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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: 82

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  1. Cinderella and Prince Charming

    Add Santa and Cinders at Hardwick Hall to your Itinerary

    Santa and Cinders at Hardwick Hall

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Sedgefield

    Hardwick Hall Hotel, near Sedgefield, has revealed a festive programme of entertainment for all ages in the run up to Christmas and beyond – with some magical treats in store for children.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2025to3 Jan 2026
    More info for Santa and Cinders at Hardwick Hall
  2. Santa reading three children a story.

    Add Story Time with Santa - Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Story Time with Santa - Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Chester le Street

    Are you ready for Storytime? Get those PJ's on, bring your most cuddly teddy and join us for an afternoon of spreading Christmas spirit with Mr and Mrs Claus. With milk & cookies on arrival, this event is guaranteed to get your little ones excited…

    Dates

    From:
    23 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Story Time with Santa - Lumley Castle Hotel
  3. Advertising poster displaying details of event and decorated with Christmas images, Reindeer, Snowman, Santa Claus and Elf.

    Add Family Christmas Pop in Day to your Itinerary

    Family Christmas Pop in Day

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham City

    Family pop in day.  Arts, crafts, music, face paint, tattoos, Christmas activities, all for FREE.

    Dates

    From:
    7 Dec 2025Open 14:00 - 16:00
    More info for Family Christmas Pop in Day
  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. Children playing at The Bowes Museum

    Add Stay and Play - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Stay and Play - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Time for The Bowes’ youngest visitors to explore and play in the Conversation Gallery, investigate materials and be creative in this self-led, free-play session.

    Dates

    From:
    2 Jan 2025to8 Jan 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Stay and Play - The Bowes Museum
  6. 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
  7. Santa Claus wearing red festive suit and sunglasses.

    Add Santa's Walkergate Walkabout to your Itinerary

    Santa's Walkergate Walkabout

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Santa Claus is taking break from his busy North Pole workshop to visit the families of Durham at Walkergate this Christmas!

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2025Open 12:30 - 16:30
    More info for Santa's Walkergate Walkabout
  8. A staff member in a black top hat, posing for a photo with five children.

    Add Home Educators' Day December 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Home Educators' Day December 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Beamish

    Our next Home Educators’ Day takes place on Wednesday, 10th December 2025. There are a range of bookable workshops and drop-in activities for you to try during your visit.

    Dates

    From:
    10 Dec 2025
    More info for Home Educators' Day December 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  9. 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
  10. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Passport to Nature: Winter Wildlife Walk to your Itinerary

    Passport to Nature: Winter Wildlife Walk

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Sedgefield

    It might be cold outside but that does not stop the wildlife at Hardwick Park! Join the education team as we explore the park's tranquil beauty, from the rustling of winter leaves to the tracks left by the park's wildlife. Whether you're a nature…

    Dates

    From:
    12 Dec 2025Open 07:00 - 09:00
    More info for Passport to Nature: Winter Wildlife Walk
  11. Illustration of Santa, reindeer and children eating lunch.

    Add Lunch with Santa at South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Lunch with Santa at South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Stanley

    Create magical memories this festive season with a joyful Christmas lunch and a visit to Santa in his grotto...

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2025Open 11:30 -
    From:
    13 Dec 2025to14 Dec 2025Open 11:30 - 15:00
    More info for Lunch with Santa at South Causey Inn
  12. Two men and a woman looking at one of the Christmas Trees for sale at Raby Castle

    Add Raby Christmas Trees to your Itinerary

    Raby Christmas Trees

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Staindrop

    Real Christmas Trees at Raby.  Bring Festive Magic Home – Starting 22nd November.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Nov 2025to24 Dec 2025
    More info for Raby Christmas Trees
  13. Rosettes from the Durham County Show

    Add The Durham County Show to your Itinerary

    The Durham County Show

    Type

    Type:

    Agricultural Show

    nr Thornley

    The Annual Durham County Show is a vibrant event featuring a variety of activities and attractions for all ages.

    Dates

    From:
    4 July 2026to5 July 2026Open 09:00 - 17:00
    More info for The Durham County Show
  14. 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
  15. Arthur Christmas poster

    Add Grand Cinema at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Grand Cinema at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Film

    Beamish

    Transport yourself to the golden age of cinema with a nostalgic afternoon in our beautifully restored 1950s Grand Cinema.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2025
    From:
    7 Dec 2025
    From:
    13 Dec 2025
    From:
    14 Dec 2025
    From:
    20 Dec 2025
    From:
    21 Dec 2025
    More info for Grand Cinema at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  16. 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:
    7 Dec 2025Open 16:30 -
    From:
    21 Dec 2025Open 16:30 -
    More info for Magic at the Movies
  17. Close up of Santa's legs sitting in a chair beside a table with a gold bell

    Add Santa's Enchanted Garden Grotto to your Itinerary

    Santa's Enchanted Garden Grotto

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Lanchester

    Join us, Father Christmas and Mrs. Claus this Christmas in our Enchanted Garden Grotto.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2025Open 11:00 - 16:30
    From:
    12 Dec 2025Open 16:00 - 20:00
    From:
    13 Dec 2025to14 Dec 2025Open 11:00 - 16:30
    From:
    20 Dec 2025to23 Dec 2025Open 11:00 - 16:30
    More info for Santa's Enchanted Garden Grotto
  18. Children and families enjoying the 'Forest of Light' at Beamish Hall Hotel

    Add Forest of Light at Beamish Hall Hotel to your Itinerary

    Forest of Light at Beamish Hall Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Beamish

    Our Forest of Light is a captivating illuminated experience set within our enchanted ancient woodland.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Nov 2025to4 Jan 2026
    More info for Forest of Light at Beamish Hall Hotel
  19. 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
  20. Teams of eight racing at Durham Regatta on a beautiful sunny day against the backdrop of Durham Cathedral and Castle.

    Add The 193rd Durham Regatta 2026 to your Itinerary

    The 193rd Durham Regatta 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Sporting Event

    Old Elvet, Durham City

    Join us for a spectacular weekend of racing and bank-side entertainment.

    Dates

    From:
    13 June 2026to14 June 2026
    More info for The 193rd Durham Regatta 2026
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