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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. Baker making a large, decorative loaf of bread at Beamish Museum

    Add Harvest Celebrations 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of The North to your Itinerary

    Harvest Celebrations 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of The North

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Beamish

    Join us to experience traditional harvest celebrations!

    Dates

    From:
    4 Oct 2025to5 Oct 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Harvest Celebrations 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of The North
  2. A table set for Afternoon Tea at the Radisson Blu

    Add Festive Afternoon Tea, Sip and Celebrate to your Itinerary

    Festive Afternoon Tea, Sip and Celebrate

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham City

    Our festive afternoon tea is a little slice of Christmas magic, served on a tiered stand.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Dec 2025to24 Dec 2025
    More info for Festive Afternoon Tea, Sip and Celebrate
  3. RSCM singing break, exterior shot of Auckland Palace and photo of Joanna Forbes L'Estrange.

    Add Singing Break at Auckland Palace to your Itinerary

    Singing Break at Auckland Palace

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Bishop Auckland

    An inspirational and uplifting weekend of singing in the company of composer, singer and music director Joanna Forbes l'Estrange in the magnificent setting of Auckland Palace. Participants will have the opportunity to sing Joanna's major new work, A…

    Dates

    From:
    10 Oct 2025Open 13:00 - 16:00
    More info for Singing Break at Auckland Palace
  4. Headshot of Cobin Millage eating a snack

    Add Durham Fringe Festival - Cobin Millage: A Losing Battle With Grass That Just Won’t Stop Growing to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival - Cobin Millage: A Losing Battle With Grass That Just Won’t Stop Growing

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Durham

    After his debut show was listed as one of the British Comedy Guide's recommended shows, and he was subsequently nominated for Best Newcomer at the Comedian's Choice Awards, he comes back to address his bizarre name, being forgotten in time, and the…

    Dates

    From:
    26 July 2025Open 20:45 -
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival - Cobin Millage: A Losing Battle With Grass That Just Won’t Stop Growing
  5. Three children peering over a fence in The Plotter's Forest

    Add The Plotters’ Forest Down the Rabbit Hole Trail- Raby Castle Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    The Plotters’ Forest Down the Rabbit Hole Trail- Raby Castle Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Staindrop

    This summer, embark on a thrilling journey down the rabbit hole.

    Dates

    From:
    19 July 2025to1 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for The Plotters’ Forest Down the Rabbit Hole Trail- Raby Castle Park and Gardens
  6. Children playing at The Bowes Museum

    Add Stay and Play - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Stay and Play - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Time for The Bowes’ youngest visitors to explore and play in the Conversation Gallery, investigate materials and be creative in this self-led, free-play session.

    Dates

    From:
    2 Jan 2025to8 Jan 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Stay and Play - The Bowes Museum
  7. A castle guide and a visitor at Durham Castle

    Add Durham Castle Self-Guided Day to your Itinerary

    Durham Castle Self-Guided Day

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Join us at Durham Castle for a special visit at your own pace this summer.

    Dates

    From:
    25 July 2025Open 11:00 - 15:15
    More info for Durham Castle Self-Guided Day
  8. Wicked characters  Glinder and Elphaba

    Add Wicked Brunch to your Itinerary

    Wicked Brunch

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    West Auckland

    Join us for a spellbinding fusion of pop perfection and Broadway magic.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2025Open 11:00 - 15:00
    More info for Wicked Brunch
  9. Crowds enjoying food at Chester-le-EATS. Image credit: Gareth Williams Photo & Film

    Add Chester-le-EATS 2025 to your Itinerary

    Chester-le-EATS 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Food & Drink Festival

    Chester le Street

    Chester-le-EATS Festival Returns to Durham Cricket With An Exciting New Line-Up

    Dates

    From:
    27 Sept 2025to28 Sept 2025Open 11:00 - 17:00
    More info for Chester-le-EATS 2025
  10. 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 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Consett Market
  11. Illustration of the silhouettes of two people sitting on a  bench

    Add Waiting for Godot by Samuel Becket (Tragic Comedy) to your Itinerary

    Waiting for Godot by Samuel Becket (Tragic Comedy)

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Fowlers Yard, Durham

    Classic, ground breaking play of its time.

