Skip To Main Content

  • Accommodation
    • Don't Miss
      • City Breaks
      • Spa Breaks
      • Dog Friendly
      • Stunning Stays
    • Hotels
    • B&B and Guest Houses
    • Inns & Pubs
    • Self Catering & Holiday Cottages
      • Self Catering Agencies
    • Caravan, Camping & Glamping
    • Hostels
    • Accessible Accommodation
  • Things to Do
    • Don't Miss
      • Binchester Roman Fort
      • Beamish Museum
      • Bishop Auckland Town Hall
      • Bowlees Visitor Centre
      • Crook Hall Gardens
      • Dalton Park Outlet Shopping Centre
      • Durham Castle Tours
      • Durham Cathedral
      • Durham Cricket
      • Durham Town Hall
      • Durham University Botanic Garden
      • Durham University Oriental Museum
      • Hamsterley Forest
      • Hardwick Park
      • High Force
      • Killhope
      • Kynren- An epic Tale of England
      • Locomotion
      • Palace Green Library
      • Raby Castle
      • Redhills Durham Miners Hall
      • Seaham Harbour Marina
      • The Auckland Project
      • Spennymoor Town Hall Bob Abley Art Gallery
      • The Bowes Museum
      • Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
      • Wharton Park
    • Attractions
      • Castles & Historic Houses
      • Cathedral & Churches
      • Hands on History
      • Gardens & Parks
      • Family Fun
      • Museums & Galleries
      • Waterfalls & Reservoirs
    • Activities
      • Adventure Activities
      • Cycling
      • Family Fun Activities
      • Festival & Events Organisers
      • Fishing
      • Golf
      • Horse Riding
      • Spas
      • Walking
    • Entertainment
      • Cinema
      • Theatre
    • Shopping
      • Antiques
      • Farm Shops & Markets
      • Garden Centres
      • Only in Durham
      • Independent Shops & Boutiques
      • Shopping Centres
    • Sightseeing, Tours & Guides
      • Attraction Tours
      • Tour Guides
      • Scenic Tours
      • Cycling Tours
      • Durham on Screen
      • Walking Tours
      • Durham City Guide - Churches, Chapels and Cafes
    • Weddings
      • Historic Wedding Venues
      • Hotel Wedding Venues
      • Wedding Fairs & Events
      • Stag & Hen Party Ideas
      • Wedding Packages
  • What's On
    • What's on this Week
    • Family Events
      • Summer Holidays
      • Free Events
    • 2026 Unmissable Events
    • Cinema, Theatre & Music Events
      • Cinema Venues
      • Theatre Venues
    • Sports
    • Dark Skies Events
    • Food & Drink
    • Exhibitions
  • Food & Drink
    • Don't Miss
      • Bishop’s Kitchen at Auckland Palace
      • Botanic Garden Café
      • Cafe Bowes at The Bowes Museum
      • Durham Dales Centre Tea Room
      • El Castillo
      • Gala Lounge
      • High Force Hotel and Waterfall
      • Hotel Indigo Rotunda Bar
      • Jozef’s Riverside Bar & Restaurant
      • Killhope Lead Mining Museum Cafe and Shop
      • Lumley Castle - Knight's Restaurant
      • Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill
      • Geko at Seaham Hall
      • The Dining Room
      • The Dunes Café
      • The Falls Café at Bowlees Visitor Centre
      • The Garden Gate Café at Crook Hall Gardens
      • The Hamsterley Cafe and Ice Cream Kiosk
      • The Neighbourhood @ Hotel Indigo Durham
      • The Oak Room Restaurant
      • The Tower Cafe
      • The Vinery at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
      • Undercroft Restaurant
      • Ushaw Café
    • Restaurants
    • Tearooms & Coffee Shops
    • Pubs & Bars
    • Get a Taste of Durham
    • Afternoon Tea in Durham
  • Inspire Me
    • Short Break Ideas
      • Dark Skies
      • Dog Friendly Durham
      • Romantic Getaways
      • Spa Breaks
      • Golf Breaks
      • Weddings
      • City Break
    • Seasonal
      • Spring Breaks
      • Summer Breaks
      • Autumn Breaks
      • Winter Breaks
    • Budget-Friendly Days Out in Durham
    • Explore From Your Door
    • Discover Durham's Great Outdoors
    • Discover Wellness in Durham
    • Go Car Free in Durham
    • Only in Durham
    • Delve Into Our Heritage
    • Durham's Unmissable Highlights
    • Itineraries
  • Explore Durham
    • Durham City
    • Durham Dales
    • Vale of Durham
    • Durham Coast
    • Durham Towns
      • Barnard Castle
      • Bishop Auckland
      • Chester-le-Street
      • Seaham
      • Stanhope
    • North Pennines National Landscape
    • North East England
  • Visitor Information
    • Maps of Durham
    • Getting to Durham
    • Getting Around Durham
      • Car Hire
      • Taxis
      • Electric Car Charging Points
    • Accessible Durham
    • Sustainable and Responsible Tourism in Durham
    • Visitor Guides
    • Durham Apps
    • Discover Durham Digitally

