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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. Burgundy exhibition boards of the Colour and Light exhibit in Durham Cathedral

    Add Colour and Light: Stained Glass Exhibition - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    Colour and Light: Stained Glass Exhibition - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Durham

    This year, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Rose Window. Plan your summer day out as we explore the stories behind the cathedral's much-loved stained glass.

    Dates

    From:
    22 July 2026to14 Sept 2026
    More info for Colour and Light: Stained Glass Exhibition - Durham Cathedral
  2. A Witch and a cat riding a broom.  Room on the Broom © 2001 Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler. Licensed by Magic Light Pictures Ltd.

    Add Room on the Broom Trail at Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    Room on the Broom Trail at Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Redford, Hamsterley Forest

    This interactive family trail is packed with Room on the Broom themed activities, fascinating forest facts and plenty of hands-on fun. 

    Dates

    From:
    28 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Room on the Broom Trail at Hamsterley Forest
  3. A snake being passed to children by a member staff at the Zoolab

    Add Zoolab - Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    Zoolab - Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Bedburn, Bishop Auckland

    From spider to snakes, cockroaches and giant snails - get up close to nature in the forest!

    Dates

    From:
    9 Aug 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Zoolab - Hamsterley Forest
  4. Two people stand in a recreated pit cottage, in front of a coal-fired range. One holds a bread display for Harvest Celebration.

    Add Harvest Celebrations at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Harvest Celebrations at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Beamish

    Experience traditional harvest celebrations at Beamish Museum.

    Dates

    From:
    3 Oct 2026to4 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Harvest Celebrations at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  5. Street Food Carousel Bishop Auckland. Photo of vendors smiling and posing for the camera with hands up in the air.

    Add Street Food Carousel Bishop Auckland to your Itinerary

    Street Food Carousel Bishop Auckland

    Type

    Type:

    Food & Drink Festival

    Bishop Auckland

    FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH Bishop Auckland, Street Food Carousel.

    Dates

    From:
    7 Aug 2026Open 16:00 - 21:00
    More info for Street Food Carousel Bishop Auckland
  6. n/a

    Add Not Just a Pretty Facepaint - Stanley Library to your Itinerary

    Not Just a Pretty Facepaint - Stanley Library

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Front St, Stanley

    Join us to get your face painted (recommended for ages 3+).

    Dates

    From:
    4 Aug 2026Open 10:30 - 12:30
    More info for Not Just a Pretty Facepaint - Stanley Library
  7. A couple enjoying a festive meal in paper crowns, surrounded by food and candles

    Add A Magical Christmas Stay - High Force Waterfall and Hotel to your Itinerary

    A Magical Christmas Stay - High Force Waterfall and Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Forest In Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    A relaxed countryside Christmas getaway in County Durham Looking for the perfect rural escape this festive season? Spend Christmas in the heart of the North Pennines National Landscape at High Force Hotel – a beautiful country hotel beside one of…

    Dates

    From:
    24 Dec 2026to27 Dec 2026
    More info for A Magical Christmas Stay - High Force Waterfall and Hotel
  8. Large sculpture of a Velociraptor dinosaur in the lobby of Ushaw.

    Add Extinction - Ushaw, Historic Houses, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Extinction - Ushaw, Historic Houses, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Bearpark, Durham

    Extinction affects us all and one in ten of our wildlife in the UK is critically endangered. Scientists have identified five periods of mass extinction over the geological record and the question is now being asked: are we in a sixth? The exhibition…

    Dates

    From:
    20 June 2026to8 Nov 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Extinction - Ushaw, Historic Houses, Chapels and Gardens
  9. Image of a group of people at a Durham Book Festival event who are seated and clapping.

    Durham Book Festival 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Durham Book Festival

    Durham

    The Durham Book Festival takes place from Friday 9 to Sunday 11 October, celebrating the power of the written word.

    Dates

    From:
    9 Oct 2026to11 Oct 2026
    More info for Durham Book Festival 2026
  10. Black and white photograph of a woman with long wavy hair standing with arms crossed, facing slightly to the side. Background is plain with a draped f

    Add Nerina Pallott in Concert at The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Nerina Pallott in Concert at The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    Barnard Castle

    Enjoy an unforgettable evening with critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Nerina Pallot at The Bowes Museum this December.

    Venue

    The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

    Dates

    From:
    4 Dec 2026to5 Dec 2026Open 18:30 -
    More info for Nerina Pallott in Concert at The Bowes Museum
  11. Child looking at a flower using a microscope.

