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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. Actress portraying a Victorian woman in despair.

    Add Durham Fringe Festival: Whispers to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival: Whispers

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham City

    This haunting piece of theatre is an intensive journey through XIX century asylum room, courtroom, monastery cell, banks of the Thames but also depths of the human’s mind.

    Dates

    From:
    26 July 2025to27 July 2025Open 21:45 -
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival: Whispers
  2. 'Much Ado About Nothing' - The Handlebards. Illustration of a woman on a bicycle.

    Add The HandleBards: Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing' (Outdoor Theatre) - Wharton Park to your Itinerary

    The HandleBards: Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing' (Outdoor Theatre) - Wharton Park

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham

    The HandleBards return to Wharton Park in summer 2025. Make the most of the early bird offer, tickets make a great Christmas gift. Book here for The Handlebards. - make the most of the early bird offer - visit and search for Wharton Park.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Aug 2025Open 18:30 -
    More info for The HandleBards: Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing' (Outdoor Theatre) - Wharton Park
  3. 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
  4. '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
  5. Two people sawing a log - Beamish Museum

    Add Home Front, Home Farm 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Home Front, Home Farm 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Beamish

    Visit our 1940s Farm to learn about life in the British countryside during the Second World War.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2025to21 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Home Front, Home Farm 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  6. County musician Kimmi playing guitar and wearing a cowgirl hat

    Add Country Music Night with Kimmi - High Farm Holiday Park to your Itinerary

    Country Music Night with Kimmi - High Farm Holiday Park

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Bishop Auckland

    Join us for an evening filled with all things country.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Aug 2025Open 18:30 - 22:30
    More info for Country Music Night with Kimmi - High Farm Holiday Park
  7. Pete Firman throwing a pack of cards ito the air

    Add Pete Firman "Tricks & Giggles" - The Witham to your Itinerary

    Pete Firman "Tricks & Giggles" - The Witham

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    With over 4.5 million social media followers and countless TV appearances under his belt, Pete Firman is the UK's top comic magician.

    Dates

    From:
    17 Apr 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for Pete Firman "Tricks & Giggles" - The Witham
  8. A willow reindeer

    Add Festive Willow Reindeer Workshop at Raby Castle to your Itinerary

    Festive Willow Reindeer Workshop at Raby Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Staindrop

    Join our Festive Willow Reindeer Workshop, hosted in the beautifully restored Riding School at Raby Castle.

    Venue

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Festive Willow Reindeer Workshop at Raby Castle
  9. 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
  10. Illustration of a green dinosaur and text which reads 'Spontaneous Wrecks'.

    Add Durham Fringe Festival: Spontaneous Wrecks to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival: Spontaneous Wrecks

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Owengate, Durham City

    After a smashing run at the Durham Fringe in 2024, Spontaneous Wrecks present... The Improvised Fringe Show!

    Dates

    From:
    23 July 2025to24 July 2025Open 21:15 -
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival: Spontaneous Wrecks
  11. Close up shot of Andy Gilbert's face in black and white.

    Add Durham Fringe Festival - Freud, Erikson & me to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival - Freud, Erikson & me

    Type

    Type:

    Performance

    Owengate, Durham City

    The 'UK’s # 1 Poetry Teacher' explores the theories of Sigmund Freud and Erik Erikson to find out why he writes the kind of poetry that he does. Will you find answers too? A hilarious and moving journey through the stages of life. Strong language…

    Dates

    From:
    26 July 2025to27 July 2025Open 20:00 -
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival - Freud, Erikson & me
  12. Exterior image of Brancepeth Castle through the trees.

    Add Brancepeth Castle Summer Craft Fair 2025 to your Itinerary

    Brancepeth Castle Summer Craft Fair 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Fete / Fair

    Durham

    Three-Day Summer Craft Fair at Brancepeth Castle (25–27 July 2025): Explore over 70 indoor and outdoor craft stalls, offering unique handmade creations like art, pottery, ironwork, woodwork, jewellery, textiles, garden plants, and more. Try craft…

    Dates

    From:
    25 July 2025to27 July 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Brancepeth Castle Summer Craft Fair 2025
  13. Ghostly image of a locomotive

    S&DR200 - Ghost Train

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Darlington and Stockton

    Two major outdoor events inspired by the Stockton and Darlington Railway story.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2025
    From:
    28 Sept 2025
    More info for S&DR200 - Ghost Train
  14. runners set off rom the start line of Durham City Run

    Durham City Run Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Sporting Event

    Durham City

    The Durham City 5K and 10K races returns to Durham on Thursday 17th July 2025.

    Dates

    From:
    17 July 2025to19 July 2025
    More info for Durham City Run Festival 2025
  15. Close up of Tom Bolton holding a suit of aces which cover one side of his face.

    Add Durham Fringe Festival: Tom Bolton & Friends to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival: Tom Bolton & Friends

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Tom Bolton is back, and this time, he’s not coming alone. He’s bringing some of the most exciting names in magic from outside and within Durham Fringe for a night of mind-blowing illusions!

    Dates

    From:
    23 July 2025to27 July 2025Open 17:30 -
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival: Tom Bolton & Friends
  16. 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
  17. a diver under the surface of the ocean

    Add Sunken Shipwrecks at The Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Sunken Shipwrecks at The Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Hunt for the Tek Sing shipwreck and learn how underwater archaeologists study shipwrecks.

    Venue

    Durham University Oriental Museum, Durham City

    Dates

    From:
    23 July 2025Open 13:00 - 15:00
    More info for Sunken Shipwrecks at The Oriental Museum
  18. S&DR 200 logo

    S&DR200 Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    The 27 September 2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR), which gave birth to the modern railway. To celebrate this landmark anniversary, the nine-month S&DR200 Festival will take place across…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Mar 2025to30 Nov 2025
    More info for S&DR200 Festival
  19. 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
  20. Sausages on the BBQ at Lumley Castle Tipi

    Add BBQ & Beer Night with Live Music - Tipi at Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    BBQ & Beer Night with Live Music - Tipi at Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Food & Drink

    Chester le Street

    Bring your appetite, your mates, and your love of all things grilled and brewed. The fire’s crackling, the beer’s cold, and the tipi’s calling. Don’t miss it!

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2025Open 19:00 - 23:00
    More info for BBQ & Beer Night with Live Music - Tipi at Lumley Castle Hotel
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