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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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  1. Scene from The Polar Express (2004) Small child looking up a towering steam train in the snow

    Add Grand Cinema: Polar Express - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Grand Cinema: Polar Express - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Transport yourself to the golden age of cinema with a nostalgic afternoon in our beautifully restored 1950s Grand cinema. The Grand cinema, from Ryhope, in Sunderland, has been recreated and brought to life in our 1950s Town.

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2026Open 14:00 -
    More info for Grand Cinema: Polar Express - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  2. A young child looks through the eyepiece of a telescope.

    Add Family Astronomy - North Pennines Stargazing Festival to your Itinerary

    Family Astronomy - North Pennines Stargazing Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    This is a great way to get children interested in astronomy and science. They will enjoy an interactive talk in the classroom and then will be able to see and touch rocks from space – meteorites. A stunning interactive talk on space stuff in the…

    Venue

    Grassholme Observatory, Teesdale

    Dates

    From:
    31 Oct 2026Open 18:00 - 19:30
    More info for Family Astronomy - North Pennines Stargazing Festival
  3. A beautiful silver ancient Persian bowl

    Add Family Activities: Bowl of Wonders to your Itinerary

    Family Activities: Bowl of Wonders

    Type

    Type:

    Arts & Crafts

    Durham

    Spot a 2500 year old silver bowl made by the ancient Persians and try metal embossing your own patterns.

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2026Open 13:00 - 15:00
    More info for Family Activities: Bowl of Wonders
  4. Children dressed up in fancy dress walking around a spooky outdoor trail.

    Add The Haunted Forest: Trick or Trail - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    The Haunted Forest: Trick or Trail - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Staindrop, Darlington

    Join us for a spooktacular Halloween adventure at The Plotters’ Forest! Dress up, bring your family, and get ready for a Halloween experience like no other. Get ready to unleash your inner spookiness and dive into a world of double trouble…

    Dates

    From:
    3 Oct 2026to1 Nov 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for The Haunted Forest: Trick or Trail - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  5. A spooky poster which reads ' A Family Halloween Trail,' decorated with purple smoke, carved pumpkins, bats and cobwebs.

    Add St Cuthberts Hospice Halloween Trail to your Itinerary

    St Cuthberts Hospice Halloween Trail

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Durham

    The Halloween Trail is back... and this year it's even bigger! We're delighted to be teaming up with Poplar Tree Garden Centre & Brambles Coffee Shop once again as their fantastic Family Halloween Trail returns to St Cuthbert's Hospice for not one,…

    Dates

    From:
    28 Oct 2026to29 Oct 2026Open 16:00 - 18:00
    More info for St Cuthberts Hospice Halloween Trail
  6. Wallace and Gromit characters holding brass instruments against a green background

    Add Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers LIVE with EverReady Band - Empire Consett to your Itinerary

    Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers LIVE with EverReady Band - Empire Consett

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Consett

    EverReady Band is bringing the award-winning Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers LIVE to Empire Consett this October!
    ​​​​​​​Join one of the UK’s most celebrated brass bands for an unforgettable afternoon of live music, laughter and cinematic magic.

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2026Open 14:30 -
    More info for Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers LIVE with EverReady Band - Empire Consett
  7. An Egyptian obelisk on a black background.

    Add Family Activities: Into the Afterlife to your Itinerary

    Family Activities: Into the Afterlife

    Type

    Type:

    Arts & Crafts

    Durham

    Find out about the ancient Egyptian obelisk on display and create your own 3D model to take home.

    Dates

    From:
    28 Oct 2026Open 13:00 - 15:00
    More info for Family Activities: Into the Afterlife
  8. Craft supplies on a yellow table

    Add Family Activities: Crowd Craft to your Itinerary

    Family Activities: Crowd Craft

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage

    Durham

    Spot a huge elephant tusk with a special story to tell and make your own elephant with a wiggly trunk.

    Dates

    From:
    7 Nov 2026Open 13:00 - 15:00
    More info for Family Activities: Crowd Craft
  9. Aglow Auckland Palace & Gardens. A child in a wool hat looks upwards at the colourfully lit sky.

    Add AGLOW 2026 - Auckland Palace and Gardens to your Itinerary

    AGLOW 2026 - Auckland Palace and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Bishop Auckland

    The Auckland Project has announced that its much-loved illuminated trail will return to Auckland Palace from Friday 20 November to 3 January (excluding Christmas Day and New Year's Day), promising exciting new additions alongside the spectacular…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Nov 2026to3 Jan 2027
    More info for AGLOW 2026 - Auckland Palace and Gardens
  10. Halloween poster for 'Spookymoor,' in a sinister orange font on a purple background, decorated with bats. pumpkins and cobwebs.

    Add Spookymoor to your Itinerary

    Spookymoor

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Spennymoor

    Welcome to Spookymoor 2026! We invite you to join us for a spooktacular Halloween experience. Wander along our enchanting Halloween trail, packed with spooky tales, magical encounters, and surprises lurking around every corner. Once you’ve completed…

    Dates

    From:
    30 Oct 2026Open 17:00 - 19:00
    More info for Spookymoor
  11. A field of pumpkins

    Add Pumpkin Picking - Tweddle Farm to your Itinerary

    Pumpkin Picking - Tweddle Farm

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Blackhall Colliery, Hartlepool

    Join us at the North East’s most loved Pumpkin Patch! Filled with garden games, face painting, funfair rides, photo opportunities and more! Our patch is bursting with all kinds of shapes, colours & sizes! Choose your favourite to take home and carve.

