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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. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Step into Storytime: Norman the Slug with the Silly Shell - Hardwick Park to your Itinerary

    Step into Storytime: Norman the Slug with the Silly Shell - Hardwick Park

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Sedgefield

    Outdoor discover sessions involving storytelling, crafts activities, interactive trails, games and woodland play.

    Dates

    From:
    19 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 13:00
    More info for Step into Storytime: Norman the Slug with the Silly Shell - Hardwick Park
  2. Joe Metcalfe playing guitar and singing on stage

    Add Tapas Night with Live Music from Joe Metcalfe - High Farm Holiday Park to your Itinerary

    Tapas Night with Live Music from Joe Metcalfe - High Farm Holiday Park

    Type

    Type:

    Food Events

    Bishop Auckland

    Join us for an evening filled with acoustic sing-along anthems performed by the talented Joe Metcalfe.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Aug 2025Open 18:00 - 22:30
    More info for Tapas Night with Live Music from Joe Metcalfe - High Farm Holiday Park
  3. Lauren Pattison lying across a chair with one leg above her head

    Add Lauren Pattison Big Girl Pants - The Witham to your Itinerary

    Lauren Pattison Big Girl Pants - The Witham

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    Two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Lauren Pattison is back with a brand-new show. She's decided she wants to come back bigger, braver and maybe blonder... either way it's time to put her big girl pants on.

    Dates

    From:
    5 Sept 2025Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for Lauren Pattison Big Girl Pants - The Witham
  4. VJ Day 80th anniversary news clipping

    Add Exhibition: 'VJ Day 80' at Brancepeth Castle to your Itinerary

    Exhibition: 'VJ Day 80' at Brancepeth Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Brancepeth

    Commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan and the end of World War II.

    Dates

    From:
    14 Aug 2025Open 09:00 - 13:00
    More info for Exhibition: 'VJ Day 80' at Brancepeth Castle
  5. Two people in military uniforms - Remembrance Sunday

    Add Remembrance Sunday 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Remembrance Sunday 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Beamish

    We will be holding special commemorations at the museum for Remembrance Sunday.

    Dates

    From:
    9 Nov 2025
    More info for Remembrance Sunday 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  6. Stone font at St Mary the Virgin Church

    Add Heritage Open Days - St Mary the Virgin, Easington to your Itinerary

    Heritage Open Days - St Mary the Virgin, Easington

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage Open Days

    Easington Village, Peterlee

    A 12th century Parish Church, with evidence of Saxon origins. The building contains Medieval pieces.

    Dates

    From:
    13 Sept 2025Open 11:00 - 15:00
    From:
    20 Sept 2025Open 11:00 - 15:00
    More info for Heritage Open Days - St Mary the Virgin, Easington
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. Crowds of people watching a performance at the Hardwick Festival

    Add Hardwick Festival 2025 to your Itinerary

    Hardwick Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Sedgefield

    Hardwick Festival returns 15th to 17th August. The 2025 line-up will be revealed soon.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Aug 2025to17 Aug 2025
    More info for Hardwick Festival 2025
  11. Halloween party poster for children showing cobwebs, bats, spiders, trees and ghouls

    Add Children's Halloween Party to your Itinerary

    Children's Halloween Party

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Peterlee

    Get ready for a spooktacular night of fun at Peterlee's Children's Halloween Party.

    Dates

    From:
    31 Oct 2025Open 17:00 - 19:00
    More info for Children's Halloween Party
  12. 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
  13. Two children walking the trail

    Add Bumble Bee Safari Trail - High Force Waterfall to your Itinerary

    Bumble Bee Safari Trail - High Force Waterfall

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Forest in Teesdale

    Visit High Force Waterfall this summer and enjoy the Little Bees’ Trail — a brand-new, nature-inspired activity for children, included free with your waterfall admission.

    Venue

    High Force Waterfall, Forest-in-Teesdale

    Dates

    From:
    28 July 2025to7 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Bumble Bee Safari Trail - High Force Waterfall
  14. Close up of vegetables at market stall. Person standing next to veg.

    Add Consett Market to your Itinerary

    Consett Market

    Type

    Type:

    Markets

    Consett

    Stroll through the stalls, savour delicious local treats, and soak up the friendly atmosphere. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday 8:00-16:00

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Consett Market
  15. The decorated Throne Room at Auckland Palace

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

    Christmas at the 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 the Palace - The Auckland Project
  16. People looking at the exhibition display stand at Locomotion

    Add S&DR200 - Railway Firsts at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - Railway Firsts at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Shildon

    Home to one of largest collections of historic rail vehicles in the world, Locomotion is pulling out all the stops to commemorate S&DR200.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Feb 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for S&DR200 - Railway Firsts at Locomotion
  17. Children and families enjoying the 'Forest of Light' at Beamish Hall Hotel

    Add Forest of Light at Beamish Hall Hotel to your Itinerary

    Forest of Light at Beamish Hall Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Beamish

    Our Forest of Light is a captivating illuminated experience set within our enchanted ancient woodland.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Nov 2025to4 Jan 2026
    More info for Forest of Light at Beamish Hall Hotel
  18. Gin & Cheese Train returns to Weardale Railway.
Poster shows a cheese board, train and gin.

    Add Gin and Cheese Train - Weardale Railway to your Itinerary

    Gin and Cheese Train - Weardale Railway

    Type

    Type:

    Food & Drink

    Stanhope, Bishop Auckland

    Weardale Railway’s much-loved Gin & Cheese Train is making a welcome return on Saturday 23 August, offering passengers the chance to enjoy award-winning local flavours while taking in the spectacular sights of the Durham Dales.

    Dates

    From:
    23 Aug 2025Open 13:00 -
    More info for Gin and Cheese Train - Weardale Railway
  19. Harry Potter, Hagrid, Dumbledore and Hogwarts in the background of 'The Philosopher's Stone' movie poster.

    Add Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone (PG) - Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone (PG) - Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Film

    Chester le Street

    Philosopher's Stone (PG) Sunday 31st August (18:30).

    Dates

    From:
    31 Aug 2025Open 18:30 -
    More info for Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone (PG) - Lumley Castle Hotel
  20. Nature walk with ranger Jason

    Add Nature Walk with Ranger Jason to your Itinerary

    Nature Walk with Ranger Jason

    Type

    Type:

    Guided Walk

    Explore rocky headlands, wildflower meadows and secluded bays with a ranger. Discover local wildlife, including birds, butterflies, moths, and fungi. Try out specialist equipment like binoculars, moth traps and bat detectors. Be a part of monitoring…

    Dates

    From:
    27 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 12:00
    More info for Nature Walk with Ranger Jason
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