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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. Children in Hamsterley Forest searching for stick characters on The Stickman Man Trail. Credit Forestry England Crown Copyright

    Add The Stick Man Trail at Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    The Stick Man Trail at Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland

    Families can join a new forest adventure as the much-loved character Stick Man, based on the beautiful picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, returns to Forestry England Hamsterley.

    Dates

    From:
    12 Feb 2025to31 Jan 2026
    More info for The Stick Man Trail at Hamsterley Forest
  2. Wine and a selection of scones and jams.

    Add Fireside Afternoon Tea and Waterfall Walk at High Force to your Itinerary

    Fireside Afternoon Tea and Waterfall Walk at High Force

    Type

    Type:

    Food Events

    Forest-in-Teesdale, Durham

    Monday - Saturday Celebrate in the heart of Upper Teesdale with our cosy Fireside Afternoon Tea at High Force Hotel.

    Dates

    From:
    23 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Fireside Afternoon Tea and Waterfall Walk at High Force
  3. Ray Bradshaw

    Add Ray Bradshaw "CODA" to your Itinerary

    Ray Bradshaw "CODA"

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    A funny, heart-warming show all about the brilliant things that happen when you grow up in a house where sign language is the first language used,

    Dates

    From:
    28 Feb 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for Ray Bradshaw "CODA"
  4. Grand Finale all cast of Kynren view from the tribune

    Add Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2026 to your Itinerary

    Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Performance

    Bishop Auckland

    Step into Kynren, a live action outdoor theatre spectacular that immerses you in 2000 years of history on an epic scale.

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2026to12 Sept 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2026
  5. 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
  6. Black and white photo of Sandi Thom with her guitar.

    Add Sandi Thom In Concert at The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Sandi Thom In Concert at The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    Barnard Castle

    Enjoy an intimate performance by Scottish singer, Sandi Thom, at The Bowes Museum, ahead of the release of her 7th studio album.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Mar 2026Open 19:30 -
    More info for Sandi Thom In Concert at The Bowes Museum
  7. Mrs Smith 1,2,3 eyes on me with 
illustrations of flowers and leaves

    Add Mrs Smith "123, Eyes on Me!" - The Witham to your Itinerary

    Mrs Smith "123, Eyes on Me!" - The Witham

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    Mrs Smith was an ordinary teacher until she went viral on Facebook and accidentally became a comedian.

    Dates

    From:
    28 May 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for Mrs Smith "123, Eyes on Me!" - The Witham
  8. The Irish House Party

    Add The Irish House Party - A Traditional Song-And-Dance Celebration Dating Back To The Early 19th Century to your Itinerary

    The Irish House Party - A Traditional Song-And-Dance Celebration Dating Back To The Early 19th Century

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Market Place, Bishop Auckland

    At last, an Irish music show that has come out of Ireland without the clichés that usually follow! There are no twee costumes or backing tracks here. Instead you get incredibly talented musicians and dancers who simply want to bring you the sound…

    Dates

    From:
    18 Mar 2026Open 19:30 - 22:30
    More info for The Irish House Party - A Traditional Song-And-Dance Celebration Dating Back To The Early 19th Century
  9. 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
  10. Woman and man smiling next to vegetable stall of market. Woman holding vegetables.

    Add Bishop Auckland Market to your Itinerary

    Bishop Auckland Market

    Type

    Type:

    Markets

    Bishop Auckland

    Stroll through the stalls, savour delicious local treats, and soak up the friendly atmosphere. Every Thursday and Saturday 8:00-17:00

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Bishop Auckland Market
  11. Wellbeing equipment in preparation for wellness treatments.

    Add Wellbeing Retreats - Crux Fitness to your Itinerary

    Wellbeing Retreats - Crux Fitness

    Type

    Type:

    Wellness Event

    Stanley

    Our wellbeing retreats are a unique experience providing skills and techniques to help reset your nervous system and tackle the stresses of every day life.

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2026Open 10:00 -
    From:
    15 Aug 2026Open 10:00 -
    More info for Wellbeing Retreats - Crux Fitness
  12. 1900s Pit Village band hall

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

    Beamish Folk - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Beamish

    Beamish Folk is a new folk music session taking place on the second Sunday of each month in our 1900s Pit Village band hall, 11.30am-1.30pm.

