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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. ©TheBowesMuseum
A structure in front of the trees with the words, 'You Create What You Will'.

    Add Nathan Coley You Create What You Will and Tate Modern on Fire - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Nathan Coley You Create What You Will and Tate Modern on Fire - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Barnard Castle

    For the first time together, The Bowes Museum hosts Nathan Coley’s works, You Create What You Will (2014) and Tate Modern on Fire (2017). Known for his thought-provoking public works, Coley explores how belief systems shape our cities, institutions…

    Dates

    From:
    14 June 2025to1 Mar 2026
    More info for Nathan Coley You Create What You Will and Tate Modern on Fire - The Bowes Museum
  2. Someone partaking in an 'Artist Makers' session at The Bowes Museum

    Add Artist Makers - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Artist Makers - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Make time for making; join in and get creative. An opportunity to try out new techniques, materials and experiment with the Museum’s team of artists, makers and designers in the Create Space.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Jan 2025to3 Jan 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Artist Makers - The Bowes Museum
  3. 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
  4. 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:
    16 Aug 2025
    From:
    30 Aug 2025
    More info for Saturday's of Alfresco Pizza on The Vinery Terrace
  5. View of Crimdon Beach and dunes on a sunny day.

    Add Crimdon Beach Clean to your Itinerary

    Crimdon Beach Clean

    Type

    Type:

    Outdoor Event

    Coast Road,

    Join us for a beach clean at Crimdon and help keep our coast litter free! 

    Dates

    From:
    20 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 12:00
    More info for Crimdon Beach Clean
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. Portraits of historical women of Raby

    Add Women of Raby Tour - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Women of Raby Tour - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Historical

    Staindrop

    This exclusive event at Raby Castle highlights stories of some of the fascinating women who once walked our halls. From the familiar history of Cecily Neville, known as the 'Rose of Raby', to the lesser-known experiences of the women who worked in…

    Dates

    From:
    13 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 12:00
    From:
    27 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 12:00
    More info for Women of Raby Tour - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  9. Group of people taking part in a creative workshop at No. 42 - The Auckland Project

    Add No.42 - Creative Forum - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    No.42 - Creative Forum - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Local Events

    Bishop Auckland

    An adult group for like-minded creatives. Every Wednesday.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    29 July 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for No.42 - Creative Forum - The Auckland Project
  10. 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
  11. SUP paddleboarder on the water with oar held above her head

    Add SUP or Kayak Experience - Adventure Access to your Itinerary

    SUP or Kayak Experience - Adventure Access

    Type

    Type:

    Wellness Event

    Seaham Harbour Marina, Seaham

    Want to give Kayaking or Stand Up Paddleboarding a try? This is the perfect way to test the waters and see if it’s for you!

    Dates

    From:
    16 Aug 2025to17 Aug 2025Various Opening Times
    From:
    23 Aug 2025Open 09:30 -
    From:
    30 Aug 2025Open 09:30 -
    More info for SUP or Kayak Experience - Adventure Access
  12. C. Ady Davis, St James' Church at Hamsterley

    Add Heritage Open Days - St James’ Church, Hamsterley to your Itinerary

    Heritage Open Days - St James’ Church, Hamsterley

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage Open Days

    Hamsterley

    St James' Church, Hamsterley. An opportunity to see one of County Durham's Grade 1 listed churches.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Heritage Open Days - St James’ Church, Hamsterley
  13. outer space galaxy

    North Pennines Stargazing Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    The North Pennines Stargazing Festival is returning for 2025 – running for a week between Friday 24 October and Sunday 2 November.

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2025to2 Nov 2025
    More info for North Pennines Stargazing Festival 2025
  14. 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
  15. Crowds enjoy show jumping at Weardale Show.

    Add 155th Weardale Agricultural Show 2025 to your Itinerary

    155th Weardale Agricultural Show 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Agricultural Show

    St. Johns Chapel

    The Weardale Show returns on Saturday 30th August 2025.

    Dates

    From:
    30 Aug 2025
    More info for 155th Weardale Agricultural Show 2025
  16. RSPB Saltholme Nature Reserve

    Add Guided Walks for Groups - RSPB Saltholme to your Itinerary

    Guided Walks for Groups - RSPB Saltholme

    Type

    Type:

    Guided Walk

    Port Clarence, Middlesbrough

    Want to get more out of your visit to RSPB Saltholme? We offer group guided walks! We can tailor the walk route and topic(s) to suit your group.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Guided Walks for Groups - RSPB Saltholme
  17. 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
  18. Watercolour of a church, houses, countryside and blue skies - Matt Scott Art

    Add Exploring Watercolours with Matt Scott Art - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Exploring Watercolours with Matt Scott Art - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Arts & Crafts

    Staindrop

    Immerse yourself in the calming and creative world of watercolour painting in this 3-hour workshop, perfect for beginners and those looking to develop their skills. Led by an experienced instructor, the session will cover a range of techniques…

    Dates

    From:
    6 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 13:00
    More info for Exploring Watercolours with Matt Scott Art - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  19. Railway 200 logo

    Add Railway 200 Talk: “Timothy Hackworth – The Man who Engineered a Future for the Locomotive” – with Mike Norman to your Itinerary

    Railway 200 Talk: “Timothy Hackworth – The Man who Engineered a Future for the Locomotive” – with Mike Norman

    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:
    20 Aug 2025Open 19:00 -
    More info for Railway 200 Talk: “Timothy Hackworth – The Man who Engineered a Future for the Locomotive” – with Mike Norman
  20. 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
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