Sunniside Market The Festive Edit
Opening Times
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Entry Fee
No
Booking Required
No
Venue
Sunniside Gardens
FREE Santa’s Grotto | 10 am to 3 pm
Step into the magic and meet the jolliest Father Christmas in the North! Santa will be with us all day, spreading Christmas cheer and gifting a present to every child who visits. Furry friends are welcome too, and Santa will have special treats on hand just for them!
FREE Festive Sketching | 10 am to 3 pm
Join Hannah Graham, artist and author, who will be signing her excellent books, sketching visitors as whimsical Christmas Elves, and challenging you to a festive sketch-off.
FREE Festive Crafting | 10 am to 3 pm
Making pinecone Christmas Trees with Just Let Your Soul Grow, and make sure you whisper your Christmas wishes to the Sloth!
FREE Live Music & Choir Performances
Enjoy heart-warming festive melodies from local performers who will provide the perfect soundtrack to a magical Christmas market experience.
10.30 am – 11.15 am Houghton Brass
11.25 am – 11.40 am Salty Seabird Choir
11.45 am – 12.30 p.m. Houghton Brass
12.45 pm – 1.00 pm Salty Seabird Choir
1.00 pm – 3.00 pm Absolute Cabaret
Lots of traders are offering festive, limited-edition specials:
Bass Notes Coffee is doing Bailey’s drinks
E W Flowers will be bringing festive wreaths and table decorations
Parm-o-Rama have festive Parmo fries on
Acropolis has two Christmas specials – festive gyros and Santa’s Bowl (like a Christmas dinner in a bowl – with fries!
Traders List:
Wear Beer
The Little Cakery by the sea
The Brownie Bar
Pink Lane Bakery
Bass Notes Coffee Ltd
FC Roast
The Yolker
The Travelling Bee Company
Sunshine Co-operative
Geordie Bangers
Wild North
Just Let Your Soul Grow
E W Flowers
Parm – O – Rama
Zenobia
Acropolis
Drop in, soak up the twinkling Christmas atmosphere, and have a jolly good time with the whole family — we can’t wait to see you there!
LATEST EVENTS
Breakfast With Santa
@ The Sheepfolds Stables23 December 2025
Why not book The Sheepfolds' first-ever kids’ Disney Grinchmas party! Meet The Grinch, Cindy Lou, Santa Stitch, Santa Mickey and two of the Sheepfolds Stables’ elves. This is going to be a Christmas party to remember! See our Santa's take part in games and activities – who will be the number 1 Santa this year?
Tickets are £7.50 per child (age 1 years and over) and £2 per adult.
New Year's Eve
firework spectacular31 December 2025
A dazzling double fireworks spectacular is set to light up the night sky across Sunderland this New Year's Eve.
Following the success of the Women's Rugby World Cup celebrations, with its jam-packed programme of entertainment and stunning fireworks in Keel Square in August, the City Council is planning a double display to welcome in 2026.
Inspired Learning
Event14 January 2026
Please join us for this event, which is part of our Foundational Business Academy. It is open to all businesses, and free to come along!
Every day in business, there is something we learn that inspires our next decision or innovation in pushing our thinking forward. Our panel will share with you some of that inspired thinking that has impacted positively on their businesses and share information on the plans and research we have been conducting in Sunderland.
Sunderland Cocktail
Week 202630 January 2026
It’s that time of year again — Sunderland Cocktail Week is BACK!