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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. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Hardwick Conservation Champions 2025 to your Itinerary

    Hardwick Conservation Champions 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Sedgefield

    Become a Durham Countryside Conservation Champion this Summer through our park experience.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Aug 2025to8 Aug 2025Open 09:00 - 16:00
    More info for Hardwick Conservation Champions 2025
  2. S&DR 200 logo

    S&DR200 Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    The 27 September 2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR), which gave birth to the modern railway. To celebrate this landmark anniversary, the nine-month S&DR200 Festival will take place across…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Mar 2025to30 Nov 2025
    More info for S&DR200 Festival
  3. A painting of a woman in 18th-century attire holds a partially finished portrait sketch while looking directly at the viewer, suggesting she is both t

    Add The Curator Series: The Struggle of Women Artists in 19th Century to your Itinerary

    The Curator Series: The Struggle of Women Artists in 19th Century

    Type

    Type:

    Lecture

    Barnard Castle

    Discover the challenges 19th century women artists faced in accessing arts education and training in this engaging talk by Co-Production Curator, Eleanor Thirlway. Gain valuable insight into the period in which Joséphine Bowes was collecting art and…

    Dates

    From:
    21 June 2025Open 14:30 - 15:30
    More info for The Curator Series: The Struggle of Women Artists in 19th Century
  4. 'Two Foolish' - woman in high heeled boots and a corset, and man in a purple suit.

    Add Durham Fringe Festival: Love Hurts to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival: Love Hurts

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham City

    Death has had a rebranding – the cape and scythe has had to go and he's here with his purple suit and his customer satisfaction survey to give death a more user-friendly vibe.

    Dates

    From:
    23 July 2025to24 July 2025Open 16:00 -
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival: Love Hurts
  5. Railway 200 logo

    Add Railway 200 Talk: “Three Greeners of Etherley and a Model Steam Engine” with Tom Walker to your Itinerary

    Railway 200 Talk: “Three Greeners of Etherley and a Model Steam Engine” with Tom Walker

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Shildon

    Tom Walker is descended from the Greener family who played an important part in the operation of the S&DR at the Etherley engine house.

    Dates

    From:
    18 June 2025Open 19:00 -
    More info for Railway 200 Talk: “Three Greeners of Etherley and a Model Steam Engine” with Tom Walker
  6. The Three Inch Fools performing at Raby Castle

    Add A Midsummer Night’s Dream -Three Inch Fools - Open Air Theatre at Raby Castle to your Itinerary

    A Midsummer Night’s Dream -Three Inch Fools - Open Air Theatre at Raby Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Staindrop

    Join us for a magical evening as we welcome back the brilliant Three Inch Fools to perform Shakespeare’s most iconic comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in the atmospheric setting of Raby Castle’s open-air theatre.

    Dates

    From:
    2 Aug 2025Open 19:00 -
    More info for A Midsummer Night’s Dream -Three Inch Fools - Open Air Theatre at Raby Castle
  7. Opulent dining room in Raby Castle

    Add Discover the Beauty of Art at Raby Castle to your Itinerary

    Discover the Beauty of Art at Raby Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Staindrop

    Take a moment to slow down, breathe, and immerse yourself in the captivating world of art at Raby Castle. Our new programme invites you to step away from the hustle and bustle and spend an hour truly connecting with the artworks in our collection.…

    Dates

    From:
    7 July 2025
    From:
    5 Aug 2025
    From:
    2 Sept 2025
    From:
    7 Oct 2025
    More info for Discover the Beauty of Art at Raby Castle
  8. Grand Finale all cast of Kynren view from the tribune

    Add Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2025 to your Itinerary

    Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Performance

    Toronto, Bishop Auckland

    Travel through 2,000 years of history in a single unforgettable evening! Watch as legends come to life – Vikings storm ashore, battles rage, and heroes rise beneath a sky ablaze with magic and fire.
    In 2025, celebrate the 200th anniversary of the…

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Weardale Visitor Network Member 2025Weardale Visitor Network Member

    Dates

    From:
    19 July 2025Open 21:15 -
    From:
    26 July 2025Open 21:15 -
    From:
    2 Aug 2025Open 21:15 -
    From:
    9 Aug 2025Open 21:00 -
    From:
    16 Aug 2025Open 20:45 -
    From:
    23 Aug 2025Open 20:30 -
    From:
    30 Aug 2025Open 20:15 -
    From:
    6 Sept 2025Open 20:00 -
    From:
    13 Sept 2025Open 19:45 -
    More info for Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2025
  9. Copyright - Dash Photography. Couple embracing on their wedding day.

    Add Wedding Open Day - Hall Garth Hotel and Country Club to your Itinerary

    Wedding Open Day - Hall Garth Hotel and Country Club

    Type

    Type:

    Wedding Fairs and Events

    Darlington

    Experience the magic of Hall Garth Hotel, nestled in its expansive 70-acre parkland. Our enchanting venue offers a picturesque setting with hidden gardens, graceful weeping willows, and charming kissing bridges, perfect for capturing those timeless…

    Dates

    From:
    6 July 2025Open 11:00 - 14:00
    From:
    27 July 2025Open 12:00 - 16:00
    From:
    12 Oct 2025Open 11:00 - 14:00
    More info for Wedding Open Day - Hall Garth Hotel and Country Club
  10. Photos of the Durham Constabulary Male Voice Choir and Rainbow Singers.

