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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. Natalie Spanner sits in a classic car in a garage with her feet up, wearing a boiler suit and bright yellow platforms

    Add Fixing at Gala Durham to your Itinerary

    Fixing at Gala Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham City

    Drag mechanic Natalie Spanner would like to teach you all about holistic car care – how to look after our cars, but also ourselves – and invite you to get down and dirty under the bonnet.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Feb 2026Open 20:00 -
    More info for Fixing at Gala Durham
  2. Adult and child taking part in the Forest School

    Add Noo Noo Forest School - St Johns Hall Meadowfield to your Itinerary

    Noo Noo Forest School - St Johns Hall Meadowfield

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Meadowfield

    Forest school for primary age.

    Dates

    From:
    21 Feb 2026Open 10:30 - 12:00
    From:
    21 Mar 2026Open 10:30 - 12:00
    From:
    18 Apr 2026Open 10:30 - 12:00
    From:
    23 May 2026Open 10:30 - 12:00
    From:
    20 June 2026Open 10:30 - 12:00
    More info for Noo Noo Forest School - St Johns Hall Meadowfield
  3. A woman leans over a table helping two young children with an arts-and-crafts activity. The children sit at a bright yellow table covered with paper,

    Add Family Open Day - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Family Open Day - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Join us for a free day of family-friendly activities. Inspired by the museum's Pippa Hale: Pet Project exhibition, enjoy a variety of activities as we celebrate all things pets at the museum.

    Dates

    From:
    21 Feb 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Family Open Day - The Bowes Museum
  4. Illustration of a chapel in the countryside.

    Add Methodist Tapestry Collection - Chester le Street Methodist Church to your Itinerary

    Methodist Tapestry Collection - Chester le Street Methodist Church

    Type

    Type:

    Show / Display

    Chester le Street

    The Methodist Tapestries Collection will depict the history of Methodism and related local stories. Its core collection is based round the story of High House Chapel in Ireshopeburn, now part of the Weardale Museum.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Feb 2026to21 Feb 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Methodist Tapestry Collection - Chester le Street Methodist Church
  5. Durham World Heritage site, Durham Cathedral, Durham Castle and surrounding woodland.

    Add Durham World Heritage Day to your Itinerary

    Durham World Heritage Day

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Join us on Saturday 18th April to celebrate World Heritage Day and visit our wonderful attraction

    Dates

    From:
    18 Apr 2026
    More info for Durham World Heritage Day
  6. Close-up of Jodie Fitzgibbon performing

    Add Live Music Nights at South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Live Music Nights at South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Stanley

    Sit with us and enjoy live music every Friday, where we welcome a brilliant mix of local musicians from all across the North East to our cosy indoor bar - with a roaring log-burning fire.

    Dates

    From:
    14 Nov 2025to11 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Live Music Nights at South Causey Inn
  7. Poster with details of event with an image of the book Arlo and Theo Fun in the Park

    Add Storytime with Nana Dee to your Itinerary

    Storytime with Nana Dee

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Murton

    Story time with Nana Dee.  With Denise Naylor, author of "The Adventures of Arlo & Theo" 10:30am -11am, suitable for primary school age children.

    Dates

    From:
    24 Feb 2026Open 10:30 - 11:00
    More info for Storytime with Nana Dee
  8. A colourful floral wreath on a door.

    Add Mother's Day Living Spring Wreath Workshop & Cream Tea - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Mother's Day Living Spring Wreath Workshop & Cream Tea - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Mother's Day

    Lanchester

    Join us for a Spring Living Wreath Workshop, where you'll spend a relaxed and inspiring couple of hours designing a living wreath which you'll watch grow and bloom!

    Dates

    From:
    15 Mar 2026Open 10:00 - 16:30
    More info for Mother's Day Living Spring Wreath Workshop & Cream Tea - Lanchester Garden Centre
  9. Kevin Morgan FRCO at the Wurlitzer theatre organ

    Add Music from the Mighty Wurlitzer with Phil Kelsall MBE from the Tower Ballroom Blackpool to your Itinerary

    Music from the Mighty Wurlitzer with Phil Kelsall MBE from the Tower Ballroom Blackpool

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Howden le Wear, Crook

    Resident organist of the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, PHIL KELSALL MBE, plays a concert of favourite music at the mighty Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ in the New Victoria Centre.

    Dates

    From:
    17 May 2026Open 14:30 - 17:00
    More info for Music from the Mighty Wurlitzer with Phil Kelsall MBE from the Tower Ballroom Blackpool
  10. County Durham Libraries, Festival of Local Authors - Ben Lamb

    Add County Durham Libraries, Festival of Local Authors - Ben Lamb to your Itinerary

    County Durham Libraries, Festival of Local Authors - Ben Lamb

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Thornley, Durham

    With wit, humour and insight, Ben will take us on a journey of British television police series from 1955 to the present. From Dixon of Dock Green to Happy Valley via The Sweeney, the Bill, and Cracker, Ben will outline how this home-grown genre has…

    Dates

    From:
    16 Feb 2026Open 10:00 -
    More info for County Durham Libraries, Festival of Local Authors - Ben Lamb
  11. Phil Ellis

    Add Funny Way To Be Comedy: Phil Ellis - Bath Mat to your Itinerary

    Funny Way To Be Comedy: Phil Ellis - Bath Mat

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    Following his three big award wins at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, Phil, the very definition of funny bones, presents his brand-new show.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Feb 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for Funny Way To Be Comedy: Phil Ellis - Bath Mat
  12. The Hound of The Baskervilles 22nd - 28th November 2026.

