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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. Three images of artwork depicting activities on the train

    Railway 200: Exhibition Train - Inspiration

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage

    Welcome to Inspiration.  Discover the past, present and future of railways on our incredible exhibition train Inspiration, touring Britain from 27th June 2025.

    Dates

    From:
    27 June 2025to1 Oct 2025
    More info for Railway 200: Exhibition Train - Inspiration
  2. A brass band performing in the 1900s Town Bandstand at Beamish Museum with crowds watching.

    Add Brass Bands - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Brass Bands - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Beamish

    Tap your foot along to the sound of brass bands at Beamish Museum, who will be performing tunes in The 1900s Town bandstand from 2pm - 4pm. 

    Dates

    From:
    26 July 2025to7 Sept 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Brass Bands - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  3. Two children dressed in Halloween costumes at Hall Hill Farm

    Add Spooky Half Term at Hall Hill Farm to your Itinerary

    Spooky Half Term at Hall Hill Farm

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Lanchester

    Are you brave enough to come to Hall Hill Farm for a ghoulishly-good time?

    Dates

    From:
    18 Oct 2025to19 Oct 2025
    From:
    25 Oct 2025to2 Nov 2025
    More info for Spooky Half Term at Hall Hill Farm
  4. Railway 200 logo

    Add Railway 200: Shildon Railway Themed Flower Festival to your Itinerary

    Railway 200: Shildon Railway Themed Flower Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Show / Display

    Shildon

    The Churches of Shildon in County Durham will be holding a railway themed flower festival on Friday 5th Sept 2025 between 10am & 3pm.

    Dates

    From:
    5 Sept 2025
    More info for Railway 200: Shildon Railway Themed Flower Festival
  5. 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:
    21 Oct 2025to22 Oct 2026
    From:
    24 Oct 2025
    From:
    20 Nov 2025
    From:
    2 Jan 2026to4 Jan 2026
    From:
    12 Feb 2026to15 Feb 2026
    From:
    20 Feb 2026to21 Feb 2026
    From:
    27 Feb 2026to28 Feb 2026
    From:
    13 Mar 2026to14 Mar 2026
    From:
    19 Mar 2026to21 Mar 2026
    From:
    27 Mar 2026to28 Mar 2026
    More info for Stargazing Suppers - High Force Hotel and Waterfall
  6. A cartoon image of children and adults enjoying an outdoor activity at Auckland Palace Deer Park

    Add Hearth Outdoors at Auckland Palace Deer Park to your Itinerary

    Hearth Outdoors at Auckland Palace Deer Park

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Bishop Auckland

    A free, welcoming programme of nature-based activities designed to help you feel good, connect with others, and explore the green spaces of Auckland Palace Deer Park.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    29 July 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Hearth Outdoors at Auckland Palace Deer Park
  7. Table set for Christmas Day lunch with two glasses of champagne at the Radisson Blu Durham

    Add Christmas Day at Józef’s Riverside Restaurant to your Itinerary

    Christmas Day at Józef’s Riverside Restaurant

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham City

    Following the excitement of Christmas Day morning, come together with family and friends, and let the Radisson Blu Durham do all the hard work for you to celebrate your Christmas Day in style.

    Dates

    From:
    25 Dec 2025Open 12:00 - 15:00
    More info for Christmas Day at Józef’s Riverside Restaurant
  8. Wildlife photographs from the exhibition

    Add Exhibition:  Low Barns Photography Group to your Itinerary

    Exhibition: Low Barns Photography Group

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Witton le Wear

    Low Barns Photography Group host the 3rd Annual Photography Exhibition at Low Barns Nature Reserve.  Saturday 23rd August to Wednesday 27th August.

    Dates

    From:
    23 Aug 2025to27 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Exhibition: Low Barns Photography Group
  9. Headshot of Neil Delamere grinning with his hands covering his mouth.

    Add Neil Delamere "Achilles Neil" - The Witham to your Itinerary

    Neil Delamere "Achilles Neil" - The Witham

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    A celebration of the altogether too frequent weaknesses that make us human. A regular on TV and radio with credits including Live At The Apollo, The News Quiz, The Unbelievable Truth, Fighting Talk, Dancing With The Stars, and The Blame Game, as…

    Dates

    From:
    5 Nov 2025Open 19:30 - 21:00
    More info for Neil Delamere "Achilles Neil" - The Witham
  10. Someone holding a lizard in their hands

    Add Exotic Animal Encounters with Leon's Exotics to your Itinerary

    Exotic Animal Encounters with Leon's Exotics

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Bishop Auckland

    We are thrilled to welcome Leon's Exotics for an unforgettable exotic animal encounter, perfect for all ages!

