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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. Child reading a Ladybird book

    Add Beyond the Bookshelf: An Evening with the Icons of Childhood Literature at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Beyond the Bookshelf: An Evening with the Icons of Childhood Literature at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham

    Join us for An Evening with the Greats of Children’s Literature, as Anne Fine and Linda Birch return to discuss how their words and illustrations have allowed them to captivate audiences young and old throughout their career.

    Dates

    From:
    9 Aug 2025Open 18:00 -
    More info for Beyond the Bookshelf: An Evening with the Icons of Childhood Literature at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
  2. Cookery demonstration of Indian food

    Add Argie Bhaji XL: North East’s Premier Indian Food Battle Festival at Durham Cricket to your Itinerary

    Argie Bhaji XL: North East’s Premier Indian Food Battle Festival at Durham Cricket

    Type

    Type:

    Food & Drink

    Chester le Street

    Durham Cricket ground will play host to Argie Bhaji XL on July 26th & 27th, a spectacular two-day celebration of Indian food, music, and culture.

    Dates

    From:
    26 July 2025to27 July 2025
    More info for Argie Bhaji XL: North East’s Premier Indian Food Battle Festival at Durham Cricket
  3. The Bowes Museum and grounds

    Add Parkland Play - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Parkland Play - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Explore the museum with our spotting and drawing activities and enjoy our outside spaces with the Pocket Parkland Playbook, specially designed to help you get creative with the natural materials around you. All available from reception.

    Dates

    From:
    1 May 2025to31 Dec 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Parkland Play - The Bowes Museum
  4. stars in sky by High Force Hotel

    Add Stargazing Suppers - High Force Hotel and Waterfall to your Itinerary

    Stargazing Suppers - High Force Hotel and Waterfall

    Type

    Type:

    Dark Skies

    Forest-in-Teesdale

    Discover the magnificence of the night sky with an exciting stargazing experience at the breath-taking High Force Waterfall in County Durham.

    Dates

    From:
    30 Aug 2025to29 Mar 2026
    More info for Stargazing Suppers - High Force Hotel and Waterfall
  5. 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
  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. Lumley Castle Hotel

    Add Murder Mystery Dinner - A Reunion with Murder at Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Murder Mystery Dinner - A Reunion with Murder at Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Murder Mystery

    Chester le Street

    Years ago, six friends celebrated Halloween in a long-abandoned mansion but only five made it out.

    Dates

    From:
    10 Oct 2025Open 19:00 -
    More info for Murder Mystery Dinner - A Reunion with Murder at Lumley Castle Hotel
  8. A family looking at a stall at the Beamish Hall Hotel Christmas Fair

    Add Christmas Fair at Beamish Hall Hotel to your Itinerary

    Christmas Fair at Beamish Hall Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Beamish

    A triple festive treat shopping extravaganza.

    Dates

    From:
    14 Nov 2025to16 Nov 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Christmas Fair at Beamish Hall Hotel
  9. Cartoon of a sailor dancing

    Add HMS Pinafore by Illyria to your Itinerary

    HMS Pinafore by Illyria

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham City

    Join us for outdoor summer theatre with sharp dialogue and catchy tunes, this timeless comic opera is performed outdoors by a cast of six outstanding performers from the world of musical theatre, on a spectacular nautical set and using Sir Arthur…

    Venue

    Durham Cathedral, Durham City

    Dates

    From:
    17 Aug 2025Open 18:30 - 20:30
    More info for HMS Pinafore by Illyria
  10. Crook Hall gardens

    Add History of Durham City Walk at Crook Hall Gardens to your Itinerary

    History of Durham City Walk at Crook Hall Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Guided Walk

    A guided walk from Crook Hall Gardens delving into the history of Durham.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Apr 2025to28 Oct 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for History of Durham City Walk at Crook Hall Gardens
  11. The Last Hurrah advertising poster showing details of events

    Add Durham Fringe Festival: The Last Hurrah to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival: The Last Hurrah

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham City

    The Last Hurrah examines a family of ordinary people wrapped up in secrets and choices to be made.

