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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. A person holding a dried flower wreath in the doorway of a sunny conservatory

    Add Dried Flower Wreath Workshop - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Dried Flower Wreath Workshop - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Workshop

    Darlington

    Join Deborah from Periwinkle Barn in the Conservatory at Raby Castle, Park & Gardens for a beautifully relaxed autumn dried flower wreath workshop, set against views over the Walled Gardens.

    Dates

    From:
    26 Sept 2026Open 10:30 -
    More info for Dried Flower Wreath Workshop - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  2. Illustration of people in traditional formal dress at a Masquerade Ball.

    Add Eve Valentine's Masquarade Ball - The Manor House Hotel Spa to your Itinerary

    Eve Valentine's Masquarade Ball - The Manor House Hotel Spa

    Type

    Type:

    Dance

    West Auckland, Bishop Auckland

    Join us for an unforgettable evening of glamour, mystery, and suspense at the Eve Valentine's Masquerade Ball, co-hosted by Dean Midas. Inspired by the award-winning slasher films shot within the venue, this exclusive event combines elegant…

    Dates

    From:
    12 Feb 2027Open 19:00 - 23:45
    More info for Eve Valentine's Masquarade Ball - The Manor House Hotel Spa
  3. 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 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Sedgefield Farmers Market
  4. Durham folk festival logo with a purple sanctuary knocker as the letter 'o', with a light yellow background.

    Add Music Session - Holy GrAle - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    Music Session - Holy GrAle - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    All instruments welcome!

    Dates

    From:
    18 Sept 2026Open 13:00 - 15:00
    More info for Music Session - Holy GrAle - Durham Folk Festival
  5. A telescope silhouetted against a Star-filled night sky, with the Milky Way visible in the background.

    Add Dark Sky Astronomy and Stargazing - North Pennines Stargazing Festival to your Itinerary

    Dark Sky Astronomy and Stargazing - North Pennines Stargazing Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    nr Mickleton

    The event on Friday 16 October 2026, 8pm to 11pm, will begin with a welcome from the lead astronomer at Grassholme Observatory, Gary Fildes. Gary is a very experienced science communicator and astronomer, and founder of the Kielder Observatory,…

    Venue

    Grassholme Observatory, Teesdale

    Dates

    From:
    16 Oct 2026Open 20:00 - 23:00
    More info for Dark Sky Astronomy and Stargazing - North Pennines Stargazing Festival
  6. The Prince Bishop River Cruiser on the river, with the text 'Folk on the Water' underneath.

    Add Folk on the Water: Jez Lowe - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    Folk on the Water: Jez Lowe - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    A musical river cruise on the River Wear.

    Dates

    From:
    19 Sept 2026Open 16:30 - 17:30
    More info for Folk on the Water: Jez Lowe - Durham Folk Festival
  7. A festive afternoon tea spread.

    Add Festive Afternoon Tea - South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Festive Afternoon Tea - South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    South Causey Inn offers the most magical surroundings to enjoy our Festive Afternoon Teas. Enjoy classic pairings of turkey sandwiches, festive pastries, mouthwatering Christmas cakes, and freshly made scones with clotted cream and strawberry…

    Dates

    From:
    27 Nov 2026to4 Jan 2027Open 11:45 - 16:15
    More info for Festive Afternoon Tea - South Causey Inn
  8. Sepia photograph showing members of The Durham Light Infantry leaning from the windows of a train.

    Add We Are The Durhams: The Durham Light Infantry to your Itinerary

    We Are The Durhams: The Durham Light Infantry

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Durham

    ​​​​​​​Discover the history of the Durham Light Infantry and the remarkable life stories of "The Durhams" from 1758 to today in this bold new permanent exhibition at The Light.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Aug 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for We Are The Durhams: The Durham Light Infantry
  9. Two photos of people smiling on a blue background surrounded by cartoon books

    Add An Evening with Hollie McNish and Michael Pedersen - Durham Book Festival to your Itinerary

    An Evening with Hollie McNish and Michael Pedersen - Durham Book Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    Join award-winning poet Hollie McNish for a hilarious and heartfelt evening of poetry, reading from her latest collection, Virgin, and unpicking the meaning of the word with her trademark feminist wit, fury and compassion. 

    Dates

    From:
    9 Oct 2026Open 19:00 - 20:00
    More info for An Evening with Hollie McNish and Michael Pedersen - Durham Book Festival
  10. Impressionist seascape painting depicting a rocky shoreline with waves crashing against the coast.

    Add Impressions of Light: Masterpieces from MuMa – Le Havre and The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Impressions of Light: Masterpieces from MuMa – Le Havre and The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Barnard Castle

    Impressions of Light: Masterpieces from MuMa – Le Havre and The Bowes Museum is a major partnership between The Bowes Museum and the Musée d'Art Moderne André Malraux (MuMa), Le Havre.

