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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 group of parkrun volunteers in pink jackets outside Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens.

    Add Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens - parkrun to your Itinerary

    Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens - parkrun

    Type

    Type:

    Wellness Event

    Durham

    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 2026to26 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens - parkrun
  2. View of players on Barnard Castle Golf Course on a sunny day.

    Add Stay and Play at High Force Hotel and Barnard Castle Golf Club to your Itinerary

    Stay and Play at High Force Hotel and Barnard Castle Golf Club

    Type

    Type:

    Golf Events

    Forest-in-Teesdale,

    Nestled in the stunning countryside of Teesdale, Barnard Castle Golf Club offers an unforgettable golfing experience in the heart of the North East.

    Dates

    From:
    18 Apr 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Stay and Play at High Force Hotel and Barnard Castle Golf Club
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. Carrie Hope Fletcher, 'The Ghostlight Tour' at Durham Cathedral, background shows photo of Carrie.

    Add Carrie Hope Fletcher - The Ghostlight Tour to your Itinerary

    Carrie Hope Fletcher - The Ghostlight Tour

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    Durham City

    Carrie Hope Fletcher (Heathers, Cinderella, Calamity Jane), one of the UK's most beloved musical theatre stars, is set to light up cathedrals across the UK in her breathtaking new Ghost Light concert tour.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Oct 2026Open 19:30 - 22:00
    More info for Carrie Hope Fletcher - The Ghostlight Tour
  7. Club Member with her flower arrangement.

    Add Ferryhill, Sedgefield and District Flower Club - Workshop to your Itinerary

    Ferryhill, Sedgefield and District Flower Club - Workshop

    Type

    Type:

    Workshop

    Sedgefield

    A flower club workshop where participants make a flower arrangement led by area demonstrator Val Guest, of 40 years experience. Refreshments provided and you can take home your creation.

    Dates

    From:
    21 July 2026Open 19:15 - 21:15
    From:
    15 Dec 2026Open 19:15 - 21:15
    More info for Ferryhill, Sedgefield and District Flower Club - Workshop
  8. Black and white photograph of a woman with long wavy hair standing with arms crossed, facing slightly to the side. Background is plain with a draped f

    Add Nerina Pallott in Concert at The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Nerina Pallott in Concert at The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    Barnard Castle

    Enjoy an unforgettable evening with critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Nerina Pallot at The Bowes Museum this December.

    Venue

    The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

    Dates

    From:
    4 Dec 2026to5 Dec 2026Open 18:30 -
    More info for Nerina Pallott in Concert at The Bowes Museum
  9. Poster showing a pink rose.

    Add David Austin Exclusive Rose Talk - Poplar Tree Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    David Austin Exclusive Rose Talk - Poplar Tree Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Durham

    An Afternoon with David Austin Roses.

    Dates

    From:
    6 July 2026Open 14:00 - 15:30
    More info for David Austin Exclusive Rose Talk - Poplar Tree Garden Centre
  10. Saturday Outdoor Market Vintage Stall

    Add Saturday Outdoor Market to your Itinerary

    Saturday Outdoor Market

    Type

    Type:

    Markets

    Durham

    Every Saturday, the Market Place is transformed by up to 30 small independent traders…it becomes a traditional, bustling, fresh air market and a great shopping experience.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Saturday Outdoor Market
  11. Musicians dancing and playing for the crowd at Seaham Brass Bash - Durham Brass Festival in 2025.

    Durham Brass Festival’s Big and Little Brass Bashes

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    Durham Brass Festival’s Big and Little Brass Bashes are going on tour again this year, bringing free concerts to towns and communities across County Durham.

    Dates

    From:
    13 July 2026to17 July 2026
    More info for Durham Brass Festival’s Big and Little Brass Bashes
  12. 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
  13. Close up of vegetables at market stall. Person standing next to veg.

    Add Consett Market to your Itinerary

    Consett Market

    Type

    Type:

    Markets

    Consett

    Stroll through the stalls, savour delicious local treats, and soak up the friendly atmosphere. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday 8:00-16:00

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Consett Market
  14. 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
  15. Model trams and buses as part of the Meccano Exhibition at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North.

    Add Meccano Exhibition - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Meccano Exhibition - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Beamish

    Visit the museum's 1950s welfare hall to see marvellous Meccano creations. There'll be a selection of construction sets on display, dating from the early 1900s to the present day.

    Dates

    From:
    11 July 2026to12 July 2026
    More info for Meccano Exhibition - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  16. Child, sitting next to adult, engaging in science, technology, engineering and maths-related activities.

    Add Crank it Up! -  Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Crank it Up! - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Beamish

    Join Beamish Museum for a host of science, technology, engineering and maths-related activities taking place over this special weekend!

    Dates

    From:
    4 July 2026to5 July 2026
    More info for Crank it Up! - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  17. Chester-le-EATS 26. Food, Drink and Music Festival. Poster shows a starry background.

    Add Chester-le-EATS - Durham Cricket to your Itinerary

    Chester-le-EATS - Durham Cricket

    Type

    Type:

    Food & Drink Festival

    Riverside, Chester-le-Street

    Chester-le-EATS returns for its milestone fifth anniversary in 2026, and this year promises to be the biggest celebration yet.

    Dates

    From:
    26 Sept 2026to27 Sept 2026Open 11:00 - 16:00
    More info for Chester-le-EATS - Durham Cricket
  18. Hector Gannet performing.

    Add HECTOR GANNET "Talking In The Mother Tongue" with Durham Miners' Association Brass Band to your Itinerary

    HECTOR GANNET "Talking In The Mother Tongue" with Durham Miners' Association Brass Band

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Flass Street, Durham City

    Hector Gannet returns to Durham Brass Festival, ahead of their forthcoming third album, The Great Shakedown, due later in this year.

    Dates

    From:
    17 July 2026Open 19:30 -
    More info for HECTOR GANNET "Talking In The Mother Tongue" with Durham Miners' Association Brass Band
  19. Isabel Maria.

    Add Brassed On featuring Dilettante, Vice Killer & Isabel Maria alongside brass to your Itinerary

    Brassed On featuring Dilettante, Vice Killer & Isabel Maria alongside brass

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Durham City

    Celebrating the incredible versatility of brass, Brassed On will perform a show featuring North East local artists.

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2026Open 19:30 -
    More info for Brassed On featuring Dilettante, Vice Killer & Isabel Maria alongside brass
  20. 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
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