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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. Jazz musicians on a dark atmospheric stage, in black and white.

    Add The Chet Set to your Itinerary

    The Chet Set

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    Durham City

    An Evening with the Chet Set celebrates the life and music of Chet Baker, the eponymous trumpet player and vocalist whose career saw him paired with artists as diverse as Charlie Parker and Elvis Costello before meeting his end on an Amsterdam…

    Dates

    From:
    14 Nov 2026Open 18:30 - 21:00
    More info for The Chet Set
  2. A group of people wearing elegant 1920s outfits in a stately home. The text in a gold silhouette of a manor reads: 'Downton Abbey.'

    Add Grand Cinema: Downton Abbey (2019) to your Itinerary

    Grand Cinema: Downton Abbey (2019)

    Type

    Type:

    Film

    Stanley

    The Crawleys and their servants prepare to host King George V and Queen Mary at Downton Abbey. Transport yourself to the golden age of cinema with a nostalgic afternoon in our beautifully restored 1950s Grand cinema. The Grand cinema, from Ryhope,…

    Dates

    From:
    29 Dec 2026Open 13:45 -
    More info for Grand Cinema: Downton Abbey (2019)
  3. Santa Claus is reading a story to a group of children.

    Add Santa Comes to Lunch to your Itinerary

    Santa Comes to Lunch

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Carville, Durham

    Bring the magic of Christmas to life with Santa lunch - the perfect festive family treat and a wonderful way to celebrate the season together. Enjoy a delicious two-course lunch from 12 noon, while the children are delighted by face painting,…

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2026Open 11:30 - 16:00
    From:
    13 Dec 2026Open 11:30 - 16:00
    More info for Santa Comes to Lunch
  4. Green Shrek font, with a green 'S' with Shrek's ears, on a blue sequin background.

    Add DULOG: Shrek The Musical - Gala Durham to your Itinerary

    DULOG: Shrek The Musical - Gala Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham

    Shrek the Musical comes to Gala Durham in this hilarious and heartwarming stage spectacular, presented by Durham University’s biggest musical theatre company, DULOG.

    Dates

    From:
    26 Jan 2027to30 Jan 2027Various Opening Times
    More info for DULOG: Shrek The Musical - Gala Durham
  5. A person smiling holding a saxophone with a festive wreath and a sparkling Christmas tree in the background.

    Add Have Yourself a Merry Little Saxmas to your Itinerary

    Have Yourself a Merry Little Saxmas

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Chester le Street

    Enjoy a delicious one-course festive meal before dancing the night away with live entertainment from JulieOnSax and our resident DJ, performing Ibiza classics, house anthems, party favourites and festive hits.

    Dates

    From:
    27 Nov 2026Open 19:30 -
    More info for Have Yourself a Merry Little Saxmas
  6. Member of Beamish Museum staff with a Nutcracker figure and festive decorations in the background.

    Add Christmas Daytimes - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Christmas Daytimes - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Beamish

    Experience the magic of a traditional Christmas through time at Beamish.

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2026to24 Dec 2026
    More info for Christmas Daytimes - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  7. Children wearing woolly jumpers and hats, walking through a winter forest trail

    Add The Plotters’ Forest Enchanted Christmas Trail to your Itinerary

    The Plotters’ Forest Enchanted Christmas Trail

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Staindrop

    Step into a world of festive wonder this Christmas with the Enchanted Christmas Trail at The Plotters’ Forest, located within the stunning surroundings of Raby Castle, Park & Gardens. Twinkling lights, joyful music, and magical touches throughout…

    Dates

    From:
    14 Nov 2026to3 Jan 2027Various Opening Times
    More info for The Plotters’ Forest Enchanted Christmas Trail
  8. A Christmas tree in an historical stone room, decorated with a small bird and twinkling lights.

    Add Christmas Tree Festival 2026 to your Itinerary

    Christmas Tree Festival 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Wander through Durham Cathedral Cloisters and discover a colourful display of Christmas trees, each decorated by a local organisation and telling its own unique story.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Nov 2026to3 Jan 2027Various Opening Times
    More info for Christmas Tree Festival 2026
  9. A scene from The Nutcracker ballet of a dancer looking up, with their back to the stage with their arm elegantly raised at a large christmas tree.

    Add The Royal Ballet: The Nutcracker to your Itinerary

    The Royal Ballet: The Nutcracker

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    At a cosy Christmas party, young Clara meets the mysterious magician Drosselmeyer, who gives her a nutcracker doll. When the guests have departed and the house is asleep, Clara sneaks downstairs in search of the doll. Instead, she finds…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Dec 2026Open 19:15 -
    More info for The Royal Ballet: The Nutcracker
  10. A vibrant firework display

    Add Firework Display - Spennymoor to your Itinerary

    Firework Display - Spennymoor

    Type

    Type:

    Bonfire Night

    Spennymoor

    Our annual Firework display will be held on Thursday 5th November at 6pm. Details to be confirmed

    Dates

    From:
    5 Nov 2026Open 18:00 - 20:00
    More info for Firework Display - Spennymoor
  11. Photograph of young child creating a craft project at a table, using scissors and patterned red paper. Colourful materials, brushes and tools surround