    Dates

    From:
    10 Oct 2026to11 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 14:30
    From:
    17 Oct 2026to18 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 14:30
    From:
    24 Oct 2026to30 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 14:30
    More info for Pumpkin Picking - Tweddle Farm
  12. Traditional prayers to goddess Lakshmi at the Diwali celebrations at the Oriental Museum.

    Add Diwali to your Itinerary

    Diwali

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    Celebrate the Indian festival of lights with this special late night opening. Everyone is welcome to join us for this spectacular evening Diwali celebration at the Oriental Museum. There will traditional puja prayers to goddess Lakshmi, delicious…

    Dates

    From:
    14 Nov 2026Open 18:00 - 20:00
    More info for Diwali
  13. A vibrant firework display.

    Add Firework Display - Newton Aycliffe to your Itinerary

    Firework Display - Newton Aycliffe

    Type

    Type:

    Bonfire Night

    Newton Aycliffe

    The event is FREE, however those wishing to attend the display must apply for a wristband. Wristbands will be available at the OakLeaf Sports Complex from Tuesday 20th October 2026, the wristbands will be available from 1pm until 7pm each day until…

    Dates

    From:
    6 Nov 2026Open 17:00 -
    More info for Firework Display - Newton Aycliffe
  14. A view of Raby castle in the dark.

    Add Teenager Ghost Walk Tour to your Itinerary

    Teenager Ghost Walk Tour

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Staindrop, Darlington

    Dare to explore Raby Castle after dark? Join us at twilight for a spooky torchlit tour and discover the mysterious stories, strange happenings and ghostly legends that have been passed down through generations at Raby Castle. Your guides will meet…

    Dates

    From:
    30 Oct 2026to31 Oct 2026Open 16:30 -
    More info for Teenager Ghost Walk Tour
  15. A black and white image of Hardwick Park

    Add Halloween At Hardwick Park - Hardwick Park to your Itinerary

    Halloween At Hardwick Park - Hardwick Park

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Stockton-on-Tees

    Step into Storytime: Ten Little Monsters
    Outdoor discover sessions for 5's and under involving storytelling, crafts activities, interactive trails, games and woodland play
    Date: Saturday 17 October 2026
    Times: 10.00am to 1.00pm
    Price: £7 per child

    Dates

    From:
    17 Oct 2026to30 Oct 2026
    More info for Halloween At Hardwick Park - Hardwick Park
  16. A statue of Taweret, an Egyptian god in the shape of a combination of a hippopotamus, lion and crocodile.

    Add Family Activities: Build a Beast to your Itinerary

    Family Activities: Build a Beast

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Durham

    Learn about the powerful ancient Egyptian goddess Taweret and build your own mythological creature!

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2026Open 13:00 - 15:00
    More info for Family Activities: Build a Beast
  17. Santa stroking a small brown dog on his lap, a person sit in an arm chair on the right

    Add Paws & Claus 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Paws & Claus 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    A ‘Paw’fect photo opportunity. Join Father Christmas in the Coffee Pot Café at the Entrance Building for a cosy breakfast experience designed especially for visitors and their four‑legged friends.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 10:00
    From:
    18 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 10:00
    More info for Paws & Claus 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  18. 2 vibrant fireworks

    Add Fireworks Extravaganza - Hardwick Hall Hotel to your Itinerary

    Fireworks Extravaganza - Hardwick Hall Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Bonfire Night

    Sedgefield

    Hardwick Hall Hotel present the annual FIREWORKS EXTRAVAGANZA! Experience the annual Fireworks Extravaganza at Hardwick Hall Hotel on Thursday 5th November and Saturday 7th November!

    Dates

    From:
    5 Nov 2026to7 Nov 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Fireworks Extravaganza - Hardwick Hall Hotel
  19. Children watching a demonstration in a park

    Add Creepy Creations - Wharton Park to your Itinerary

    Creepy Creations - Wharton Park

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Durham

    Create a creepy vibe in your house or garden by joining us to make your own handmade Halloween decorations.  Using mainly natural materials you can design your own nightmare catcher and wooden spooky character totem pole. All materials are provided…

    Dates

    From:
    28 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 12:00
    More info for Creepy Creations - Wharton Park
  20. A variety of Halloween themed spooky pottery products.

    Add Halloween Pottery Painting - Crafty Ceramics to your Itinerary

    Halloween Pottery Painting - Crafty Ceramics

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    North Bitchburn, Crook

    Get creative this October half term and paint your very own Halloween pottery. Looking for something fun and creative to do this October half term ? Come along to the Dairy Barn and paint your very own Halloween themed pottery.

    Dates

    From:
    28 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 12:00
    More info for Halloween Pottery Painting - Crafty Ceramics
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