s Christmas programme will launch on the 14th of November with the annual Christmas Lights Switch On event. Mowbray Park will once again become a beacon of white light from the 14th November. In addition to our ever popular 3D Christmas features we also welcome the return of Lightweight, a four metre high illuminated interactive sphere on the 14th and 20th of December. The park will also play host to Santa’s real reindeer as they stop off for a final rest from the 20th - 23rd December. Further in to the city centre Santa himself will be setting up shop in Market Square from the 14th November in order to make all his preparations in plenty of time for the big day. Don’t forget to stop by and have a peek at his workshop in

facebook.com/SunderlandLive.events

action where you will see him busily planning his Christmas list for all the children. Next door the Post Office is awash with letters from around the globe. See the lovingly crafted toys and shelves full of sweets all ready to be dispatched by Santa’s helpers. Why not take a seat on the Sleigh and plan your next adventure? Building on the success of last year’s street entertainment programme, 2013 welcomes a range of colourful Christmas characters to the city every Thursday and Saturday from the 14th November. Be sure to keep your eyes open while you go about your Christmas shopping, you never know when you may bump into a joy riding reindeer, or even a tap dancing turkey! Have a very Merry Christmas from all at Sunderland Live!

@SunderlandLive

BOOK YOUR NEXT HOLIDAY

THE HAYS WAY AND SAVE

25 Vine Place, Sunderland

Tel: 0191 567 7711 THE UK’S LARGEST INDEPENDENT TRAVEL AGENT | haystravel.co.uk

Eventcover

PRODUCTIONS

Services to music, sport & leisure industries www.eventcover.co.uk

Christmas Lights Switch On

City Centre & Mowbray Park Illuminations Thursday 14th November Where? City Centre & Mowbray Park When? 6 pm How Much? Free!

The Christmas Lights Switch On will feature live music from the 2013 City Sings Winning Choirs and sizzlin’ hot 1950’s combo The Revolutionaires! The city’s lights will be turned on by the Mayor of Sunderland and special guests and will be followed by a spectacular firework display. Following the Switch On the Christmas Village will officially open in Market Square with street entertainment taking place from 7.15pm, and Mowbray Park will be opened from 7.20pm. Discount dining in the city will also be available with Sunderland Live’s Restaurant Thursdays!

5

Search

Dream job Dream job

sunderlandcollege.ac.uk/future

99% pass rate Widest choice of subjects in the city

Come along to our open evenings...

Find your future Monday 13th January 2014 Bede, Hylton, Washington, 6 - 8pm

Don’t give to landfill this christmas At O’Brien’s we recycle 98%* of the waste we receive and we can also save you money with our no hidden cost services. We don’t charge for Landfill Tax, Duty of Care or Bin Rental and as a regional specialist we understand your needs and also support Environmental Best Practice. Full range of Bin service options Flexible and affordable range of Skip Hire Confidential Data Shredding Hazardous and Electrical Waste Removal Any size Event Waste Management

Call 0800 169 1243 or visit www.obrienwaste.com

© Los Kaos: www.loskaos.co.uk & Mark Roe: www.markroe.co.uk

Bjorn the Bear

The Bjorn the Bear Experience Friday 20th & Saturday 21st December Where? Museum & Winter Gardens

Bjorn the Bear and his keeper Ursula will be paying the Museum and Winter Gardens a visit this Christmas.

When? 10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm

Bjorn, a life-size fully animated puppet will make three show stopping performances on each day and is guaranteed to have children and adults mesmerised.

How Much? £7.50 for one child and one adult. £3.75 for one additional adult/child or £13.50 for a Family ticket (two adults two children).

After meeting the life-like, playful and cuddly Bjorn, pay Santa a visit in his Grotto and finish the day with a free take home gift. Free Craft making activities will also be available in the pottery gallery. Booking is required. Tickets available from www.sunderlandlive.co.uk

7

Street Entertainment Thursday 14th November - Monday 23rd December Where? All acts will start at the Christmas Village, Market Square and then walk around the surrounding city streets When? Performance times are listed on the opposite page, for full details visit: www.sunderlandlive.co.uk How Much? Free!

