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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-enactor dressed as Roman soldier in the bathhouse at Binchester Roman Fort

    Add Fort Tour and Handling Session at Binchester to your Itinerary

    Fort Tour and Handling Session at Binchester

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Bishop Auckland

    Join Julius Hadrianus as he takes you on a fact-packed tour of the incredible 2000-year-old fort and settlement.

    Dates

    From:
    7 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 16:30
    More info for Fort Tour and Handling Session at Binchester
  2. Aerial view of Raby Castle and grounds

    Add S&DR200: Coal, Canals and Carriages: The Story of Raby and the Railways to your Itinerary

    S&DR200: Coal, Canals and Carriages: The Story of Raby and the Railways

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Staindrop

    Raby Castle will celebrate the year with stories associated with 19th-century inventions, including the reactions of landowners and farmers to trains, as well as how travel evolved into a privilege for the upper classes from their collections.

    Dates

    From:
    28 June 2025to31 Oct 2025Open 11:00 - 16:00
    From:
    3 July 2025to29 Oct 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for S&DR200: Coal, Canals and Carriages: The Story of Raby and the Railways
  3. High Force Waterfall at sunset

    Add Summer Lates at High Force Hotel and Waterfall to your Itinerary

    Summer Lates at High Force Hotel and Waterfall

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Forest-in-Teesdale

    Evenings Just Got Better at High Force Waterfall. Until the 7th of September we are now open daily until 8pm! Giving you more time to unwind, explore, and catch those spectacular sunset views in one of the North East’s most scenic locations.

    Dates

    From:
    23 July 2025to7 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 20:00
    More info for Summer Lates at High Force Hotel and Waterfall
  4. A festive afternoon tea at the High Force Hotel, a selection of cakes, sandwiches and scones

    Add Festive Afternoon Tea at High Force Hotel and Waterfall to your Itinerary

    Festive Afternoon Tea at High Force Hotel and Waterfall

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Forest-in-Teesdale

    Celebrate the festive season in the heart of the North Pennines National Landscape with our much-loved Festive Afternoon Tea at High Force Hotel.

    Dates

    From:
    7 Dec 2025Open 16:30 -
    From:
    14 Dec 2025Open 16:30 -
    From:
    21 Dec 2025Open 16:30 -
    More info for Festive Afternoon Tea at High Force Hotel and Waterfall
  5. A family at Beamish Museum standing with a vintage bus being driven by a Transport Engager.

    Add Summer Fun: Tales from the Rails - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Summer Fun: Tales from the Rails - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Beamish

    This summer, step back in time and make unforgettable memories at Beamish Museum! Our summer of fun is packed with exciting activities for all ages.

    Dates

    From:
    19 July 2025to1 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Summer Fun: Tales from the Rails - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  6. Iguana, macaw, tortoise and Leon holding a reptile.

    Add Exotic Animal Encounters with Leon Exotics - High Farm Holiday Park to your Itinerary

    Exotic Animal Encounters with Leon Exotics - High Farm Holiday Park

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Bishop Auckland

    Exciting News: Leon's Exotics is Coming to The Paddocks!

    Dates

    From:
    2 Aug 2025Open 11:00 - 12:00
    From:
    16 Aug 2025Open 11:00 - 12:00
    More info for Exotic Animal Encounters with Leon Exotics - High Farm Holiday Park
  7. Trader at Barnard Castle Farmer's Market at stall taking money from customer

    Add Barnard Castle Farmers' Market to your Itinerary

    Barnard Castle Farmers' Market

    Type

    Type:

    Markets

    Barnard Castle

    Barnard Castle Farmers’ Market is one of the North East’s most popular markets featuring a wide range of artisan food and crafts from the region. Open 9:00 to 14:00 on the first Saturday of each month.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Barnard Castle Farmers' Market
  8. Teddy Bear's Picnic at Thorpe Farm Centre

    Add Teddy Bear's Picnic to your Itinerary

    Teddy Bear's Picnic

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Calling All Little Adventurers (and Their Favourite Teddy Bears!)  If your little one is aged 1 to 8, grab your teddies and get ready for a day packed with fun, giggles, and adventure! 

    Dates

    From:
    2 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 14:30
    More info for Teddy Bear's Picnic
  9. G4 Christmas 2025 - Christmas tree in background

    Add G4 Christmas 2025 - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    G4 Christmas 2025 - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham City

    Gather to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with G4's most extensive Christmas tour ever.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Nov 2025Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for G4 Christmas 2025 - Durham Cathedral
  10. Children taking part in an activity at Bowlees Quarry

    Add Bowlees Quarry Bioblitz to your Itinerary

    Bowlees Quarry Bioblitz

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Newbiggin

    Become a wildlife explorer and discover what’s living in and around Bowlees Quarry.

