South Shields Christmas Mini Landmarks Challenge 2026 🎄🏃‍♀️

A new and exciting event for children & families in South Shields this Christmas.

Bring the family, grab your festive fancy dress and join us forthe South Shields Christmas Mini Landmarks Challenge on Sunday 27th December 2026!

Whether you choose to run, walk, scoot or cycle, this fun family challenge is all about exploring South Shields and finding hidden gems 💎 

It's also a great way for families and children to get involved in the event while waiting for their loved ones taking part in the main run!

Event Details

• Date: Sunday 27th December 2026

• Start & Finish: The Sanddancer Pub, South Shields, NE33 2LD

• Start Time: 9:20am

• Registration: From 9:00am (after the main event starts)

• Distance: Approximately 5km

• Entry Fee: £7 per child

• Age Requirement: Every child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the challenge.

How Does the Challenge Work?

This isn't your usual running event! It's a fun combination of running, navigation, teamwork and local history.

One week before the event, each team will receive a list of landmarks and a map. It's then up to you to work out where the landmarks are and plan your own route.

There is no marked course, so you can visit the checkpoints in any order and decide how you want to travel between them.

Your mission is to:

1. Start at The Sanddancer Pub.

2. Visit all the designated mini landmarks around South Shields.

3. Navigate your own route and visit the checkpoints in any order.

4. Take a team selfie or photograph at every landmark as proof of your visit.

5. Return to The Sanddancer Pub in the quickest time possible.

6. Send us your favourite team photographs and collect your well-earned challenge medals!

Once you've completed the challenge, why not stick around and join us for breakfast & a cuppa?

Get Your Team Together!

All participants must enter as part of a team. When registering, you can select an existing team name from the drop-downlist.

If you're the first person registering for your team, you'll need to create your team name so that other members can select it when entering.

Fancy dress and Christmas-themed team outfits are very much encouraged! 🎅

Entering an Under-18 Participant

All under-18 participants must be registered by their parent or legal guardian.

The parent/guardian must:

• Register and log in using their own email address so they receive all important event correspondence.

• Select the under-18 participant from the Person to Enter drop-down menu if they have previously been registered.

• If the child hasn't been registered before, select either Somebody already registered with SiEntries or Somebody notregistered with SiEntries, as appropriate.

For further guidance, please refer to the SiEntries Help section.

Winter Running – What to Bring

December in South Shields can be chilly, so please come prepared for the winter weather!

We recommend bringing:

• A fully charged mobile phone.

• Water and snacks.

• Emergency money.

• Suitable winter clothing.

• The organising team's contact numbers.

• Warm, dry clothes, including spare socks and shoes for afterwards.

Please make sure everyone in your team is suitably dressed and prepared for the conditions.

In the event of very bad weather we will allow families to complete the challenge in their own time over Christmas to earn their medals. 

Medal Entry Deadline 🏅

We want everyone to receive their shiny new Landmark Challenge medal on the day!

To guarantee your medal is ready for collection at the event, please enter by Thursday 3rd December 2026. This gives us enough time to prepare everything ahead of Christmas.

Entries received after this date can still take part and receive a medal, but it may need to be posted out (postage andpackaging charges apply) or collected after the event.

Finish the Year With a Festive Adventure!

Whether you're a family of runners, walkers, cyclists or scooter enthusiasts, this is a brilliant opportunity to get outdoors, explore South Shields and enjoy some quality time together over the Christmas holidays.

Expect a little friendly competition, plenty of festive fun and of course, a well-earned medal at the finish. 

So, get your team together, dig out those Christmas outfits and join us for the first South Shields Mini Landmarks Challenge!

We can't wait to see you there! 🧡🎄🏅