CHILDREN FROM SCHOOLS with additional educational needs joined families from across the city as invited guests at a special preview evening for this year’s Sunderland Illuminations and Festival of Light (5 Oct – 5 Nov).
Children and their families from schools including Sunningdale, Columbia Grange, Barbara Priestman, Biddick Academy, Farringdon Community Academy and Oxclose were invited to share a first glimpse of this year’s display in Roker Park which includes new attractions ‘Disney Characters in Lights’ and the award winning, interactive ‘Heart Beat’ light installation.
The children were joined by the Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Doris MacKnight with Mayoral Consort, Mr Keith MacKnight, and Sunderland City Council Portfolio Holder for Public Health, Wellness and Culture, Cllr John Kelly.
The annual Sunderland Illuminations has become one the biggest events in the North East calendar, and is expected to attract large numbers of visitors to Sunderland’s seafront.
The Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Doris MacKnight said: “The preview evening has become a special annual occasion giving the children who might struggle to get a good view in a crowd, the chance to see the lights close up with their friends and family.
“It was great to see so many smiling faces, and people’s reaction to some of the new attractions alongside the more established crowd favourites in the park.”
Pirates and fairies feature at this year’s Sunderland Illuminations and Festival of Light, alongside traditional Disney favourites Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy with dinosaurs and characters from the movie Frozen along the stretches of lighting displays for people to enjoy.
Danielle McCutcheon from Washington whose daughter Katie, 6, is a pupil at Colombia Grange said: “Katie loved the sensory light display and especially enjoyed the Cathedral of mirrors.”
Katie’s friend Conner, 9, who lives in Roker added: “Its really great, even better than last year and I will be back with my friends and family.”
The event will again see the seafront lit up with an exciting display of traditional lights and the return of the big wheel and fairground to Cliffe Park which will operate every night from October 5 to November 5, 5pm-10pm.
For more information on tickets and display information please visitwww.seeitdoitsunderland.co.uk/