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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. 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
  2. A still life painting of a floral arrangement in a blue and white porcelain vase placed on a wooden surface. The composition features various flowers

    Add An Audience with Dr Margaret Bradshaw - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    An Audience with Dr Margaret Bradshaw - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Barnard Castle

    Celebrate the remarkable Upper Teesdale landscape and the rare flora found across the valley at this special evening with local botanist and ecologist Dr Margaret Bradshaw MBE.

    Venue

    The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

    Dates

    From:
    16 Oct 2026Open 19:00 -
    More info for An Audience with Dr Margaret Bradshaw - The Bowes Museum
  3. A spooky green grave in the forest saying "Dr.Acula 1897" with a skeleton coming out of the ground

    Add Halloween After Dark in The Plotters’ Forest - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Halloween After Dark in The Plotters’ Forest - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Darlington

    Halloween After Dark Illuminated Trail in The Plotters Forest. As dusk descends, The Plotters’ Forest stirs with an eerie excitement. Adventurers don their spookiest costumes and venture into the shadows, where spiders spin webs and witches and…

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2026Various Opening Times
    From:
    29 Oct 2026to31 Oct 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Halloween After Dark in The Plotters’ Forest - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  4. Small child, wearing winter clothes, running through a festive woodland trail

    Add Christmas Family Explorer - Raby Castle, Park & Gardens to your Itinerary

    Christmas Family Explorer - Raby Castle, Park & Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Darlington

    Make magical memories this Christmas with one simple, all-inclusive ticket. Step into The Enchanted Forest, immerse yourself in Raby Castle at Christmas & enjoy the Deer Park & Walled Gardens.

    Dates

    From:
    14 Nov 2026to3 Jan 2027Open 10:00 - 14:00
    More info for Christmas Family Explorer - Raby Castle, Park & Gardens
  5. Two authors accompanied by their books, on a light blue background.

    Add Food, Connection and Identity with Kit Fan and Anna Hedworth - Durham Book Festival to your Itinerary

    Food, Connection and Identity with Kit Fan and Anna Hedworth - Durham Book Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    Writer Kit Fan and chef Anna Hedworth explore how food and the act of cooking forges connections and strengthens the ties of identity, family and heritage.  

    Dates

    From:
    10 Oct 2026Open 12:30 - 13:30
    More info for Food, Connection and Identity with Kit Fan and Anna Hedworth - Durham Book Festival
  6. The library at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens - rows of historical books and view of arched window at the rear.

    Add Discover Big Library - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Discover Big Library - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Historical

    Durham

    Experience the Big Library on the first Friday of every month (July-Dec 2026) as we celebrate the 175th anniversary of one of Britain’s most extraordinary historic libraries.

    Dates

    From:
    3 July 2026to4 Dec 2026
    More info for Discover Big Library - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
  7. Vane Tempest Hall in gloomy weather, looming in the dark.

    Add Spooky Spectacular Investigation - Vane Tempest Hall to your Itinerary

    Spooky Spectacular Investigation - Vane Tempest Hall

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Gilesgate,

    Something is waiting inside the old walls of Vane Tempest Hall... Originally opened as the Gilesgate Militia Barracks, the building later became a smallpox hospital, with the main halls used as sick rooms and the former stables becoming a room for…

    Dates

    From:
    10 Oct 2026to11 Oct 2026Open 21:00 - 03:00
    More info for Spooky Spectacular Investigation - Vane Tempest Hall
  8. A smiling cartoon pumpkin surrounded by Holmside Park and valuable information.

    Add Holmside Park Pumpkin Patch - Holmside Park to your Itinerary

    Holmside Park Pumpkin Patch - Holmside Park

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Chester le Street

    It's pumpkins galore at Holmside Park this October! Our pumpkin patch is filled with dozens of future jack-o-lanterns just waiting to be picked & carved! Plus, our 2026 Pumpkin Patch is set to be one of our best ones yet, filled with autumnal Photo…

    Dates

    From:
    2 Oct 2026to31 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Holmside Park Pumpkin Patch - Holmside Park
  9. 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
  10. Images of farm yard animals, tractors and flowers

    Add 150th Eggleston Agricultural Show! - Hayberries Farm to your Itinerary

    150th Eggleston Agricultural Show! - Hayberries Farm

    Type

    Type:

    Agricultural Show

    Barnard Castle

    We're celebrating the 150th Eggleston Agricultural Show. We've got a fun-packed day planned for everyone, so make sure you turn up nice and early.
    Gates open to the public at 9am. A country show with something for everyone of all ages, from the…

    Dates

    From:
    19 Sept 2026Open 09:00 - 18:00
    More info for 150th Eggleston Agricultural Show! - Hayberries Farm
  11. Black and white photograph of a man with tousled hair and a beard, looking directly at the camera.

