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You are here > Home > What's On > Family Events

Family Events

For guaranteed fun for all the family check out our list of events taking place across the county.

Whether you are looking for things on this weekend, or looking for what's on today, we have all the amazing events for a great days out with the kids.

Create lasting memories with your loved ones at Durham's family-friendly events. Explore a diverse array of kid-friendly activities, family festivals, and interactive outings that cater to all ages. From educational workshops to entertaining performances, Durham offers a vibrant calendar of events designed to bring families together. Stay informed about the latest family-friendly happenings, and plan your weekends with the exciting array of cultural and recreational activities that Durham has to offer.

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Number of results: 83

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  1. Woodland Walk at The Bowes Museum, with yellow daffodils lining the path.

    Add Nature Walk and Survey - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Nature Walk and Survey - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Barnard Castle

    Take action for climate and nature this Great Big Green Week and venture through the parkland, discovering the rich ecosystem that thrives around us. Take a guided leisurely stroll around the woodland walk to identify native plants and see and hear…

    Dates

    From:
    12 June 2025Open 11:00 - 13:00
    More info for Nature Walk and Survey - The Bowes Museum
  2. Open Farm Sunday at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens.  A field of cows with trees in the background

    Add Open Farm Sunday to your Itinerary

    Open Farm Sunday

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Staindrop

    Open Farm Sunday will feature our local produce market, exciting tractor rides and much more!

    Dates

    From:
    8 June 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Open Farm Sunday
  3. An audience watching outdoor cinema at Raby Castle

    Add Adventure Cinema at Raby Castle to your Itinerary

    Adventure Cinema at Raby Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Film

    Staindrop

    Outdoor cinema at Raby Castle.

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2025Open 19:30 -
    From:
    19 July 2025Open 18:30 -
    From:
    20 July 2025Open 13:30 -
    From:
    20 July 2025Open 19:30 -
    More info for Adventure Cinema at Raby Castle
  4. Someone holding a tortoise in their hand.

    Crazy Creatures - Durham University Botanic Garden

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham

    Get interactive with the Crazy Creatures visiting the Garden for the day.

    Dates

    From:
    14 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    From:
    25 Oct 2025Open 10:30 - 16:00
    More info for Crazy Creatures - Durham University Botanic Garden
  5. Illustration of a yellow bird with navy feather's perched on a hedge.

    Add The Discovery of Birds - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    The Discovery of Birds - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Durham

    Drawing on Ushaw Library’s rich and varied natural history holdings, The Discovery of Birds illuminates the development of bird art and ornithology from the Renaissance to the nineteenth century.

    Dates

    From:
    12 Apr 2025to22 June 2025
    More info for The Discovery of Birds - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
  6. Rosettes and date of the Durham County Show

    Add Durham County Show to your Itinerary

    Durham County Show

    Type

    Type:

    Agricultural Show

    nr Thornley

    The annual Durham County Show.

    Dates

    From:
    5 July 2025to6 July 2025
    More info for Durham County Show
  7. Durham Miners' Gala. Crowds enjoying the Gala outside of the County Hotel. Colliery Banners can be seen as the Bands march through the streets.

    Durham Miners' Gala 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Show / Display

    Durham City

    The Durham Miners' Gala returns on 12th July 2025.

    Dates

    From:
    12 July 2025
    More info for Durham Miners' Gala 2025
  8. New Hall at Locomotion

    Add S&DR200 - Celebrating our Railway Heritage at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - Celebrating our Railway Heritage at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Shildon

    A week-long celebration of the history of railways featuring a line-up of steam locomotives that were built or worked in the North East, as well as family activities and steam train rides.

    Dates

    From:
    24 May 2025to1 June 2025
    More info for S&DR200 - Celebrating our Railway Heritage at Locomotion
  9. Durham Fringe Festival 2025 - a group of singers performing on stage.

    Add Durham Fringe Festival 2025 to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham City

    Between 23rd and 27th July 2025, Durham Fringe Festival will host a spectacular array of performing arts across nine Durham City Centre venues. Audiences will be invited to explore over 110 unique acts across a programme of 270+ performances. Genres…

    Dates

    From:
    23 July 2025to27 July 2025
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival 2025
  10. Crowds enjoy show jumping at Weardale Show.