    Add Wild Wednesday - Near and Far to your Itinerary

    Wild Wednesday - Near and Far

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Newbiggin

    Near and far - a fun outdoor activity for children aged 5 and over. All children need to be accompanied by an adult. (Younger siblings are welcome but do not need to book).

    Venue

    Bowlees Visitor Centre, Newbiggin

    Dates

    From:
    5 Aug 2026Open 10:30 - 12:30
    More info for Wild Wednesday - Near and Far
  12. Heritage Open Days Logo

    Heritage Open Days 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage Open Days

    Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture, bringing together over 2,000 local people and organisations, and thousands of volunteers.

    Dates

    From:
    11 Sept 2026to20 Sept 2026
    More info for Heritage Open Days 2026
  13. Spooky scarecrow looking sinisterly at the camera at Beamish, at night.

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

    Halloween Evening - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Stanley

    Something spooky is coming… Step back in time and get ready for a night you’ll never forget.
    Join us for a special spine-tingling experience as Beamish is transformed into The Un-living Museum of the North.

    Dates

    From:
    28 Oct 2026to31 Oct 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Halloween Evening - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  14. Black and white photograph of a man with tousled hair and a beard, looking directly at the camera.

    Add Fyfe Dangerfield In Concert at The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Fyfe Dangerfield In Concert at The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    Barnard Castle

    Following a stunning performance at The Bowes Museum last year, enjoy another unforgettable evening with Brit-nominated singer-songwriter Fyfe Dangerfield, best known as the frontman of the critically acclaimed band Guillemots.

    Dates

    From:
    9 Oct 2026Open 18:30 - 21:30
    More info for Fyfe Dangerfield In Concert at The Bowes Museum
  15. Whimsical festive green and red font of The Elves and the Shoemaker, on a forest green background

    Add The Elves and the Shoemaker - Pantomime - Gala Durham to your Itinerary

    The Elves and the Shoemaker - Pantomime - Gala Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Step into our sole-ful festive production that’s the perfect fit for families!

    Dates

    From:
    8 Dec 2026to24 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for The Elves and the Shoemaker - Pantomime - Gala Durham
  16. Headshot of Laura Lexx smiling.

    Add Funny Way To Be Comedy: Laura Lexx - YO-YO to your Itinerary

    Funny Way To Be Comedy: Laura Lexx - YO-YO

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Barnard Castle

    In a 10 year marriage eventually your partner sees it all. Every bad idea. Every silly decision. The real twist is that somewhere along the way, you have to believe them. And maybe, just maybe.. you learn to love yourself too.

    Dates

    From:
    16 Oct 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30
    More info for Funny Way To Be Comedy: Laura Lexx - YO-YO
  17. Image of a trophy and House Banners - 'The House Cup' at The Hole in Wand.

    Add The House Cup - The Hole in Wand to your Itinerary

    The House Cup - The Hole in Wand

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Seaham

    The House Cup
    18th July – 6th September
    Five Houses. Five Locations. One House Cup.

    Venue

    The Hole in Wand, Seaham

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2026to6 Sept 2026Open 11:00 - 18:00
    More info for The House Cup - The Hole in Wand
  18. The library at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens - rows of historical books and view of arched window at the rear.

    Add Discover Big Library - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Discover Big Library - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Historical

    Durham

    Experience the Big Library on the first Friday of every month (July-Dec 2026) as we celebrate the 175th anniversary of one of Britain’s most extraordinary historic libraries.

    Dates

    From:
    3 July 2026to4 Dec 2026
    More info for Discover Big Library - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
  19. Close-up of Jodie Fitzgibbon performing

    Add Live Music Nights at South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Live Music Nights at South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Stanley

    Sit with us and enjoy live music every Friday, where we welcome a brilliant mix of local musicians from all across the North East to our cosy indoor bar - with a roaring log-burning fire.

    Dates

    From:
    14 Nov 2025to11 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Live Music Nights at South Causey Inn
  20. Text reads, 'A Night Under The Big Top, The Grand Finale of Durham Cricket's Christmas Circus'. Graphic image of circus tent.

    Add A Night Under The Big Top - Durham Cricket to your Itinerary

    A Night Under The Big Top - Durham Cricket

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Riverside, Chester-le-Street

    Celebrate the grand finale of Durham Cricket's Christmas Circus with a festive arrival drink, three-course meal, classic funfair games, DJ and dancing. A magical Christmas party where festive traditions meet the nostalgic charm of the fairground.

    Dates

    From:
    19 Dec 2026Open 19:00 - 00:00
    More info for A Night Under The Big Top - Durham Cricket
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