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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: 73

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  1. Santa placing presents under the tree.

    Add Breakfast with Santa - Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Breakfast with Santa - Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Chester le Street

    Share a magical morning with the big man himself! 
    We’ve  teamed up with Make My Day Events to bring you the ultimate  Christmas experience – a festive breakfast filled with sparkle,  songs, and a sprinkle of Santa magic.

    Dates

    From:
    13 Dec 2025Open 09:30 - 11:30
    From:
    20 Dec 2025Open 09:30 - 11:30
    From:
    22 Dec 2025Open 09:30 - 11:30
    More info for Breakfast with Santa - Lumley Castle Hotel
  2. A child sitting beside an illuminated reindeer on the Enchanted Christmas Trail.

    Add The Plotters’ Forest Enchanted Christmas Trail at Raby Castle Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    The Plotters’ Forest Enchanted Christmas Trail at Raby Castle Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Staindrop

    Enchanted Christmas Trail at The Plotters’ Forest – Day & Evening Experiences. Step into a world of festive wonder this Christmas.

    Venue

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop

    Dates

    From:
    22 Nov 2025to23 Nov 2025
    From:
    29 Nov 2025to30 Nov 2025
    From:
    3 Dec 2025to7 Dec 2025
    From:
    6 Dec 2025to7 Dec 2025
    From:
    10 Dec 2025to14 Dec 2025
    From:
    13 Dec 2025to24 Dec 2025
    From:
    17 Dec 2025to23 Dec 2025
    From:
    29 Dec 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to4 Jan 2026
    More info for The Plotters’ Forest Enchanted Christmas Trail at Raby Castle Park and Gardens
  3. Snowman animation on the big screen with a live orchestra.

    Add The Snowman with Live Orchestra to your Itinerary

    The Snowman with Live Orchestra

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Step into the wonder of the season with a heartwarming performance of The Snowman — perfect for all ages.

    Dates

    From:
    13 Dec 2025
    More info for The Snowman with Live Orchestra
  4. 'Cinderella' glass slipper and snowflakes.

    Add Cinderella Family Show - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa to your Itinerary

    Cinderella Family Show - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham

    A festive family day out packed with sparkle, songs and silliness. Cinderella brings all the magic of a traditional pantomime, with dazzling costumes, energetic performances and plenty of laughs for kids and grown-ups alike.
    Arrival: 11:30 | Lunch:…

    Dates

    From:
    7 Dec 2025to21 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Cinderella Family Show - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa
  5. Locomotive pulling a coach pulling a crowd of people

    Add S&DR200 Celebrating Railways: Past, Present and Future at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 Celebrating Railways: Past, Present and Future at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Shildon

    The highlight of the anniversary year will be Rail Futures, a celebratory festival taking place in late September and early October.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Sept 2025to31 Dec 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for S&DR200 Celebrating Railways: Past, Present and Future at Locomotion
  6. Heritage Open Days Logo

    Heritage Open Days 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage Open Days

    Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture, bringing together over 2,000 local people and organisations, and thousands of volunteers.

    Dates

    From:
    11 Sept 2026to20 Sept 2026
    More info for Heritage Open Days 2026
  7. 'Dass Brass' performing to crowds at Durham Brass Festival

    Durham Brass Festival 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    BRASS is back in 2026 with a fantastic programme of brass-inspired events coming to Durham from 12 - 19 July. 

    Dates

    From:
    12 July 2026to19 July 2026
    More info for Durham Brass Festival 2026
  8. Crowds of people enjoying the Durham Fringe Festival on Palace Green, Durham city.

    Add Durham Fringe Festival 2026 to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham City

    Between 29th July and 2nd August 2026, Durham Fringe Festival will host a spectacular array of performing arts.  Genres include theatre, music, stand-up comedy, comedy theatre, magic, spoken word, cabaret, dance, physical theatre, circus, and…

    Dates

    From:
    29 July 2026to2 Aug 2026
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival 2026
  9. 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 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Show / Display

    Durham City

    The Durham Miners' Gala returns on 11th July 2026.

