Seasonal Marketing Opportunities

Throughout the year Visit County Durham partners can take advantage of a programme of free, and cost-effective promotional opportunities for your business.

Spring (March to May)

Monthly Thematic Campaigns

Each month a different theme is used across Visit County Durham marketing channels, to promote the breadth and depth of the county’s offer, provide promotional platforms for businesses, and to tap into consumer trends.

  • March – Spring Breaks; Food and Drink
  • April – Spring Breaks; Accommodation
  • May – Spring/Summer Breaks; Walking and Cycling

How to get involved…

Awareness Days

Throughout the year Visit County Durham links our social media activity with themes and events that are trending. By utilising trends such as national days and awareness days you can amplify your message and reach new audiences.

March 

  • Women’s History Month
  • World Wildlife Day
  • Disabled Access Day
  • Global Day of Unplugging
  • International Women’s Day
  • British Science Week
  • English Tourism Week
  • Mother’s Day
  • St Cuthbert’s Day
  • International Day of Happiness
  • Spring Equinox
  • World Poetry Day
  • World Theatre Day

April 

  • Move more month (Active for April)
  • National Pet Month
  • National Garden Month
  • National Walking Day
  • Easter - Good Friday, Bank Holiday Weekend and Easter Sunday
  • National Pet Day
  • International Dark Skies Week
  • UNESCO International Day For Monuments and Sites - World Heritage Day
  • National Picnic Day
  • World Art Day
  • National Coach Week
  • National Gardening Week
  • Easter School Holidays

May 

  • National Walking Month
  • National Photography Month
  • Harry Potter Day
  • Space Day
  • International Dawn Chorus Day
  • Love your local market
  • National Train Day
  • Global Accessibility Awareness Day
  • International Museum Day

Please check the dates for the awareness days.

Summer (June to August)

Monthly Thematic Campaigns

Each month a different theme is used across Visit County Durham marketing channels, to promote the breadth and depth of the county’s offer, provide promotional platforms for businesses, and to tap into consumer trends.

  • June – Summer Breaks; Family Fun
  • July – Summer Breaks; City Breaks
  • August – Summer/Autumn Breaks; Heritage

How to get involved…

Awareness Days

Throughout the year Visit County Durham links our social media activity with themes and events that are trending. By utilising trends such as national days and awareness days you can amplify your message and reach new audiences.

June 

  • National Great Outdoors Month
  • Pride Month
  • World Wellbeing Week
  • Volunteers Week
  • World Environment Day
  • UK National Bike Week
  • National Get Outdoors Day
  • World Gin Day
  • National Beer Day
  • Nature Photography Day
  • International Waterfall Day
  • National Go Fishing Day
  • Father's Day
  • National Picnic Week
  • Summer Solstice
  • World Music Day

July 

  • National Picnic Month
  • National Ice Cream Month
  • National Meadows Day
  • National Ice Cream Day
  • Love Parks Week
  • School Summer Holidays

August 

  • National Fishing Month
  • National Mustard Day
  • Afternoon Tea Week
  • World Photography Day
  • Thoughtful Traveller Day
  • National Beach Day
  • National Relaxation Day
  • International Dog Day
  • National Cinema Day

Please check the dates for the awareness days.

Summer Staycation Campaign

Staycations continue to be a strong consumer trend, and to ensure Durham captures as much of this key market as possible, Visit County Durham delivers an annual marketing campaign utilising digital marketing channels including social media, e-newsletters and blogs, as well as media and influencer activity, which drives traffic to a dedicated content hub on thisisdurham.com. Let us know your summer events and offers – email marketing@visitcountydurham.org  

Autumn (September to November)

Monthly Thematic Campaigns

Each month a different theme is used across Visit County Durham marketing activity, to promote the breadth and depth of the county’s offer, provide promotional platforms for businesses, and to tap into consumer trends.

