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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. Locomotive pulling a coach pulling a crowd of people

    Add S&DR200 Celebrating Railways: Past, Present and Future at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 Celebrating Railways: Past, Present and Future at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Shildon

    The highlight of the anniversary year will be Rail Futures, a celebratory festival taking place in late September and early October.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Sept 2025to31 Dec 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for S&DR200 Celebrating Railways: Past, Present and Future at Locomotion
  2. Wynyard Hall on a snowy day.

    Festive Afternoon Tea - Wynyard Hall

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Wynyard

    Join us at Wynyard Hall for a festive afternoon like no other, where luxury and magic come together to create an unforgettable experience. Book your table now and let us transport you to a world of wonder and delight the Christmas season.

    Dates

    From:
    7 Dec 2025to21 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    From:
    24 Dec 2025
    More info for Festive Afternoon Tea - Wynyard Hall
  3. Cartoon painting of characters from children's animated films

    Add Films at the Hearth - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    Films at the Hearth - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Bishop Auckland

    A free, community-led film club bringing people together through stories on screen. Each month we show a relaxed, family-friendly movie in the afternoon, followed by an early evening film for general audiences. Third Sunday of every month.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    13 Oct 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Films at the Hearth - The Auckland Project
  4. Santa Claus wearing red festive suit and sunglasses.

    Add Santa's Walkergate Walkabout to your Itinerary

    Santa's Walkergate Walkabout

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Santa Claus is taking break from his busy North Pole workshop to visit the families of Durham at Walkergate this Christmas!

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2025Open 12:30 - 16:30
    More info for Santa's Walkergate Walkabout
  5. Phil Ellis

    Add Funny Way To Be Comedy: Phil Ellis - Bath Mat to your Itinerary

    Funny Way To Be Comedy: Phil Ellis - Bath Mat

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    Following his three big award wins at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, Phil, the very definition of funny bones, presents his brand-new show.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Feb 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for Funny Way To Be Comedy: Phil Ellis - Bath Mat
  6. The decorated Throne Room at Auckland Palace

    Add Christmas at Auckland Palace - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    Christmas at Auckland Palace - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Market Place, Bishop Auckland

    Immerse yourself in unrivalled festive splendour when you visit Auckland Palace's very special Christmas event.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2025to31 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Christmas at Auckland Palace - The Auckland Project
  7. Dance Through The Naughties Disco Party Night poster showing a disco ball, stars, snowflakes and pine cones.

    Add Dance Through The Naughties Disco Party Night - Bowburn Hall Hotel to your Itinerary

    Dance Through The Naughties Disco Party Night - Bowburn Hall Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Join us for a night of fun and merriment get your dancing shoes on, and party the night away on the dance floor as our resident DJ plays you all the hits all night long.

    Dates

    From:
    17 Dec 2025Open 19:00 - 00:00
    From:
    19 Dec 2025Open 19:00 - 00:00
    More info for Dance Through The Naughties Disco Party Night - Bowburn Hall Hotel
  8. Gary Delaney

    Add Gary Delaney "Work In Progress" to your Itinerary

    Gary Delaney "Work In Progress"

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    See Gary’s new jokes months before your friends and family do!

    Dates

    From:
    2 Apr 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for Gary Delaney "Work In Progress"
  9. Robin Hood - The Pantomime. Background shows stage curtain.

    Add Robin Hood Pantomime - Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Robin Hood Pantomime - Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Chester le Street

    The Sheriff of Nottingham and Bad Prince John are up to their usual nasty tricks, and only Robin Hood and the Merry  Men and Women of Sherwood Forest can put a stop to their  wicked behaviour.  

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2025to23 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Robin Hood Pantomime - Lumley Castle Hotel
  10. Poster advertising 80s Silent Disco evening at Durham Cathedral

    Add 80s Silent Disco in Durham Cathedral - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    80s Silent Disco in Durham Cathedral - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Expect 3 epic DJs playing all your favourite 80s tunes in the stunning, illuminated surroundings of Durham Cathedral.

