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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: 72

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  1. Santa Claus wearing glasses and holding popcorn

    Add Magic at the Movies to your Itinerary

    Magic at the Movies

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham City

    Get ready to sprinkle some festive magic this December. Prepare for an enchanting evening featuring a fabulous festive movie that will warm your heart.

    Dates

    From:
    21 Dec 2025Open 16:30 -
    More info for Magic at the Movies
  2. A Robin perched on a wooden sculpture.

    Add Father Christmas has Lost his Presents Trail at High Force Waterfall to your Itinerary

    Father Christmas has Lost his Presents Trail at High Force Waterfall

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Forest in Teesdale

    Wrap up warm and enjoy a wintery walk to High Force Waterfall this December. Collect your complimentary trail sheet from the hotel bar or kiosk and get exploring.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Dec 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Father Christmas has Lost his Presents Trail at High Force Waterfall
  3. Snow covered double decker bus at South Causey Inn

    Add Christmas Eve Santa Lunch at South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Christmas Eve Santa Lunch at South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Make Christmas Eve magical with festive feasting, live entertainment, and a visit from Santa himself!

    Dates

    From:
    24 Dec 2025Open 11:30 -
    More info for Christmas Eve Santa Lunch at South Causey Inn
  4. Actor in a cap in front of a Union Jack flag. Beamish Museum Pantomime 2026.

    Add Beamish Pantomime 2026: Dick Whittington and his Cat to your Itinerary

    Beamish Pantomime 2026: Dick Whittington and his Cat

    Type

    Type:

    Pantomimes

    Beamish

    Our Beamish Pantomime is back… oh yes it is! Join us in our 1950s welfare hall for a show like no other, full of music, mischief and a little touch of magic!

    Dates

    From:
    10 Jan 2026to8 Feb 2026
    More info for Beamish Pantomime 2026: Dick Whittington and his Cat
  5. Snow White emerging from a mirror holding an apple.

    Add Snow White at The Roxy Theatre, Leadgate to your Itinerary

    Snow White at The Roxy Theatre, Leadgate

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Consett

    Mirror, mirror, on the wall, don't miss the fairest panto of them all!

    Dates

    From:
    16 Dec 2025to28 Dec 2025
    More info for Snow White at The Roxy Theatre, Leadgate
  6. Mother holding a baby

    Add Family Wednesday Morning at South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Family Wednesday Morning at South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Stanley

    A great place to meet other parents with your little one's...

    Dates

    From:
    12 Nov 2025to31 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Family Wednesday Morning at South Causey Inn
  7. Father Christmas sitting in front of a Christmas Tree at Raby Castle

    Add Father Christmas at Raby Castle to your Itinerary

    Father Christmas at Raby Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Staindrop

    ​​​​​​Experience the Magic of Christmas with Father Christmas in Raby Castle’s Barons’ Hall.

    Venue

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop

    Dates

    From:
    19 Dec 2025to24 Dec 2025
    More info for Father Christmas at Raby Castle
  8. '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
  9. Illustration of a spinning wheel and text which says, 'Sleeping Beauty'.

    Add Sleeping Beauty - Seaham Town Council to your Itinerary

    Sleeping Beauty - Seaham Town Council

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Seaham

    In Your Face Theatre present Sleeping Beauty, Tuesday 16th - Saturday 20th December, 2025.

    Dates

    From:
    16 Dec 2025to20 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Sleeping Beauty - Seaham Town Council
  10. People looking at the exhibition display stand at Locomotion

    Add S&DR200 - Railway Firsts at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - Railway Firsts at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Shildon

    Home to one of largest collections of historic rail vehicles in the world, Locomotion is pulling out all the stops to commemorate S&DR200.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Feb 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for S&DR200 - Railway Firsts at Locomotion
  11. 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
  12. 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
  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. LGBTQIA+ Object Trail at The Bowes Museum

    Add LGBTQIA+ Object Trail - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    LGBTQIA+ Object Trail - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Explore The Bowes Museum’s collection through a different lens and learn about the stories and emotions objects hold through the lived experiences of those who identify as LGBTQIA+.

    Dates

    From:
    1 May 2025to31 Dec 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for LGBTQIA+ Object Trail - The Bowes Museum
  15. Two elves laughing and playing with a snowball.

    Add Little Elves Christmas Hunt - Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Little Elves Christmas Hunt - Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Chester le Street

    Arrive at the castle and be greeted by our very own team of elves, then receive a castle map and clues. Head around the grounds solving riddles, collecting clues and finding all of Santa’s favourite festive friends. Make your way to the finishing…

    Dates

    From:
    21 Dec 2025to22 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Little Elves Christmas Hunt - Lumley Castle Hotel
  16. Durham Brass Festival logo on colourful backdrop of Durham.

    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
  17. Cosy Christmas Mingle. Poster shows festive greenery, fairy lights and stars.

    Add Cosy Christmas Mingle - Merryoaks Community Hall to your Itinerary

    Cosy Christmas Mingle - Merryoaks Community Hall

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Crafts, cakes, biscuit decorating and lots more.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Dec 2025Open 12:00 - 14:00
    More info for Cosy Christmas Mingle - Merryoaks Community Hall
  18. Silhouette of a person photographing The Milky Way from the hillside

    Add Family Astronomy - Grassholme Observatory to your Itinerary

    Family Astronomy - Grassholme Observatory

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    nr Mickleton

    Due to popular demand, we have laid on this exclusive event to educate the little ones on all things spacey!

    Dates

    From:
    10 Jan 2026Open 18:00 - 19:30
    From:
    24 Jan 2026Open 18:00 - 19:30
    From:
    7 Feb 2026Open 18:00 - 19:30
    From:
    21 Feb 2026Open 10:00 - 11:30
    More info for Family Astronomy - Grassholme Observatory
  19. Cartoon image of the performance area with a stage, trees, hills and a yellow aeroplane with a banner with wording Derwent Fest!

    Add Derwent Fest 2026 to your Itinerary

    Derwent Fest 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Edmundbyers

    A weekend festival of live tribute music, food and drink, and children’s activities and entertainment, set in a stunning location, not far from you. Bring all the family, including the dog, and enjoy some fun, quality time together.

    Venue

    Derwent Waterside Park, Shotley Bridge

    Dates

    From:
    14 Aug 2026to15 Aug 2026
    More info for Derwent Fest 2026
  20. Sleeping Beauty cast showing Marcus Collins, Jason Jones, Leah Bell against a snowy forest backdrop.

    Add Sleeping Beauty - Empire Consett to your Itinerary

    Sleeping Beauty - Empire Consett

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Consett

    Don’t be afraid to dream everyone. For sometimes, dream come true.

    Dates

    From:
    28 Nov 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Sleeping Beauty - Empire Consett
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