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You are here > Home > What's On > Historic Events

Historic Events

Step back in time and immerse yourself in the rich heritage of Durham with our curated guide to historic events.

Explore living history experiences, heritage festivals, and captivating reenactments that bring the past to life. Delve into Durham's historical exhibitions, attend talks and lectures, and celebrate the cultural richness of the region. From interactive history events to commemorations at historic landmarks, discover the charm and significance of Durham's historical happenings. Plan your journey through time and uncover the captivating stories woven into Durham's vibrant historical tapestry.

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Number of results: 58

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  1. Musician Pete Atkin, smiling with his black guitar on a grey background

    Add The Brown and the Yellow Ale - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    The Brown and the Yellow Ale - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    Traditional singer Macdara Yeates explores the much misunderstood and intriguing folk song The Brown and the Yellow Ale, detailing its folk origins and its many modern authors, from James Joyce to Luke Kelly.

    Dates

    From:
    18 Sept 2026Open 12:30 - 13:30
    More info for The Brown and the Yellow Ale - Durham Folk Festival
  2. Durham folk festival logo with a purple sanctuary knocker as the letter 'o', with a light yellow background.

    Add Amber Films Retrospective - Saturday - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    Amber Films Retrospective - Saturday - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Flass Street, Durham

    Screenings of short films from the Amber Films archives, spanning 6 decades and reflecting many aspects of working-class life in the North East. Full programme announced soon.

    Dates

    From:
    19 Sept 2026Open 13:00 - 16:00
    More info for Amber Films Retrospective - Saturday - Durham Folk Festival
  3. St Cuthbert's Church, with stained glass windows, commonwealth war graves and exterior view of the church.

    Add St. Cuthbert’s Church - Heritage Open Days to your Itinerary

    St. Cuthbert’s Church - Heritage Open Days

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage Open Days

    High Etherley, Bishop Auckland

    Church is open from 9.30 - 15.30 on Saturday, September 19th. Church guide. Christian artwork on display. Saints trail for children. Nature trail for children. Refreshments available. 

    Dates

    From:
    19 Sept 2026Open 09:30 - 15:30
    More info for St. Cuthbert’s Church - Heritage Open Days
  4. An arched stone church doorway, surrounded by purple flowers in the sunlight.

    Add St Laurence's Church - Heritage Open Days to your Itinerary

    St Laurence's Church - Heritage Open Days

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage Open Days

    Durham

    Visit St Laurence Church. Refreshments available. Discover a Grade I listed, 12th & 13th century church. North Arcade is described as 'one of the most exciting pieces of architecture in the county' by Pevsner.

    Dates

    From:
    19 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for St Laurence's Church - Heritage Open Days
  5. Three people in Georgian costume stand in front of Pockerley Old Hall at Beamish Museum.

    Add Georgian Gathering at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Georgian Gathering at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Beamish

    Step back to the hustle and bustle of the early 1800s.

    Dates

    From:
    19 Sept 2026to20 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Georgian Gathering at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  6. Historical photo of the Jarrow Crusade, a group of people walking down the road with a large banner.

    Add The Jarrow Crusade - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    The Jarrow Crusade - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    90 years ago, 200 men walked from Jarrow, near Newcastle, to London. They were demanding help to re-establish industry in the town after the closure of the local shipyard. Graham Pirt presents an illustrated talk about the crusade in commemoration…

    Dates

    From:
    19 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 11:00
    More info for The Jarrow Crusade - Durham Folk Festival
  7. Historical photo of a group of people wearing hats, with the text 'Cable street and the Bryant & May Matchwomen.'

    Add Cable Street and the Bryant & May Matchwomen - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    Cable Street and the Bryant & May Matchwomen - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Flass Street, Durham

    Commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street

    Dates

    From:
    19 Sept 2026Open 17:30 - 18:30
    More info for Cable Street and the Bryant & May Matchwomen - Durham Folk Festival
  8. The interior of a church with pews and stained glass windows

    Add Heritage Open Days - All Saints Church and Churchyard to your Itinerary

    Heritage Open Days - All Saints Church and Churchyard

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage Open Days

    Langley Park, Durham

    A chance to explore the church, find out what's happening in the churchyard, and discover the history of the village contained there.

    Dates

    From:
    19 Sept 2026Open 13:30 - 16:00
    More info for Heritage Open Days - All Saints Church and Churchyard
  9. Durham folk festival logo with a purple sanctuary knocker as the 'o', on a light yellow background.

    Add Spafford Campbell - Market Square - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    Spafford Campbell - Market Square - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    Spafford Campbell are twenty-something mould-breakers, fiddle player Owen Spafford and guitarist Louis Campbell. The two first met as teenagers playing traditional music. The connection, they say, was immediate. The duo Spafford Campbell began…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2026Open 16:30 - 17:00
    More info for Spafford Campbell - Market Square - Durham Folk Festival
  10. Person with glasses and a cap looking down at the camera, text 'Taffy Thomas.'

