Sunderland River Festival

Saturday, August 31, 2019 to Sunday, September 1, 2019

Sunderland’s famous riverside will host a new, family focussed event later this year. The riverside, which welcomed some of the 1.2 million visitors to last year’s award-winning Tall Ships Races, will host the Sunderland River Festival 31 Aug – 1 September, celebrating the city’s maritime heritage, and its creative future.

What’s on
On opposite sides of the Wear at St Peter’s Quayside and Low Street, there will be a weekend of music and water based entertainment, with events, street theatre, activities and performances for all the family to enjoy.

Live music, including performances from leading local band Dennis and national folk/rock favourite Martin Stephenson, best known for the acclaimed album Boat to Bolivia, will be performing a solo set to close the event.

Low Row will have a heritage focus where visitors can meet costumed characters and famous faces from the city’s past such as Jack Crawford and Peggy Potts.

At St. Peter’s visitors can experience a beautiful interactive show within ‘The Whale’, which is an impressive 18m giant inflatable blue whale.

Out on the water, community maritime activities and watersports partners Sunderland Yacht Club and City of Sunderland Rowing Club will be organising a range of activities and demonstrations.

Getting there/parking

If travelling by car please use the various city centre car parks. See information on them here. It is then a short walk to Low Street and approximately 20 minutes to St. Peters.

For access to St. Peter’s Quayside a Park and Walk will operate from the Yellow car park at the Stadium of Light. Access will be available from 11am both days

St Peter’s and Sunderland Metro stations are closest to the event sites. Local bus and metro services will be operational please visit https://www.nexus.org.uk/  for further timetables.