Make the most of the summer holidays in Darlington

Darlington is definitely the place to be this summer! Our summer calendar is crammed full of family-friendly exciting events happening in the town centre. There is so much to do in Darlington through the summer holidays, no matter the age of your children. Continue reading to find out what events are happening.

Summer Pool Parties

Pool parties at The Dolphin Centre are back! The popular pool parties will be taking place every Tuesday afternoon between 1pm and 3pm through the summer holidays, starting from 21st July and ending on 25th August. The parties include music, beach balls and small pool floats to play on. The diving boards, slides and toddler pools will also be open during these parties. Learn more here.

Darlington Running Festival (Sunday 2nd August)

If you’re a runner then Darlington town centre is where you need to be headed on August 2! We are hosting the first ever Darlington Running Festival, celebrating all four runs that will be taking place on the day. There is a 10k and a 5k happening for keen adult runners, then for those who are slightly younger, there is the Junior 3k. There is also a Family Fun Run happening to kickstart the day.

Library Takeover Day (Wednesday 5th August)

The annual Library Takeover Day is happening on August 5 this year and will be held in the Market Square, between 11am and 3pm. The day will play host to several interactive performances, including a special KPOP! Party. There will also be the chance to meet some fantastic local authors and take part in free activities through the day.

Darlington Pride (Saturday 8th August)

Pride celebrations will be returning to Darlington this summer and is an all-inclusive event. The day of celebrations will begin with a march through the town centre at 11am, followed by a day packed full of fun. There will be a variety of live music, local business stalls, street theatre plus food and drink. There will also be a host of afterparties in the town in several different venues. Check our What’s On listing for more information.

Move More Monday (Monday 10th August)

The Move More Monday event is exactly what it sounds like. The Move More team are heading to Darlington’s Market Square for a day of free fun and games, all with the aim to move more. From 11am till 3pm, families can join in with a mix of sporting activities and games, for all ages.

Making Sense Together (Thursday 13th August)

Making Sense Together is a free event happening in Darlington Market Square, aiming to support people with learning disabilities or autism to join in some calm and sensory fun. There will be several free workshops and activities to join with, including crafts, facepainting and bubble play. There is also going to be a whole host of stalls (see full list here) offering support and sensory items.

Legends & Fairy Tales (Thursday 20th August)

An event made for all the Kingdom to attend! Head to Darlington town centre on August 20 for a day dedicated to Legends and Fairy Tales. You can meet your favourite fairytale characters, as well as enjoy a live theatre production and join in with free games throughout the day. Remember to dress to impress!

Dinosaur Day (Thursday 27th August)

If you’re into dinosaurs or know a little one who is, then you don’t want to miss this. Dinosaur Day is happening in the town centre between 11am and 3pm, and there will be several free activities for dino lovers to join in with. Beware, you may bump into a Tyrannosaurus Rex roaming along the High Row!

Events at Hopetown

There is so much happening at Hopetown this summer! If football is your thing, then there is a free exhibition on Arthur Wharton, widely recognised as the world’s first black footballer who started his career in Darlington. There is also a Wallace and Gromit themed trail to take part in, while exploring the museum. As well as this, there are a few theatre evenings coming along for the adults to enjoy. Take a look at Hopetown’s full list of events here.

Events at The Hullabaloo

The Hullabaloo Theatre, situated right beside Darlington Hippodrome, is a charity that makes, tours and promotes theatre for children aged between 0 and 10 years old. There is always something going on at The Hullabaloo and this summer is no different! They have all sorts of exciting events happening, including crafts, poetry sessions, neurodivergent sessions and also outdoor play all summer. Find their full list of events here.

And these events are just through the summer, meaning there is much more still to come! We have a jam-packed event schedule for the rest of 2026, so once summer is over that doesn’t mean that the fun is. Please see the full list of events on our website. Remember to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok too for more information and Darlington recommendations.