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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. A young child with curly blonde hair, wearing green dungarees and a striped shirt, walks alone along a grand, ornately decorated museum hallway

    Add Bug Hunt - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Bug Hunt - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Barnard Castle

    Embark on playful bug hunt to spot artworks around the museum that feature insects, vibrant colours and striking patterns. This interactive session invites curious explorers to engage their senses and uncover how nature has inspired artist and…

    Dates

    From:
    22 July 2025to2 Sept 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Bug Hunt - The Bowes Museum
  2. Durham Book Festival Logo

    Durham Book Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Durham Book Festival

    Durham

    Durham Book Festival is one of the country’s oldest literary festivals, taking place in and around Durham City, returning this year on 10th to 12th October.

    Dates

    From:
    10 Oct 2025to12 Oct 2025
    More info for Durham Book Festival 2025
  3. Opulent dining room in Raby Castle

    Add Discover the Beauty of Art at Raby Castle to your Itinerary

    Discover the Beauty of Art at Raby Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Staindrop

    Take a moment to slow down, breathe, and immerse yourself in the captivating world of art at Raby Castle. Our new programme invites you to step away from the hustle and bustle and spend an hour truly connecting with the artworks in our collection.…

    Dates

    From:
    5 Aug 2025
    From:
    2 Sept 2025
    From:
    7 Oct 2025
    More info for Discover the Beauty of Art at Raby Castle
  4. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Hardwick Conservation Champions 2025 to your Itinerary

    Hardwick Conservation Champions 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Sedgefield

    Become a Durham Countryside Conservation Champion this Summer through our park experience.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Aug 2025to8 Aug 2025Open 09:00 - 16:00
    More info for Hardwick Conservation Champions 2025
  5. Jim Smith holding a lamb

    Add Jim Smith "Prime Cuts" - The Witham to your Itinerary

    Jim Smith "Prime Cuts" - The Witham

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    Jim Smith is one of Scotland's most beloved farming comedians, bringing his unique blend of rural humour and sharp storytelling to audiences across the country.

    Dates

    From:
    7 Dec 2025Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for Jim Smith "Prime Cuts" - The Witham
  6. Crowds of people watching a performance at the Hardwick Festival

    Add Hardwick Festival 2025 to your Itinerary

    Hardwick Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Sedgefield

    Hardwick Festival returns 15th to 17th August. The 2025 line-up will be revealed soon.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Aug 2025to17 Aug 2025
    More info for Hardwick Festival 2025
  7. Sunny outdoor terrace at Seaham Hall Hotel

    Add Summer Garden Party - Seaham Hall to your Itinerary

    Summer Garden Party - Seaham Hall

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Seaham

    Join us as we celebrate Summer at Seaham Hall. Enjoy sea views, live music and a delicious BBQ hosted in the ground of our stunning Georgian house.

    A perfect Summers Afternoon ...

    Dates

    From:
    26 July 2025Open 14:00 - 18:00
    More info for Summer Garden Party - Seaham Hall
  8. A couple sitting on a bench at Auckland Gardens enjoying a sunny day

    Add Auckland Gardens Tours - Auckland Gardens to your Itinerary

    Auckland Gardens Tours - Auckland Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Bishop Auckland

    Over the last decade a remarkable transformation of the gardens of Auckland Palace has taken place. Now, join our weekly ‘walk and talk’ sessions with our dedicated volunteers as they reveal the story behind the gardens and highlight special…

    Dates

    From:
    2 July 2025to30 July 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Auckland Gardens Tours - Auckland Gardens
  9. WOW Women of the World Festival Three women wearing colourful cloaks with WOW logo on the back

    Add S&DR200 Presents WOW North East (Women of the World) International Festival to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 Presents WOW North East (Women of the World) International Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Performance

    Durham City

    The first ever WOW Festival in the north-east of England will be packed with unmissable talks and performances, celebrating achievements and stories from women, girls, and non-binary people from the region and beyond.

    Dates

    From:
    17 Oct 2025to18 Oct 2025
    More info for S&DR200 Presents WOW North East (Women of the World) International Festival
  10. Shanties along the Rails with images of coal mine shaft and wheel, railway and ship

    Add Shanties Along the Rails to your Itinerary

    Shanties Along the Rails

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Toft Hill, Bishop Auckland

    Shanties Along the Rails: Coal, Rail & Sail, a special S&DR200 celebration event.

    Dates

    From:
    5 Sept 2025Open 19:00 - 22:30
    More info for Shanties Along the Rails
  11. The Craft & Producers' Marquee at Durham Christmas Festival

    Add Durham Christmas Festival to your Itinerary

    Durham Christmas Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas Markets

    Durham Market Place, Durham City

    Durham Christmas Festival will return – the perfect combination of Christmas shopping and seasonal entertainment in the unique and stunning setting that is Durham City Centre.

