TEN days of family fun and entertainment gets underway this weekend as Houghton Feast returns.
This year’s festival kicks-off this Friday, October 2 and runs until Sunday, October 11 and is set to welcome visitors, families and groups to celebrate the heritage and culture of Houghton.
Favourites including the ox roasting, carnival parade, fireworks and traditional fairground are set to return, alongside a packed programme of community events, exhibitions, talks and tours.
The feast begins at 6pm on Friday with an opening ceremony on The Broadway, featuring live entertainment from Houghton Pipe Band, a Zazz dancers, and The Voice of Houghton and Houghton Feast Children’s Choir, ahead of the grand switch-on of the Houghton Feast illuminations by Mayor of Sunderland, Coun Robert Hutchinson.
The famous Houghton Feast ox roast will be served up from noon on Saturday in the grounds of The Old Rectory, where the first oxen were roasted by Rector Bernard Gilpin to feed Houghton’s poor in the 16th century.
The colourful Carnival Parade gets underway at 2pm on Saturday afternoon with brass bands, dancers, floats and classic vehicles, as the parade travels along Newbottle Street before making its way to The Broadway.
On Monday, families are invited to head to Durham Road for Fireworks Night from 7pm before a week of events and experiences are held around the town.
Coun Ciera Hudspith, Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Heritage at Sunderland City Council, said: “Houghton Feast is a unique part of our city’s heritage and a tradition that continues to bring people together year after year.
“It’s a celebration of the town’s history, community spirit and identity, and it’s fantastic to see generations of families returning to enjoy it.
“This year’s programme combines the traditions that make the Feast so special, from the ox roast and carnival parade to the fairground and fireworks, with a wide range of community events and activities taking place throughout the festival.”
To find out more and stay up to date with the latest news about Houghton Feast visit: Houghton Feast 2026 – MySunderland
