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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. Cartoon image of the performance area with a stage, trees, hills and a yellow aeroplane with a banner with wording Derwent Fest!

    Add Derwent Fest 2026 to your Itinerary

    Derwent Fest 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Edmundbyers

    A weekend festival of live tribute music, food and drink, and children’s activities and entertainment, set in a stunning location, not far from you. Bring all the family, including the dog, and enjoy some fun, quality time together.

    Venue

    Derwent Waterside Park, Shotley Bridge

    Dates

    From:
    14 Aug 2026to15 Aug 2026
    More info for Derwent Fest 2026
  2. 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 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Sedgefield Farmers Market
  3. Flowers in Auckland Palace Garden

    Add Auckland Gardens Tour at Auckland Palace to your Itinerary

    Auckland Gardens Tour at Auckland Palace

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Bishop Auckland

    Join our weekly ‘walk and talk’ sessions with our dedicated volunteers as they reveal the story behind the gardens and highlight special features. Wednesday and Saturday.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    29 July 2025to29 Dec 2025
    More info for Auckland Gardens Tour at Auckland Palace
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. Poster advertising 80s Silent Disco evening at Durham Cathedral

    Add 80s Silent Disco in Durham Cathedral - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    80s Silent Disco in Durham Cathedral - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Expect 3 epic DJs playing all your favourite 80s tunes in the stunning, illuminated surroundings of Durham Cathedral.

    Dates

    From:
    16 Jan 2026Open 19:00 -
    More info for 80s Silent Disco in Durham Cathedral - Durham Cathedral
  7. Stargazing at Raby Castle

    Add Stargazing at Raby Castle to your Itinerary

    Stargazing at Raby Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    Staindrop

    This exclusive event offers a rare opportunity to explore the night sky under the expert guidance of a professional astronomer. Whether you are an experienced stargazer or a newcomer to astronomy, this session promises to provide valuable insights…

    Dates

    From:
    17 Jan 2026Open 18:00 -
    From:
    24 Jan 2026Open 18:00 -
    More info for Stargazing at Raby Castle
  8. Snow White emerging from a mirror holding an apple.

    Add Snow White at The Roxy Theatre, Leadgate to your Itinerary

    Snow White at The Roxy Theatre, Leadgate

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Consett

    Mirror, mirror, on the wall, don't miss the fairest panto of them all!

    Dates

    From:
    16 Dec 2025to28 Dec 2025
    More info for Snow White at The Roxy Theatre, Leadgate
  9. child poses with ice culture and flame lit torch outside Durham Cathedral.

    Add Fire and Ice Durham to your Itinerary

    Fire and Ice Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham City

    Experience the magic of Fire and Ice in Durham, a spectacular winter event transforming Durham City into a captivating wonderland.

    Dates

    From:
    27 Feb 2026to28 Feb 2026
    More info for Fire and Ice Durham
  10. Photography by Claire Collinson. Larger-than-life, soft recreations of an animal

    Add Pippa Hale: Pet Project - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Pippa Hale: Pet Project - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Barnard Castle

    See the museum’s renowned ceramic collection re-imagined into a vibrant and interactive experience for all ages.

    Dates

    From:
    26 July 2025to1 Mar 2026
    More info for Pippa Hale: Pet Project - The Bowes Museum
  11. 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:
    4 Jan 2026Open 10:30 - 12:00
    From:
    11 Jan 2026Open 10:30 - 12:00
    From:
    25 Jan 2026
    More info for The Raby Reset: Wellness Foundations at Raby Castle
  12. Durham Jazz Festival Logo

    Durham Jazz Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Old Cinema Launderette in Gilesgate,

    The 2026 Durham Jazz Festival will run from Friday 23rd October through to Sunday 25th October.

