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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. Clay Pigeon Shooting in the beautiful Beamish Valley

    Add Clay Pigeon Shoot at South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Clay Pigeon Shoot at South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Outdoor Event

    Stanley

    Experience the thrill of clay pigeon shooting in the beautiful Beamish Valley.

    Dates

    From:
    16 May 2026
    From:
    20 June 2026
    From:
    18 July 2026
    From:
    15 Aug 2026
    From:
    19 Sept 2026
    From:
    17 Oct 2026
    From:
    21 Nov 2026
    From:
    19 Dec 2026
    More info for Clay Pigeon Shoot at South Causey Inn
  2. Cyclists riding on country roads through Consett.

    Add Consett Cycling Festival to your Itinerary

    Consett Cycling Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Cycling event

    Consett

    The Consett Cycle Festival 2026 returns on Sunday 7th June in Middle Street / Front Street and Albert Road car park, Consett.

    Dates

    From:
    7 June 2026Open 09:00 - 17:00
    More info for Consett Cycling Festival
  3. Poster advertising the event with an image, dates and times and contact details

    Add The Prince of Egypt to your Itinerary

    The Prince of Egypt

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham City

    Following on from their multi-award productions of "The Producers", "Half a Sixpence", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", "Evita" and "Chess", Durham Musical Theatre Company will be one of the first amateur groups in the UK to stage "The Prince of…

    Dates

    From:
    12 May 2026to16 May 2026Open 19:00 - 22:00
    More info for The Prince of Egypt
  4. Crowds of people at Seaham Food Festival

    Add Seaham Food Festival 2026 to your Itinerary

    Seaham Food Festival 2026

    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:
    1 Aug 2026to2 Aug 2026
    More info for Seaham Food Festival 2026
  5. Crowds enjoy show jumping at Weardale Show.

    Add 156th Weardale Agricultural Show 2026 to your Itinerary

    156th Weardale Agricultural Show 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Agricultural Show

    St. Johns Chapel

    The Weardale Show returns on Saturday 29th August 2026.

    Dates

    From:
    29 Aug 2026
    More info for 156th Weardale Agricultural Show 2026
  6. Crowds of people enjoying the Durham Fringe Festival on Palace Green, Durham city.

    Add Durham Fringe Festival 2026 to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham City

    Between 29th July and 2nd August 2026, Durham Fringe Festival will host a spectacular array of performing arts.  Genres include theatre, music, stand-up comedy, comedy theatre, magic, spoken word, cabaret, dance, physical theatre, circus, and…

    Dates

    From:
    29 July 2026to2 Aug 2026
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival 2026
  7. Opulence at Lumley Castle Hotel

    Add Opulence at Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Opulence at Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Chester-Le-Street

    Lumley Castle Hotel at Chester-le-Street, County Durham, will be the backdrop for Opulence, running on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 September.

    While the big-name performers are not being unveiled until later this month, organisers have promised it will…

    Dates

    From:
    4 Sept 2026to5 Sept 2026
    More info for Opulence at Lumley Castle Hotel
  8. An ornate 19th-century lace parasol with an intricately patterned cream lace canopy. The handle is made of ivory or bone with a decorative metal finia

    Add Lace and Legacy: Fashion Treasures from The Blackborne Collection to your Itinerary

    Lace and Legacy: Fashion Treasures from The Blackborne Collection

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Barnard Castle

    Lace and Legacy: Fashion Treasures from The Blackborne Collection marks 20 years since the landmark exhibition Fine & Fashionable: Lace from the Blackborne Collection and commemorates the gift of the Blackborne lace collection to The Bowes Museum.

    Dates

    From:
    14 Nov 2026to11 Apr 2027Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Lace and Legacy: Fashion Treasures from The Blackborne Collection
  9. The Girl on a Train - 28th June - 4th July 2026. Poster shows an illustration of Rachel Watson looking out the train window.

    Add The Girl on a Train Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel - The City Theatre to your Itinerary

    The Girl on a Train Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel - The City Theatre

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Back Silver Street, Durham

    Adapted from the book by Paula Hawkins. A thriller. Has Rachel Watson witnessed a murder or is she a suspect?

    Dates

    From:
    28 June 2026Open 14:30 -
    From:
    29 June 2026to3 July 2026Open 19:30 -
    From:
    4 July 2026Open 14:30 -
    More info for The Girl on a Train Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel - The City Theatre
  10. Audience at a candlelight concert.

    Add Motown By Candlelight at Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    Motown By Candlelight at Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    Durham City

    Expect to hear the soulful sounds of your favourite artists, from The Supremes, The Temptations and Diana Ross to Stevie Wonder, The Commodores, Marvin Gaye and many more!

