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You are here > Home > What's On > Summer Highlights

Summer Highlights

From festivals and fetes to vintage vehicles and open air theatre, enjoy a packed summer of fun in Durham with events to enthral and excite the whole family.

Embrace the warmth and vibrancy of summer in Durham with our curated guide to seasonal highlights. Discover a plethora of events, from lively festivals and outdoor performances to family-friendly activities and cultural showcases. Immerse yourself in the richness of summer arts, enjoy open-air concerts, and savor culinary delights at seasonal workshops. Whether it's nature excursions or festive celebrations, Durham's summer highlights offer a diverse array of experiences for all. Stay connected with the latest happenings and make the most of your summer in Durham, where every moment becomes a highlight.

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  1. Two elves laughing and playing with a snowball.

    Add Little Elves Christmas Hunt - Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Little Elves Christmas Hunt - Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Chester le Street

    Arrive at the castle and be greeted by our very own team of elves, then receive a castle map and clues. Head around the grounds solving riddles, collecting clues and finding all of Santa’s favourite festive friends. Make your way to the finishing…

    Dates

    From:
    21 Dec 2025to22 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Little Elves Christmas Hunt - Lumley Castle Hotel
  2. Stalls at Sedgefield Farmers Market on the village green

    Add Sedgefield Farmers Market to your Itinerary

    Sedgefield Farmers Market

    Type

    Type:

    Markets

    Sedgefield

    The market is run by Sedgefield Development Trust - and is held every first Sunday of the Month, on the village green, from 8.30am to 12.30pm - and includes a free community stall, music tent & health bus.

    The free stall is available to clubs and…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Sedgefield Farmers Market
  3. Exterior view of St. Brandon's Church.

    Add Echoes of Puebla: Choral Music from Mexico to your Itinerary

    Echoes of Puebla: Choral Music from Mexico

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    Durham

    For their traditional summer concert, the Durham Singers are taking their audiences on a sunny trip to South America. The festive theme for the concert comes from Mexican rhythms and colours of traditional and contemporary choral music.

    Dates

    From:
    27 June 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for Echoes of Puebla: Choral Music from Mexico
  4. Father Christmas waving from a carriage at Beamish Museum.

    Add Breakfast with Father Christmas - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Breakfast with Father Christmas - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Beamish

    Kick off your day with something magical. Join Father Christmas for breakfast in The Coffee Pot Café at the Entrance Building, before he heads off on his Christmas duties.

    Dates

    From:
    29 Nov 2025to21 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Breakfast with Father Christmas - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  5. New Year's Eve Party at The Clubhouse poster with fireworks.

    Add Golf Clubhouse New Years Eve - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa to your Itinerary

    Golf Clubhouse New Years Eve - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa

    Type

    Type:

    New Years Eve

    Durham

    Ring in the new year in style at the Golf Clubhouse with an evening of celebration, sparkle and great company.

    Dates

    From:
    31 Dec 2025
    More info for Golf Clubhouse New Years Eve - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa
  6. Queen Elsa, Princess Anna & Holly the Elf

    Add Frozen Princess Party - The Manor House Hotel & Spa to your Itinerary

    Frozen Princess Party - The Manor House Hotel & Spa

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    West Auckland, Bishop Auckland

    Join us in The Great Hall of Arendelle for Afternoon Tea where we will meet Queen Elsa, Princess Anna & Holly the elf

    Dates

    From:
    14 Dec 2025Open 15:00 - 19:00
    More info for Frozen Princess Party - The Manor House Hotel & Spa
  7. Whitney Houston tribute act at the Radisson Blu

    Add Whitney Houston Queen of the Night to your Itinerary

    Whitney Houston Queen of the Night

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Durham City

    Relive the magic of Whitney Houston! Get ready to sing and dance to all of your favourite hits. This incredible ‘Celebration of Whitney’ tribute show features all the late diva’s most powerful hits, performed by the amazing Hayley-Ria.

    Dates

    From:
    12 Dec 2025
    More info for Whitney Houston Queen of the Night
  8. Cartoon image of the performance area with a stage, trees, hills and a yellow aeroplane with a banner with wording Derwent Fest!

    Add Derwent Fest 2026 to your Itinerary

    Derwent Fest 2026

    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:
    14 Aug 2026to15 Aug 2026
    More info for Derwent Fest 2026
  9. Someone partaking in an 'Artist Makers' session at The Bowes Museum

    Add Artist Makers - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Artist Makers - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Make time for making; join in and get creative. An opportunity to try out new techniques, materials and experiment with the Museum’s team of artists, makers and designers in the Create Space.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Jan 2025to3 Jan 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Artist Makers - The Bowes Museum
  10. Beautiful red flower display.

