Christmas.vg

Here is a list of Christmas concerts and events in Sunderland over the festive season, some of which are free! If you would like us to add your event to this list, just leave a comment at the bottom of the article and we’ll put it in. You don’t even have to leave your e-mail address.

Contents (click to go to the relevant section):

Church Services

Christmas Activities

Christmas Shows

Church Services

‘MASS IN B MINOR‘ 06/12/2008

• 7.30pm (Doors 6.45pm): Sunderland Minster, High Street West, Sunderland SR1 3ET
• Tickets £10.00/£8.00 and £5.00
• Tel: 0191 565 4066
• Bishopwearmouth Choral Society & Conductor David Murray present J S Bach’s Mass in B Minor. Tickets are available from Sunderland Minster Office, High Street West, Sunderland, SR1 3ET
• Click here for church details (Minster website still under construction).

CHRISTMAS REJOICINGS 08/12/2008

• 7pm: St Cuthbert’s Church, Red House, Sunderland
• FREE
• Tel: 0191 553 2000
• St Cuthbert’s Church presents Christmas Rejoicings – Music for Christmas featuring:
• * Bishop Harland C.E. School Choir
  * Sunderland Citadel Band
  * Puppeteers
  * St Cuthbert’s Ladies

CHRISTMAS CONCERT 13/12/2008

• 7pm: St Chad’s Church, East Herrington, Sunderland SR3 3PG
• Tickets £5.00
• Tel: 0191 534 3032
• Music Makers Ladies Choir present a Christmas Concert in aid of Motor Neurone Disease Association. Guest Soloist: Robert Seaton

CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERT 14/12/2008

• 3pm: Stockton Road United Reformed Church, West Park Centre, Stockton Road, Sunderland
• FREE – donations welcome
• Tel: 0191 567 4891
• Join Stockton Road United Reformed Church for their 10th Annual Christmas Carol Concert, led by Sunderland Monkwearmouth Salvation Army Band. A programme of well-known carols, readings and Christmas music. Mince Pies, coffee and tea.

CHRISTMAS THEATRE ORGAN CONCERT 14/12/2008

• 2.30pm: Ryhope Community Centre
• £3:50
• Tel: 0191 522 6751
• Richard Hills plays the ex Sunderland Odeon Mighty Compton Theatre Organ in our grand Christmas concert. Admission includes Tea/Coffee.
• Click here for more info.

Christmas Activities

OUTDOOR WINTER ICE RINK 20/11/2008 – 04/01/2009

• Mowbray Park, Sunderland
• (Closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day)
• Monday to Friday 11am – 8pm
  Saturday & Sunday 10am – 6pm
• Admission: Adults £5.50, Children and Concessions £4.50 Family ticket £17, discounts for groups 10+ Contact: 0191 553 2000
• Back in Mowbray Park by popular demand and this time bigger and better than ever before, the real-ice winter ice rink is a great fun activity to share with family or friends. On Saturday afternoons and Thursday evenings enjoy a skate with the family to live music from the bandstand. Packages for schools are available on request, telephone 0191 514 1235 for details.
• Click here for more information.

CAROUSEL & GLUHWEIN 20/11/2008 – 21/12/2008

• Market Square, Sunderland
• Open at the same times as The Bridges – see ‘Christmas Shopping’
• Take a trip to Market Square for traditional treats including candied nuts, sweet treats, mulled wine and Bratwurst in the festive food court and take a twirl on the Victorian carousel – large enough for grown-ups to enjoy too! Live entertainment on Thursday evenings and Saturday & Sunday afternoons.
• Click here for more information.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

• Bridges Shopping Centre, Sunderland
• Every Thursday from 20th November
• 9am – 8pm every Thursday from 20th November.
• 9am – 8pm Monday to Friday from 8th – 23rd December
• 9am – 5.30pm Christmas Eve and Boxing Day
• Closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
• Sunderland has all you need for your Christmas shopping, from top high-street names to designer boutiques, as well as safe city-centre car parks, great public transport and plenty of cafes and bars where you can have a well-deserved rest!
• Click here for more information.