    Dates

    From:
    26 Sept 2026to14 Mar 2027Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Impressions of Light: Masterpieces from MuMa – Le Havre and The Bowes Museum
  11. Musician Pete Atkin, smiling with his black guitar on a grey background

    Add Foolow Carols - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    Foolow Carols - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Market Place, Durham

    Join Seb Stone to learn about the unique Christmas Day carolling tradition from Foolow in Derbyshire, and prepare to come a-carolling at the Camp as Christmas Cabaret!

    Dates

    From:
    18 Sept 2026Open 14:00 - 15:00
    More info for Foolow Carols - Durham Folk Festival
  12. Close up of Durham Cathedral Organ

    Add Friends' Lecture Series - Andrew Scott to your Itinerary

    Friends' Lecture Series - Andrew Scott

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    The College, Durham

    Talk on Harrison & Harrison Organ Builders by Andrew Scott.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Sept 2026Open 18:30 -
    More info for Friends' Lecture Series - Andrew Scott
  13. Santa stroking a small brown dog on his lap, a person sit in an arm chair on the right

    Add Paws & Claus 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Paws & Claus 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    A ‘Paw’fect photo opportunity. Join Father Christmas in the Coffee Pot Café at the Entrance Building for a cosy breakfast experience designed especially for visitors and their four‑legged friends.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 10:00
    From:
    18 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 10:00
    More info for Paws & Claus 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  14. Cartoon silhouettes of runners with Halloween pumpkin decorations.

    Add Halloween Fun Run - Thorpe Farm Centre to your Itinerary

    Halloween Fun Run - Thorpe Farm Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Barnard Castle

    Join us for a spooktacular morning of fitness and fun at Thorpe Farm Centre. all in support of The UTASS (Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Service). Come and enjoy Thorpe's answer to a park run. 

    Dates

    From:
    18 Oct 2026Open 09:00 -
    More info for Halloween Fun Run - Thorpe Farm Centre
  15. An old fashioned school photograph of children sat in lines in front of a school building

    Add Heritage Open Days - Cotherstone Old Chapel Project to your Itinerary

    Heritage Open Days - Cotherstone Old Chapel Project

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage Open Days

    Barnard Castle

    Former Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, also village school until 1965. Now community owned/run shop, café and heritage centre. Special display of material showing the history and refurbishment of the building. Village guided walk leaflet. Refreshments

    Dates

    From:
    19 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Heritage Open Days - Cotherstone Old Chapel Project
  16. Heritage Open Days Logo

    Heritage Open Days 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage Open Days

    Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture, bringing together over 2,000 local people and organisations, and thousands of volunteers.

    Dates

    From:
    11 Sept 2026to20 Sept 2026
    More info for Heritage Open Days 2026
  17. Poster for After Dark social events taking place at The Light, A person standing facing an exhibit.

    Add After Dark - The Light to your Itinerary

    After Dark - The Light

    Type

    Type:

    Arts & Crafts

    Aykley Heads, Durham

    Art. Music. Drinks. Late. First Friday every month starting 2 October 2026.

    Venue

    The Light, Durham City

    Dates

    From:
    2 Oct 2026to4 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for After Dark - The Light
  18. Durham folk festival logo with a purple sanctuary knocker as the letter 'o', with a light yellow background.

    Add Voices from the Tradition - Sunday - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    Voices from the Tradition - Sunday - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Flass Street, Durham

    Featuring Seb Stone, Ruth & Sadie Price, Rosie Stewart and Graham Pirt

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2026Open 12:00 - 13:30
    More info for Voices from the Tradition - Sunday - Durham Folk Festival
  19. An adult and child browsing through a Christmas market.

    Add Christmas Fair 2026 - Beamish Hall Country Hotel to your Itinerary

    Christmas Fair 2026 - Beamish Hall Country Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    A triple festive treat shopping extravaganza. See the Hall at its fabulously festive best and peruse the stalls displaying their specialist wares from pretty ornaments and gifts to scrumptious treats and drinks! Escape the hustle and bustle of the…

    Dates

    From:
    13 Nov 2026to15 Nov 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Christmas Fair 2026 - Beamish Hall Country Hotel
  20. Cartoon monsters in front of a red stage curtain with text that reads, "There's a Monster in your Show."

    Add There’s A Monster In Your Show - Gala Durham to your Itinerary

    There’s A Monster In Your Show - Gala Durham

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Durham

    Tom Fletcher’s interactive adventures for big imaginations are leaping from page to stage, as the beloved ‘Who’s in Your Book?’ series comes to Durham in a brand-new musical show.

    Dates

    From:
    28 Oct 2026to30 Oct 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for There’s A Monster In Your Show - Gala Durham
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