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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. Japanese Kimono

    Add Dress Up at The Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Dress Up at The Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    See a beautiful Japanese kimono and try dressing up your own mini doll.

    Venue

    Durham University Oriental Museum, Durham City

    Dates

    From:
    26 July 2025Open 13:00 - 15:00
    More info for Dress Up at The Oriental Museum
  2. A group of ten people listening attentively to a curator in a museum gallery filled with framed historical paintings.

    Add The Curators Series: Joséphine Bowes: Art Collector, Female Artist, and French Impressionism to your Itinerary

    The Curators Series: Joséphine Bowes: Art Collector, Female Artist, and French Impressionism

    Type

    Type:

    Lecture

    Barnard Castle

    In this insightful talk on Joséphine Bowes, Curator of Fine Art and Design, Dr. Howard Coutts will examine her artistic endeavours, deep understanding of the 1860s French art scene, and passion for collecting contemporary French paintings. Discover…

    Dates

    From:
    10 July 2025Open 14:30 - 15:30
    More info for The Curators Series: Joséphine Bowes: Art Collector, Female Artist, and French Impressionism
  3. Wreath making poster with image of a wreath, Christmas lights and Santa hat

    Add Wreath Making to your Itinerary

    Wreath Making

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    West Auckland

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

    Dates

    From:
    4 Dec 2025Open 10:30 - 15:00
    More info for Wreath Making
  4. Colourful abstract art by Tom Hume

    Add Tom Hume: Retrospective - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Tom Hume: Retrospective - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Durham

    The first comprehensive exhibition of the work of Tom Hume, a Durham-based artist and art teacher.

    Dates

    From:
    8 Nov 2025to31 Jan 2026
    More info for Tom Hume: Retrospective - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
  5. A Skiffle group of two adults and two children in front of Beamish Museum's 1950s welfare hall.

    Add Skiffle Session & Uke Club - Beamish - The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Skiffle Session & Uke Club - Beamish - The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Beamish

    Join us for an afternoon of skiffle music in the 1950s welfare hall! Enjoy our own band, Hop, Skiffle and Jump performing from 12pm until 1pm, followed by our Uke Club from 1.15pm until 2.15pm where you can develop your ukulele skills.

    Dates

    From:
    29 June 2025Open 12:00 - 14:15
    More info for Skiffle Session & Uke Club - Beamish - The Living Museum of the North
  6. Illustration of the silhouettes of two people sitting on a  bench

    Add Waiting for Godot by Samuel Becket (Tragic Comedy) to your Itinerary

    Waiting for Godot by Samuel Becket (Tragic Comedy)

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Fowlers Yard, Durham

    Classic, ground breaking play of its time.

    Dates

    From:
    13 Aug 2025to16 Aug 2025Open 19:30 -
    More info for Waiting for Godot by Samuel Becket (Tragic Comedy)
  7. Lumley Castle Tipi Wedding - softly lit with fairy lights

    Add Tipi Wedding Showcase - Lumley Castle to your Itinerary

    Tipi Wedding Showcase - Lumley Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Wedding Fairs and Events

    Chester le Street

    Are you engaged and still looking for the perfect venue? Come and experience the magic of our Summer Tipi! 

    Dates

    From:
    1 July 2025Open 17:00 - 20:00
    More info for Tipi Wedding Showcase - Lumley Castle
  8. Halloween party poster for children showing cobwebs, bats, spiders, trees and ghouls

    Add Children's Halloween Party to your Itinerary

    Children's Halloween Party

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Peterlee

    Get ready for a spooktacular night of fun at Peterlee's Children's Halloween Party.

    Dates

    From:
    31 Oct 2025Open 17:00 - 19:00
    More info for Children's Halloween Party
  9. Interior of Durham Cathedral and view of Rose Window

    Add The Christmas Orchestra - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    The Christmas Orchestra - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    The Christmas Orchestra is back! After a wonderful run of sold out shows in 2024 we are excited to bring you more shows and locations in 2025. Get ready to discover the magic of the festive season with our unique concert experience.

