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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. 'Re-Take That' performing on stage

    Add Re-Take That - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    Re-Take That - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    The College, Durham

    Re-Take That is the ultimate Take That party night, bringing the world’s biggest boy band’s greatest hits to life – live on stage. 

    Dates

    From:
    12 Sept 2025Open 19:30 -
    More info for Re-Take That - Durham Cathedral
  2. Text reads, 'Wreath Making' with illustrations of a wreath, Christmas lights and a Santa hat.

    Add Wreath Making - The Manor House Hotel & Spa to your Itinerary

    Wreath Making - The Manor House Hotel & Spa

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    West Auckland, Bishop Auckland

    Add a touch of homemade charm to your Christmas with a Christmas wreath making workshop.

    Dates

    From:
    7 Dec 2025Open 11:30 - 16:00
    More info for Wreath Making - The Manor House Hotel & Spa
  3. Illustration of Shakespeare. Text reads, 'Shakespeare Recovered'.

    Add Shakespeare Recovered: Durham's First Folio - Palace Green Library to your Itinerary

    Shakespeare Recovered: Durham's First Folio - Palace Green Library

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Durham

    This year, our iconic book takes centre stage at Palace Green Library.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Apr 2025to2 Nov 2025Open 11:00 - 16:00
    More info for Shakespeare Recovered: Durham's First Folio - Palace Green Library
  4. Copyright - Dash Photography. Couple embracing on their wedding day.

    Add Wedding Open Day - Hall Garth Hotel and Country Club to your Itinerary

    Wedding Open Day - Hall Garth Hotel and Country Club

    Type

    Type:

    Wedding Fairs and Events

    Darlington

    Experience the magic of Hall Garth Hotel, nestled in its expansive 70-acre parkland. Our enchanting venue offers a picturesque setting with hidden gardens, graceful weeping willows, and charming kissing bridges, perfect for capturing those timeless…

    Dates

    From:
    12 Oct 2025Open 11:00 - 14:00
    More info for Wedding Open Day - Hall Garth Hotel and Country Club
  5. Statue of St Godric

    Add Heritage Open Days - Church of our Lady of Mercy and St. Godric to your Itinerary

    Heritage Open Days - Church of our Lady of Mercy and St. Godric

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage Open Days

    Durham City

    Between the train and the bus stations, a landmark in the Durham City Conservation Area, St. Godric's Grade II listed church was designed by Edward Pugin. Opened in 1864 it has beautiful examples of Victorian stained glass and a fine high altar.

    Dates

    From:
    12 Sept 2025to13 Sept 2025Open 11:00 - 17:00
    From:
    19 Sept 2025to20 Sept 2025Open 11:00 - 17:00
    More info for Heritage Open Days - Church of our Lady of Mercy and St. Godric
  6. Details of event with image of sunflowers straw hat and cane

    Add Ferryhill, Sedgefield and District Flower Club Demonstration to your Itinerary

    Ferryhill, Sedgefield and District Flower Club Demonstration

    Type

    Type:

    Demonstration

    Sedgefield

    Susan Hall presents memories of Vietnam.

    Dates

    From:
    21 Oct 2025Open 19:15 - 21:15
    More info for Ferryhill, Sedgefield and District Flower Club Demonstration
  7. Silhouette if people dancing at sunset

    Add Summer Nights Adventure at Adventure Valley to your Itinerary

    Summer Nights Adventure at Adventure Valley

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Brasside

    Summer Nights Adventure returns to Adventure valley on Saturday 16th August, 6pm–9pm.

    Dates

    From:
    16 Aug 2025Open 18:00 - 21:00
    More info for Summer Nights Adventure at Adventure Valley
  8. Nashville recording artist Jeremy McComb

    Add Jeremy McComb at Steam Machine Brewing Company to your Itinerary

    Jeremy McComb at Steam Machine Brewing Company

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    Newton Aycliffe

    Country singer Jeremy McComb is coming to Newton Aycliffe.

    Dates

    From:
    26 Aug 2025Open 18:30 - 21:45
    More info for Jeremy McComb at Steam Machine Brewing Company
  9. 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
  10. Durham Book Festival Logo

    Durham Book Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Durham Book Festival

    Durham

    Durham Book Festival is one of the country’s oldest literary festivals, taking place in and around Durham City, returning this year on 10th to 12th October.