    Dates

    From:
    27 Sept 2025Open 11:00 - 12:00
    More info for Exotic Animal Encounters with Leon's Exotics
  11. 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
  12. Trains at Locomotion

    Add S&DR200 - STEAM, WHEELS n’ RAILS at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - STEAM, WHEELS n’ RAILS at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Shildon

    ‘STEAM, WHEELS n’ RAILS’ is a new period costume drama, telling the extraordinary story of the birth of the railways.

    Dates

    From:
    21 Sept 2025to23 Sept 2025
    More info for S&DR200 - STEAM, WHEELS n’ RAILS at Locomotion
  13. People lying in the grass at Dalton Moor Farm enjoying a Mindful Morning

    Add Mindful Morning - Dalton Moor Farm to your Itinerary

    Mindful Morning - Dalton Moor Farm

    Type

    Type:

    Wellness Event

    Seaham

    Start Your Day with calm intention and gentle awareness in our mindful morning session, where breath, movement, and stillness come together to set the tone for a graceful and peaceful day.

    Dates

    From:
    2 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 12:00
    From:
    30 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 12:00
    More info for Mindful Morning - Dalton Moor Farm
  14. Inside St Laurence's Church

    Add Heritage Open Days - St Laurence’s Church, Pittington to your Itinerary

    Heritage Open Days - St Laurence’s Church, Pittington

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage Open Days

    High Pittington

    Visit St Laurence Church. Refreshments available.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Heritage Open Days - St Laurence’s Church, Pittington
  15. 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
  16. Boyzlife - Keith Duffy & Brian McFadden

    Add Boyzlife Live in Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    Boyzlife Live in Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    The College, Durham

    Keith Duffy & Brian McFadden will be performing the greatest hits from Boyzone & Westlife live in Durham Cathedral with their full band in October.

    Dates

    From:
    25 Oct 2025Open 19:00 -
    More info for Boyzlife Live in Durham Cathedral
  17. A skeleton at The Halloween Maize Maze at Thorpe Farm Centre.

    Add Halloween Maize Maze Trail - Thorpe Farm Centre to your Itinerary

    Halloween Maize Maze Trail - Thorpe Farm Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Barnard Castle

    Spooktacular family fun awaits at Thorpe Farm Centre. The Spooky Halloween Maize Maze opens on Saturday 4th October! Grab a map and activity sheet from The Courtyard Café and head off to explore the 4 acre maize and find surprises around every…

    Dates

    From:
    4 Oct 2025to2 Nov 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Halloween Maize Maze Trail - Thorpe Farm Centre
  18. Crook Hall gardens

    Add Gardens trail: Summer of Play at Crook Hall Gardens to your Itinerary

    Gardens trail: Summer of Play at Crook Hall Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Embark on an adventure through the gardens and learn more about the colourful array of flowers and plants all around you.

    Dates

    From:
    31 July 2025to3 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Gardens trail: Summer of Play at Crook Hall Gardens
  19. Painting of Old Locomotive Engine Wylam Coll from the Hatton Gallery, Newcastle University

    Add S&DR200 - Fuelling the Railway Revolution to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - Fuelling the Railway Revolution

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Bishop Auckland

    This special exhibition explores the inextricable link between coal mining and the railways.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    27 June 2025to21 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for S&DR200 - Fuelling the Railway Revolution
  20. Pizza and Pizza oven

    Add Saturday's of Alfresco Pizza on The Vinery Terrace to your Itinerary

    Saturday's of Alfresco Pizza on The Vinery Terrace

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Staindrop

    Enjoy delicious seasonal dining this summer on the beautiful Vinery Terrace at Raby Castle. Our pop-up kitchens offer the perfect way to relax and savour fresh, handcrafted pizzas in the stunning castle grounds.

    Dates

    From:
    30 Aug 2025
    More info for Saturday's of Alfresco Pizza on The Vinery Terrace
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