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The Bishop Auckland Food Festival stretches across the stunning marketplace in front of the town hall in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.
With a fantastic range of delicious street food traders and artisan food producers, bars with real ales, pop up cafés and attractions for all, the festival truly has something for everyone!
Find out more by visiting the BAFF website www.bishopaucklandfoodfestival.co.uk/
S&DR200 has commissioned Avanti Display and Walk the Plank will coproduce, with artists Andy Plant, Bryan Tweddle and Chris Squire with two celebratory events to commemorate this remarkable feat of innovation and engineering.
On Saturday 20 September, prepare to be amazed as Ghost Train: The Departures arrives in Darlington town centre with free, interactive performances and a spectacular evening parade to Hopetown.
The event will begin with a theatrical reimagining of Locomotion No. 1, with moving cogs and wheels, installed on a large plinth in the Market Square.
Throughout the afternoon six large-scale structures – each mounted on customised cars – will bring to life, through performance, music, sound and feats of engineering, some of the most significant inventions of the last 200 years.
In the early evening, the Locomotion No. 1 will steam to life – fueled by artistic ‘coal of the future’ made by 900 primary school children from across the town.
The engine will then lead each of the sculptures on a magical procession of lights and music, through North Lodge Park and up to Hopetown.
Once the parade arrives at Hopetown, there will be a host of free, Night at the Museum activities for all the family.
Hopetown will stay open late, with another chance to see the amazing artistic carriages up close.
Visitors will also be able to enjoy the Titans of Steam exhibition which runs from Saturday 20 September until Sunday 5 October. The exhibition sees six amazing steam engines standing side by side the 78018 BR Standard Class 2, the 62005 LNER K1, the freight-hauling 63395 LNER Q6, the 65894 LNER J27, the 63395 LNER Q6, the 60163 Tornado and the 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley.
Ghost Train: The Arrival will happen in Stockton on Sunday 28 September.
Delivered by Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council & Stockton Borough Council
Major Funders: TVCA
Join the Stockton and Darlington Railways team to explore the history of the railway in the North East! With family crafts, activities and STEM workshops hosted by organisations and partners including Preston Park Museum and Grounds, Hopetown, Locomotion and the Friends of Stockton and Darlington Railway and the 26 miles team.
Supported by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Free event, just turn up!
Date
19 August 2025 11am-4pm
To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first passenger railway journey, a newly renovated replica of Locomotion No. 1 and the passenger carriage ‘Experiment’ will travel along sections of the original S&DR line, cheered on by spectators along the route.
Spectators will be able to see the train at designated locations and enjoy an accompanying programme of very special commissioned events organised at various points along the route for all to enjoy.
The Anniversary Journey is a free event and open to all ages.
However, advance tickets will be required for those viewing the procession from Locomotion and Hopetown Darlington and can be booked for free.
Dates
Friday 26th – Sunday 28th September
To see the full programme and to book tickets visit the S&DR 200 page
Tracks Darlington are bringing their family fun live music series BIG Little Gigs to Locomotion, Shildon on Saturday 9th August.
BIG Little Gigs brings live music of a wide variety of genres to different family friendly locations in our region to share the joys of live music with children and their grown ups.
For this session please welcome the brilliant Byker Hillbillies! The Byker Hillbillies are a Bluegrass/Country band bringing you their own blend of Americana and the sweetest vocal harmonies this side of the Byker Bridge. For this event, they will be peppering their set with railroad songs in celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the passenger railways in 2025.
There will also be free musical crafts for the little ones to join in and get creative.
This event is free but to find out more visit Tracks Darlington
Date
Saturday 9th August 2-3pm
Tracks Darlington organise an amazing full day music and comedy festival all within walking distance of Darlington Station.
Pulling into town on Saturday September 6th. Enjoy six stages of amazing independent music & comedy. Taking over The Forum Music Centre, The Hullbaloo Theatre and even Darlington Hippodrome’s beautiful auditorium, bringing over 40 of the finest in local and national talent to town, all on a single ticket.
So far the Line includes Du Blonde, MARKETPLACE, TV Death, DEAR TASH, DUPLA, Nadedja, LAWN CHAIR, Lovely Assistant, The Early Purple, Loren Heat, Robyn Errico, Perfect Chicken, CHAT, Staithe, Pearly Gates, Eternal Rin, Dinky Bossetti, and many more TBA
Tickets £25+BF in advance or £30 on the door
Date
Saturday 6th September
Book tickets through Tracks Darlington
Last Train Home Music and Comedy Festival takes place in Darlington on 6th September across various venues close to Darlington Station.
Each year, Tracks Darlington launch their day-long Last Train Home Festival with an intimate evening of music beforehand at Hopetown Darlington.
Join them for a special and memorable night of live music featuring SUNFLOWER THIEVES, with support from NORTH RIDING and PHIL COX.
Date
Thursday 4th September
Book tickets through Tracks Darlington