8

Date 14th Nov

Act 1 Fairly Famous: Kenny and Ronnie’s festive market 1pm - 1.30pm | 2.15pm - 2.45pm

16th Nov

21st Nov

23rd Nov

28th Nov

30th Nov

5th Dec

14th Dec

19th Dec

20th Dec

21st Dec

22nd Dec

23rd Dec

4pm - 4.30pm | 7.15pm - 7.45pm

MarkMark: A Christmas Carriage

1pm - 1.45pm | 2pm - 2.45pm

3pm - 3.45pm | 4.15pm - 5pm

Flying Buttresses: Hodman and Sally

Musical Ruth

1pm - 1.45pm | 2.15pm - 3pm

3pm - 3.45pm | 6.30pm - 7pm

Yuletide Rock (half human)

Bell and Bullock: Time Traveller

1pm - 3pm

3pm - 3.45pm | 4pm - 4.45pm

Musical Ruth

Fairly Famous: A cheesy Christmas

1pm - 1.45pm | 2.15pm - 3pm

3.30pm - 4pm | 4.30pm - 5pm 6.30pm - 7pm

Maynard Flip Flap Turkeys

Artemis: Jacks of Frosts

1pm - 1.45pm | 2pm - 2.45pm

3pm - 3.45pm | 4.15pm - 5pm

Music and festive singing by local bands

Reckless Invention: Bad Santas

Music and festive singing by local bands 1pm - 2.30pm

12th Dec

Fairly Famous: A cheesy Christmas

Artemis: Jacks of Frosts

1pm - 2.30pm

7th Dec

Act 2

3pm - 3.30pm | 4.15pm - 4.45pm 6.30pm - 7pm

Bell and Bullock: Joy Riding Reindeer 3pm - 3.45pm | 4.15pm - 5pm

Bread and Butter: Crackers

Bread and Butter: Holly and Ivy

1pm - 1.40pm | 2.30pm - 3.10pm

5.30pm - 6pm

Artemis: Jack Frosts

Reckless Invention: Dodge

1pm - 1.45pm | 2pm - 2.45pm

3pm - 3.45pm | 4.15pm - 5pm

Christmas Belles (Wrong size)

Granny Turismo at Christmas

1pm - 1.45pm | 2.15pm - 3pm

3.30pm - 4pm | 4.30pm - 5pm 6.30pm - 7pm

Larkin About (Angels)

Swank: Price Check

1pm - 1.45pm | 2.15pm - 3pm

3pm - 3.45pm | 4.15pm - 5pm

Swank: Damsels

Swank: Festive Frolics

1pm - 1.45pm | 2pm - 2.45pm

4pm - 4.30pm

Swank: Festive Frolics

Swank: Damsels

1pm - 1.30pm | 2.15pm - 2.45pm

4pm - 4.30pm

Red Hot Santas (skiband) 1pm - 1.30pm | 1.45pm - 2.15pm | 2.30pm - 3pm

STARS FRIENDS STOCKINGS

SNOW

MULLED WINE

FAMILY

SANTA CLAUS

PRESENTS

BRUSSELS SPROUTS THE QUEEN’S SPEECH NEW PYJAMAS BAUBLES HOLLY WITH RED BERRIES

WOOLLY JUMPERS

VISITING TURKEY & STUFFING

MIDNIGHT MASS SLEIGH BELLS

PARTY CLOTHES THE KIDS

WHITE CHRISTMAS

WARMTH CHRISTMAS SONGS

SPENDING TIME TOGETHER CHARITY BEING SAFE CHRISTMAS PUD CRACKERS

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE TREES

PEOPLE BEING KIND NEARLY A NEW YEAR

CHEERS PEACE BEING TOGETHER Christmas

means different things to different people

Find out more at gentoogroup.com

We call this the Art of Living

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

M00496B0 Sunderland Live Christmas Advert.indd 1

09/10/2013 17:44

Great reasons to join tombola

90

5p games ckpots £20,000 ja to be won

2p games and £100 jackpots

10p ga mes an d progre ssive jackpo ts

£5 million won every week and 1,000's of winners every day

Deposit £10 and play with £30! britain's biggest bingo site

First deposit only. Terms apply. Over 18s only. gambleaware.co.uk

Mowbray Park

© Kippa Matthews

Free family fun in the park this Christmas

Thursday 14th November - Tuesday 24th December Where? Mowbray Park When? See text for individual times How Much? Free!

Mowbray Park’s illuminations are back this year, officially opening from November 14th 7.20pm. Every evening after dusk, during the Christmas programme, the park will be magically lit up. This year will also see the return of the installation Lightweight, to the park – a four metre high interactive inflated lit sphere which pulses and glows. Come along and enjoy Lightweight on December 14th and 20th between 5pm and 8pm. You’ll also be able to meet Santa’s Reindeer in the park during the 20th to the 23rd of December between 10am and 8pm.