FESTIVE CRAFT ACTIVITIES 20/11/2008 – 18/12/2008

• 5pm until 7.30pm: City Library & Arts Centre
• every Thursday evening from 20th November – 18th December
• FREE
• Discover the festive activities at the city’s main library. Children can see visit Santa in his grotto, then get involved in Christmas crafts and be entertained by storytellers and magicians; whilst adults can make the most of the library being open late to browse for books or shop on-line.
• Click here for more information.

SANTA’S GROTTO 26/11/2008 – 22/12/2008

• City Library and Arts Centre, Fawcett Street, Sunderland SR1 1RE
• Tel: 0191 514 1235
• FREE
• Santa Claus will be in residence in his Grotto on the ground floor every Thursday evening between 5.30pm – 7.30pm. Children can write to him with their Christmas list and can post it in a special Santa letter box. Santa can also be visited on Saturday’s between 10.30am – 11.30am and 2.30pm – 3.30pm. Letters to Santa can be posted any time during normal library opening times and all children will receive a reply.
• Click here for more information.

RIDE THE NORTH POLE EXPRESS 06/12/2008 – 07/12/2008 & 13/12/2008 – 14/12/2008

• 9.30am – Close: Bowes Railway, Springwell Village, Gateshead NE9 7QJ
• Tickets Cost £8
• Tel: 0191 416 1847
• The North Pole Express will be leaving from Bowes Railway in Springwell destined for Santa’s Grotto on the 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th of December. There’s a steam train ride, a present for the children, Christmas entertainment and Christmas fayre.
• You can call into Bowes Railway to pick up your tickets, or call them on 0191 4161847.
• Click here for Bowes Railway website.

THE NORTH POLE EXPRESS 06/12/2008 – 14/12/2008

• Bowes Railway, Springwell
• Saturday and Sunday 6th, 7th, 13th & 14th December
• Admission: £8
• Booking is essential, please contact: 0191 416 1847
• For a real Christmas treat meet Santa Claus and take the North Pole Express, a magical steam train ride.
• Click here for more information.

SANTA’S COFFEE MORNING 06/12/2008

• 10am: Burn Park Methodist Church, Durham Road, Sunderland
• Tel: 0191 514 0747
• See Santa arrive on his Fire Engine and visit him in his grotto. There will also be coffee and mince pies a cake stall and lots of other stalls.

ST PETER’S CHRISTMAS FAYRE 06/12/2008

• 2pm – 4pm: St Peter’s Church, St Peter’s Way, Sunderland SR6 0DY
• Tel: 0191 516 0135
• Everyone is warmly invited to St Peter’s Christmas Fayre. Refreshments, Raffle, Tombola, Stalls and Santa!

SANTA’S GROTTO 06/12/2008 – 07/12/2008 & 13/12/2008 – 14/12/2008 & 20/12/2008 – 21/12/2008

• 11am – 12noon & 1pm – 2pm: Wildfowl Wetlands Trust, Washington Wetlands Centre, Pattinson, Washington NE38 8LE
• £7
• Tel: 0191 416 5454 Email: info.washington@wwt.org.uk
• Enjoy a magical winter walk, see Santa Claus in his grotto and receive a special festive gift. Price includes entry to the Centre and grounds.
• Tickets cost £7 per child, one adult goes free per child.
• Click here for more info.

SANTA RUN 07/12/2008

• 10am: Mowbray Park, Sunderland
• Registration Adults £10 Children & Concessions £7
• Tel: 0845 859 1046 Email: events@cftrust.org.uk

A festive, family fun, Santa Run to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis research. A 2k run round Mowbray Park, Sunderland. All registered runners get a Santa suit, and further prizes are available for best dressed runner, children and pets!! All runners need to pledge £30 sponsorship.

• For further details contact Pat Kilpatrick local Fundraising Manager on 0845 859 1046.

DICKENSIAN SUNDAY 07/12/2008

• 

  Dickensian Sunday

  2pm – 4pm: Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, Burdon Road, Sunderland SR1 1PP

• FREE
• Tel: 0191 553 2323
• Have your family photo taken in a Victorian costume, make a traditional Christmas card and listen to seasonal Dickens tales.
• Click here for more info.

MEET SANTA AT FULWELL WINDMILL 13/12/2008 – 14/12/2008

• Newcastle Road, Fulwell
• FREE
• Meet Santa when he opens up his workshop. This is an event for all the family, with music and craft activities. Children can post their Christmas wish lists and all will receive a certificate. Please be prepared to wait.
• Click here for more information.