    Dates

    From:
    7 Aug 2025Open 09:00 - 16:00
    More info for Bowlees Quarry Bioblitz
  11. Colourful print of Locomotion No.1 travelling over a railway bridge

    S&DR200 - Anniversary Journey 1825-2025: Shildon, Darlington and Stockton

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    County Durham

    The festival is unveiling a week of unmissable spectacles that will celebrate the region and its historic legacy.

    Dates

    From:
    26 Sept 2025to28 Sept 2025
    More info for S&DR200 - Anniversary Journey 1825-2025: Shildon, Darlington and Stockton
  12. Poster promoting Howdy Show at Peterlee Pavilion - illustration of cowboys on horseback.

    Add Howdy - A Country Pop Extravaganza Show to your Itinerary

    Howdy - A Country Pop Extravaganza Show

    Type

    Type:

    Dance

    Peterlee

    HOWDY, PETERLEE! Saddle up for the ULTIMATE Country and Western Show — Live music, line dancin', games, prizes, and a FREE glass of Moonshine to get you rollin'!

    Dates

    From:
    30 Aug 2025Open 14:30 - 19:00
    More info for Howdy - A Country Pop Extravaganza Show
  13. 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
  14. Marian Art in Durham Cathedral (artwork showing depiction of Mary).

    Add Marian Art in Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    Marian Art in Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    The College, Durham

    Join Professor Jane Heath from the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University on this specially curated tour of the Marian Art in Durham Cathedral.

    Dates

    From:
    16 Aug 2025Open 11:00 -
    From:
    20 Sept 2025Open 11:00 -
    From:
    22 Nov 2025Open 11:00 -
    From:
    13 Dec 2025Open 11:00 -
    More info for Marian Art in Durham Cathedral
  15. Durham Cathedral Liquid Geometry Javier Riera. Lumiere 2023 produced by Artichoke. Photo by Matthew Andrews

    Add Lumiere Durham to your Itinerary

    Lumiere Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    The UK’s light art biennial. The hugely popular event will take place over three evenings this autumn, from Thursday to Saturday, 13th -15th November.

    Dates

    From:
    13 Nov 2025to15 Nov 2025
    More info for Lumiere Durham
  16. Aerial view of Durham City

    Add The Brass Band Conference 2025: The Next Generation to your Itinerary

    The Brass Band Conference 2025: The Next Generation

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Durham City

    The Brass Band Conference is an annual event and awards ceremony providing an unmissable opportunity for brass banders from across the country to learn, share and network.

    Dates

    From:
    27 Sept 2025
    More info for The Brass Band Conference 2025: The Next Generation
  17. A smiling woman in a red outfit stands in a museum storeroom surrounded by intricately carved antique furniture and ornate wooden cabinets

    Add The Curator Series: The Bowes Museum in the 20th Century to your Itinerary

    The Curator Series: The Bowes Museum in the 20th Century

    Type

    Type:

    Lecture

    Barnard Castle

    Discover how The Bowes Museum's collection has changed over time with the influence of 20th century curators, and the wider impact these individuals have had on museums as we know them today in this insightful talk by Dr. Jane Whittaker, Head of…

    Dates

    From:
    14 Aug 2025Open 14:30 - 15:30
    More info for The Curator Series: The Bowes Museum in the 20th Century
  18. Poster with title of event and an image of a cup of coffee, scone, biscuit, small jug of milk

    Add Ferryhill, Sedgefield and District Flower Club Coffee Morning to your Itinerary

    Ferryhill, Sedgefield and District Flower Club Coffee Morning

    Type

    Type:

    Participatory Event

    Sedgefield

    Come and join us for our Coffee Morning! 
    Entry is just £2, which includes a cup of tea or coffee and a delicious slice of cake or a scone.

    Dates

    From:
    19 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 12:00
    More info for Ferryhill, Sedgefield and District Flower Club Coffee Morning
  19. EDAN logo

    Add Grid Point - The EDAN Gallery to your Itinerary

    Grid Point - The EDAN Gallery

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Seaham

    Loosely, the grid point in question will be that of the EDAN Gallery.

    Dates

    From:
    26 Aug 2025to4 Oct 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Grid Point - The EDAN Gallery
  20. Josef's restaurant at the Radisson Blu Durham

    Add Family Santa Sunday Lunch to your Itinerary

    Family Santa Sunday Lunch

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham City

    A relaxed family-friendly atmosphere, delicious food and a visit from the main man himself – Santa Claus will be delivering a selection box for the kids!

    Dates

    From:
    7 Dec 2025Open 12:30 - 15:30
    From:
    14 Dec 2025Open 12:30 - 15:30
    From:
    21 Dec 2025Open 12:30 - 15:30
    More info for Family Santa Sunday Lunch
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