    Dates

    From:
    11 July 2026
    More info for Durham Miners' Gala 2026
  10. Crook Hall Gardens, exterior of medieval hall

    Add Cinderella: a Christmas puppet panto at Crook Hall Gardens to your Itinerary

    Cinderella: a Christmas puppet panto at Crook Hall Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham City

    Experience the classic tale of magic, princes, glass slippers and pumpkins at the Crook Hall Gardens puppet theatre.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2025to21 Dec 2025Open 12:30 - 14:00
    More info for Cinderella: a Christmas puppet panto at Crook Hall Gardens
  11. A woman stands next to a Christmas tree with traditional decorations

    Add Christmas at Beamish Daytimes 2025 to your Itinerary

    Christmas at Beamish Daytimes 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Beamish

    Step back in time and enjoy the wonder of Christmas from across our time periods.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Nov 2025to24 Dec 2025
    More info for Christmas at Beamish Daytimes 2025
  12. Queen Elsa, Princess Anna & Holly the Elf

    Add Frozen Princess Party - The Manor House Hotel & Spa to your Itinerary

    Frozen Princess Party - The Manor House Hotel & Spa

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    West Auckland, Bishop Auckland

    Join us in The Great Hall of Arendelle for Afternoon Tea where we will meet Queen Elsa, Princess Anna & Holly the elf

    Dates

    From:
    14 Dec 2025Open 15:00 - 19:00
    More info for Frozen Princess Party - The Manor House Hotel & Spa
  13. Aerial view of Aglow presented by The Auckland Project

    Add AGLOW - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    AGLOW - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Bishop Auckland

    Auckland Palace's dazzling light trail AGLOW will light up the skies of Bishop Auckland once again this Christmas.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for AGLOW - The Auckland Project
  14. Crowds gathering in Durham Market Place to watch 'A Christmas Sparkle'

    Add Christmas Sparkle - Durham Market Place to your Itinerary

    Christmas Sparkle - Durham Market Place

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Durham BID presents Christmas Sparkle 2025!

    Dates

    From:
    30 Nov 2025Open 17:00 - 18:15
    More info for Christmas Sparkle - Durham Market Place
  15. A girl meets Santa, Christmas Tree and fireplace

    Add Christmas Family Fun Day to your Itinerary

    Christmas Family Fun Day

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Belmont, Durham

    Emmanuel Church's free Christmas Family Fun Day returns on Saturday 6 December, at The Durham Centre, Belmont Industrial Estate, from 1.30-4.30pm.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2025Open 13:00 - 16:00
    More info for Christmas Family Fun Day
  16. Jack and the Beanstalk logo with cast members

    Add Jack and the Beanstalk - Gala Durham to your Itinerary

    Jack and the Beanstalk - Gala Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Pantomimes

    Durham City

    Join Jack and his friends as we are transported to a land of magical creatures and a very hungry Giant.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Nov 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Jack and the Beanstalk - Gala Durham
  17. Mrs Claus sitting beside the Christmas Tree at Adventure Valley

    Add Winter Wonderland - Adventure Valley to your Itinerary

    Winter Wonderland - Adventure Valley

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Brasside, Durham

    Winter Wonderland is back for 2025 at Adventure Valley! From the 29th November to the 21st December – Each Weekend AND the 22nd, 23rd December & 24th December. In the ‘Christmas week’.

    Dates

    From:
    29 Nov 2025to21 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    From:
    22 Dec 2025to24 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Winter Wonderland - Adventure Valley
  18. Children's Christmas Party poster with illustrations of gingerbread, baubles, fairy lights and Santa.

    Add Golf Clubhouse Children’s Christmas Party - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa to your Itinerary

    Golf Clubhouse Children’s Christmas Party - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Get ready for a festive evening filled with magic & merriment.

    Dates

    From:
    17 Dec 2025to18 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Golf Clubhouse Children’s Christmas Party - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa
  19. Close up of Santa's legs sitting on a chair.

    Add Santa's Adapted Enchanted Garden Grotto to your Itinerary

    Santa's Adapted Enchanted Garden Grotto

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Lanchester

    Join Father Christmas and Mrs. Claus in Our Adapted Enchanted Garden Grotto – A Magical Experience for Neurodiverse Children.

    Dates

    From:
    5 Dec 2025Open 11:00 - 15:00
    From:
    12 Dec 2025Open 11:00 - 15:00
    More info for Santa's Adapted Enchanted Garden Grotto
  20. Child holding a crayon, sitting with other children at Little Dragons.

    Add Little Dragons - Durham University Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Little Dragons - Durham University Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and…

    Dates

    From:
    13 Aug 2025to17 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Little Dragons - Durham University Oriental Museum
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