    Dates

    From:
    13 Aug 2025to16 Aug 2025Open 19:30 -
    More info for Waiting for Godot by Samuel Becket (Tragic Comedy)
  12. Red and blue neon text which states, 'Quiz Night', with stars around it.

    Add Knight of Knowledge - Tipi at Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Knight of Knowledge - Tipi at 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 - Tipi at Lumley Castle Hotel
  13. 'We Were At The Sharp End Us' Copyright Narbi Price. Painting of a green field against a black and white landscape.

    Add GOING BACK BROCKENS: Monuments and Rhetoric After the Miners’ Strike to your Itinerary

    GOING BACK BROCKENS: Monuments and Rhetoric After the Miners’ Strike

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Bishop Auckland

    Opening on Friday 13 June at The Warehouse in Newgate Centre, Bishop Auckland, GOING BACK BROCKENS: Monuments and Rhetoric After the Miners’ Strike, is a three-part exhibition across County Durham that sees North East artist Narbi Price and writer…

    Dates

    From:
    22 Aug 2025
    More info for GOING BACK BROCKENS: Monuments and Rhetoric After the Miners’ Strike
  14. Illustrations of bingo cards and balls

    Add Bingo Night - High Farm Holiday Park to your Itinerary

    Bingo Night - High Farm Holiday Park

    Type

    Type:

    Local Events

    Bishop Auckland

    Bingo Night: Gather your squad for a night of bingo, laughs, and tasty treats!

    Dates

    From:
    29 Aug 2025Open 18:30 - 22:30
    More info for Bingo Night - High Farm Holiday Park
  15. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Passport to Nature: Wildfowl Identification to your Itinerary

    Passport to Nature: Wildfowl Identification

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Sedgefield

    As autumn fades and winter takes hold, there's no better time to discover the fascinating world of wildfowl at Hardwick Park.

    Dates

    From:
    31 Oct 2025Open 07:00 - 09:00
    More info for Passport to Nature: Wildfowl Identification
  16. John Robertson

    Add John Robertson "Plays With His Audience" to your Itinerary

    John Robertson "Plays With His Audience"

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    Improv, mayhem, gaming comedy, crowd work and songs from the UK's most manic comic on his first-ever stand-up tour!

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2025Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for John Robertson "Plays With His Audience"
  17. Illustration of a cardboard box, with text above that says, 'occupy'.

    Add Durham Fringe Festival: Occupy to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival: Occupy

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham

    Where did we come from? Where are we going? When is Mother’s Day 2025? We would very much like to know. And where can we find answers? The Internet. And who could possibly show us the entirety of the Internet within the limits a tight 50-minute…

    Dates

    From:
    23 July 2025Open 10:00 -
    From:
    26 July 2025to27 July 2025Open 10:00 -
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival: Occupy
  18. Statue of Tommy by Ray Lonsdale

    Add National Poetry Day Ray Lonsdale - Consett Library to your Itinerary

    National Poetry Day Ray Lonsdale - Consett Library

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Consett

    Join local sculptor, Ray Lonsdale, on National Poetry Day for readings of his favourite poems that accompany his sculptures and the story as to why the words have become part of the art he creates. Ray will discuss his life, work, inspiration and be…

    Dates

    From:
    2 Oct 2025Open 17:30 -
    More info for National Poetry Day Ray Lonsdale - Consett Library
  19. A Stone Cottage in the countryside

    Add Archaeology in Upper Teesdale to your Itinerary

    Archaeology in Upper Teesdale

    Type

    Type:

    Guided Walk

    Newbiggin

    Join Altogether Archaeology on a 4 mile guided walk to see how people lived and used the Teesdale landscape.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2025to21 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Archaeology in Upper Teesdale
  20. People partying at Greek Fest

    Add The Big Fat Greek Fest! to your Itinerary

    The Big Fat Greek Fest!

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Sedgefield

    BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Get ready for an unforgettable experience at The Big Fat Greek Fest!

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2025Open 12:00 - 18:00
    More info for The Big Fat Greek Fest!
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