11

Sunderland Live Charity Partners

12

Santa’s Christmas Village Market Square Thursday 14th November - Tuesday 24th December Where? Market Square When? 9am - 8pm every day How Much? Free!

Santa’s Christmas Village in Market Square will officially open at 7.15pm on November 14th. As you look into each festive hut, the story of Santa’s Christmas Journey will unfold. You’ll be able to see him planning in his office and taking a trip to the post office. See all the lovingly crafted toys being prepared for dispatch by the elves, while the whole Christmas Village is closely guarded by Santa’s toy soldiers. Make sure to take along your camera and take a seat on Santa’s sleigh before planning your next adventure.

13

Winter fun in the City There’s more to see and do in Sunderland! 14th November -

From 21st November

Nov & Dec weekends

22nd December

Christmas Plants Trail

Family Christmas Crafts

Blow your own Christmas Bauble

Museum & Winter Gardens

Infinite Arts

National Glass Centre

£FREE!

£FREE!

£24.99 per person (ages 13+)

0191 553 2323 www.twmuseums.org.uk/ sunderland.html

0191 564 0833 www.infinitearts.co.uk

0191 515 5555 www.nationalglasscentre.com

From 21st November

5th - 13th December

14th Nov - 24th Dec

Blow a Bauble

Festive Christmas Market

Santa’s Grotto

Creative Cohesion

The Bridges

£10 per bauble

£TBC

0191 565 5331 www.creativecohesion.org.uk

0191 510 8581 www.thebridges-shopping.com

High Street West www.sunderlandlive.co.uk 7th December

22nd November

Santa in the Sidings

Late Night Shopping

Farmers & Makers Market

Museum & Winter Gardens

Sunderland City Centre

Market Square

www.sunderlandlive.co.uk

9.30am - 3pm

0191 553 2323 www.twmuseums.org.uk/ sunderland.html

14th Nov - 31st Dec

18th November

Concord Lights Switch On

www.sunderlandlive.co.uk 23rd November

£FREE!

13th Dec - 4th Jan

Cinderella

Front Street

Superhero or Lego Minifigure Painting

£FREE!

Deborah Cauchi Fine Arts

Switch on at 5.30pm www.sunderlandlive.co.uk

£2.50 Booking required 0191 565 6284

0844 871 3022 www.ATGtickets.com/ Sunderland

21st November -

30th November

14th December

23rd December

Christmas Gift Shop

Christmas Themed Figure Painting

Christmas Themed Figure Painting

Creative Cohesion

Deborah Cauchi Fine Arts

Deborah Cauchi Fine Arts

0191 565 5331

£2.50 Booking required

£2.50 Booking required

www.creativecohesion.org.uk

0191 565 6284

0191 565 6284

14

Sunderland Empire £10 - £25

14th December

20th - 23rd December

Festive Fusing

Santa’s Reindeer

National Glass Centre

Mowbray Park

£10 (ages 6+) 0191 515 5555 www.nationalglasscentre.com 14th & 15th December

Santa’s Grotto Museum & Winter Gardens £2.50 per child 0191 553 2323 www.sunderlandlive.co.uk 20th December

Farmers Market Market Square 9.30am - 3pm www.sunderlandlive.co.uk

£FREE! www.sunderlandlive.co.uk 21st & 22nd December

Sandblasted Glass Decorations National Glass Centre £3 (ages 6+) 0191 515 5555 www.nationalglasscentre.com 23rd December

Painted Glass Decorations National Glass Centre £3 (ages 4+) 0191 515 5555 www.nationalglasscentre.com

nd

sunderla

We’ll make all your wishes come true! Late night shopping Free parking after 3pm on late night Thursdays Santa’s Grotto and endless gift ideas With plenty of time to find the perfect gifts, we’ve got all you want for Christmas for the whole family.

Shop until 8pm Thursdays from 14th Nov. Mon to Fri from 9th-13th Dec. Shop until 9pm Mon to Fri from 16th-20th Dec.

thebridges-shopping.com

Restaurant Thursdays Enjoy discounted dining in Sunderland this Christmas Simply take along this brochure or download a voucher from www.sunderlandlive.co.uk and enjoy an exclusive discount every Thursday in one of our participating restaurants, cafes and bars

* Serendipity * Relish The Thought * * Tosca’s * The Corner Flag * Indigo Rooms * * The Point * National Glass Centre * * The Sunderland Marriott Hotel * Pizza Hut * plus many more

See www.sunderlandlive.co.uk for a full list of participating restaurants and offers @SunderlandLive /SunderlandLive.events