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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. 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"
  2. Children watching a Christmas film on the big screen

    Add Kids' Christmas Movie Night to your Itinerary

    Kids' Christmas Movie Night

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Beamish

    Join us for a magical festive evening the whole family will love in our beautiful Orchard marquee, complete with tasty treats and a heart warming Christmas film.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Dec 2025Open 16:30 - 20:00
    More info for Kids' Christmas Movie Night
  3. Wellbeing equipment in preparation for wellness treatments.

    Add Wellbeing Retreats - Crux Fitness to your Itinerary

    Wellbeing Retreats - Crux Fitness

    Type

    Type:

    Wellness Event

    Stanley

    Our wellbeing retreats are a unique experience providing skills and techniques to help reset your nervous system and tackle the stresses of every day life.

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2026Open 10:00 -
    From:
    15 Aug 2026Open 10:00 -
    More info for Wellbeing Retreats - Crux Fitness
  4. Crook Hall gardens

    Add Festive poetry walk at Crook Hall Gardens to your Itinerary

    Festive poetry walk at Crook Hall Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham City

    Experience a festive poetry walk, admiring the scenery at Crook Hall Gardens.

    Dates

    From:
    13 Dec 2025Open 13:00 - 13:50
    From:
    21 Dec 2025Open 13:00 - 13:50
    More info for Festive poetry walk at Crook Hall Gardens
  5. LGBTQIA+ Object Trail at The Bowes Museum

    Add LGBTQIA+ Object Trail - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    LGBTQIA+ Object Trail - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Explore The Bowes Museum’s collection through a different lens and learn about the stories and emotions objects hold through the lived experiences of those who identify as LGBTQIA+.

    Dates

    From:
    1 May 2025to31 Dec 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for LGBTQIA+ Object Trail - The Bowes Museum
  6. Text reads, 'Wreath Making' with illustrations of a wreath, Christmas lights and a Santa hat.

    Add Wreath Making - The Manor House Hotel & Spa to your Itinerary

    Wreath Making - The Manor House Hotel & Spa

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    West Auckland, Bishop Auckland

    Add a touch of homemade charm to your Christmas with a Christmas wreath making workshop.

    Dates

    From:
    7 Dec 2025Open 11:30 - 16:00
    More info for Wreath Making - The Manor House Hotel & Spa
  7. Fairy lights and warm lighting leading to South Causey Inn's Bar and Restaurant area.

    Add Edible Experience: Home Alone at South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Edible Experience: Home Alone at South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    This Christmas, step into the world of one of the most beloved festive films of all time as South Causey Inn presents the second in our Edible Experience series – Home Alone, celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.

    Dates

    From:
    23 Dec 2025to24 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Edible Experience: Home Alone at South Causey Inn
  8. 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
  9. Mr. Grinch and Cindy-Lou posing for a photo in front of a Christmas tree at Lanchester Garden Centre.

    Add "Who Stole our Christmas?" Party - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    "Who Stole our Christmas?" Party - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Lanchester

    Join us this Festive season for the return of our ever-popular children's Christmas Party!

    Dates

    From:
    18 Dec 2025to19 Dec 2025Open 17:00 - 19:00
    More info for "Who Stole our Christmas?" Party - Lanchester Garden Centre
  10. Mother and baby looking at baubles at the Christmas Market, Lumley Castle.

    Add Christmas Market - Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Christmas Market - Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas Markets

    Chester le Street

    Celebrate the season with festive stalls, live music, and the cosy aroma of delicious food and drinks. Enjoy mulled wine, sweet treats, and holiday cheer as local musicians bring the magic of Christmas to life!

    Dates

    From:
    7 Dec 2025Open 11:00 - 15:00
    From:
    17 Dec 2025Open 18:00 - 21:00
    More info for Christmas Market - Lumley Castle Hotel
  11. Father Christmas sitting in front of a Christmas Tree at Raby Castle

    Add Father Christmas at Raby Castle to your Itinerary

    Father Christmas at Raby Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Staindrop

    ​​​​​​Experience the Magic of Christmas with Father Christmas in Raby Castle’s Barons’ Hall.