    Dates

    From:
    23 Oct 2026to25 Oct 2026
    More info for Durham Jazz Festival
  13. Crowds of people enjoying a cricket match at Durham Cricket's Banks Homes Riverside Stadium

    Add Durham Cricket - England Women V New Zealand Women ODI to your Itinerary

    Durham Cricket - England Women V New Zealand Women ODI

    Type

    Type:

    Sporting Event

    Chester le Street

    England Women take on New Zealand Women in a thrilling one day international on Sunday 10 May 2026.

    Dates

    From:
    10 May 2026
    More info for Durham Cricket - England Women V New Zealand Women ODI
  14. Two girls drawing at the Young Artists' Club - The Auckland Project

    Add No.42 - Young Artists’ Club - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    No.42 - Young Artists’ Club - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Local Events

    Bishop Auckland

    Discover the works of great artists throughout history, and create your own pieces of art. Thursdays.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    29 July 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for No.42 - Young Artists’ Club - The Auckland Project
  15. People stood watching the traditional lion dance at Millennium Place Durham, part of the Lunar New Tear celebrations.

    Chinese New Year 2026 Celebrations - The Year of The Horse

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Celebrate the Chinese New Year in Durham City with a programme of exciting events.

    Dates

    From:
    21 Feb 2026
    More info for Chinese New Year 2026 Celebrations - The Year of The Horse
  16. Aurora Borealis over Grassholme

    Add Aurora Night - Grassholme Observatory to your Itinerary

    Aurora Night - Grassholme Observatory

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    nr Mickleton

    The event will begin with a personal welcome from our astronomer, Gary Fildes. Gary is a very experienced science communicator and astronomer, and founder of the Kielder Observatory, where he was Director and CEO for over 11 years.

    Dates

    From:
    25 Jan 2026Open 20:00 - 23:00
    From:
    4 Feb 2026Open 20:00 - 23:00
    From:
    22 Feb 2026Open 20:00 - 23:00
    More info for Aurora Night - Grassholme Observatory
  17. New Year's Eve Party at The Clubhouse poster with fireworks.

    Add Golf Clubhouse New Years Eve - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa to your Itinerary

    Golf Clubhouse New Years Eve - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa

    Type

    Type:

    New Years Eve

    Durham

    Ring in the new year in style at the Golf Clubhouse with an evening of celebration, sparkle and great company.

    Dates

    From:
    31 Dec 2025
    More info for Golf Clubhouse New Years Eve - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa
  18. Durham Cathedral's organ.

    Add Messiaen’s La Nativité du Seigneur - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    Messiaen’s La Nativité du Seigneur - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Durham City

    Olivier Messiaen’s great organ work reflecting on the story of Jesus’s nativity performed on one of the country’s great cathedral organs by Daniel Cook and interspersed with readings from scripture. This recital is offered prayerfully and free of…

    Dates

    From:
    14 Jan 2026Open 17:30 -
    More info for Messiaen’s La Nativité du Seigneur - Durham Cathedral
  19. Mother Goose logo, written in gold with the Os shaped as golden eggs

    Add Mother Goose to your Itinerary

    Mother Goose

    Type

    Type:

    Pantomimes

    Chester-le-Street

    Mother Goose and her son Silly Billy are down on their luck, practically penniless with only Pricilla the Goose to their name until one day, a golden spell makes them EGG-straordinarily rich!

    Dates

    From:
    15 Jan 2026to18 Jan 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Mother Goose
  20. Clay Pigeon Shooting in the beautiful Beamish Valley

    Add Clay Pigeon Shoot at South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Clay Pigeon Shoot at South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Outdoor Event

    Stanley

    Experience the thrill of clay pigeon shooting in the beautiful Beamish Valley.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026
    From:
    21 Feb 2026
    From:
    21 Mar 2026
    From:
    18 Apr 2026
    From:
    16 May 2026
    From:
    20 June 2026
    From:
    18 July 2026
    From:
    15 Aug 2026
    From:
    19 Sept 2026
    From:
    17 Oct 2026
    From:
    21 Nov 2026
    From:
    19 Dec 2026
    More info for Clay Pigeon Shoot at South Causey Inn
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