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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. Liz Corney

    Add Durham Brass Festival: Brassed On to your Itinerary

    Durham Brass Festival: Brassed On

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    This unique programme pairs Northeast artists with talented brass ensembles to create new music and take part in a unique and unforgettable performance.

    Dates

    From:
    19 July 2025Open 19:00 -
    More info for Durham Brass Festival: Brassed On
  2. The Bowes Museum and grounds

    Add Deadly Beauty from the Medicine Box Trail - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Deadly Beauty from the Medicine Box Trail - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Barnard Castle

    Embark on a journey through The Bowes Museum’s galleries to learn about blood-curdling botanicals and tragic tales of the past.

    Dates

    From:
    1 May 2025to30 June 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Deadly Beauty from the Medicine Box Trail - The Bowes Museum
  3. Deer Park - a group of deer gathering under a tree

    Add Deer Park Safari at Raby Castle to your Itinerary

    Deer Park Safari at Raby Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Nature

    Staindrop

    Enjoy a scenic tour of Raby Castle’s extensive Deer Park, guided by a knowledgeable ranger who will share fascinating insights about the deer and the park’s history.

    Dates

    From:
    25 June 2025Open 10:30 -
    More info for Deer Park Safari at Raby Castle
  4. Someone reading The Magna Carta

    Add Magna Carta and its Influence Today: A Durham Cathedral Institute Debate - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    Magna Carta and its Influence Today: A Durham Cathedral Institute Debate - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Durham

    Magna Carta is one of the most important documents in Britain’s legal history. First issued in 1215, it established the principle that everyone, including the King, is subject to the law and it guaranteed new individual rights.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Oct 2025Open 14:00 -
    More info for Magna Carta and its Influence Today: A Durham Cathedral Institute Debate - Durham Cathedral
  5. Fringe Festival logo, colourful image of the Sanctuary Knocker

    Add Durham Fringe Festival: Durham Fringe Family Showcase to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival: Durham Fringe Family Showcase

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    To celebrate the 5th year of the Fringe & our biggest family offering to date, we're hosting a FREE family showcase.

    Dates

    From:
    23 July 2025Open 13:30 - 14:30
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival: Durham Fringe Family Showcase
  6. Painting of Old Locomotive Engine Wylam Coll from the Hatton Gallery, Newcastle University

    Add S&DR200 - Fuelling the Railway Revolution to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - Fuelling the Railway Revolution

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Bishop Auckland

    This special exhibition explores the inextricable link between coal mining and the railways.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    27 June 2025to21 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for S&DR200 - Fuelling the Railway Revolution
  7. The Prince Bishop River Cruiser sailing on the River Wear in Durham City with the Cathedral in the background

    Add Durham Brass Festival: BRASS Boat Cruises – Brazen Brass Band to your Itinerary

    Durham Brass Festival: BRASS Boat Cruises – Brazen Brass Band

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    This year, Brass Festival will take over the streets…and the water too! Cruise along the River Wear on the Prince Bishop, with our fantastic street bands onboard.

    Dates

    From:
    19 July 2025Open 16:00 -
    More info for Durham Brass Festival: BRASS Boat Cruises – Brazen Brass Band
  8. Colourful abstract artwork from the exhibition

    Add Weaving Stories: From Community Hands and Hearts to your Itinerary

    Weaving Stories: From Community Hands and Hearts

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Durham

    Spanning generations and cultures, each group explored a different part of the museum’s collection and responded through collage, painting, textiles, poetry, printmaking, and interactive installations. Their artworks reflect personal stories,…

    Dates

    From:
    24 May 2025to14 Sept 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Weaving Stories: From Community Hands and Hearts
  9. Red and blue neon text which states, 'Quiz Night', with stars around it.

    Add Knight of Knowledge - Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Knight of Knowledge - Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Chester le Street

    Think you’ve got what it takes to be the local quiz champ? Grab your team and prove it at our brand new Resident Quiz Night in The Tipi– now happening every Thursday, 7pm-10pm! 

    Dates

    From:
    3 July 2025to14 Aug 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Knight of Knowledge - Lumley Castle Hotel
  10. Ben Lamb 'You're Nicked!' Book cover shows police with shields and a police van. Text promotes Lamb's talk on 23rd June at Newton Hall Library.

