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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. '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:
    12 July 2025Open 12:00 - 15:00
    From:
    22 Aug 2025
    More info for GOING BACK BROCKENS: Monuments and Rhetoric After the Miners’ Strike
  2. Taylor Swift lookalike in a cowgirl hat and silver platforms.

    Add Swift-Tea Party - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Swift-Tea Party - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Bargate Bank, Lanchester

    Join us this "Cruel Summer" for our very first Swift-Tea - with live singing, games, dance competitions and of course meet & greet with photo opportunities.

    Dates

    From:
    17 Aug 2025Open 17:30 - 19:00
    More info for Swift-Tea Party - Lanchester Garden Centre
  3. Hands with strings attached to fingers and letters on each string which spell 'The Rubbish Puppets'

    Add Durham Fringe Festival: The Rubbish Puppets to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival: The Rubbish Puppets

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham City

    A girl is hidden away in her bedroom, alone by design. Still, company seems to find her anyway when the messy room comes to life. The Rubbish Puppets bring her much needed friendship, but there’s only so much a rag tag group of animate objects can…

    Dates

    From:
    23 July 2025to24 July 2025Open 19:15 -
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival: The Rubbish Puppets
  4. Heart-Shaped Autumn Wax Melts

    Add Luxury Autumn Wax Melts Workshop & Cream Tea - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Luxury Autumn Wax Melts Workshop & Cream Tea - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Workshop

    Bargate Bank, Lanchester

    Autumn workshop. Make a beautiful set of seaside scented wax melt decorations with Bobella Co!

    Dates

    From:
    7 Sept 2025Open 14:00 - 16:00
    More info for Luxury Autumn Wax Melts Workshop & Cream Tea - Lanchester Garden Centre
  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:
    30 Aug 2025to29 Mar 2026
    More info for Stargazing Suppers - High Force Hotel and Waterfall
  6. People attending Durham Brass Festival's Party in the Park at Wharton Park in Durham City

    Add Durham Brass Festival: Party in the Park to your Itinerary

    Durham Brass Festival: Party in the Park

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Get on your dancing shoes as our street bands bring the party to the park from 5pm to 9pm.

    Dates

    From:
    19 July 2025Open 17:00 -
    More info for Durham Brass Festival: Party in the Park
  7. Liz Corney

    Add Durham Brass Festival: Brassed On to your Itinerary

    Durham Brass Festival: Brassed On

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    This unique programme pairs Northeast artists with talented brass ensembles to create new music and take part in a unique and unforgettable performance.

    Dates

    From:
    19 July 2025Open 19:00 -
    More info for Durham Brass Festival: Brassed On
  8. Two princesses entertaining families at Tweddle Farm.

    Add Princesses & Superheroes - Tweddle Children's Animal Farm to your Itinerary

    Princesses & Superheroes - Tweddle Children's Animal Farm

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Blackhall Colliery

    Join us for a magical day as Princesses and Heroes take over the farm! Dress up as your favourite character and join in with their exciting performances. Face painting will be available throughout the day free of charge!

    Dates

    From:
    2 Aug 2025to3 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Princesses & Superheroes - Tweddle Children's Animal Farm
  9. Idyllic views of Ramside Golf Course

    Add Senior Mens Team of 4 Open - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa to your Itinerary

    Senior Mens Team of 4 Open - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa

    Type

    Type:

    Golf Events

    Durham

    Senior Mens Team of 4 Open.

    Dates

    From:
    3 Sept 2025
    More info for Senior Mens Team of 4 Open - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa
  10. Artist Dinah Kelly in her studio

    Add Enchanted Objects: Adornment and Personal Protection from Amulets to the Mobile Phone to your Itinerary

    Enchanted Objects: Adornment and Personal Protection from Amulets to the Mobile Phone

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Durham City

    Contemporary artist Dinah Kelly shines a light on the protective powers and symbolism of charms, talismans and amulets.

    Venue

    Durham University Oriental Museum, Durham City

    Dates

    From:
    13 June 2025to9 Nov 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Enchanted Objects: Adornment and Personal Protection from Amulets to the Mobile Phone
  11. Glass slipper

    Add Durham Fringe Festival: Charming to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival: Charming

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham

    It's twenty years after the wedding. Cinderella has filed for divorce. The Slipper has shattered! What's a Prince to do? A brand new comedy by celebrated playwright Annie Lux.

    Dates

    From:
    24 July 2025to25 July 2025Open 22:00 -
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival: Charming
  12. 'Two Foolish' - woman in high heeled boots and a corset, and man in a purple suit.

