Events in Weardale
Weardale has a wide variety of events throughout the year ranging from its popular agricultural shows to more unusual hay and sheep shows, from the Wear Valley Food Festival to its regular Farmers Markets, and from the Thimbleberry Music Festival to the Stanhope Brass Band Festival.
Check our calendar (left) and event organiser websites (below) for the latest information.
Use the advanced search facility on the calendar to find events in particular places or on particular days.
Killhope Events
 Killhope Lead-mining Museum is a real adventure and it has a programme of events for the whole family which run throughout the year. Tour the mine, walk in the woodland, visit the exhibitions, see the wildlife.
Open daily throughout the season.
Contact Tina Raynor 01388 537505 Website Events
Weardale Railway Events
 The Weardale Railway holds special events throughout the year including Santa Specials, Mince Pie Specials, Mothers Day & Father's Day Events, Easter Bunny Hunt, Teddy Bear's Picnic, Classic vehicle Rallies and their annual War on the Line event featuring a fashion show,skirmishes, dioramas, military vehicles, home-front displays and side stalls.
1940's dance with entertainment is held on the Saturday evening. Visitors are encouraged to wear period costume."
Contact 01388 526203, Events website
Show Time
 The Agricultural Shows in August and September are the main events on the Dales calendar.
 The Cross Keys, Eastgate hosts unusual farming events including;
- Eastgate Hay Show - First weekend in February
- Eastgate Sheep Show - Last weekend in May
- Contact 01388 517234
Going to the Dogs
 "Weardale Dog Agility", Wolsingham Showfield in September - Competitors of these trials go through to the National Competition at Olympia.
Dog Agility, Stanhope Showfield (Unthank Park) 28th-31st May
Terrier and Lurcher Show - St John's Chapel Showfield 29th August , 12 noon
Puppy Show , Westgate
Bishop Auckland Food Festival in the Durham Dales
 The Food Festival held in April at Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland is the largest food festival in the North East.
Next festival probably Saturday 21st April 2012 (check later for details)
Farmers Markets
Enjoy a day out to the historic market town of Stanhope and stock up your larder at the Stanhope Farmer's Market, held every 4th Saturday of the month.
Contact 01388 765555
Mighty Wurlitzer Concerts
The North East Theatre Organ Association holds monthly concerts in Howden-le-Wear on their Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.
Contact: David Kirkbride, 3 Edendale Crescent, Howden-le-Wear, DL15 8HR, Tel 01388 762467.
Website
Stanhope Silver Band - Concerts
Stanhope Silver Band Street March - 2nd Saturday in September 10.30 - 11am along Stanhope Front Street.
Weardale Agricultural Show, last weekend in August,
Stanhope Agricultural Show, 2nd weekend in September.
Stanhope Band Festival of Brass - Three major concerts featuring top brass band guests during the autumn. The final concert at 7.30pm on Saturday 3rd December in Stanhope Methodist Chapel, features Joe Cook the tuba soloist from the famous Black Dyke Band.
Contact (01388) 537229
Art Exhibitions
Stanhope Fusion Art Group May 1st - 3rd at St Thomas Church Hall, Stanhope.
Wolsingham Art Exhibition, 28th - 30th August at the Masonic Hall.
Weardale Society Art Exhibition, St Thomas Church Hall, Stanhope, August 21 - 30th
AONB Partnership Events
 Check the AONB Partnership website for the events which they organise throughout the year. !!! These need to be booked in advance.
The North Pennine AONB partnership also produce a series of excellent leaflets and publications about the countryside which can be obtained from their office or via the website.
Cycling Events
The Marie Curie Cancer Care Etape Pennines comes through Weardale and the surrounding hills on Sunday 7th October 2012. This is an IMG Challenger World Event with over 3000 riders.
Highlights Rural Touring Scheme
Over 80 volunteer groups across Cumbria, County Durham and Northumberland participate in The Highlights Rural Touring Scheme a programme of high quality professional, theatre, music, dance and craft events for village halls, schools and community centres, including several Weardale venues.
Weardale Cinema
Films for children and all the family every fortnight at Upper Weardale Cinema Club, St Johns Chapel.
For more events easily reached from Weardale
Log on to the websites of
Gala Theatre - Durham
Bishop Auckland Town Hall
Consett Empire
Darlington Civic Theatre and Arts Centre
Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle
The Queen's Hall, Hexham
The Sage, Gateshead
Theatre Royal, Newcastle |
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