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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. Close-up of a mannequin wearing a vibrant, multicoloured fuzzy coat in shades of blue, purple, and yellow. Underneath is a white shirt with a bold pin

    Add Vivienne Westwood: Rebel - Storyteller - Visionary to your Itinerary

    Vivienne Westwood: Rebel - Storyteller - Visionary

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Barnard Castle

    Vivienne Westwood: Rebel - Storyteller - Visionary (28 March 2026 – 6 September 2026) is a multi-gallery exhibition honouring one of fashion's most provocative and imaginative designers.

    Dates

    From:
    28 Mar 2026to6 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Vivienne Westwood: Rebel - Storyteller - Visionary
  2. Social Sundays at Raby Castle - a couple walking through the grounds at Raby.

    Add Social Sundays - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Social Sundays - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Wellness Event

    Staindrop

    Step into the New Year and come to Raby Castle for a Social Sunday!

    Dates

    From:
    4 Jan 2026to25 Jan 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Social Sundays - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  3. stars in sky by High Force Hotel

    Add Stargazing Suppers - High Force Hotel and Waterfall to your Itinerary

    Stargazing Suppers - High Force Hotel and Waterfall

    Type

    Type:

    Dark Skies

    Forest-in-Teesdale

    Discover the magnificence of the night sky with an exciting stargazing experience at the breath-taking High Force Waterfall in County Durham.

    Dates

    From:
    12 Feb 2026to15 Feb 2026
    From:
    20 Feb 2026to21 Feb 2026
    From:
    27 Feb 2026to28 Feb 2026
    From:
    13 Mar 2026to14 Mar 2026
    From:
    19 Mar 2026to21 Mar 2026
    From:
    27 Mar 2026to28 Mar 2026
    More info for Stargazing Suppers - High Force Hotel and Waterfall
  4. Redhills Durham Miners Hall

    Add Stand up for the Miners to your Itinerary

    Stand up for the Miners

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Durham City

    A night of comedy and politics, in support of the Durham Miners Gala.

    Dates

    From:
    27 Mar 2026Open 19:00 - 22:30
    More info for Stand up for the Miners
  5. Artwork and paint.

    Add February Half Term Activities 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    February Half Term Activities 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Beamish

    Explore a range of fun, family activities at Beamish Museum!

    Dates

    From:
    14 Feb 2026to1 Mar 2026
    More info for February Half Term Activities 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  6. 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
  7. Gavin Webster

    Add Funny Way To Be Comedy: Gavin Webster - The Gathering Of The Gav to your Itinerary

    Funny Way To Be Comedy: Gavin Webster - The Gathering Of The Gav

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    Gavin Webster is back on tour again, this time with his acclaimed Edinburgh show 'The Gathering Of The Gav' with brand new routines added to it to make it an unforgettable theatre experience.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Feb 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for Funny Way To Be Comedy: Gavin Webster - The Gathering Of The Gav
  8. 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
  9. Red lanterns decorations with Chinese characters hanging from the museum ceiling.

    Add Family Activities: Crowd Craft! - Durham University Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Family Activities: Crowd Craft! - Durham University Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Durham City

    Calling all young crafters! Help us make some decorations for the Oriental Museum's Year of the Horse celebration later this month.

    Dates

    From:
    21 Feb 2026Open 13:00 - 15:00
    More info for Family Activities: Crowd Craft! - Durham University Oriental Museum
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. Illustration of a Masquerade Ball

    Add Eve Valentine's Masquerade Ball - Manor House Hotel & Spa, West Auckland to your Itinerary

    Eve Valentine's Masquerade Ball - Manor House Hotel & Spa, West Auckland

    Type

    Type:

    Valentines Day

    West Auckland, Bishop Auckland

    Step into a night of mystery and thrill at our Eve Valentine's Masquerade Ball, co-hosted by the one and only Dean Midas! This exclusive event is inspired by the chilling, award-winning short slasher films shot in the same building by Dean Midas…

    Dates

    From:
    13 Feb 2026Open 19:00 - 00:00
    More info for Eve Valentine's Masquerade Ball - Manor House Hotel & Spa, West Auckland
  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. People visiting the library at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Add Discover Big Library at Ushaw to your Itinerary

    Discover Big Library at Ushaw

    Type

    Type:

    Historical

    Durham

    Ushaw’s Big Library contains over 50,000 books including unique early manuscripts and rare first editions. Books on open display in January will showcase some of the highlights from our literature collection, including works by JRR Tolkien, Lord…

    Dates

    From:
    29 Jan 2026to30 Jan 2026
    More info for Discover Big Library at Ushaw
  15. 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
  16. Three wedding dresses, part of the exhibition at Ushaw, Historic House, Chapels and Gardens.

    Add 150 Years of Wedding Dresses at Ushaw to your Itinerary

    150 Years of Wedding Dresses at Ushaw

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Durham

    150 Years of Wedding Dresses showcases the exquisite craftsmanship and evolving trends that have defined one of the most memorable days in countless lives.

    Dates

    From:
    28 Mar 2026to30 Aug 2026
    More info for 150 Years of Wedding Dresses at Ushaw
  17. Rapunzel written in gold on a purple background.

    Add Rapunzel - Gala Durham Pantomime to your Itinerary

    Rapunzel - Gala Durham Pantomime

    Type

    Type:

    Pantomimes

    Durham City

    In the dark, tangled forest of Hamsterley stands a mysterious tower, locals swear they can hear beautiful singing drifting through the trees, a voice so pure it stops even the bravest woodcutter in their tracks.

    Dates

    From:
    19 Nov 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Rapunzel - Gala Durham Pantomime
  18. Alasdair Beckett-King

    Add Funny Way To Be Comedy: Alasdair Beckett-King - King of Crumbs to your Itinerary

    Funny Way To Be Comedy: Alasdair Beckett-King - King of Crumbs

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    Come vagabonds, come mountebanks, come coney-catchers and cutpurses and meet the King of Crumbs! As seen on Mock the Week and 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 

    Dates

    From:
    14 Mar 2026Open 20:30 - 22:00
    More info for Funny Way To Be Comedy: Alasdair Beckett-King - King of Crumbs
  19. 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
  20. 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
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