    Add The Hound of the Baskervilles - The City Theatre to your Itinerary

    The Hound of the Baskervilles - The City Theatre

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Back Silver Street, Durham

    A reduced cast production of this classic tale.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Nov 2026Open 14:30 -
    From:
    23 Nov 2026to27 Nov 2026Open 19:30 -
    From:
    28 Nov 2026Open 14:30 -
    More info for The Hound of the Baskervilles - The City Theatre
  13. Two staff perched on Victorian steam locomotive ‘Sir Berkeley’.

    Add Festival of Transport 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Festival of Transport 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Beamish

    Join us for a Festival of Transport as part of May Half Term!

    Dates

    From:
    23 May 2026to31 May 2026
    More info for Festival of Transport 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  14. Tracks of Change - Perfume by Yann Nguema Exhibition, part of the S&DR200 festival.

    Add S&DR200 - Tracks of Change - Perfume by Yann Nguema to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - Tracks of Change - Perfume by Yann Nguema

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees

    S&DR200 culminates with Perfume, a free exhibition at Preston Park by world-renowned, visionary projection artist Yann Nguema. 

    Dates

    From:
    17 Jan 2026to10 May 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for S&DR200 - Tracks of Change - Perfume by Yann Nguema
  15. Gardening Through the Seasons with Becky Crowley - Spring.  The greenhouse at Raby Castle with someone filling a wheelbarrow with plants in the foregr

    Add Gardening Through the Seasons with Becky Crowley - Spring to your Itinerary

    Gardening Through the Seasons with Becky Crowley - Spring

    Type

    Type:

    Nature

    Staindrop

    Step into the vibrant spring gardens of Raby Castle for an inspiring morning of hands‑on learning with Becky Crowley, Raby's Garden Specialist.

    Dates

    From:
    18 Apr 2026
    More info for Gardening Through the Seasons with Becky Crowley - Spring
  16. Ken Bradshaw

    Add Six Prince Bishops and What Did They Do for Durham? Ken Bradshaw to your Itinerary

    Six Prince Bishops and What Did They Do for Durham? Ken Bradshaw

    Type

    Type:

    Guided Walk

    Durham

    A meander through Durham’s medieval city looking at the huge influence of the Kings of Northern England. We look at Pudsey, Tunstall, Van Mildert, Flambard, Cosin and Barrington.

    Dates

    From:
    14 Mar 2026Open 11:30 -
    More info for Six Prince Bishops and What Did They Do for Durham? Ken Bradshaw
  17. High Force Waterfall

    Add The High Force Space Adventure Trail to your Itinerary

    The High Force Space Adventure Trail

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Forest-in-Teesdale

    Spark your little one's curiosity on all things astronomy and space, whilst reaping the benefits of the outdoors in the beautiful setting of High Force Hotel & Waterfall. It is the perfect way to explore the wonders of the night sky, during the day!

    Dates

    From:
    14 Feb 2026to29 Mar 2026
    More info for The High Force Space Adventure Trail
  18. Crowds of people enjoying a cricket match at Durham Cricket's Banks Homes Riverside Stadium

    Add Durham Cricket 2026 Vitality Blast T20 to your Itinerary

    Durham Cricket 2026 Vitality Blast T20

    Type

    Type:

    Sporting Event

    Chester le Street

    Durham Men and Women kick off their home Vitality Blast campaign against Leicestershire Foxes and Hampshire Hawks in the first of five double headers at Banks Homes Riverside in 2026.

    Dates

    From:
    24 May 2026to10 July 2026
    More info for Durham Cricket 2026 Vitality Blast T20
  19. Martin and Eliza Carthy

    Add Martin & Eliza Carthy to your Itinerary

    Martin & Eliza Carthy

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Durham City

    This powerhouse pair are still making music together, as they always have. Together, they perform an eclectic range of songs and tunes from their vast family repertoire.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Feb 2026Open 19:45 - 22:30
    More info for Martin & Eliza Carthy
  20. Pianist, Warren Mailley-Smith.

    Add Rachmaninov 2nd Piano Concerto by Candlelight - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    Rachmaninov 2nd Piano Concerto by Candlelight - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Durham

    Step into the tranquil glow of candlelight and enjoy a spellbinding evening of classical music in the stunning surroundings of Durham Cathedral.

    Dates

    From:
    20 June 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for Rachmaninov 2nd Piano Concerto by Candlelight - Durham Cathedral
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