    Add Ben Lamb 'You're Nicked!' - Newton Hall Library to your Itinerary

    Ben Lamb 'You're Nicked!' - Newton Hall Library

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Durham

    With wit, humour and insight, Ben will take us on a journey of British television police series from 1955 to the present. From Dixon of Dock Green to Happy Valley via The Sweeney, The Bill, and Cracker, Ben will outline how this home-grown genre has…

    Dates

    From:
    23 June 2025Open 17:30 -
    More info for Ben Lamb 'You're Nicked!' - Newton Hall Library
  11. Ayclive 2025 advertising poster showing details of events

    Add Ayclive 2025 to your Itinerary

    Ayclive 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Newton Aycliffe

    We're thrilled to announce that Ayclive Festival is back for its third year, bigger and better than ever! By popular demand, we're expanding to a two-day event, taking place on Friday 25th July and Saturday 26th July 2025.

    Dates

    From:
    25 July 2025to26 July 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Ayclive 2025
  12. A line of people walking through a hay meadow

    Add National Meadows Day – Family Friendly to your Itinerary

    National Meadows Day – Family Friendly

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Holwick

    Celebrate National Meadows Day at this family friendly event. Join in the fun and creative activities for families and adults interested in nature, farming and cultural heritage.

    Dates

    From:
    5 July 2025Open 10:30 - 15:30
    More info for National Meadows Day – Family Friendly
  13. Ariel view of Wolsingham Show

    Add Wolsingham Show 2025 to your Itinerary

    Wolsingham Show 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Agricultural Show

    Wolsingham

    Celebrate the county’s farming life at England’s oldest and Durham’s biggest open-air Agricultural show. A jam-packed weekend of family-friendly entertainment.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Sept 2025to7 Sept 2025
    More info for Wolsingham Show 2025
  14. 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 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Barnard Castle Market
  15. Starry background, popcorn and a reel  which shows iconic clips from movies. 'An Afternoon at The Movies'

    Add An Afternoon at the Movies with the DMA Band to your Itinerary

    An Afternoon at the Movies with the DMA Band

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    Durham

    Join us for a spectacular afternoon of cinematic splendour at our Movies-Themed Concert! This special event will transport audiences through the magic of the silver screen with stirring renditions of iconic film scores and beloved movie themes.

    Dates

    From:
    29 June 2025Open 15:00 - 17:00
    More info for An Afternoon at the Movies with the DMA Band
  16. People exploring the archives at Raby Castle

    Add Exploring the Archives: New Dixon Discoveries to your Itinerary

    Exploring the Archives: New Dixon Discoveries

    Type

    Type:

    Historical

    Staindrop

    Just in time for a 4th of July celebration, some exciting new discoveries have been made in Raby’s Archives. Jeremiah Dixon is a name well known both in the North East and ‘across the pond’ for his skills in surveying. His role in developing the…

    Dates

    From:
    4 July 2025to5 July 2025Open 11:00 - 12:30
    More info for Exploring the Archives: New Dixon Discoveries
  17. A portrait  of Joséphine Bowes

    Add Joséphine, A Woman of Taste and Fashion - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Joséphine, A Woman of Taste and Fashion - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Barnard Castle

    Discover the timeless elegance, craftsmanship and innovation of Joséphine Bowes’ textile collection.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Mar 2025to31 Mar 2026
    More info for Joséphine, A Woman of Taste and Fashion - The Bowes Museum
  18. Poster promoting Howdy Show at Peterlee Pavilion - illustration of cowboys on horseback.

    Add Howdy - A Country Pop Extravaganza Show to your Itinerary

    Howdy - A Country Pop Extravaganza Show

    Type

    Type:

    Dance

    Peterlee

    HOWDY, PETERLEE! Saddle up for the ULTIMATE Country and Western Show — Live music, line dancin', games, prizes, and a FREE glass of Moonshine to get you rollin'!

    Dates

    From:
    30 Aug 2025Open 14:30 - 19:00
    More info for Howdy - A Country Pop Extravaganza Show
  19. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Passport to Nature: Pond Dipping and Identification - Hardwick Park to your Itinerary

    Passport to Nature: Pond Dipping and Identification - Hardwick Park

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Sedgefield

    Join us for a pond dipping session as we explore the hidden aquatic world beneath the surface.

    Dates

    From:
    25 July 2025Open 08:30 - 10:30
    More info for Passport to Nature: Pond Dipping and Identification - Hardwick Park
  20. Bowes Museum team giving a 'Spotlight Tour' to two visitors.

    Add Spotlight Tour - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Spotlight Tour - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Barnard Castle

    A friendly and informative introduction to an exhibition, the collection or building. Led by The Bowes Museum’s team of Visitor Attendants, Curators and Volunteer Tour Guides, join us for an informal 30-minute tour, everyday at 11:00 to find out…

    Dates

    From:
    2 Jan 2025to4 Jan 2026Open 11:00 -
    More info for Spotlight Tour - The Bowes Museum
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