    Dates

    From:
    10 Oct 2025to12 Oct 2025
    More info for Durham Book Festival 2025
  11. Playing cards suspended from beams in an illuminated, colourful tunnel

    Add Adventures in Wonderland: An Immersive Experience - Raby Castle Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Adventures in Wonderland: An Immersive Experience - Raby Castle Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Staindrop

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens is encouraging families to journey down the rabbit hole this summer with an Alice in Wonderland inspired takeover of the castle grounds.

    Dates

    From:
    19 July 2025to17 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Adventures in Wonderland: An Immersive Experience - Raby Castle Park and Gardens
  12. 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
  13. The Bowes Museum and grounds

    Add Parkland Play - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Parkland Play - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Explore the museum with our spotting and drawing activities and enjoy our outside spaces with the Pocket Parkland Playbook, specially designed to help you get creative with the natural materials around you. All available from reception.

    Dates

    From:
    1 May 2025to31 Dec 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Parkland Play - The Bowes Museum
  14. Grand Finale all cast of Kynren view from the tribune

    Add Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2025 to your Itinerary

    Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Performance

    Bishop Auckland

    Travel through 2,000 years of history in a single unforgettable evening! Watch as legends come to life – Vikings storm ashore, battles rage, and heroes rise beneath a sky ablaze with magic and fire.
    In 2025, celebrate the 200th anniversary of the…

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Weardale Visitor Network Member 2025Weardale Visitor Network Member
    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025 2025TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025

    Dates

    From:
    16 Aug 2025Open 20:45 -
    From:
    23 Aug 2025Open 20:30 -
    From:
    30 Aug 2025Open 20:15 -
    From:
    6 Sept 2025Open 20:00 -
    From:
    13 Sept 2025Open 19:45 -
    More info for Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2025
  15. A moth on a flower.

    Add Coastal Nature Walk at Blackhall Rocks to your Itinerary

    Coastal Nature Walk at Blackhall Rocks

    Type

    Type:

    Guided Walk

    Blackhall Colliery,

    Join us for a guided coastal wildlife walk along the Durham coast at Blackhall Rocks.

    Dates

    From:
    27 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 12:00
    More info for Coastal Nature Walk at Blackhall Rocks
  16. Brancepeth castle golf club

    Add Mixed Opens - Brancepeth Castle Golf Club to your Itinerary

    Mixed Opens - Brancepeth Castle Golf Club

    Type

    Type:

    Golf Events

    Durham

    Open events at Brancepeth are extremely popular and usually sell out very quickly as they attract visitors from all over the North of England and beyond.  We pride ourselves in making everyone’s visit to our golf course memorable by delivering…

    Dates

    From:
    14 Sept 2025
    More info for Mixed Opens - Brancepeth Castle Golf Club
  17. Aerial View of the Coach House shop at Raby Castle

    Add Harvest Seasonal Market at Raby Castle to your Itinerary

    Harvest Seasonal Market at Raby Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Markets

    Staindrop

    Held in the stunning Riding School and Dutch Barn, expect live music, local produce, delectable food, and unique gifts for all the family here at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens.

    Dates

    From:
    23 Aug 2025to25 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Harvest Seasonal Market at Raby Castle
  18. A woman and her two children looking at the Ladybird Exhibition at Ushaw.

    Add The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Book Artists - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Book Artists - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Durham

    The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Book Artists. This summer, see The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Book Artists in our family-focused exhibition which celebrates the art of the Ladybird book artists from the 1940s to the 1970s.

    Dates

    From:
    28 June 2025to31 Aug 2025
    More info for The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Book Artists - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
  19. Crowds enjoying food at Chester-le-EATS. Image credit: Gareth Williams Photo & Film

    Add Chester-le-EATS 2025 to your Itinerary

    Chester-le-EATS 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Food & Drink Festival

    Chester le Street

    Chester-le-EATS Festival Returns to Durham Cricket With An Exciting New Line-Up

    Dates

    From:
    27 Sept 2025to28 Sept 2025Open 11:00 - 17:00
    More info for Chester-le-EATS 2025
  20. Information poster showing details of the event

    Add RSPB Bird Talk for children at Newton Hall library to your Itinerary

    RSPB Bird Talk for children at Newton Hall library

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Newton Hall

    Come along and listen to a talk by your local RSPB group on how to bird watch in your garden.  A bird activity craft and activity sheets will be available after the talk . 

    Dates

    From:
    21 Aug 2025Open 13:00 - 17:00
    More info for RSPB Bird Talk for children at Newton Hall library
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