Organisers of the Durham Christmas Festival have opened reservations for coach companies to bring groups to the city from Friday 4 December to Sunday 6 December 2026. This allows group travel organisers to secure their places early for the popular three-day event in Durham, County Durham.
The festival will include a large craft and gift marquee on Palace Green with more than 180 stalls for shoppers to explore. Visitors can also visit a regional food and drink market featuring over 30 different traders in the Durham Cathedral Cloisters.
Several local organisations work together to run the event, including Durham Markets, Durham University, and Durham BID. Other partners involved in the festive weekend include the City of Durham Parish Council and Durham County Council.
By opening the booking process now, organisers aim to manage the arrival of thousands of visitors into the historic city centre more effectively. This early preparation helps local shops and tourism businesses get ready for the crowds expected during the first weekend of December.
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