    Add Winter At The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Winter At The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Barnard Castle

    Enjoy a warming winter day out at The Bowes Museum with a mix of drop-in creative activities, artist-led workshops for children and a brand-new Winter Trail to explore. Adults can settle in for the December meeting of the Bowes Book Club, while Café…

    Venue

    The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

    Dates

    From:
    1 Dec 2026to4 Jan 2027Open 10:30 - 16:00
    More info for Winter At The Bowes Museum
  12. Santa stroking a small brown dog on his lap, a person sit in an arm chair on the right

    Add Paws & Claus 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Paws & Claus 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    A ‘Paw’fect photo opportunity. Join Father Christmas in the Coffee Pot Café at the Entrance Building for a cosy breakfast experience designed especially for visitors and their four‑legged friends.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 10:00
    From:
    18 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 10:00
    More info for Paws & Claus 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  13. A festive cosy living room setting in a cottage.

    Add Christmas Cottage Hideaway to your Itinerary

    Christmas Cottage Hideaway

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    This December, step into your very own festive fairytale at Causey Cottage, South Causey Inn! Your Christmas Movie Moment Awaits… A magical hideaway inspired by the charm of The Holiday. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be surrounded by twinkling…

    Dates

    From:
    11 Dec 2026to23 Dec 2026
    More info for Christmas Cottage Hideaway
  14. An adult and child browsing through a Christmas market.

    Add Christmas Fair 2026 - Beamish Hall Country Hotel to your Itinerary

    Christmas Fair 2026 - Beamish Hall Country Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    A triple festive treat shopping extravaganza. See the Hall at its fabulously festive best and peruse the stalls displaying their specialist wares from pretty ornaments and gifts to scrumptious treats and drinks! Escape the hustle and bustle of the…

    Dates

    From:
    13 Nov 2026to15 Nov 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Christmas Fair 2026 - Beamish Hall Country Hotel
  15. Santa standing in front of a stone building waving

    Add Breakfast With Santa - South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Breakfast With Santa - South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Create unforgettable festive memories with a magical morning at South Causey Inn’s much-loved Breakfast With Santa event! 

    Dates

    From:
    5 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 11:30
    From:
    12 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 11:30
    More info for Breakfast With Santa - South Causey Inn
  16. Photograph of a museum or gallery setting where a guide explains exhibits to a group of four visitors. The scene features display cases with artifacts

    Add Bowes Book Club: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Bowes Book Club: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Workshop

    Barnard Castle

    Be transported to The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, a contemporary novel that follows Nora Seed as she finds herself in a mysterious library between life and death, where each book offers the chance to explore a different version of her life.…

    Venue

    The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2026Open 14:30 - 15:30
    More info for Bowes Book Club: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig - The Bowes Museum
  17. 1900s Pit Village band hall

    Add Beamish Folk - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Beamish Folk - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Beamish

    Beamish Folk is a new folk music session taking place on the second Sunday of each month in our 1900s Pit Village band hall, 11.30am-1.30pm.

    Dates

    From:
    8 Nov 2026Open 11:30 - 13:30
    From:
    13 Dec 2026Open 11:30 - 13:30
    More info for Beamish Folk - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  18. Four cartoon hands holding colourful mugs with hot beverages in, cheering their drinks to the middle, on a white background.

    Add Merryoaks Community Hall Give and Get Coffee Morning to your Itinerary

    Merryoaks Community Hall Give and Get Coffee Morning

    Type

    Type:

    Workshop

    Durham

    Come and meet others in your local community in the warm and welcoming surroundings of Merryoaks Community Hall. This month, alongside our usual coffee morning, we're holding a Merryoaks Give and Get, giving good-quality preloved toys a chance to…

    Dates

    From:
    7 Nov 2026Open 10:30 - 13:00
    More info for Merryoaks Community Hall Give and Get Coffee Morning
  19. Children standing in an old fashioned shop, talking to the person at the till.

    Add Home Educators’ Day December 2026 to your Itinerary

    Home Educators’ Day December 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Stanley

    ​​​​​​​Take part in our free activities or book a learning workshop for the full, immersive learning experience. Places for our Home Educators’ Day must be booked in advance. Use your Beamish Unlimited Pass or Friends of Beamish membership to visit…

    Dates

    From:
    2 Dec 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Home Educators’ Day December 2026
  20. Saturday 5th December, Durham Cricket's, 'A Nightmare Before Christmas Creepy Carnival Edition'. Graphic images of tattered bunting and bats.

    Add Durham Cricket's A Nightmare Before Christmas to your Itinerary

    Durham Cricket's A Nightmare Before Christmas

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Riverside, Chester-le-Street

    Christmas meets Halloween at Durham Cricket's Christmas Circus. Enjoy a spooky welcome potion, three-course festive feast, optional costume competition, themed entertainment and dancing into the night at this unique alternative Christmas party…

    Dates

    From:
    5 Dec 2026Open 19:00 - 00:00
    More info for Durham Cricket's A Nightmare Before Christmas
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