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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. Old photo of Peter Reid and Kevin Phillips looking off to the right and celebrating with their arms up

    Add Sunderland Legends: Peter Reid & Kevin Phillips - Gala Durham to your Itinerary

    Sunderland Legends: Peter Reid & Kevin Phillips - Gala Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Durham

    Join us for an audience with Sunderland Legends Peter Reid and Kevin Phillips.

    Dates

    From:
    25 Sept 2026Open 19:30 -
    More info for Sunderland Legends: Peter Reid & Kevin Phillips - Gala Durham
  2. A man holding an acoustic guitar vertically against his shoulder, set in a studio with two bright lights positioned behind him on either

    Add Martin Taylor in Concert - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Martin Taylor in Concert - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    Barnard Castle

    Experience an unforgettable evening of live music as multi-award-winning guitarist Martin Taylor MBE performs in the intimate setting of The Bowes Museum's Jubilee Room.

    Venue

    The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

    Dates

    From:
    17 Oct 2026Open 18:30 -
    More info for Martin Taylor in Concert - The Bowes Museum
  3. A stag in a field roaring its head

    Add Supper with Roaring Stags - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Supper with Roaring Stags - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Food & Drink

    Darlington

    Join us for an unforgettable evening at Raby Castle, Park & Gardens to experience a "Supper with Roaring Stags".

    Venue

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop

    Dates

    From:
    23 Oct 2026Open 18:00 - 21:00
    More info for Supper with Roaring Stags - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  4. Burgundy exhibition boards of the Colour and Light exhibit in Durham Cathedral

    Add Colour and Light: Stained Glass Exhibition - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    Colour and Light: Stained Glass Exhibition - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Durham

    This year, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Rose Window. Plan your summer day out as we explore the stories behind the cathedral's much-loved stained glass.

    Dates

    From:
    22 July 2026to14 Sept 2026
    More info for Colour and Light: Stained Glass Exhibition - Durham Cathedral
  5. Bark in the Park Dog Show - Woman and her dog in matching yellow coats, sitting on a bench.

    Add Bark in the Park Dog Show - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Bark in the Park Dog Show - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Dog-Friendly

    Staindrop

    It's a paw-some day out for dogs and their humans, come and join the fun!

    Get ready for a tail-wagging good time at Bark in the Park, one of the best dog-friendly events in North East England! Hosted in the beautiful grounds of Raby Castle, County…

    Venue

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop

    Dates

    From:
    27 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Bark in the Park Dog Show - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  6. Exterior view of Crook Hall Gardens during summertime.

    Add Crook Hall Gardens Tour: Horticulture - Crook Hall Gardens to your Itinerary

    Crook Hall Gardens Tour: Horticulture - Crook Hall Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Nature

    Durham

    Join our gardening guru volunteers for a horticultural tour of Crook Hall Gardens.

    Dates

    From:
    29 May 2026to30 Oct 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Crook Hall Gardens Tour: Horticulture - Crook Hall Gardens
  7. A man playing a classical guitar, seated against a plain, warm-toned background. The man wears a dark suit, focusing on his fingers.

    Add Juan Martín Masterclass - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Juan Martín Masterclass - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Master Class

    Barnard Castle

    Aspiring flamenco players can take advantage of an opportunity to spend time with one of the world's guitar greats.

    Dates

    From:
    25 Oct 2026Open 10:30 - 12:30
    More info for Juan Martín Masterclass - The Bowes Museum
  8. Four people wearing red festive clothing, hugging and laughing in the snow with a horse drawn carriage behind.

    Add Grand Cinema: White Christmas (U) - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Grand Cinema: White Christmas (U) - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Transport yourself to the golden age of cinema with a nostalgic afternoon in our beautifully restored 1950s Grand cinema. The Grand cinema, from Ryhope, in Sunderland, has been recreated and brought to life in our 1950s Town.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2026Open 13:45 -
    From:
    20 Dec 2026Open 13:45 -
    More info for Grand Cinema: White Christmas (U) - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  9. Little girl and boy participating in 'Little Dragons' at Durham University Oriental Museum.

    Add Little Dragons - Durham University Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Little Dragons - Durham University Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Durham City

    Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and…

    Dates

    From:
    7 Jan 2026to30 Sept 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Little Dragons - Durham University Oriental Museum
  10. Durham folk festival logo with a purple sanctuary knocker as the letter 'o', with a light yellow background.

    Add Fiddle Workshop - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    Fiddle Workshop - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Market Place, Durham

    With the wonderful Jackie Oates. A focus on learning traditional folk fiddle tunes by ear, along with bowing styles and ornamentation.

    Dates

    From:
    19 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 11:00
    More info for Fiddle Workshop - Durham Folk Festival
  11. Star trails in a dark sky above the Grassholme Observatory.