Don't Miss

  • Durham City short breaks

    City Break

  • Children playing with sand at Locomotion

    Budget-Friendly Days Out in Durham

  • A couple sat at the pool at Seaham Hall

    Summer Breaks

  • Victory Over the Sun: Encounters with Light logo

    Victory Over the Sun: Encounters with Light

A German Flag
This is Durham logo
Menu
  • Durham the Culture County logo
  • Print Logo
Close Navigation

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.

Loading..

Number of results:

Number of results: 180

, currently showing 1 to 20.

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • Next Next
Sort By: A-Z Lowest A-Z Highest
  1. A couple sat together in a vintage setting with a large rat silhouette looms in the background. The image is illustrated.

    Add INFESTATION - Durham Fringe Festival to your Itinerary

    INFESTATION - Durham Fringe Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    INFESTATION is set in the English countryside in early winter of 1916. Dorothy gets a letter from the front that her husband James has been injured and is being honourably discharged- he’s coming home. However, when he arrives Dorothy notices that…

    Dates

    From:
    29 July 2026to31 July 2026Open 20:40 -
    More info for INFESTATION - Durham Fringe Festival
  2. Harriet Kemsley with her chin resting on her hand, smiling with a beige background.

    Add Harriet Kemsley: Work In Progress - Gala Durham - Durham Fringe Festival to your Itinerary

    Harriet Kemsley: Work In Progress - Gala Durham - Durham Fringe Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Durham

    Following her eye-opening appearance on the first series of Last One Laughing UK, multi-award winning stand-up comedian Harriet Kemsley tries out new material in this work in progress show.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Aug 2026Open 20:30 -
    More info for Harriet Kemsley: Work In Progress - Gala Durham - Durham Fringe Festival
  3. Comedian, Nish Kumar, stands straight faced in front of a purple shadowy background.

    Add Nish Kumar - Angry Humour From a Really Nice Guy - Gala Durham to your Itinerary

    Nish Kumar - Angry Humour From a Really Nice Guy - Gala Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Durham

    The world is in chaos. Inequality is widening, autocracy is rising and political parties are collapsing. In these divided times, what this country desperately needs is Angry Humour From a Really Nice Guy (in many ways it’s actually the last thing…

    Dates

    From:
    24 Sept 2026Open 19:30 -
    More info for Nish Kumar - Angry Humour From a Really Nice Guy - Gala Durham
  4. 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:
    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
  5. Three singers in traditional clothing, next to a Christmas tree, performing festive live music during Beamish Museum's Christmas Evenings.

    Add Beamish, The Living Museum of the North’s Magical Christmas Evenings to your Itinerary

    Beamish, The Living Museum of the North’s Magical Christmas Evenings

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Beamish

    Beamish Museum Christmas Evening Tickets on Sale Soon!

    Dates

    From:
    3 Dec 2026to4 Dec 2026Open 17:00 - 21:30
    From:
    10 Dec 2026to11 Dec 2026Open 17:00 - 21:30
    From:
    17 Dec 2026to18 Dec 2026Open 17:00 - 21:30
    More info for Beamish, The Living Museum of the North’s Magical Christmas Evenings
  6. A Witch and a cat riding a broom.  Room on the Broom © 2001 Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler. Licensed by Magic Light Pictures Ltd.

