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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."

For the first time ever available in the UK, “All Aboard” The Polar Express!
for a one-hour round-trip, with evening departures from November 16th through December 30th

Contact 01388 526203, Website Events page


 

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 1st Sept , 12 noon, 01388 517969



 

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.

The 2013 Food Festival will take place over two days on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st April.(check later for details)

website

 

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.

8th Annual Festival of Brass 

Contact (01388) 537229  Click here for Stanhope Silver Band Events Calendar and Website

Art Exhibitions

Stanhope Fusion Art Group May 5th, 6th, and 7th at St Thomas Church Hall, Stanhope.
Wolsingham Art Exhibition, last weekend in  August at the Masonic Hall.
Weardale Society Art Exhibition, St Thomas Church Hall, Stanhope, last week in August.

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 6th October 2013. 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