    Dates

    From:
    16 Jan 2026Open 19:00 -
    More info for 80s Silent Disco in Durham Cathedral - Durham Cathedral
  11. 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
  12. Crowds of people enjoying a cricket match at Durham Cricket's Banks Homes Riverside Stadium

    Add Durham Cricket - England Women V New Zealand Women ODI to your Itinerary

    Durham Cricket - England Women V New Zealand Women ODI

    Type

    Type:

    Sporting Event

    Chester le Street

    England Women take on New Zealand Women in a thrilling one day international on Sunday 10 May 2026.

    Dates

    From:
    10 May 2026
    More info for Durham Cricket - England Women V New Zealand Women ODI
  13. Fairy lights outside of South Causey Inn.

    Add Christmas Wreath Workshops at South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Christmas Wreath Workshops at South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Handmade by you, cherished all season long...Add a touch of homemade charm to your Christmas with our Festive Wreath Workshop at South Causey Inn — a magical way to kick off the season and craft a beautiful, personalised wreath to adorn your home.

    Dates

    From:
    18 Dec 2025Open 17:00 -
    More info for Christmas Wreath Workshops at South Causey Inn
  14. People stood watching the traditional lion dance at Millennium Place Durham, part of the Lunar New Tear celebrations.

    Chinese New Year 2026 Celebrations - The Year of The Horse

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Celebrate the Chinese New Year in Durham City with a programme of exciting events.

    Dates

    From:
    21 Feb 2026
    More info for Chinese New Year 2026 Celebrations - The Year of The Horse
  15. View of the Palace Museum in the 1920s and 2025; Photos: © The Palace Museum; Image designed by Ziyu Zhou

    Add Journey of a Century: From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum - Durham University Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Journey of a Century: From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum - Durham University Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Durham City

    Jointly organised by the Palace Museum and the Oriental Museum.

    Dates

    From:
    26 Sept 2025to31 May 2026
    More info for Journey of a Century: From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum - Durham University Oriental Museum
  16. Alasdair Beckett-King

    Add Funny Way To Be Comedy: Alasdair Beckett-King - King of Crumbs to your Itinerary

    Funny Way To Be Comedy: Alasdair Beckett-King - King of Crumbs

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    Come vagabonds, come mountebanks, come coney-catchers and cutpurses and meet the King of Crumbs! As seen on Mock the Week and 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 

    Dates

    From:
    14 Mar 2026Open 20:30 - 22:00
    More info for Funny Way To Be Comedy: Alasdair Beckett-King - King of Crumbs
  17. Back to the nineties.

    Add Back To The 90’s Disco Party Night - Bowburn Hall Hotel to your Itinerary

    Back To The 90’s Disco Party Night - Bowburn Hall Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Join us for a night of fun and merriment get your dancing shoes on, and party the night away on the dance floor as our resident DJ plays you all the hits all night long.

    Dates

    From:
    16 Dec 2025Open 19:00 - 00:00
    More info for Back To The 90’s Disco Party Night - Bowburn Hall Hotel
  18. Cross in The Nave of Durham Cathedral.

    Add Lent Talks - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    Lent Talks - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Religious Event

    Durham City

    You are warmly invited to a series of discussions every Sunday during Lent. Each week will feature leading figures in the world of the creative arts in conversation with Reverend Canon Michael Hampel Vice-Dean and Precentor of Durham Cathedral.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Feb 2026
    From:
    1 Mar 2026
    From:
    8 Mar 2026
    From:
    15 Mar 2026
    From:
    22 Mar 2026
    From:
    29 Mar 2026
    More info for Lent Talks - Durham Cathedral
  19. Ray Bradshaw

    Add Ray Bradshaw "CODA" to your Itinerary

    Ray Bradshaw "CODA"

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    A funny, heart-warming show all about the brilliant things that happen when you grow up in a house where sign language is the first language used,

    Dates

    From:
    28 Feb 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for Ray Bradshaw "CODA"
  20. 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
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