    Add Durham Constabulary MVC and The Rainbow Singers to your Itinerary

    Durham Constabulary MVC and The Rainbow Singers

    Type

    Type:

    Concert

    Coxhoe, Durham

    Durham Constabulary MVC Are delighted to announce a joint concert with The Rainbow Singers. 

    Dates

    From:
    28 June 2025Open 19:00 -
    More info for Durham Constabulary MVC and The Rainbow Singers
  11. Someone holding Vegetables - Copyright Beamish Museum

    Add Horticultural Show 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Horticultural Show 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Show / Display

    Beamish

    The museum has teamed up with the North East Horticultural Society for this annual event, taking place on the museum’s Events Field, which will see fierce, friendly competition at the museum as a vast array of vegetables, flowers and crafts are put…

    Dates

    From:
    6 Sept 2025to7 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Horticultural Show 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  12. Crook Hall gardens

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

    History of Durham City Walk at Crook Hall Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Guided Walk

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

    Dates

    From:
    15 Apr 2025to28 Oct 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for History of Durham City Walk at Crook Hall Gardens
  13. People boarding a team train

    S&DR200 - Anniversary Journey 1825-2025: Shildon, Darlington and Stockton

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    County Durham

    A newly renovated replica of Locomotion No. 1, the passenger carriage 'Experiment' and coal waggons will run on sections of the original S&DR line over three days.

    Dates

    From:
    26 Sept 2025to28 Sept 2025
    More info for S&DR200 - Anniversary Journey 1825-2025: Shildon, Darlington and Stockton
  14. Woman and man smiling next to vegetable stall of market. Woman holding vegetables.

    Add Bishop Auckland Market to your Itinerary

    Bishop Auckland Market

    Type

    Type:

    Markets

    Bishop Auckland

    Stroll through the stalls, savour delicious local treats, and soak up the friendly atmosphere. Every Thursday and Saturday 8:00-17:00

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Bishop Auckland Market
  15. a diver under the surface of the ocean

    Add Sunken Shipwrecks at The Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Sunken Shipwrecks at The Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Hunt for the Tek Sing shipwreck and learn how underwater archaeologists study shipwrecks.

    Venue

    Durham University Oriental Museum, Durham City

    Dates

    From:
    23 July 2025Open 13:00 - 15:00
    More info for Sunken Shipwrecks at The Oriental Museum
  16. 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
  17. A young child with curly blonde hair, wearing green dungarees and a striped shirt, walks alone along a grand, ornately decorated museum hallway

    Add Bug Hunt - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Bug Hunt - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Barnard Castle

    Embark on playful bug hunt to spot artworks around the museum that feature insects, vibrant colours and striking patterns. This interactive session invites curious explorers to engage their senses and uncover how nature has inspired artist and…

    Dates

    From:
    22 July 2025to2 Sept 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Bug Hunt - The Bowes Museum
  18. Durham Cathedral Liquid Geometry Javier Riera. Lumiere 2023 produced by Artichoke. Photo by Matthew Andrews

    Add Lumiere Durham to your Itinerary

    Lumiere Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    The UK’s light art biennial. The hugely popular event will take place over three evenings this autumn, from Thursday to Saturday, 13th -15th November.

    Dates

    From:
    13 Nov 2025to15 Nov 2025
    More info for Lumiere Durham
  19. Traditional Korean drumming performance at the Oriental Museum.

    Add P'ungmul Music Performance and Family Activities at The Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    P'ungmul Music Performance and Family Activities at The Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Experience a FREE South Korean drumming performance presented by students from the Durham University P'ungmul Society and try writing a secret code in Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.

    Venue

    Durham University Oriental Museum, Durham City

    Dates

    From:
    28 June 2025Open 12:30 - 15:00
    More info for P'ungmul Music Performance and Family Activities at The Oriental Museum
  20. 'We Were At The Sharp End Us' Copyright Narbi Price. Painting of a green field against a black and white landscape.

    Add GOING BACK BROCKENS: Monuments and Rhetoric After the Miners’ Strike to your Itinerary

    GOING BACK BROCKENS: Monuments and Rhetoric After the Miners’ Strike

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Bishop Auckland

    Opening on Friday 13 June at The Warehouse in Newgate Centre, Bishop Auckland, GOING BACK BROCKENS: Monuments and Rhetoric After the Miners’ Strike, is a three-part exhibition across County Durham that sees North East artist Narbi Price and writer…

    Dates

    From:
    13 June 2025to5 July 2025Various Opening Times
    From:
    12 July 2025Open 12:00 - 15:00
    From:
    22 Aug 2025
    More info for GOING BACK BROCKENS: Monuments and Rhetoric After the Miners’ Strike
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