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You are here > Home > What's On > Festivals

Festivals

Experience the vibrant spirit of Durham with our curated guide to festivals.

From cultural celebrations and music extravaganzas to arts and crafts showcases, Durham's festival scene offers a diverse array of events for every interest. Immerse yourself in the joy of community gatherings, indulge in culinary delights at food festivals, and enjoy the lively atmosphere of local celebrations. Stay updated on the latest festival happenings, and discover the rich tapestry of events that make Durham a festival destination like no other.

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Number of results:

Number of results: 28

, currently showing 1 to 20.

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  1. Durham Cathedral Liquid Geometry Javier Riera. Lumiere 2023 produced by Artichoke. Photo by Matthew Andrews

    Add Lumiere Durham to your Itinerary

    Lumiere Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    The UK’s light art biennial. The hugely popular event will take place over three evenings this autumn, from Thursday to Saturday, 13th -15th November.

    Dates

    From:
    13 Nov 2025to15 Nov 2025
    More info for Lumiere Durham
  2. Durham Book Festival Logo

    Durham Book Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Durham Book Festival

    Durham

    Durham Book Festival is one of the country’s oldest literary festivals, taking place in and around Durham City, returning this year on 10th to 12th October.

    Dates

    From:
    10 Oct 2025to12 Oct 2025
    More info for Durham Book Festival 2025
  3. outer space galaxy

    North Pennines Stargazing Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    The North Pennines Stargazing Festival is returning for 2025 – running for a week between Friday 24 October and Sunday 2 November.

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2025to2 Nov 2025
    More info for North Pennines Stargazing Festival 2025
  4. Preston Park Museum and Grounds

    Add S&DR200: Tracks of Change to your Itinerary

    S&DR200: Tracks of Change

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Stockton on Tees

    Following a major redevelopment, Preston Park will open its new exhibition space with Tracks of Change, a series of exhibitions exploring the impact and legacy of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. 

    Dates

    From:
    1 June 2025to30 Sept 2025
    More info for S&DR200: Tracks of Change
  5. People looking at the exhibition display stand at Locomotion

    Add S&DR200 - Railway Firsts at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - Railway Firsts at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Shildon

    Home to one of largest collections of historic rail vehicles in the world, Locomotion is pulling out all the stops to commemorate S&DR200.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Feb 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for S&DR200 - Railway Firsts at Locomotion
  6. Sepia image of No. 1 Locomotive Darlington

    S&DR200 - The Whistle Stop

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    This bespoke touring library exhibition will travel round the region and showcases the Stockton and Darlington Railway's history using high-quality reproductions of important artefacts and documents found and brought together from archives across…

    Dates

    From:
    25 Mar 2025to25 Nov 2025
    More info for S&DR200 - The Whistle Stop
  7. WOW Women of the World Festival Three women wearing colourful cloaks with WOW logo on the back

    Add S&DR200 Presents WOW North East (Women of the World) International Festival to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 Presents WOW North East (Women of the World) International Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Performance

    Durham City

    The first ever WOW Festival in the north-east of England will be packed with unmissable talks and performances, celebrating achievements and stories from women, girls, and non-binary people from the region and beyond.

    Dates

    From:
    17 Oct 2025to18 Oct 2025
    More info for S&DR200 Presents WOW North East (Women of the World) International Festival
  8. Train and carriage made from colourful wooden blocks with a painted peg doll

    S&DR200 - Memory of a Journey

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Various locations throughout March to August 2025 S&DR200 Presents: Trains have been part of our lives for 200 years. This project is a participation project that encourages visitors to reminisce about a journey that they remember.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Mar 2025to31 Aug 2025
    More info for S&DR200 - Memory of a Journey
  9. Painting of Old Locomotive Engine Wylam Coll from the Hatton Gallery, Newcastle University

    Add S&DR200 - Fuelling the Railway Revolution to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - Fuelling the Railway Revolution

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Bishop Auckland

    This special exhibition explores the inextricable link between coal mining and the railways.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    27 June 2025to21 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for S&DR200 - Fuelling the Railway Revolution
  10. Two trains parked up in a station

    Add S&DR200 - Young Railway Photographer of the Year exhibition at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - Young Railway Photographer of the Year exhibition at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Shildon

    The exhibition will feature the winning entries from a competition to find the UK’s most promising young railway photographers.

