Durham County Council is hosting its largest programme of St George’s Day celebrations to date, with events taking place across the county on 23 April 2026. The council has organised a variety of activities for residents, including craft sessions and library displays, alongside evening illuminations to mark the occasion.
As part of the day, Durham County Council is holding free talks at The Story regarding George Nicholson Bradford. Born in Witton Park on 23 April 1887, the local hero was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously after he was killed in action during the Zeebrugge Raid exactly 31 years later. He and his brother Roland remain the only siblings to have both received the Victoria Cross during the First World War.
In the evening, several landmark buildings will be illuminated in red and white to mark the day. These include The Story, Durham Town Hall, Clayport Library, and Bishop Auckland Town Hall.
The celebrations will continue in Durham City on 25 April between 11am and 3:30pm. Organised in partnership with Durham BID, this event will feature medieval-themed entertainment including dragon appearances, unicycle knights, and roller-skating knights.
Cllr Andrew Husband, leader of Durham County Council, said this is just the start of celebrations for this significant day, and the council will be working hard to make sure this event grows year on year.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