    Add Fyfe Dangerfield In Concert at The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Fyfe Dangerfield In Concert at The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    Barnard Castle

    Following a stunning performance at The Bowes Museum last year, enjoy another unforgettable evening with Brit-nominated singer-songwriter Fyfe Dangerfield, best known as the frontman of the critically acclaimed band Guillemots.

    Dates

    From:
    9 Oct 2026Open 18:30 - 21:30
    More info for Fyfe Dangerfield In Concert at The Bowes Museum
  12. Six people standing against a wall wearing blue tones, with the text 'Shooglenifty' at the bottom

    Add Shooglenifty; Rioghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    Shooglenifty; Rioghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage

    Durham

    Shooglenifty have blazed a trail that many other top Scottish traditional bands have followed, but they are still the original and best. They will have you on your feet with their electric new tunes and a full-on set of old favourites.

    Dates

    From:
    18 Sept 2026Open 19:30 - 22:00
    More info for Shooglenifty; Rioghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet - Durham Folk Festival
  13. 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
  14. Black and white photo of St. Mary's Church exterior.

    Add Heritage Open Days - Two families, One Village - St Mary's Church to your Itinerary

    Heritage Open Days - Two families, One Village - St Mary's Church

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage Open Days

    West Rainton

    One family from Yorkshire and Durham. One family from Ireland and Scotland. Both families led separate, difficult mining lives. The families worked for a range of mining companies, but both experienced the hard life miners and their families faced…

    Venue

    St Mary's Church, Blanchland

    Dates

    From:
    19 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 15:00
    More info for Heritage Open Days - Two families, One Village - St Mary's Church
  15. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) advertising poster.

    Add John Barrymore in Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde (1920) with Live accompaniment by Aaron Hawthorne at the Wurlitzer organ to your Itinerary

    John Barrymore in Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde (1920) with Live accompaniment by Aaron Hawthorne at the Wurlitzer organ

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Howden le Wear, Crook

    Award-winning young Scottish organist AARON HAWTHORNE plays another 'live' silent movie accompaniment following his widely acclaimed performance last year.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Nov 2026Open 14:30 - 17:00
    More info for John Barrymore in Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde (1920) with Live accompaniment by Aaron Hawthorne at the Wurlitzer organ
  16. Figs growing on fig trees.

    Add Fig Pruning Masterclass - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Fig Pruning Masterclass - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Master Class

    Staindrop

    Join us for a hands-on Fig Pruning Masterclass held inside our beautiful Fig house—perfect for anyone looking to gain confidence and skill in caring for these wonderful fruit trees. This masterclass is lead by head gardener Jeremy.

    Venue

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop

    Dates

    From:
    8 Nov 2026Open 10:30 - 12:00
    More info for Fig Pruning Masterclass - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  17. 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
  18. Jean Martyn at the Theatre Organ

    Add Britain's Got Talent finalist Jean Martyn at the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ to your Itinerary

    Britain's Got Talent finalist Jean Martyn at the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Howden le Wear, Crook

    Britain's Got Talent finalist JEAN MARTYN play a concert of light classical and popular music at the mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ.

    Dates

    From:
    25 Oct 2026Open 14:30 - 17:00
    More info for Britain's Got Talent finalist Jean Martyn at the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ
  19. Durham folk festival logo with a purple sanctuary knocker as the letter 'o', with a light yellow background.

    Add Macdara Yeates & Jennifer Reid - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    Macdara Yeates & Jennifer Reid - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    Recently, Jennifer has been exploring street song together with Macdara Yeates, bringing her rich trove of Manchester songs into play with his traditional Dublin repertoire. Experience the fruits of this collaboration in a rather unexpected venue.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2026Open 12:30 - 13:00
    More info for Macdara Yeates & Jennifer Reid - Durham Folk Festival
  20. The Prince Bishop River Cruiser on the river, with the text 'Folk on the Water' underneath.

    Add Folk on the Water: The Wilsons - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    Folk on the Water: The Wilsons - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    An hour on the River Wear with our festival Patrons, whose ringing harmonies and powerhouse voices are sure to startle the swans.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2026Open 11:00 - 12:00
    More info for Folk on the Water: The Wilsons - Durham Folk Festival
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