    Dates

    From:
    1 June 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for S&DR200 - Young Railway Photographer of the Year exhibition at Locomotion
  11. Ghostly image of a locomotive

    S&DR200 - Ghost Train

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Darlington and Stockton

    Two major outdoor events inspired by the Stockton and Darlington Railway story.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2025
    From:
    28 Sept 2025
    More info for S&DR200 - Ghost Train
  12. Line up details for Derwent Fest 2025

    Add Derwent Fest 2025 to your Itinerary

    Derwent Fest 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Edmundbyers

    A weekend festival of live tribute music, food and drink, and children’s activities and entertainment, set in a stunning location, not far from you. Bring all the family, including the dog, and enjoy some fun, quality time together.

    Venue

    Derwent Waterside Park, Shotley Bridge

    Dates

    From:
    15 Aug 2025to16 Aug 2025
    More info for Derwent Fest 2025
  13. People partying at Greek Fest

    Add The Big Fat Greek Fest! to your Itinerary

    The Big Fat Greek Fest!

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Sedgefield

    BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Get ready for an unforgettable experience at The Big Fat Greek Fest!

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2025Open 12:00 - 18:00
    More info for The Big Fat Greek Fest!
  14. Locomotive outside of Locomotion's Collection Building

    Add S&DR200 - Rail Futures at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - Rail Futures at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Shildon

    A chance to visit a mobile exhibition train that looks at the railway and freight industry, showcasing how rail transport can help address future challenges.

    Dates

    From:
    18 Sept 2025to1 Oct 2025
    More info for S&DR200 - Rail Futures at Locomotion
  15. Aerial view of Raby Castle and grounds

    Add S&DR200: Coal, Canals and Carriages: The Story of Raby and the Railways to your Itinerary

    S&DR200: Coal, Canals and Carriages: The Story of Raby and the Railways

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Staindrop

    Raby Castle will celebrate the year with stories associated with 19th-century inventions, including the reactions of landowners and farmers to trains, as well as how travel evolved into a privilege for the upper classes from their collections.

    Dates

    From:
    28 June 2025to31 Oct 2025Open 11:00 - 16:00
    From:
    3 July 2025to29 Oct 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for S&DR200: Coal, Canals and Carriages: The Story of Raby and the Railways
  16. Locomotive pulling a coach pulling a crowd of people

    Add S&DR200 Celebrating Railways: Past, Present and Future at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 Celebrating Railways: Past, Present and Future at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Shildon

    The highlight of the anniversary year will be Rail Futures, a celebratory festival taking place in late September and early October.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Sept 2025to31 Dec 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for S&DR200 Celebrating Railways: Past, Present and Future at Locomotion
  17. Crowds of people at Seaham Food Festival

    Add Seaham Food Festival 2025 to your Itinerary

    Seaham Food Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Seaham

    The festival welcomes thousands of visitors each year for two days of sun, sea, family fun and, of course, food. 

    Dates

    From:
    2 Aug 2025to3 Aug 2025
    More info for Seaham Food Festival 2025
  18. Book related fun at Durham Children's Book Festival. Characters such as the BFG, the Gruffalo and Peter Rabbit with families.

    Add Durham Children's Book Festival to your Itinerary

    Durham Children's Book Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    The Durham Children’s Book Festival is a joyful celebration of reading, creativity, and storytelling, designed to inspire young minds and ignite a lifelong love of books.

    Dates

    From:
    14 Aug 2025to15 Aug 2025Open 09:30 - 16:00
    More info for Durham Children's Book Festival
  19. The Story at Mount Oswald

    Add S&DR200 - All Change to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - All Change

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    South Road, Durham City

    Through authentic voices from letters, diaries, court papers, and other day-to-day records from their collections, The Story will uncover the impact of the Stockton & Darlington Railway on the socio-economic fabric of the region.  

    Dates

    From:
    25 May 2025to26 Jan 2026
    More info for S&DR200 - All Change
  20. Art installation beside New Hall at Locomotion

    Add S&DR200 Public Art Commissions at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 Public Art Commissions at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Shildon

    As part of the S&DR200 celebrations, two special public art installations will be unveiled in 2025, each capturing a unique story of the Stockton & Darlington Railway’s legacy and its connection to the community.

    Dates

    From:
    1 June 2025to30 Sept 2025
    More info for S&DR200 Public Art Commissions at Locomotion
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