The Snowman with Live Orchestra Durham

Kynren is a spectacular open-air night show staged each summer in Bishop Auckland, telling 2,000 years of English history across a vast lakeside stage with 1,000+ cast members, live horses, pyrotechnics and water displays.

2026 season: selected Saturday evenings, 18 July – 12 September. Shows start at dusk and run around 90 minutes.

Planning your visit: arrive early — gates open well before showtime and car parks fill quickly. Bring layers; the arena gets cold once the sun drops. Parking is free and well signposted, with shuttle buses to the arena. Book tickets in advance, as Saturday nights sell out.

Where to stay near Kynren: The Barn Oakenshaw is a six-acre exclusive-use estate under 20 minutes from the Kynren arena, sleeping up to 16 across the main residence and a Finnish log cabin. With three wood-fired hot tubs, private parking and full self-catering, it suits family groups and reunions combining Kynren with Auckland Castle, Beamish or the Durham Dales. Late finishes are easy when you’re not driving far.

Wolsingham Show is England’s oldest agricultural show and County Durham’s biggest open-air country event, held each September in the heart of Weardale.

2026 dates: Saturday 5 – Sunday 6 September.

Saturday — Agricultural Day: livestock classes, major show jumping, the craft tent, vintage vehicles, birds of prey displays, dog agility, an artisan food market, strongman competition and live music.

Sunday — Country Fair Day: KC dog show, ferret racing, horticulture classes, alpacas and ponies, marquee displays and more show jumping.

Practical tips: parking is on grass, so sturdy footwear matters after rain. Cash is useful for smaller trade stands. It’s a full day — arrive mid-morning to see the main rings.

Staying nearby: The Barn Oakenshaw sits in the County Durham countryside within easy reach of Wolsingham, sleeping up to 16 with three wood-fired hot tubs. Many groups make a weekend of it, pairing Wolsingham with Stanhope Show the following week.

Stanhope Show is Weardale’s premier agricultural show and the traditional finale to County Durham’s country show season, held on the showfield beside the Wear each September.

2026 dates: Saturday 12 – Sunday 13 September.

What’s on: cattle, sheep and horse classes across multiple rings, show jumping, sheepdog trials, vintage machinery, industrial and horticultural tents, local food and craft stalls, funfair rides and live entertainment across both days.

Practical tips: Stanhope is a small dales town, so arrive early for the best parking. Weardale weather turns quickly — bring waterproofs whatever the forecast. The industrial tent, with its baking, produce and handicraft classes, is worth an hour on its own.

Where to stay: The Barn Oakenshaw is an exclusive-use countryside estate in County Durham, sleeping up to 16 with three wood-fired hot tubs, private parking and full self-catering. After a long day on the showfield, a hot tub under the stars is a good way to end it.

Durham Book Festival is the North East’s leading literary event, produced by New Writing North for Durham County Council and held in Durham City each October.

2026 dates: Friday 9 – Sunday 11 October, taking place mainly at Gala Durham. Tickets are on sale now.

This year’s line-up: Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant joins Durham University Chancellor Fiona Hill for a talk in the Forged in the North series, marking the 40th anniversary of the band’s debut album. Actor Christopher Eccleston appears alongside bestselling and award-winning writers including Susanna Clarke, Lucy Foley, Louise Doughty, Kit Fan and Sarah Hall, with poets Hollie McNish and Kayo Chingonyi. Fiona Hill also appears with Times columnist James Marriott for a discussion on smartphones, reading and democracy.

Also running: a programme of workshops and activities across County Durham’s libraries tied to the 2026 National Year of Reading, plus the return of the Big Read and Little Read.

Practical tips: headline events sell out book early. Most of the programme is concentrated at Gala Durham in the city centre, so parking is the usual Durham challenge; Park & Ride is easiest.
For groups travelling in: The Barn Oakenshaw is an exclusive-use estate a short drive from Durham city, sleeping up to 16 with three wood-fired hot tubs, log burners and private parking — a quiet countryside base for an October weekend in the city.