    Add Room on the Broom Trail at Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    Room on the Broom Trail at Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Redford, Hamsterley Forest

    This interactive family trail is packed with Room on the Broom themed activities, fascinating forest facts and plenty of hands-on fun. 

    Dates

    From:
    28 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Room on the Broom Trail at Hamsterley Forest
  7. A girl in a school uniform sat with a boy hugging her legs. Text: Romeo.Juliet, this is not a love story

    Add Romeo.Juliet - Durham Fringe Festival to your Itinerary

    Romeo.Juliet - Durham Fringe Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham City

    Romeo and Juliet and the manosphere. Award-winning Shakespeare supported by Stephen Fry

    Dates

    From:
    30 July 2026Open 20:00 - 21:45
    More info for Romeo.Juliet - Durham Fringe Festival
  8. Text reads, 'The Christmas Gameshow Spectacular', illustration of a Game Show title board bordered with lights and stars.

    Add The Christmas Gameshow Spectacular - Durham Cricket to your Itinerary

    The Christmas Gameshow Spectacular - Durham Cricket

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Riverside, Chester-le-Street

    Buzzers at the ready! Join Durham Cricket's Christmas Game Show Spectacular for an interactive festive night packed with live games, audience participation, prizes, a two-course meal, DJ and dancing. The ultimate Christmas party for competitive…

    Dates

    From:
    12 Dec 2026Open 18:30 - 00:00
    More info for The Christmas Gameshow Spectacular - Durham Cricket
  9. Aglow Auckland Palace & Gardens. A child in a wool hat looks upwards at the colourfully lit sky.

    Add AGLOW 2026 - Auckland Palace and Gardens to your Itinerary

    AGLOW 2026 - Auckland Palace and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Bishop Auckland

    The Auckland Project has announced that its much-loved illuminated trail will return to Auckland Palace from Friday 20 November to 3 January (excluding Christmas Day and New Year's Day), promising exciting new additions alongside the spectacular…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Nov 2026to3 Jan 2027
    More info for AGLOW 2026 - Auckland Palace and Gardens
  10. South Causey Monthly Dog Walk

    Add South Causey Monthly Dog Walk to your Itinerary

    South Causey Monthly Dog Walk

    Type

    Type:

    Dog-Friendly

    Stanley

    Join the South Causey Dog Walking Club every 1st Saturday of the month at 10 am for a picturesque stroll through the beautiful Beamish Valley. 

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for South Causey Monthly Dog Walk
  11. Black and white photograph of a woman with long wavy hair standing with arms crossed, facing slightly to the side. Background is plain with a draped f

    Add Nerina Pallott in Concert at The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Nerina Pallott in Concert at The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    Barnard Castle

    Enjoy an unforgettable evening with critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Nerina Pallot at The Bowes Museum this December.

    Venue

    The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

    Dates

    From:
    4 Dec 2026to5 Dec 2026Open 18:30 -
    More info for Nerina Pallott in Concert at The Bowes Museum
  12. Summer Concert, Innominata Choir. Poster has a border of pretty birds, musical notes and flowers.

    Add Summer Concert with Innominata - 5 Welsh Terrace to your Itinerary

    Summer Concert with Innominata - 5 Welsh Terrace

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    Annfield Plain

    A concert of madrigals, well- known folk songs, Victorian part songs and solo songs by British twentieth century composers.

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2026Open 18:30 - 21:00
    More info for Summer Concert with Innominata - 5 Welsh Terrace
  13. Close up of an Alpaca.

    Add Alpaca Petting - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Alpaca Petting - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Lanchester

    Join us this Summer when Fellside Alpacas return of our Alpaca Petting event.

    What to expect - get the chance to get up close with some gorgeous Alpacas, feed them and learn more about these amazing animals.

    Dates

    From:
    28 Aug 2026Open 11:00 - 15:00
    More info for Alpaca Petting - Lanchester Garden Centre
  14. Explore a range of techniques and styles led by expert artists, designers and makers

    Add Artist Makers - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Artist Makers - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Join in and get creative at this hands-on workshop for children aged 5 and over.

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2026to29 Aug 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Artist Makers - The Bowes Museum
  15. Free Peterlee SOAK'D fun run event - photos of people in multicoloured costumes with super soakers.