    Add Astronomy and Stargazing - North Pennines Star Gazing Festival to your Itinerary

    Astronomy and Stargazing - North Pennines Star Gazing Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    The event at Grassholme Observatory, will begin with a welcome from the lead 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…

    Venue

    Grassholme Observatory, Teesdale

    Dates

    From:
    21 Oct 2026to22 Oct 2026Open 20:00 - 23:00
    From:
    24 Oct 2026Open 20:00 - 23:00
    From:
    29 Oct 2026to30 Oct 2026Open 20:00 - 23:00
    More info for Astronomy and Stargazing - North Pennines Star Gazing Festival
  12. G4 members wearing santa hats and suits.

    Add G4 Christmas 2026 - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    G4 Christmas 2026 - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Gather to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year as G4 bring glad tidings of great joy this festive season, with the return of their 'G4 Christmas' tour in the most awe-inspiring cathedrals, priories, minsters, halls and abbeys across the UK.

    Dates

    From:
    23 Nov 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for G4 Christmas 2026 - Durham Cathedral
  13. Four people standing on a balcony over the water, with the text 'Banter' underneath them

    Add Banter; Jez Lowe; Sam Carter sings Nic Jones - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    Banter; Jez Lowe; Sam Carter sings Nic Jones - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Flass Street, Durham

    Banter are Simon Care, Nina Zella, Tim Walker and Mark Jolley. Apart from being incredible musicians, they bring a totally fresh approach to their repertoire with re-workings of well-known songs and dance tunes. Renowned for their originality, they…

    Dates

    From:
    19 Sept 2026Open 20:30 - 23:30
    More info for Banter; Jez Lowe; Sam Carter sings Nic Jones - Durham Folk Festival
  14. 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
  15. Four folk musicians on the 'Magic Lantern' stage.

    Add The Grand Cavalcade - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    The Grand Cavalcade - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    On Sunday, make way for the Grand Cavalcade! Master entertainers set up in Durham Marketplace with The Grand Exhibition of Contraptions & Curiosities, a charming yet chaotic show of myths, music, magic, mayhem, silliness, songs, sparkles, bangs and…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for The Grand Cavalcade - Durham Folk Festival
  16. L-R John Lyons, Richard Turner and Alan Patrickson.

    Durham Jazz Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Old Cinema Launderette in Gilesgate,

    The 2026 Durham Jazz Festival will run from Friday 23rd October through to Sunday 25th October.

    Dates

    From:
    23 Oct 2026to25 Oct 2026
    More info for Durham Jazz Festival
  17. A text logo on a yellow background, with the Sanctuary knocker featured. Durham Folk Festival

    Add Durham Folk Festival - Redhills Durham Miners Hall to your Itinerary

    Durham Folk Festival - Redhills Durham Miners Hall

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Flass Street, Durham City

    Join us for our first Durham Folk Festival, 18 - 20 September 2026. The best folk artists in the country, plus pub music sessions, free family events, ceilidhs and more.

    Venue

    Redhills Durham Miners Hall, Durham City

    Dates

    From:
    18 Sept 2026to20 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 00:00
    More info for Durham Folk Festival - Redhills Durham Miners Hall
  18. Bee Responsible. Collage of a swarm of bees and close up of a bee on a flower.

    Add Half Day Bee and Beekeeping Related Courses - Unit A The Old School to your Itinerary

    Half Day Bee and Beekeeping Related Courses - Unit A The Old School

    Type

    Type:

    Workshop

    Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    A selection of bee related short courses, hosted at our workshops beside the River Tees in Middleton-In-Teesdale. Join our expert Beekeeper to learn something new about bees!

    Dates

    From:
    1 June 2026to14 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 17:00
    More info for Half Day Bee and Beekeeping Related Courses - Unit A The Old School
  19. Durham folk festival logo with a purple sanctuary knocker as the letter 'o', with a light yellow background.

    Add Concertina Accompaniment - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    Concertina Accompaniment - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Market Place, Durham

    With Steve Turner. A focus on using the concertina to back traditional and contemporary singing rather than just playing solo tune sets, with an emphasis on working towards more sophisticated, innovative accompaniment styles.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 11:00
    More info for Concertina Accompaniment - Durham Folk Festival
  20. The exterior of The Bowes Museum and its grounds on a sunny day.

    Add Character Studies – 3 Acts: Meg Fletcher Artwork Installation  at The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Character Studies – 3 Acts: Meg Fletcher Artwork Installation at The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Barnard Castle

    The Bowes Museum is proud to unveil a captivating new commission by Northumberland-based fashion and textile artist Meg Fletcher, whose work delves into identity, storytelling, and the theatrical nature of dress. Fletcher has created a series of…

    Dates

    From:
    2 Mar 2026to6 Sept 2026
    More info for Character Studies – 3 Acts: Meg Fletcher Artwork Installation at The Bowes Museum
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