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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. View of the Palace Museum in the 1920s and 2025; Photos: © The Palace Museum; Image designed by Ziyu Zhou

    Add Journey of a Century: From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum - Durham University Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Journey of a Century: From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum - Durham University Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Durham City

    Jointly organised by the Palace Museum and the Oriental Museum.

    Dates

    From:
    26 Sept 2025to31 May 2026
    More info for Journey of a Century: From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum - Durham University Oriental Museum
  2. A group enjoying a walk with a dog at High Force - Social Sundays.

    Add Social Sundays at High Force Waterfall - High Force Hotel and Waterfall to your Itinerary

    Social Sundays at High Force Waterfall - High Force Hotel and Waterfall

    Type

    Type:

    Wellness Event

    Forest-in-Teesdale

    At High Force, experience the drama and power of a 21-metre cascade of white water tumbling into a gorge, with one of our knowledgeable volunteers leading the way.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Jan 2026to25 Jan 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Social Sundays at High Force Waterfall - High Force Hotel and Waterfall
  3. The Lucky Pot O'Gold Men at Walkergate

    Add St Patrick's Day at Walkergate Durham to your Itinerary

    St Patrick's Day at Walkergate Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Food & Drink

    Durham City

    This year, the St Paddy's celebrations will descend on Walkergate on Saturday 14th March from 12pm-5pm, just in time for the Six Nations 2026 Super Saturday!

    Dates

    From:
    14 Mar 2026Open 12:00 - 17:00
    More info for St Patrick's Day at Walkergate Durham
  4. A wooden carving of a hornbill bird with a long, curved beak.

    Add Family Activities: Brilliant Birds - Durham University Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Family Activities: Brilliant Birds - Durham University Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Durham City

    Learn about birds from the beautiful forests of South Asia and make your own feathered friend to take home.

    Dates

    From:
    7 Feb 2026Open 13:00 - 15:00
    More info for Family Activities: Brilliant Birds - Durham University Oriental Museum
  5. Marcus Brigstocke

    Add Funny Way To Be Comedy: Marcus Brigstocke - Vitruvian Mango to your Itinerary

    Funny Way To Be Comedy: Marcus Brigstocke - Vitruvian Mango

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    Award winning MAN Marcus Brigstocke thinks we might still serve some useful function. But what is it? This new tour show will resolve the entire issue once and for all (in a non-patriarchal, open minded, progressive sort of way).

    Dates

    From:
    4 Mar 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for Funny Way To Be Comedy: Marcus Brigstocke - Vitruvian Mango
  6. Founders of For the Love of the North Paul and Lucy Hull stand hand-in-hand beside an old stone wall and a vintage signpost in a quaint village.

    Add Front Row Talks: Paul and Lucy Hull - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Front Row Talks: Paul and Lucy Hull - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Barnard Castle

    Just like The Bowes Museum, For the Love of the North celebrates artists, designers and makers. Join Paul and Lucy Hull for an inspiring talk on supporting Northern creatives and how thoughtful design can deepen our connections with the places we…

    Dates

    From:
    8 Mar 2026Open 14:30 - 15:30
    More info for Front Row Talks: Paul and Lucy Hull - The Bowes Museum
  7. Children and parents enjoying Noo Noo Forest School activities.

    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 Mar 2026Open 10:30 - 12:00
    More info for Noo Noo Forest School - St Johns Hall Meadowfield
  8. Cliffecon 2026 advertising poster with event date and location

    Add Cliffecon 2026 to your Itinerary

    Cliffecon 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Newton Aycliffe

    Cliffecon 2026 is a comic con and pop culture event in County Durham.

    Dates

    From:
    9 May 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Cliffecon 2026
  9. Simon Brodkin

    Add Funny Way To Be Comedy: Simon Brodkin - Work In Progress to your Itinerary

    Funny Way To Be Comedy: Simon Brodkin - Work In Progress

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    Hot off the back of his smash hit UK tour, and three incredible, sold-out nights at London's Hammersmith Apollo, Simon Brodkin is back and better than ever!