    Dates

    From:
    2 Oct 2026to3 Oct 2026Open 19:30 - 22:30
    More info for Motown By Candlelight at Durham Cathedral
  11. Wine and a selection of scones and jams.

    Add Fireside Afternoon Tea and Waterfall Walk at High Force to your Itinerary

    Fireside Afternoon Tea and Waterfall Walk at High Force

    Type

    Type:

    Food Events

    Forest-in-Teesdale, Durham

    Monday - Saturday Celebrate in the heart of Upper Teesdale with our cosy Fireside Afternoon Tea at High Force Hotel.

    Dates

    From:
    23 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Fireside Afternoon Tea and Waterfall Walk at High Force
  12. Family history

    Add Jane Gulliford Lowes - How to Write Your Family History - Seaham Library to your Itinerary

    Jane Gulliford Lowes - How to Write Your Family History - Seaham Library

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Seaham

    May is Local & Community History Month. Jane Gulliford Lowes, 'How to Write Your Family History' at Seaham Library on Friday 8th May at 10.30am.

    Dates

    From:
    8 May 2026Open 10:30 -
    More info for Jane Gulliford Lowes - How to Write Your Family History - Seaham Library
  13. View of the sea and beach from the clifftops

    Add Heritage Coastal Path parkrun, Easington to your Itinerary

    Heritage Coastal Path parkrun, Easington

    Type

    Type:

    Wellness Event

    Easington Colliery, Peterlee

    A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it's up to you! Nearby Sunday 2k junior parkrun events for 4 to 14 year olds and their families can be found here.

    Dates

    From:
    3 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Heritage Coastal Path parkrun, Easington
  14. Grimethorpe Colliery Band

    Add Grimethorpe Colliery Band In Concert to your Itinerary

    Grimethorpe Colliery Band In Concert

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Durham City

    Founded over a century ago in a Yorkshire mining village, Grimethorpe Colliery Band achieved a worldwide reputation from the hit film Brassed Off and are regarded as one of Britain's finest brass bands.

    Dates

    From:
    19 July 2026Open 14:00 -
    More info for Grimethorpe Colliery Band In Concert
  15. A bee on a purple flower in a wild flower meadow.

    North Pennines NatureFest

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    North Pennines NatureFest is packed with events that celebrate nature, heritage and the landscape in the North Pennines National Landscape and UNESCO Global Geopark.

    Dates

    From:
    23 May 2026to7 June 2026
    More info for North Pennines NatureFest
  16. S&DR 200 logo

    S&DR200 Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    The 27 September 2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR), which gave birth to the modern railway. To celebrate this landmark anniversary, the nine-month S&DR200 Festival will take place across…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Mar 2025to31 May 2026
    More info for S&DR200 Festival
  17. Spring Garden Fair at Raby Castle, Park & Gardens

    Add Spring Garden Fair - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Spring Garden Fair - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Fete / Fair

    Staindrop

    Celebrate the garden's reawakening after its winter slumber as spring breathes new life into the landscape. Watch as petals unfurl and fresh shoots push through the earth, signalling the season's vibrant return.

    Dates

    From:
    23 May 2026to25 May 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Spring Garden Fair - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  18. Spring Artisan Market. Illustration of two people at a market stall.

    Add Spring Artisan Market - Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors to your Itinerary

    Spring Artisan Market - Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors

    Type

    Type:

    Markets

    Seaham

    Celebrate the season with a wonderful weekend of spring shopping, bringing together a fantastic selection of carefully chosen local artisan makers and independent producers. Discover a vibrant mix of unique gifts, seasonal delights and irresistible…

    Dates

    From:
    16 May 2026to17 May 2026
    More info for Spring Artisan Market - Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors
  19. Someone walking in Hamsterley Forest

    Add Well Being Wander to your Itinerary

    Well Being Wander

    Type

    Type:

    Wellness Event

    Bedburn

    This peaceful self guided experience blends the ancient practice of forest bathing with a curated well being bundle to enjoy along the way.

    Dates

    From:
    23 May 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Well Being Wander
  20. Illustration of a tractor mowing a lawn against a background of blue sky, sunshine and fluffy white clouds.

    Add Little Farmers: Bonny Babies - High Farm Holiday Park to your Itinerary

    Little Farmers: Bonny Babies - High Farm Holiday Park

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Toft Hill, Bishop Auckland

    Little Farmers: Baby Sensory Experience at The Paddocks

    Dates

    From:
    4 May 2026to18 May 2026Open 10:00 - 15:30
    From:
    1 June 2026to29 June 2026Open 11:30 - 15:30
    More info for Little Farmers: Bonny Babies - High Farm Holiday Park
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