    Dates

    From:
    25 Nov 2025Open 19:30 - 20:45
    More info for The Christmas Orchestra - Durham Cathedral
  10. 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
  11. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Passport to Nature: Moth Trapping to your Itinerary

    Passport to Nature: Moth Trapping

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Sedgefield

    Join us for a fascinating moth trapping experience as we explore the park, unveiling the incredible diversity of moth species that call Hardwick Park home. Whether you're a budding entomologist, a nature enthusiast, or simply curious about the…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 12:00
    More info for Passport to Nature: Moth Trapping
  12. a woman dancing

    Add Durham Fringe Festival: Dance City Boundless Company to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival: Dance City Boundless Company

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Choreographed by North East Artist Kristin Kelly Abbott, 'Changing Reflections' explores the transformation we all experience through life and getting older.

    Dates

    From:
    23 July 2025to24 July 2025Open 14:00 - 15:00
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival: Dance City Boundless Company
  13. A family at Beamish Museum standing with a vintage bus being driven by a Transport Engager.

    Add Summer Fun at Beamish 2025 to your Itinerary

    Summer Fun at Beamish 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Stanley

    Enjoy a fantastic summer of fun at Beamish Museum!

    Dates

    From:
    19 July 2025to1 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Summer Fun at Beamish 2025
  14. 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
  15. A wax melt decoration

    Add Luxury Summer Wax Melts Workshop & Cream Tea to your Itinerary

    Luxury Summer Wax Melts Workshop & Cream Tea

    Type

    Type:

    Workshop

    Lanchester

    Summer workshop.  Make a beautiful set of seaside scented wax melt decorations with Bobella Co!

    Dates

    From:
    22 June 2025Open 14:00 - 16:00
    More info for Luxury Summer Wax Melts Workshop & Cream Tea
  16. Poster showing an illustrated starry sky reads, 'Finding poetry with Molly Knox and Freya Cook'

    Add Durham Fringe Festival: Finding Poetry to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival: Finding Poetry

    Type

    Type:

    Performance

    Owengate, Durham City

    Molly Knox and Freya Cook present: 'Finding Poetry' is a intriguing hour of spoken word exploring the different ways poetry unexpectedly weaves itself into people’s lives.

    Dates

    From:
    23 July 2025Open 18:45 -
    From:
    25 July 2025Open 18:45 -
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival: Finding Poetry
  17. A Stone Cottage in the countryside

    Add Archaeology in Upper Teesdale to your Itinerary

    Archaeology in Upper Teesdale

    Type

    Type:

    Guided Walk

    Newbiggin

    Join Altogether Archaeology on a 4 mile guided walk to see how people lived and used the Teesdale landscape.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2025to21 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Archaeology in Upper Teesdale
  18. 'Much Ado About Nothing' - The Handlebards. Illustration of a woman on a bicycle.

    Add The HandleBards: Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing' (Outdoor Theatre) - Wharton Park to your Itinerary

    The HandleBards: Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing' (Outdoor Theatre) - Wharton Park

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham

    The HandleBards return to Wharton Park in summer 2025. Make the most of the early bird offer, tickets make a great Christmas gift. Book here for The Handlebards. - make the most of the early bird offer - visit and search for Wharton Park.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Aug 2025Open 18:30 -
    More info for The HandleBards: Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing' (Outdoor Theatre) - Wharton Park
  19. Locomotive outside of Locomotion's Collection Building

    Add S&DR200 - Summer Festival at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - Summer Festival at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Shildon

    Head down to Locomotion for a summer of fun.

    Dates

    From:
    19 July 2025to31 Aug 2025
    More info for S&DR200 - Summer Festival at Locomotion
  20. Actress portraying a Victorian woman in despair.

    Add Durham Fringe Festival: Whispers to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival: Whispers

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham City

    This haunting piece of theatre is an intensive journey through XIX century asylum room, courtroom, monastery cell, banks of the Thames but also depths of the human’s mind.

    Dates

    From:
    26 July 2025to27 July 2025Open 21:45 -
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival: Whispers
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