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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. Raby Castle in the dark under a starry sky, with the logo 'B*Trail x Raby Castle'

    Add After Dark trail run & cycle with B*Trail - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    After Dark trail run & cycle with B*Trail - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Darlington

    Experience Raby in a completely different light. As darkness settles across the estate, the familiar parkland, woodland trails and estate tracks are transformed into an unforgettable after-hours running adventure. With head torches lighting the way,…

    Dates

    From:
    30 Oct 2026Open 19:00 -
    More info for After Dark trail run & cycle with B*Trail - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  2. Three authors on a yellow background with books.

    Add Developing Your Writing with Jerwood Fellows - Durham Book Festival to your Itinerary

    Developing Your Writing with Jerwood Fellows - Durham Book Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    For early career writers, making the jump from debut publication to the next project can be complex and full of uncertainty. In this event, writers Kym Deyn, Katherine Horrex and J.A. Mensah will speak about their experiences as New Writing North’s…

    Dates

    From:
    11 Oct 2026Open 14:30 - 15:30
    More info for Developing Your Writing with Jerwood Fellows - Durham Book Festival
  3. Heritage open days logo of a pink letter 'H' in the shape of a castle.

    Add Mickleton Village Hall and the Community Over the Years - Heritage Open Days to your Itinerary

    Mickleton Village Hall and the Community Over the Years - Heritage Open Days

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage Open Days

    Barnard Castle

    Come and see on the cinema screen how the village hall was built and what actually goes on in the hall. Displays and presentations by user groups and see how people use the site from family get togethers to country weddings. Tea and cake by…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2026Open 11:00 - 16:00
    More info for Mickleton Village Hall and the Community Over the Years - Heritage Open Days
  4. Bark in the Park Dog Show - Woman and her dog in matching yellow coats, sitting on a bench.

    Add Bark in the Park Dog Show - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Bark in the Park Dog Show - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Dog-Friendly

    Staindrop

    It's a paw-some day out for dogs and their humans, come and join the fun!

    Get ready for a tail-wagging good time at Bark in the Park, one of the best dog-friendly events in North East England! Hosted in the beautiful grounds of Raby Castle, County…

    Venue

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop

    Dates

    From:
    27 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Bark in the Park Dog Show - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  5. A stag in a field roaring its head

    Add Supper with Roaring Stags - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Supper with Roaring Stags - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Food & Drink

    Darlington

    Join us for an unforgettable evening at Raby Castle, Park & Gardens to experience a "Supper with Roaring Stags".

    Venue

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop

    Dates

    From:
    23 Oct 2026Open 18:00 - 21:00
    More info for Supper with Roaring Stags - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  6. Cassa Pancho's Ballet Black Company, ballet dancers posed elegantly on a dark stage.

    Add Ballet Black at 25 - Gala Durham to your Itinerary

    Ballet Black at 25 - Gala Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Performance

    Durham City

    Cassa Pancho's Ballet Black celebrates its 25th Anniversary with a much-anticipated return to Gala Durham. For twenty-five years, Cassa Pancho's Ballet Black has brought bold new ballet to stages across the UK, creating and sharing original stories…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Oct 2026Open 19:30 - 21:00
    More info for Ballet Black at 25 - Gala Durham
  7. Little girl and boy participating in 'Little Dragons' at Durham University Oriental Museum.

    Add Little Dragons - Durham University Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Little Dragons - Durham University Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Durham City

    Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and…

    Dates

    From:
    7 Jan 2026to30 Sept 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Little Dragons - Durham University Oriental Museum
  8. Four people sat on a stone wall in the woods, holding folk instruments and wearing black and red coats. The text 'Windborne' underneath.

    Add Windborne - Market Square - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    Windborne - Market Square - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    Joining us from New England in the USA, Windborne’s music has deep roots in traditions of vocal harmony. Known for the innovation of their arrangements, their harmonies are bold and anything but predictable.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2026Open 18:00 - 18:30
    More info for Windborne - Market Square - Durham Folk Festival
  9. Three authors on a yellow background surrounded by books.

    Add Bread Alone Anthology - Durham Book Festival to your Itinerary

    Bread Alone Anthology - Durham Book Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    In the acclaimed new anthology, Bread Alone, 33 writers respond to the question ‘What happens when we run out of working-class writers?’. 

    Dates

    From:
    10 Oct 2026Open 17:30 - 18:30
    More info for Bread Alone Anthology - Durham Book Festival
  10. Eight people on stage with folk instruments, making the letter 'W' with their hands, the text 'Whapweasel' underneath.

