Durham Miners' Gala

Durham Miners' Gala
Durham Miners Gala 2008 Old Elvet Bridge
Date(s)	Second Saturday in July
Location(s)	Durham
Inaugurated	1871 (1871)
Most recent	Saturday 13 July 2024
Organised by	Durham Miners' Association
Website	durhamminers.org

The Durham Miners' Gala is a large annual gathering and labour festival held on the second Saturday in July in the city of Durham, England.^[1] It is associated with the coal mining heritage (and particularly that of miners' trade unionism) of the Durham Coalfield, which stretched throughout the traditional County of Durham. It is also locally called "The Big Meeting" or "Durham Big Meeting". In the context of the Durham Miners' Gala, "gala" is usually pronounced /ˈgeɪlə/ rather than the more common pronunciation /ˈgɑːlə/.^[1]

Its highlight consists of a parade of banners, each typically accompanied by a brass band, which are marched to the old Racecourse, where political speeches are delivered. In the afternoon a miners' service is held in Durham Cathedral, which may include the blessing of any new banners.