    Dates

    From:
    10 Feb 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for Funny Way To Be Comedy: Simon Brodkin - Work In Progress
  10. Lucy Pringle sitting in a meditative pose. Credit: Chris Parkinson

    Add The Raby Reset: Wellness Foundations at Raby Castle to your Itinerary

    The Raby Reset: Wellness Foundations at Raby Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Wellness Event

    Staindrop

    Founded by Lucy, a holistic counsellor, meditation teacher, and reiki practitioner, Guid-ed offers transformative experiences that blend science with spirituality integrating somatic healing, mindset work, breathwork, and energy alignment.

    Dates

    From:
    25 Jan 2026
    More info for The Raby Reset: Wellness Foundations at Raby Castle
  11. Spiers & Boden posing with their instruments.

    Add Spiers & Boden - "Boden The Showman, Spiers The Melodeon-Wielding Wizard" to your Itinerary

    Spiers & Boden - "Boden The Showman, Spiers The Melodeon-Wielding Wizard"

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Barnard Castle

    Spiers & Boden have been at the forefront of the English traditional folk scene for 25 years both as a ground breaking duo and as founder members of folk phenomenon Bellowhead.

    Dates

    From:
    18 Feb 2026Open 19:30 - 22:30
    More info for Spiers & Boden - "Boden The Showman, Spiers The Melodeon-Wielding Wizard"
  12. collage of food and drink available during Durham Restaurant Week January 2024.

    Add Durham Restaurant Week to your Itinerary

    Durham Restaurant Week

    Type

    Type:

    Food & Drink

    Durham City

    Durham Restaurant Week is set to return at the end of January, serving up a tempting menu of cut-price deals to help diners banish the winter blues and give city centre businesses a welcome post-Christmas boost.

    Dates

    From:
    30 Jan 2026to6 Feb 2026
    More info for Durham Restaurant Week
  13. Part image of someone reading a book, holding a mug, another part image of arms and hands

    Add Wellness Week at Dalton Park to your Itinerary

    Wellness Week at Dalton Park

    Type

    Type:

    Wellness Event

    Murton, Seaham

    Press pause and make time for you during Wellbeing Week at Dalton Park Outlet. From 26th January – 1st February.

    Dates

    From:
    26 Jan 2026to1 Feb 2026
    More info for Wellness Week at Dalton Park
  14. A man playing a guitar.

    Add The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists to your Itinerary

    The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

    Type

    Type:

    Performance

    Durham City

    Neil Gore, presents this SELL OUT one-person version of the classic novel by Robert Tressell featuring projection, political conjuring tricks, live music and song. Meet the famous characters and enjoy the scenes, speeches and songs, featuring the…

    Dates

    From:
    25 Mar 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
  15. Bottles and glasses of wine.

    Add Wine Tasting Experience at Ushaw to your Itinerary

    Wine Tasting Experience at Ushaw

    Type

    Type:

    Food & Drink

    Durham

    Join us for an informal evening of wine tasting, on Thursday 12 February from 7pm, where our host Chloe from Field & Fodder will guide you through an introduction to wine tasting, a relaxed and friendly way to build confidence in understanding what…

    Dates

    From:
    12 Feb 2026Open 19:00 -
    More info for Wine Tasting Experience at Ushaw
  16. Two members of staff holding knitted Easter items such as eggs, chicks, and hens.

    Add Easter Celebrations - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Easter Celebrations - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Easter

    Beamish

    Enjoy an Egg-cellent Easter at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North.

    Dates

    From:
    3 Apr 2026to19 Apr 2026
    More info for Easter Celebrations - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  17. Chutney trader. Woman looking at stall and holding purse.

    Add Barnard Castle Market to your Itinerary

    Barnard Castle Market

    Type

    Type:

    Markets

    Barnard Castle

    Stroll through the stalls, savour delicious local treats, and soak up the friendly atmosphere. Every Wednesday 8.00am to 16.30

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Barnard Castle Market
  18. 3 women in Santa hats laughing and drinking from champagne flutes.

    Add Christmas Party Night - Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Christmas Party Night - Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Chester le Street

    Get ready to celebrate the festive season in style with our  lively Christmas Party Night! Enjoy a delicious two-course  dinner followed by a fun-filled evening of dancing and entertainment. Whether you’re gathering with colleagues,  friends, or…

    Dates

    From:
    31 Jan 2026
    More info for Christmas Party Night - Lumley Castle Hotel
  19. 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
  20. 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
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