    Dates

    From:
    5 Dec 2025Open 09:00 - 18:00
    From:
    6 Dec 2025Open 09:00 - 18:00
    From:
    7 Dec 2025Open 09:00 - 17:00
    More info for Durham Christmas Festival
  12. Whitney Houston tribute act at the Radisson Blu

    Add Whitney Houston Queen of the Night to your Itinerary

    Whitney Houston Queen of the Night

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Durham City

    Relive the magic of Whitney Houston! Get ready to sing and dance to all of your favourite hits. This incredible ‘Celebration of Whitney’ tribute show features all the late diva’s most powerful hits, performed by the amazing Hayley-Ria.

    Dates

    From:
    12 Dec 2025
    More info for Whitney Houston Queen of the Night
  13. RSPB Saltholme Nature Reserve

    Add Guided Walks for Groups - RSPB Saltholme to your Itinerary

    Guided Walks for Groups - RSPB Saltholme

    Type

    Type:

    Guided Walk

    Port Clarence, Middlesbrough

    Want to get more out of your visit to RSPB Saltholme? We offer group guided walks! We can tailor the walk route and topic(s) to suit your group.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Guided Walks for Groups - RSPB Saltholme
  14. Hands holding tea and coffee cups in various colours

    Add Merryoaks Community Hall Coffee Morning to your Itinerary

    Merryoaks Community Hall Coffee Morning

    Type

    Type:

    Local Events

    Durham

    Community Coffee Morning-everyone welcome.

    Dates

    From:
    2 Aug 2025Open 11:00 - 12:00
    More info for Merryoaks Community Hall Coffee Morning
  15. Little girl with fairy wings and a unicorn painted on her forehead

    Add Summer of Magic at The Hole in Wand - Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors to your Itinerary

    Summer of Magic at The Hole in Wand - Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Murton

    Join us for a spellbinding adventure this July and August as The Hole in Wand brings a touch of enchantment to Dalton Park with their Summer of Magic. Across selected dates, enjoy magical live magician performances and face painting for little…

    Dates

    From:
    22 July 2025to26 Aug 2025Various Opening Times
    From:
    16 Aug 2025to30 Aug 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Summer of Magic at The Hole in Wand - Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors
  16. Murder & Mulled Wine murder mystery with a spooky image of Beamish Hall in the background

    Add Murder & Mulled Wine at Beamish Hall Hotel to your Itinerary

    Murder & Mulled Wine at Beamish Hall Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Beamish

    Turn detective over a delicious three-course meal in our fun murder mystery dinner.

    Dates

    From:
    11 Dec 2025Open 19:00 - 23:00
    More info for Murder & Mulled Wine at Beamish Hall Hotel
  17. Silhouette of three people, and title reads, 'Secret Admirers'

    Add Durham Fringe Festival: Secret Admirers to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival: Secret Admirers

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham City

    Welcome to the Bureau's Secret One-To-One Surveillance Branch, where every person on earth is keenly surveyed by an FBI Agent! In this musical comedy, ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ meets espionage and bureaucracy, as two FBI agents help their awkward…

    Dates

    From:
    25 July 2025to27 July 2025Open 20:30 -
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival: Secret Admirers
  18. Railway 200 logo

    Add Railway 200 Talk: “The Stockton & Darlington Railway – Getting America on Track” – with Jonathan Ratcliffe to your Itinerary

    Railway 200 Talk: “The Stockton & Darlington Railway – Getting America on Track” – with Jonathan Ratcliffe

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Shildon

    As we’re into the Stockton & Darlington Railway Bicentenary year, we’re teaming up with the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and Jane Hackworth-Young to present a series of talks at Timothy Hackworth’s own Institute.

    Dates

    From:
    17 Sept 2025Open 19:00 -
    More info for Railway 200 Talk: “The Stockton & Darlington Railway – Getting America on Track” – with Jonathan Ratcliffe
  19. Brancepeth castle golf club

    Add Junior Opens - Brancepeth Castle Golf Club to your Itinerary

    Junior Opens - Brancepeth Castle Golf Club

    Type

    Type:

    Golf Events

    Durham

    Open events at Brancepeth are extremely popular and usually sell out very quickly as they attract visitors from all over the North of England and beyond.  We pride ourselves in making everyone’s visit to our golf course memorable by delivering…

    Dates

    From:
    28 July 2025
    More info for Junior Opens - Brancepeth Castle Golf Club
  20. Ellie Caile in a cowgirl hat, next to illustrations of stars, a disco ball and cowboy boots.

    Add Boots & Beats in the Tipi - Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Boots & Beats in the Tipi - Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Chester le Street

    Dust off your cowboy boots and grab your favourite hat because it's time to kick up some fun line dancing at Beats & Boots in the Tipi. A celebration of all thing's country!

    Dates

    From:
    16 Aug 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Boots & Beats in the Tipi - Lumley Castle Hotel
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