    Add Taffy Thomas - Market Square - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    Taffy Thomas - Market Square - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    Britain's very first Storytelling Laureate, Taffy has a repertoire of more than 300 stories, collected mainly from traditional oral sources, which he is happy to tell in almost any situation. This repertoire was built by meeting and working with…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2026Open 18:30 - 19:00
    More info for Taffy Thomas - Market Square - Durham Folk Festival
  11. Four people sat on a stone wall in the woods, holding folk instruments and wearing black and red coats. The text 'Windborne' underneath.

    Add Windborne - Market Square - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    Windborne - Market Square - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    Joining us from New England in the USA, Windborne’s music has deep roots in traditions of vocal harmony. Known for the innovation of their arrangements, their harmonies are bold and anything but predictable.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2026Open 18:00 - 18:30
    More info for Windborne - Market Square - Durham Folk Festival
  12. Four men singing on stage, with text underneath The Wilson Family.

    Add The Wilsons - Market Square - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    The Wilsons - Market Square - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    The the foremost proponents in the country of traditional harmony singing, The Wilsons repertoire is rich with songs from Teeside and the North East. They famously joined Sting in New York for his production The Last Ship, have performed at the BBC…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2026Open 16:00 - 16:30
    More info for The Wilsons - Market Square - Durham Folk Festival
  13. Heritage open days logo of a pink letter 'H' in the shape of a castle.

    Add Mickleton Village Hall and the Community Over the Years - Heritage Open Days to your Itinerary

    Mickleton Village Hall and the Community Over the Years - Heritage Open Days

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage Open Days

    Barnard Castle

    Come and see on the cinema screen how the village hall was built and what actually goes on in the hall. Displays and presentations by user groups and see how people use the site from family get togethers to country weddings. Tea and cake by…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2026Open 11:00 - 16:00
    More info for Mickleton Village Hall and the Community Over the Years - Heritage Open Days
  14. The Rebels of Raby Talk with Castle Curator. Raby's curator holding an open book.

    Add The Rebels of Raby Talk with Castle Curator - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    The Rebels of Raby Talk with Castle Curator - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Staindrop

    Raby's history is far from peaceful, and in this new talk, Raby's Curator will explore how the castle's residents were drawn into some of the most turbulent political moments in English history.

    Venue

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop

    Dates

    From:
    10 Oct 2026Open 14:30 - 15:30
    More info for The Rebels of Raby Talk with Castle Curator - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  15. Haunted Raby: Ghost Walk Tour - Darkened picture of the castle exterior across the lake.

    Add Haunted Raby: Ghost Walk Tour - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Haunted Raby: Ghost Walk Tour - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Staindrop

    Join us at dusk for a special torchlit tour of Raby Castle. Find out from our guides about the unexplained phenomenon and reported hauntings witnessed over centuries at the castle. From the unfortunate demise of some of the castle's past residents…

    Venue

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2026to1 Nov 2026Open 18:00 - 19:00
    More info for Haunted Raby: Ghost Walk Tour - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  16. Spooky scarecrow looking sinisterly at the camera at Beamish, at night.

    Add Halloween Evening - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Halloween Evening - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Stanley

    Something spooky is coming… Step back in time and get ready for a night you’ll never forget.
    Join us for a special spine-tingling experience as Beamish is transformed into The Un-living Museum of the North.

    Dates

    From:
    28 Oct 2026to31 Oct 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Halloween Evening - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  17. Three glowing Christmas trees in an elegant room at Raby Castle

    Add Raby Castle at Christmas - Raby Castle, Park & Gardens to your Itinerary

    Raby Castle at Christmas - Raby Castle, Park & Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Darlington

    Raby Castle is opening it’s doors for Christmas for the second time in five decades to showcase the castle decorated for Christmas, designed by custodian and creative director, Lady Barnard.

    Dates

    From:
    14 Nov 2026to3 Jan 2027Open 11:00 - 16:00
    More info for Raby Castle at Christmas - Raby Castle, Park & Gardens
  18. A historic stone room with low curved ceilings and fairy lights

    Add Medieval Knight Dinner - Lumley Castle to your Itinerary

    Medieval Knight Dinner - Lumley Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Food & Drink

    Chester le Street

    Seated on wooden benches, at wooden tables in the Castles Baronial Hall. A 5-course feast is served with mead & wine, whilst being entertained by Ladies of the court, Court Chamberlain & Herald, with musicians, all in traditional costume.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Nov 2026Open 18:30 - 00:00
    More info for Medieval Knight Dinner - Lumley Castle
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