    Venue

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop

    Dates

    From:
    29 Nov 2025to30 Nov 2025
    From:
    6 Dec 2025to7 Dec 2025
    From:
    13 Dec 2025to14 Dec 2025
    From:
    19 Dec 2025to24 Dec 2025
    More info for Father Christmas at Raby Castle
  12. A group of women with pushchairs going for a walk in the sunshine

    Add No.42 - Pregnant to Preschool  - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    No.42 - Pregnant to Preschool - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Local Events

    Bishop Auckland

    Pregnant to Preschool is a weekly drop-in for parents who are pregnant or with young children (0-5). Every Monday 1 – 3pm. Excluding bank holidays.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    29 July 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for No.42 - Pregnant to Preschool - The Auckland Project
  13. Market stalls at Raby Castle.

    Add Christmas Market 2025 to your Itinerary

    Christmas Market 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas Markets

    Staindrop

    Three Magical Days of Festive Shopping, Eating and Cheer.

    Dates

    From:
    28 Nov 2025to30 Nov 2025
    More info for Christmas Market 2025
  14. Festive dinner at South Causey Inn. Mashed potatoes, Yorkshire Puddings, vegetables and gravy.

    Add The Post-Christmas Family Celebration at South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    The Post-Christmas Family Celebration at South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Festive Food

    Stanley

    Continue the festive celebrations with your loved ones at South Causey Inn’s Family Get Together – a perfect way to reconnect after the hustle and bustle of Christmas Day.

    Dates

    From:
    27 Dec 2025Open 12:00 - 15:00
    More info for The Post-Christmas Family Celebration at South Causey Inn
  15. Festive illustration of horse carriage rides at South Causey Inn, with silhouette of Santa and his reindeer flying across the sky.

    Add Santa's Horse Carriage Rides at South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Santa's Horse Carriage Rides at South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Santa’s Magical Horse Carriage Rides, an experience for all the family...

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2025to24 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Santa's Horse Carriage Rides at South Causey Inn
  16. Crowds of people enjoying a cricket match at Durham Cricket's Banks Homes Riverside Stadium

    Add Durham Cricket - England Men v Sri Lanka Men ODI to your Itinerary

    Durham Cricket - England Men v Sri Lanka Men ODI

    Type

    Type:

    Sporting Event

    Chester le Street

    England Men take on Sri Lanka Men in a thrilling one day international on Tuesday 22 September 2026.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Sept 2026
    More info for Durham Cricket - England Men v Sri Lanka Men ODI
  17. Blood-spattered documents.

    Add Christmas Murder Mystery Dinner - Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Christmas Murder Mystery Dinner - Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Chester le Street

    Set in the 1950s with a festive choir arriving at Lumley Castle for their final carols and a glass of mulled wine but tonight there is discord in the choir and someone is about to hit the wrong note with murder!

    Dates

    From:
    28 Nov 2025to12 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    From:
    20 Dec 2025Open 18:00 - 01:00
    More info for Christmas Murder Mystery Dinner - Lumley Castle Hotel
  18. Black Horse Beamish Market

    Add Christmas Market to your Itinerary

    Christmas Market

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas Markets

    Beamish

    Browse a charming selection of unique gifts and seasonal delights - perfect for ticking off your Christmas list in style.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2025Open 12:00 - 16:00
    More info for Christmas Market
  19. Ramside Hall Christmas Market Sunday 30th November 11am - 4pm. £2 per person. Poster decorated with red baubles.

    Add Ramside Hall Christmas Market to your Itinerary

    Ramside Hall Christmas Market

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas Markets

    Durham

    GNB Christmas Market Ramside Hall. We welcome you again for a second year running at the amazing venue Ramside Hall.

    Dates

    From:
    30 Nov 2025Open 11:00 - 16:00
    More info for Ramside Hall Christmas Market
  20. 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:
    28 Nov 2025to30 Nov 2025Open 20:00 - 23:00
    From:
    5 Dec 2025to7 Dec 2025Open 20:00 - 23:00
    More info for Astronomy and Stargazing - Grassholme Observatory
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