    Add Peterlee SOAK'D - The Pavilion to your Itinerary

    Peterlee SOAK'D - The Pavilion

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Peterlee

    FREE FAMILY FUN RUN IN FANCY DRESS - 2.5K OR 5K

    Dates

    From:
    25 July 2026Open 10:00 -
    More info for Peterlee SOAK'D - The Pavilion
  16. outer space galaxy

    North Pennines Stargazing Festival 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    The North Pennines Stargazing Festival is returning for 2026 – running between Friday 16 October and Sunday 1 November.

    Dates

    From:
    16 Oct 2026to1 Nov 2026
    More info for North Pennines Stargazing Festival 2026
  17. Traditional Teddy Bear in a pink dress.

    Add Traditional Teddy Bear Making Workshop - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Traditional Teddy Bear Making Workshop - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Workshop

    Lanchester

    There is nothing more satisfying than passing on a craft. That is why we are proud to offer once more a Traditional Bear Making workshop where this time you get the opportunity to meet (and make) Sophie. Sophie has been specially designed for our…

    Dates

    From:
    18 Oct 2026Open 09:00 - 17:00
    More info for Traditional Teddy Bear Making Workshop - Lanchester Garden Centre
  18. Two members of the Horticultural Show look at a display of vegetables.

    Add Horticultural Show at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Horticultural Show at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Show / Display

    Beamish

    The museum has teamed up with the North East Horticultural Society for this annual event.

    Dates

    From:
    5 Sept 2026to6 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Horticultural Show at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  19. Shoppers on Church Street, Seaham at Seaham Seaside Market

    Add Seaham Seaside Market to your Itinerary

    Seaham Seaside Market

    Type

    Type:

    Markets

    Seaham

    Seaham Seaside Market is a weekly market held every Friday.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Seaham Seaside Market
  20. Durham Cathedral and surrounding countryside.

    Add Ramble Worldwide Celebrates 80 Years with FREE Guided Walks Across England this Summer to your Itinerary

    Ramble Worldwide Celebrates 80 Years with FREE Guided Walks Across England this Summer

    Type

    Type:

    Guided Walk

    Durham

    This summer, Ramble Worldwide, the original walking holiday specialist with a charitable ethos, is offering a programme of free guided walks across England and Scotland to celebrate its 80th birthday.

    Join us on this free guided sample walk to…

    Dates

    From:
    11 Aug 2026
    From:
    16 Aug 2026Open 11:00 - 13:30
    More info for Ramble Worldwide Celebrates 80 Years with FREE Guided Walks Across England this Summer
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • Next Next
Loading..Loading..
  • Enewsletter Sign Up

  • Contact Us

  • Print Page
  • Email Page
Home Accommodation
  • Hotels,
  • B&B and Guest Houses,
  • Inns & Pubs,
  • Self Catering & Holiday Cottages,
  • Caravan, Camping & Glamping,
  • Dog Friendly,
  • Hostels,
Things to Do
  • Attractions,
  • Activities,
  • Shopping,
  • Sightseeing, Tours & Guides,
What's On
  • Family Events,
  • 2026 Unmissable Events,
  • What's on this Week,
  • Cinema, Theatre & Music Events,
  • Dark Skies Events,
Food & Drink
  • Restaurants,
  • Tearooms & Coffee Shops,
  • Pubs & Bars,
  • Get a Taste of Durham,
  • Tasty Places to Stay,
  • Foodie Events,
Inspire Me
  • Short Break Ideas,
  • Discover Durham's Great Outdoors,
  • Delve Into Our Heritage,
  • Durham's Unmissable Highlights,
  • Itineraries,
Explore Durham
  • Durham City,
  • Durham Dales,
  • Vale of Durham,
  • Durham Coast,
  • Durham Towns,
  • North East England,
Visitor Information
  • Maps of Durham,
  • Getting to Durham,
  • Getting Around Durham,
  • Accessible Durham,
  • Sustainable and Responsible Tourism in Durham,
  • Visitor Guides,
Submit Event
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map
  • Submit Event
  • Terms & Conditions

© Copyright Visit County Durham. All Rights Reserved

Registered Office: Visit County Durham, East Wing, 1st Floor, Corten House, Aykley Heads, Durham, DH1 5TS

  • North East England logo

Ratings & Reviews

Powered By

tripadvisor

  • Durham County Council