Wharton Park events

Find out about all the upcoming events in Wharton Park.

Wharton Park Summer Brass Band Concerts

A selection of local brass bands will be heading to Wharton Park this Summer to treat our visitors to free Brass concerts in our park amphitheatre. Band performances will take place on selected Sundays in July and August running between 1.00pm and 3.00pm on the dates below. Pack a picnic bring a blanket or a chair and sit back and enjoy the music:

Sunday 21 July - Craghead Colliery Band
Sunday 28 July - North East Concert Band
Sunday 4 August - Craghead Colliery Band
Sunday 11 August - Bearpark and Esh Colliery Band
Sunday 18 August - Trimdon Concert Brass Band
Sunday 25 August - NASUWT Concert Band

The Handlebards - The Comedy of Errors (Outdoor Theatre)

Date: Wednesday 4 September
Time: 7.00pm to 9.00pm
Price: Early Bird ticket- £16.50, Standard ticket - £19.50, 21 and under - £12.50, 12 and under - £5.00, Under 5s - Free

Pedalling from venue to venue with all of their set, props and costumes on the back of their bikes, the HandleBards are a four-strong troupe of actors who are spending the summer bringing environmentally sustainable Shakespeare to venues across the UK.

Join the troupe at Wharton Park for a bicycle-powered production of Shakespeare's 'The Comedy of Errors' like you've never seen before. When two sets of estranged twins are brought together on the same island, this classic comedy takes hold, with mistaken identity, music and manic costume changes a plenty.

This is an outdoor production, so please bring a chair or blanket to sit on, a picnic to dig into, and dress for the weather.

Tickets must be booked in advance directly with Handlebards: Handlebards: book tickets for our outdoor amphitheatre event

Notes on performance

Doors open at 6.00pm.
Chairs, picnics, blankets, and any other low-level accessories are welcome. Seating will be on the grassed banks of the park's amphitheatre.
The performance takes place outdoors. In case of rain please use ponchos and raincoats rather than umbrellas which may obstruct the view.

Should you have any access related questions ahead of the performance please Contact Wharton Park and a member of the team would be happy to help and advise the best routes into and around the park.

Car parking is limited at Wharton Park, ticket holders are advised to allow ample time to park and walk. Free overflow parking is available at County Hall a short 10min walk from the park located at DH1 5UL.

Self-led Love Exploring trails

Download the love exploring app for free - Download the Love Exploring app. Love Exploring allows you to take part in fun, themed, augmented reality trails including our amazing dinosaur safari and brand new roman game! It is compatible with most but not all mobile phones. Please check you can access all features of the trails before you visit.

Roman game

Try our bespoke new game to learn more about Hardwick Park's East Park and the unique Roman settlement that was found there. See roman buildings rise up from the ground and meet roman characters all in augmented reality. You can also try our games which include shaping a roman pot, solving a bronze making puzzle, and constructing iron tools all through your mobile phone. East Park is found by going through the underpass near the Hardwick Park Tower and Dragon. It is a field with rough paths and we recommend sensible footwear.