  • September – Dark Skies; Autumn Breaks
  • October – Autumn Breaks; Dog-Friendly
  • November – Winter Breaks; Christmas

How to get involved…

Awareness Days

Throughout the year Visit County Durham links our social media activity with themes and events that are trending. By utilising trends such as national days and awareness days you can amplify your message and reach new audiences.

September 

  • Back to Hogwarts Day
  • National Wildlife Day
  • National Hotel Employee Day
  • Autumn Solstice
  • World Rivers Day
  • World Tourism Day

October

  • Vegetarian Month
  • World Architecture Day
  • World Animal Day
  • World Space Week
  • National Poetry Day
  • Halloween
  • National Curry Week
  • World Golf Lovers Day
  • International Artist Day
  • Chocolate Week
  • October half term

November 

  • World Vegan Day
  • National Take a Hike Day
  • Purple Tuesday (disability awareness day)
  • Small Business Saturday
  • Remembrance Day
  • National Take a Hike Day
  • Black Friday
  • National Spa Week

Please check the dates for the awareness days.

National Destination Marketing Campaign

Each year Visit County Durham runs a 6-month national marketing campaign in partnership with visitor economy businesses, featuring high profile advertising including national media partnerships, out of home advertising and influencer commissions. A range of marketing opportunities are available for businesses to be part of, and benefit from, the campaign activity.
Find out more about our National Destination Marketing Campaign.

Lumiere Breaks

Maximise your business visibility during Lumiere Durham! Lumiere lights up Durham City bi-annually each November (13 – 15 November 2025), attracting thousands of visitors from across the UK. As part of our Lumiere Breaks campaign, we showcase how visitors can extend their visit into a longer overnight stay, and explore more of the county.
If you're planning special offers, extended opening hours, events, or packages around Lumiere, let us know. We'll include your information in our promotion to help drive footfall and promote your business to a wider audience. Activity will include a dedicated Lumiere Breaks content hub on thisisdurham.com, social media and e-newsletters.
Email marketing@visitcountydurham.org

Online Advent Calendar

Each December Visit County Durham launches an online advent calendar, to provide partners with a seasonal promotional platform. Behind each door visitors can find different prizes from Durham’s top attractions, restaurant, accommodation and experiences.
In return for offering a prize, each featured partner will receive promotion across our website and social media channels, as well as opt-in data from competition entries.
Email marketing@visitcountydurham.org

Winter (December to February)

Monthly Thematic Campaigns

Each month a different theme is used across Visit County Durham marketing activity, to promote the breadth and depth of the county’s offer, provide promotional platforms for businesses, and to tap into consumer trends.

  • December – Christmas; Winter Breaks
  • January – Winter Breaks; Spa Breaks; Wellness and Romance
  • February – Nature; Easter; Spring Breaks

How to get involved…

Awareness Days

Throughout the year Visit County Durham links our social media activity with themes and events that are trending. By utilising trends such as national days and awareness days you can amplify your message and reach new audiences.

December

  • International Day of People with Disabilities
  • Panto Day
  • Winter Solstice

January

  • Veganuary
  • Walk your Dog Month
  • Heritage Treasures Day
  • National Storytelling Week
  • Lunar New Year Celebrations

February 

  • National Wedding Month
  • Global Movie Day
  • Valentines Day
  • Love Your Pet Day
  • February half term

Please check the dates for the awareness days.

Year-Round Opportunities

Submit your Events and Special Offers

Got an event coming up? Make sure it gets noticed by uploading your events for FREE to thisisdurham.com, and reach thousands of potential visitors planning their trip to Durham. It’s quick, easy, and a fantastic way to boost footfall and promote what’s happening at your business.
Submit your events.

Running a promotion or discount? You can upload your special offers too. This is a fantastic way to attract even more visitors and give people an extra reason to choose your business while they’re exploring Durham.
Submit your special offers - email  visitor@thisisdurham.com

Share Your News

Share your latest updates with us so we can spread the word through our marketing channels and keep potential visitors informed and inspired. The more up to date we are, the better we can showcase your business and everything that makes Durham such a fantastic place to visit.
Share your press releases or latest news - email marketing@visitcountydurham.org