    Dates

    From:
    25 July 2025to26 July 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival: The Last Hurrah
  12. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Passport to Nature: Moth Trapping to your Itinerary

    Passport to Nature: Moth Trapping

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Sedgefield

    Join us for a fascinating moth trapping experience as we explore the park, unveiling the incredible diversity of moth species that call Hardwick Park home. Whether you're a budding entomologist, a nature enthusiast, or simply curious about the…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 12:00
    More info for Passport to Nature: Moth Trapping
  13. A Christmas Wreath with a pink ribbon

    Add Christmas Wreath Making to your Itinerary

    Christmas Wreath Making

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham City

    Get ready to deck your halls with boughs of holly as we dive into the wonderful world of Christmas wreath making.

    Dates

    From:
    29 Nov 2025to30 Nov 2025Open 13:00 - 17:00
    More info for Christmas Wreath Making
  14. A group foraging at Dalton Moor Farm.

    Add Introduction to Foraging Walk - Dalton Moor Farm to your Itinerary

    Introduction to Foraging Walk - Dalton Moor Farm

    Type

    Type:

    Guided Walk

    Seaham

    An interesting and comprehensive introduction to foraging for beginners and more experienced foragers alike. Approximately 3.5 hours exploring the farm and meeting and eating the characters - the plants that is!

    Dates

    From:
    24 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 13:30
    From:
    21 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 13:30
    From:
    19 Oct 2025Open 10:00 - 13:30
    More info for Introduction to Foraging Walk - Dalton Moor Farm
  15. Lego exhibition of 'Jaws' the movie - Warren Elsmore

    Add Brick Flicks - Bishop Auckland Town Hall to your Itinerary

    Brick Flicks - Bishop Auckland Town Hall

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Bishop Auckland

    From Wayne’s World to West Side Story, The Matrix to Mary Poppins, and Laurel & Hardy to Life of Pi, see classic movies in LEGO® bricks in this exhibition of some of the most iconic and memorable film moments of all time recreated by Warren Elsmore,…

    Dates

    From:
    2 June 2025to30 Aug 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Brick Flicks - Bishop Auckland Town Hall
  16. A woman wearing a colourful embroidered jacket smiles as she looks into a glass display case filled with vintage bottles and framed items in a museum

    Add The Curator Series: Redressing the Balance - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    The Curator Series: Redressing the Balance - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Lecture

    Barnard Castle

    A thought-provoking talk exploring feminist and queer perspectives, social justice and radical ecology. Eleanor Thirlway, Co-Production Curator will discuss why it's crucial to rethink the stories we tell in museums, challenging dominant narratives…

    Dates

    From:
    7 Aug 2025Open 14:30 - 15:30
    More info for The Curator Series: Redressing the Balance - The Bowes Museum
  17. Characters from the Murder Mystery Dinner at Lumley Castle

    Add Murder Mystery Afternoon Tea - Murder-Ton at Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Murder Mystery Afternoon Tea - Murder-Ton at Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Murder Mystery

    Chester le Street

    Secrets and lies are about to surface in our nod to Bridgeton but with a Murder!  

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2025Open 14:00 - 17:30
    More info for Murder Mystery Afternoon Tea - Murder-Ton at Lumley Castle Hotel
  18. 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
  19. A colourful teapot with peacock feathers painted onto it.

    Add Be You at The Bowes - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Be You at The Bowes - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Barnard Castle

    Be You at The Bowes is a LGBTQIA+ co-production working group is the first of its kind at the Museum, teaming up with regional partners and working as a community to learn from one another and grow together. The group will investigate…

    Dates

    From:
    5 Aug 2025Open 18:00 - 20:00
    From:
    19 Aug 2025Open 18:00 - 20:00
    From:
    2 Sept 2025Open 18:00 - 20:00
    From:
    16 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 12:00
    From:
    30 Sept 2025Open 18:00 - 20:00
    From:
    14 Oct 2025Open 18:00 - 20:00
    From:
    28 Oct 2025Open 18:00 - 20:00
    From:
    11 Nov 2025Open 18:00 - 20:00
    From:
    25 Nov 2025Open 18:00 - 20:00
    From:
    9 Dec 2025Open 18:00 - 20:00
    More info for Be You at The Bowes - The Bowes Museum
  20. An archery target with two children holding bow and arrows with the instructor

    Add Medieval Mayhem at Auckland Palace to your Itinerary

    Medieval Mayhem at Auckland Palace

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Bishop Auckland

    A Medieval Mayhem event will take over Auckland Palace grounds on Saturday 26th July, offering a packed programme of performances, crafts and activities.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    26 July 2025Open 10:30 - 15:30
    More info for Medieval Mayhem at Auckland Palace
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