SANTA SATURDAY 06/12/2008

• 10.30am – 12noon: Monkwearmouth Station Museum
• FREE
• Meet Santa and take part in Christmas crafts.
• Click here for more information.

CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR 06/12/2008

• 10am – 4pm: Arts Centre, Washington
• FREE
• The perfect place to find unique Christmas presents, decorations and treats.
• Click here for more information.

FESTIVE FOOTBALL FUN 13/12/2008

• 1pm – 3pm: Monkwearmouth Station Museum, North Bridge Street, Sunderland SR5 1AP
• FREE
• Tel: 0191 567 7075
• Help to make a seasonal football frieze and have your face painted for the Sunderland vs Aston Villa match.
• Click here for more information.

SANTA AT FULWELL WINDMILL 13/12/2008 – 14/12/2008

• 12pm – 3.30pm: Fulwell Windmill, Newcastle Road, Fulwell, Sunderland SR5 1EX
• FREE
• Tel: 0191 516 9790

Meet Santa when he opens up his workshop at this family event, with music and craft activities. Children can post their Christmas wish lists and all will receive a certificate. Also, why not pop along to the free craft activity at Fulwell Windmill on 18th February, 1-3pm?

VICTORIAN TREAT 13/12/2008

• 12noon – 3pm: Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, Burdon Road, Sunderland SR1 1PP
• FREE
• Tel: 0191 553 2323
• Listen to carols from East Herrington Primary school choir from 12noon – 1pm and make Victorian tree decorations with Krafty Kids from 1pm – 3pm.
• Click here for more information.

CHRISTMAS CREATIVE WORKSHOP 20/12/2008 – 23/12/2008

• 10.00am-11.30am: National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland SR6 0GL
• Stained Glass Window Christmas Cards (Glass Painting)
• £4.00
• Tel: 0191 515 5555
• Email: info@nationalglasscentre.com
• Click here for more info.

Christmas Shows

SUNDERLAND PIANOFORTE SOCIETY – AMANDINE SAVARY 02/12/2008

• 7.15pm: Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, Burdon Road, Sunderland SR1 1PP
• Admission: £10 and £3.00 for Students & Claimants.
• Tel: 0191 553 2323
• Web: www.twmuseums.org.uk/sunderland

Amandine Savary is one of the biggest young piano stars of France. She finished her piano studies at the Royal Academy whilst in France she won a number of prestigious prizes including the Grand Concours de Paris. She is an accomplished recital performer as well as concerto soloist. Members asked Amandine to return.

• Programme
  * J.S. Bach – Toccata No.4 BWV 912
  * Cesar Franck – Prelude, Chorale & Fugue
  * Dutilleux 3 Preludes
  * Schumann – Arabeske Op.18
  * Beethoven – Sonata Op 31-2 in D minor.
• Sponsored by the Philip & Dorothy Green Awards for Young Artists – through “Making Music”.
• Click here for more info.

CINDERELLA 04/12/2008 – 13/12/2008

• 7.30pm, Royalty Theatre, 25 The Royalty, off Chester Road, Sunderland SR2 7PP
• £7.50, £6.00 concessions available for full-time students and under 18 yr olds (No concessions for Senior Citizens)
• Tel: 0191 567 2669
• Web: www.royaltytheatre.co.uk

Join us at Hardruppe Manor for this sparkling version of the classic story. Can Cinders outwit her ugly sisters, Whitney and Britney and the not-so-private detectives, Gawd and Bennett to find true love with the dashing prince?

• Book in advance from Reynold’s Outdoor Centre, Derwent Street, City Centre. Tel: 0191 565 7945

ALADDIN 05/12/2008 – 04/01/2009

• Sunderland Empire
• Tickets: £7.50 – £21.50
• Aladdin, the most mystical pantomime of all, will fly in on a magic carpet to the Sunderland Empire, guaranteeing another spectacular extravaganza for all the family. Paul Michael Glaser, best known for his role as David Starsky in the cult 70’s TV show ‘Starsky and Hutch’ will star, joined by superstar singer and actress Sheila Ferguson, lead singer of the pop group ‘The Third Degrees’. North East actor Dale Meeks will be donning a host of fabulous frocks as Widow Twanky alongside local comedian Steve Walls who will play Wishee Washee.
• Click here for more information.