    Add Whapweasel. Caller: Fee Lock - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    Whapweasel. Caller: Fee Lock - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    Whapweasel are at the forefront of contemporary English dance music, weaving colourful strands of folk, rock, ska and Eastern European sounds into a wonderful melee. This solid seven-piece have been delighting and exhausting folk dance enthusiasts…

    Dates

    From:
    19 Sept 2026Open 20:00 - 22:00
    More info for Whapweasel. Caller: Fee Lock - Durham Folk Festival
  11. A black and white image of Hardwick Park

    Add Halloween At Hardwick Park - Hardwick Park to your Itinerary

    Halloween At Hardwick Park - Hardwick Park

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Stockton-on-Tees

    Step into Storytime: Ten Little Monsters
    Outdoor discover sessions for 5's and under involving storytelling, crafts activities, interactive trails, games and woodland play
    Date: Saturday 17 October 2026
    Times: 10.00am to 1.00pm
    Price: £7 per child

    Dates

    From:
    17 Oct 2026to30 Oct 2026
    More info for Halloween At Hardwick Park - Hardwick Park
  12. A telescope silhouetted against a star-filled night sky, with the Milky Way visible in the background.

    Add Dark Sky Astronomy and Stargazing - North Pennines Stargazing Festival to your Itinerary

    Dark Sky Astronomy and Stargazing - North Pennines Stargazing Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    A welcome from the lead astronomer at Grassholme Observatory, Gary Fildes. Gary is a very experienced science communicator and astronomer, and founder of the Kielder Observatory, where he was Director and CEO for over 11 years. After the welcome…

    Venue

    Grassholme Observatory, Teesdale

    Dates

    From:
    17 Oct 2026Open 20:00 - 23:00
    More info for Dark Sky Astronomy and Stargazing - North Pennines Stargazing Festival
  13. Live performers on stage in a candlelit cathedral.

    Add Eagles By Candlelight - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    Eagles By Candlelight - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    Durham City

    Featuring a spellbinding cast of West End singers and incredible live band, Take It Easy and join us at the Hotel California for an unforgettable evening of Eagles hits, as you've never heard them before!

    Dates

    From:
    15 Oct 2026Open 19:30 - 22:15
    More info for Eagles By Candlelight - Durham Cathedral
  14. Four folk musicians on the 'Magic Lantern' stage.

    Add The Grand Cavalcade - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    The Grand Cavalcade - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    On Sunday, make way for the Grand Cavalcade! Master entertainers set up in Durham Marketplace with The Grand Exhibition of Contraptions & Curiosities, a charming yet chaotic show of myths, music, magic, mayhem, silliness, songs, sparkles, bangs and…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for The Grand Cavalcade - Durham Folk Festival
  15. A man playing a classical guitar, seated against a plain, warm-toned background. The man wears a dark suit, focusing on his fingers.

    Add Juan Martín Masterclass - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Juan Martín Masterclass - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Master Class

    Barnard Castle

    Aspiring flamenco players can take advantage of an opportunity to spend time with one of the world's guitar greats.

    Dates

    From:
    25 Oct 2026Open 10:30 - 12:30
    More info for Juan Martín Masterclass - The Bowes Museum
  16. Durham Folk Festival logo with a purple sanctuary knocker as the letter 'o', on a light yellow background.

    Add War of the Birds - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    War of the Birds - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Flass Street, Durham

    The War of the Birds is a collection of Eastern European stories from an old world where things were darker, colder, and altogether stranger. Storyteller Mark Borthwick weaves together traditional and electronic music, Klezmer and dance with…

    Dates

    From:
    18 Sept 2026Open 16:00 - 17:00
    More info for War of the Birds - Durham Folk Festival
  17. A close up of a tub of popcorn and a drink.

    Add Film & Feast: Twilight - South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Film & Feast: Twilight - South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Stanley

    Designed for film lovers and food enthusiasts alike, this event brings together delicious food, nostalgia and a welcoming atmosphere.

    Dates

    From:
    25 Oct 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Film & Feast: Twilight - South Causey Inn
  18. Durham folk festival logo with a purple sanctuary knocker as the letter 'o', with a light yellow background.

    Add St Cuthbert's Journey - Durham Folk Festival to your Itinerary

    St Cuthbert's Journey - Durham Folk Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Flass Street, Durham

    The Lindisfarne Gospels reside at the British Museum, but when they visited County Durham in 2013, Alistair Anderson was commissioned to create a new suite of music based on Northumbrian themes: A Lindisfarne Gospel.

    Dates

    From:
    19 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 11:00
    More info for St Cuthbert's Journey - Durham Folk Festival
  19. A young child looks through the eyepiece of a telescope.

    Add Family Astronomy - North Pennines Stargazing Festival to your Itinerary

    Family Astronomy - North Pennines Stargazing Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    This is a great way to get children interested in astronomy and science. They will enjoy an interactive talk in the classroom and then will be able to see and touch rocks from space – meteorites. A stunning interactive talk on space stuff in the…

    Venue

    Grassholme Observatory, Teesdale

    Dates

    From:
    31 Oct 2026Open 18:00 - 19:30
    More info for Family Astronomy - North Pennines Stargazing Festival
  20. Exterior view of Crook Hall Gardens during summertime.

    Add History of Durham City Walk - Crook Hall Gardens to your Itinerary

    History of Durham City Walk - Crook Hall Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Guided Walk

    Durham

    A guided walk from Crook Hall Gardens delving into the history of Durham.

    Dates

    From:
    9 June 2026to27 Oct 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for History of Durham City Walk - Crook Hall Gardens
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