    Add Durham Fringe Festival: Love Hurts to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival: Love Hurts

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham City

    Death has had a rebranding – the cape and scythe has had to go and he's here with his purple suit and his customer satisfaction survey to give death a more user-friendly vibe.

    Dates

    From:
    23 July 2025to24 July 2025Open 16:00 -
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival: Love Hurts
  13. The Prince Bishop River Cruiser sailing on the River Wear in Durham City with the Cathedral in the background

    Add Durham Brass Festival: BRASS Boat Cruises New York Brass Band to your Itinerary

    Durham Brass Festival: BRASS Boat Cruises New York Brass Band

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    This year, Brass Festival will take over the streets…and the water too! Cruise along the River Wear on the Prince Bishop, with our fantastic street bands onboard.

    Dates

    From:
    20 July 2025Open 13:00 -
    More info for Durham Brass Festival: BRASS Boat Cruises New York Brass Band
  14. poster with details of market with an image of 61 Durham in the background

    Add GNB - 61 Durham Weekly Market to your Itinerary

    GNB - 61 Durham Weekly Market

    Type

    Type:

    Markets

    High Pittington

    61 Weekly Market, every Wednesday.

    Dates

    From:
    7 May 2025to29 Oct 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for GNB - 61 Durham Weekly Market
  15. Four steam engines at Tanfield

    Add Railway 200: Diesel Pioneers Gala at Tanfield Railway to your Itinerary

    Railway 200: Diesel Pioneers Gala at Tanfield Railway

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Marley Hill, Tanfield

    Join us this September for the Diesel Pioneers Gala, a standout event in our Tanfield300 celebrations! Taking place on the 20th and 21st of September 2025, this gala is a tribute to the industrial diesel locomotives that played a vital role in…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2025to21 Sept 2025
    More info for Railway 200: Diesel Pioneers Gala at Tanfield Railway
  16. Blue skies, a dog, a stall, sun and countryside

    Add Street Art Workshops – Free Creative Sessions for Kids this Summer to your Itinerary

    Street Art Workshops – Free Creative Sessions for Kids this Summer

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Murton

    Get ready to spray, sketch and shine! This summer, your budding artists can dive into the colourful world of street art with a series of free, hands-on workshops at Dalton Park.

    Dates

    From:
    23 July 2025to25 July 2025Open 11:00 - 15:30
    From:
    30 July 2025to1 Aug 2025Open 11:00 - 15:30
    More info for Street Art Workshops – Free Creative Sessions for Kids this Summer
  17. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Passport to Nature: Bat and Moth Evening (Summer Holiday Event) - Hardwick Park to your Itinerary

    Passport to Nature: Bat and Moth Evening (Summer Holiday Event) - Hardwick Park

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Sedgefield

    As the sun sets and the night comes alive, join us at Hardwick Park to explore the mysterious world of bats and moths. Discover the wonders of these nocturnal creatures, learn about the vital roles they play in our ecosystem and gain insight into…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Aug 2025Open 19:30 - 22:00
    More info for Passport to Nature: Bat and Moth Evening (Summer Holiday Event) - Hardwick Park
  18. Headshot of Ella Henderson

    Add Ella Henderson: Live at Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    Ella Henderson: Live at Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    Durham

    Prepare for an unforgettable evening of music as the sensational Ella Henderson takes centre stage at the historic Durham Cathedral, as part of this year's Live at the Cathedral concert series.

    Dates

    From:
    25 July 2025Open 19:30 -
    More info for Ella Henderson: Live at Durham Cathedral
  19. Poster showing craft material such as ribbon, sewing needle, material, and bows - 'Craft Destash'

    Add Castle Eden Destash - Castle Eden Village Hall to your Itinerary

    Castle Eden Destash - Castle Eden Village Hall

    Type

    Type:

    Arts & Crafts

    Castle Eden

    Craft supplies at low prices . From wool to resin, find a bargain for your craft needs. Free entry, free parking. 

    Dates

    From:
    13 July 2025Open 10:00 - 14:00
    More info for Castle Eden Destash - Castle Eden Village Hall
  20. Railway 200 logo

    Add Railway 200 Talk: “Teesdale Tracks and Derailing Dukes” – with Chris Lloyd to your Itinerary

    Railway 200 Talk: “Teesdale Tracks and Derailing Dukes” – with Chris Lloyd

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Shildon

    As we’re into the Stockton & Darlington Railway Bicentenary year, we’re teaming up with the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and Jane Hackworth-Young to present a series of talks at Timothy Hackworth’s own Institute.

    Dates

    From:
    16 July 2025Open 19:00 -
    More info for Railway 200 Talk: “Teesdale Tracks and Derailing Dukes” – with Chris Lloyd
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