    Add Cestrian  Flower Club to your Itinerary

    Cestrian Flower Club

    Type

    Type:

    Demonstration

    Chester-le-Street

    Flower arranging by Vanessa Wellock, National demonstrator, titled "LETS GET FESTIVE".

    Dates

    From:
    4 Dec 2025Open 18:30 - 21:30
    More info for Cestrian Flower Club
  11. Close up of vegetables at market stall. Person standing next to veg.

    Add Consett Market to your Itinerary

    Consett Market

    Type

    Type:

    Markets

    Consett

    Stroll through the stalls, savour delicious local treats, and soak up the friendly atmosphere. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday 8:00-16:00

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Consett Market
  12. EDAN logo

    Add EDAN Artists' Winter Show - The EDAN Gallery to your Itinerary

    EDAN Artists' Winter Show - The EDAN Gallery

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Seaham

    EDAN Artists' Winter Show details TBC

    Dates

    From:
    18 Nov 2025to20 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for EDAN Artists' Winter Show - The EDAN Gallery
  13. John Robertson

    Add John Robertson "Plays With His Audience" to your Itinerary

    John Robertson "Plays With His Audience"

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    Improv, mayhem, gaming comedy, crowd work and songs from the UK's most manic comic on his first-ever stand-up tour!

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2025Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for John Robertson "Plays With His Audience"
  14. A character from A Christmas Carol, a man holding a lantern.

    Add A Christmas Carol at Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    A Christmas Carol at Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham City

    A festive treat for all the family, Dickens’ beloved tale of redemption is brought to the stage at Durham Cathedral in an authentic and joyful adaptation from Operation Moonlight.

    Dates

    From:
    17 Dec 2025Open 19:30 -
    More info for A Christmas Carol at Durham Cathedral
  15. A small child sitting on Santa's knee

    Add Afternoon Tea with Santa to your Itinerary

    Afternoon Tea with Santa

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Beamish

    Join us for a magical Santa Experience filled with delicious food, party games, dancing, and a special visit to Santa.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2025Open 13:00 - 16:00
    More info for Afternoon Tea with Santa
  16. Black and white photo of a bow

    Add A Night of Soul and Stardust at South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    A Night of Soul and Stardust at South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Celebrate the magic of Christmas with the timeless elegance of Motown and the soulful power of iconic divas...

    Dates

    From:
    12 Dec 2025Open 19:00 -
    More info for A Night of Soul and Stardust at South Causey Inn
  17. The Milky Way Galaxy

    Add Astronomy and Stargazing - Grassholme Observatory to your Itinerary

    Astronomy and Stargazing - Grassholme Observatory

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    nr Mickleton

    ​​​​​The event will begin with a personal welcome from our astronomer, Gary Fildes. Gary is a very experienced science communicator and astronomer, and founder of the Kielder Observatory, where he was Director and CEO for over 11 years.

    Dates

    From:
    5 Dec 2025to7 Dec 2025Open 20:00 - 23:00
    More info for Astronomy and Stargazing - Grassholme Observatory
  18. Robin Hood - The Pantomime. Background shows stage curtain.

    Add Robin Hood Pantomime - Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Robin Hood Pantomime - Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Chester le Street

    The Sheriff of Nottingham and Bad Prince John are up to their usual nasty tricks, and only Robin Hood and the Merry  Men and Women of Sherwood Forest can put a stop to their  wicked behaviour.  

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2025to23 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Robin Hood Pantomime - Lumley Castle Hotel
  19. Durham Ghost Walk team.

    Add Free First Sunday Ghost Hunter - Durham Ghost Walk to your Itinerary

    Free First Sunday Ghost Hunter - Durham Ghost Walk

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Durham

    Free walks take place at 19:00 on the first Sunday of each month. Others take place at time of your choice. There are three different routes: Ghost Hunter, Horrid History and Pubs & Prisons. Contact Dave for more information. Usually meet in Durham…

    Dates

    From:
    7 Dec 2025Open 19:00 -
    More info for Free First Sunday Ghost Hunter - Durham Ghost Walk
  20. Steamboat Bill Jr Film at Shadforth advertising poster.

    Add Buster Keaton in Steamboat Bill Jr to your Itinerary

    Buster Keaton in Steamboat Bill Jr

    Type

    Type:

    Film

    Shadforth

    Family fun with this silent comedy film starring Buster Keaton, featuring what is perhaps Keaton's most famous stunt - an entire building facade falling all around him!  Followed by refreshments.

    Dates

    From:
    14 Dec 2025Open 15:00 - 17:30
    More info for Buster Keaton in Steamboat Bill Jr
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