    Dates

    From:
    8 Feb 2026Open 11:30 - 13:30
    From:
    8 Mar 2026Open 11:30 - 13:30
    From:
    12 Apr 2026Open 11:30 - 13:30
    From:
    10 May 2026Open 11:30 - 13:30
    From:
    14 June 2026Open 11:30 - 13:30
    From:
    12 July 2026Open 11:30 - 13:30
    From:
    9 Aug 2026Open 11:30 - 13:30
    From:
    13 Sept 2026Open 11:30 - 13:30
    From:
    11 Oct 2026Open 11:30 - 13:30
    From:
    8 Nov 2026Open 11:30 - 13:30
    From:
    13 Dec 2026Open 11:30 - 13:30
    More info for Beamish Folk - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  13. Smiling person with short, curly blonde hair and round brown glasses, resting their chin on one hand. They are wearing a patterned blue-and-white top

    Add Front Row Talks: Gillian Smellie to your Itinerary

    Front Row Talks: Gillian Smellie

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Barnard Castle

    The fashion industry plays a significant role in the climate crisis and is often guilty of greenwashing. Join Gillian Smellie for an enlightening talk on ethical fashion and discover how intentional choices can help you adopt a more sustainable…

    Dates

    From:
    8 Feb 2026Open 14:30 - 15:30
    More info for Front Row Talks: Gillian Smellie
  14. 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
  15. Headshot of Laura Lexx smiling.

    Add Funny Way To Be Comedy: Laura Lexx - YO-YO to your Itinerary

    Funny Way To Be Comedy: Laura Lexx - YO-YO

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    In a 10 year marriage eventually your partner sees it all. Every bad idea. Every silly decision. The real twist is that somewhere along the way, you have to believe them. And maybe, just maybe.. you learn to love yourself too.

    Dates

    From:
    16 Oct 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for Funny Way To Be Comedy: Laura Lexx - YO-YO
  16. Phot

    Add Durham University Palatinate Orchestra - Tchaikovsky's Symphony Pathétique to your Itinerary

    Durham University Palatinate Orchestra - Tchaikovsky's Symphony Pathétique

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    The College, Durham

    Durham University Palatinate Orchestra's 90-piece Symphony Orchestra plays Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony, his Pathétique Symphony, and music by Elgar and Pejačević in Durham Cathedral.

    Dates

    From:
    18 Mar 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for Durham University Palatinate Orchestra - Tchaikovsky's Symphony Pathétique
  17. Silhouette of a person photographing The Milky Way from the hillside

    Add Family Astronomy - Grassholme Observatory to your Itinerary

    Family Astronomy - Grassholme Observatory

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    nr Mickleton

    Due to popular demand, we have laid on this exclusive event to educate the little ones on all things spacey!

    Dates

    From:
    7 Feb 2026Open 18:00 - 19:30
    From:
    21 Feb 2026Open 10:00 - 11:30
    More info for Family Astronomy - Grassholme Observatory
  18. ©TheBowesMuseum
A structure in front of the trees with the words, 'You Create What You Will'.

    Add Nathan Coley You Create What You Will and Tate Modern on Fire - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Nathan Coley You Create What You Will and Tate Modern on Fire - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Barnard Castle

    For the first time together, The Bowes Museum hosts Nathan Coley’s works, You Create What You Will (2014) and Tate Modern on Fire (2017).

    Dates

    From:
    14 June 2025to1 Mar 2026
    More info for Nathan Coley You Create What You Will and Tate Modern on Fire - The Bowes Museum
  19. Big Science - illustration of an explosion and test tubes.

    Add Big "Chocolate" Science Workshop - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Big "Chocolate" Science Workshop - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Easter

    Lanchester

    Join us for our Big "Chocolate" Science Easter Workshop where each child gets to make their own Easter Chocolate as we explore States of Matter.

    Dates

    From:
    17 Apr 2026Open 10:00 - 11:00
    More info for Big "Chocolate" Science Workshop - Lanchester Garden Centre
  20. Murdered to Death by Peter Gordon. 27th September - 3rd October 2026.

    Add Murdered To Death by Peter Gordon - A Comedy - The City Theatre to your Itinerary

    Murdered To Death by Peter Gordon - A Comedy - The City Theatre

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Back Silver Street, Durham

    A spoof Miss Marple set in a country mansion.

    Dates

    From:
    27 Sept 2026Open 14:30 -
    From:
    28 Sept 2026to2 Oct 2026Open 19:30 -
    From:
    3 Oct 2026Open 14:30 -
    More info for Murdered To Death by Peter Gordon - A Comedy - The City Theatre
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