    Add 155th Weardale Agricultural Show 2025 to your Itinerary

    155th Weardale Agricultural Show 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Agricultural Show

    St. Johns Chapel

    The Weardale Show returns on Saturday 30th August 2025.

    Dates

    From:
    30 Aug 2025
    More info for 155th Weardale Agricultural Show 2025
  11. Young girl with coloured hair braids

    Add Hair Braids & Milkshakes - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Hair Braids & Milkshakes - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Bargate Bank, Lanchester

    Join us for some more hair-raising fun with another helping of our Hair Braids & Milkshakes event.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 16:30
    More info for Hair Braids & Milkshakes - Lanchester Garden Centre
  12. Families walking in the grounds at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Add May Half Term at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    May Half Term at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Durham

    Celebrate the May Half Term break here at Ushaw, from Saturday 24 May – Sunday 2 June

    Dates

    From:
    24 May 2025to2 June 2025
    More info for May Half Term at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
  13. The Story at Mount Oswald

    Add S&DR200 - All Change to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - All Change

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    South Road, Durham City

    Through authentic voices from letters, diaries, court papers, and other day-to-day records from their collections, The Story will uncover the impact of the Stockton & Darlington Railway on the socio-economic fabric of the region.  

    Dates

    From:
    25 May 2025to26 Jan 2026
    More info for S&DR200 - All Change
  14. Ariel view of Wolsingham Show

    Add Wolsingham Show 2025 to your Itinerary

    Wolsingham Show 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Agricultural Show

    Wolsingham

    Celebrate the county’s farming life at England’s oldest and Durham’s biggest open-air Agricultural show. A jam-packed weekend of family-friendly entertainment.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Sept 2025to7 Sept 2025
    More info for Wolsingham Show 2025
  15. Durham Brass 2025 Festival logo

    Durham Brass Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    BRASS is back in 2025 with a fantastic programme of brass-inspired events coming to Durham from 13 - 20 July, with a headline performance by Bill Ryder-Jones.

    Dates

    From:
    13 July 2025to20 July 2025
    More info for Durham Brass Festival 2025
  16. Taylor Swift lookalike in a cowgirl hat and silver platforms.

    Add Swift-Tea Party - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Swift-Tea Party - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Bargate Bank, Lanchester

    Join us this "Cruel Summer" for our very first Swift-Tea - with live singing, games, dance competitions and of course meet & greet with photo opportunities.

    Dates

    From:
    17 Aug 2025Open 17:30 - 19:00
    More info for Swift-Tea Party - Lanchester Garden Centre
  17. Durham Book Festival Logo

    Durham Book Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Durham Book Festival

    Durham

    Durham Book Festival is one of the country’s oldest literary festivals, taking place in and around Durham City, returning this year on 10th to 12th October.

    Dates

    From:
    10 Oct 2025to12 Oct 2025
    More info for Durham Book Festival 2025
  18. Families walking through a hay meadow

    Add National Meadows Day – Family Friendly to your Itinerary

    National Meadows Day – Family Friendly

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Holwick

    Celebrate National Meadows Day at this family friendly event. Join in the fun and creative activities for families and adults interested in nature, farming and cultural heritage.

    Dates

    From:
    5 July 2025Open 10:30 - 15:30
    More info for National Meadows Day – Family Friendly
  19. Aerial view of Raby Castle and grounds

    Add S&DR200: Coal, Canals and Carriages: The Story of Raby and the Railways to your Itinerary

    S&DR200: Coal, Canals and Carriages: The Story of Raby and the Railways

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Staindrop

    Raby Castle will celebrate the year with stories associated with 19th-century inventions, including the reactions of landowners and farmers to trains, as well as how travel evolved into a privilege for the upper classes from their collections.

    Dates

    From:
    1 June 2025to30 Nov 2025
    More info for S&DR200: Coal, Canals and Carriages: The Story of Raby and the Railways
  20. A young child with curly blonde hair, wearing green dungarees and a striped shirt, walks alone along a grand, ornately decorated museum hallway

    Add Bug Hunt - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Bug Hunt - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Barnard Castle

    Embark on playful bug hunt to spot artworks around the museum that feature insects, vibrant colours and striking patterns. This interactive session invites curious explorers to engage their senses and uncover how nature has inspired artist and…

    Dates

    From:
    22 July 2025to2 Sept 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Bug Hunt - The Bowes Museum
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