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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. Poster from the 1951 'A Christmas Carol,' Scrooge wearing a long coat, top hat and yellow scarf, looking glumly on the left of the image

    Add Grand Cinema: A Christmas Carol (1951) - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Grand Cinema: A Christmas Carol (1951) - 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:
    22 Nov 2026Open 14:15 -
    More info for Grand Cinema: A Christmas Carol (1951) - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  2. Two people working on a large fabric with colourful abstract patterns in blue, orange, and black lines. Focus is on fabric surface.

    Add Pattern and Protest - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Pattern and Protest - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Barnard Castle

    Inspired by Vivienne Westwood's iconic designs, Pattern and Protest invites participants to experiment with fabric by adding marks and messages to create their own bold response. Suitable for families with children aged 5+, the session encourages…

    Venue

    The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

    Dates

    From:
    26 Aug 2026Open 10:30 - 12:30
    More info for Pattern and Protest - The Bowes Museum
  3. Landscape view of Raby Castle with the open starry sky

    Add Stargazing at Raby Castle - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Stargazing at Raby Castle - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    Darlington

    History Meets The Heavens. Step Into the Past… and Look to the Stars. Experience the magic of the night sky in one of the North East’s most iconic settings. Set within the historic grounds of Raby Castle, this unique stargazing event pairs centuries…

    Dates

    From:
    14 Nov 2026
    From:
    12 Dec 2026
    From:
    9 Jan 2027
    From:
    13 Feb 2027
    More info for Stargazing at Raby Castle - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  4. Grand Finale all cast of Kynren view from the tribune

    Add Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2026 to your Itinerary

    Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Performance

    Bishop Auckland

    Step into Kynren, a live action outdoor theatre spectacular that immerses you in 2000 years of history on an epic scale.

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2026to12 Sept 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2026
  5. Three people in Georgian costume stand in front of Pockerley Old Hall at Beamish Museum.

    Add Georgian Gathering at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Georgian Gathering at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Beamish

    Step back to the hustle and bustle of the early 1800s.

    Dates

    From:
    19 Sept 2026to20 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Georgian Gathering at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  6. Santa and his helpers aboard the train.

    Add Santa Express - Weardale Railway to your Itinerary

    Santa Express - Weardale Railway

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Bishop Auckland,

    Santa Express – A Magical Christmas Journey. Create unforgettable Christmas memories aboard the Santa Express at Weardale Railway. Running on selected dates throughout November and December, this festive heritage train departs from Stanhope Station…

    Dates

    From:
    28 Nov 2026to24 Dec 2026Open 09:30 - 18:00
    More info for Santa Express - Weardale Railway
  7. Large sculpture of a Velociraptor dinosaur in the lobby of Ushaw.

    Add Extinction - Ushaw, Historic Houses, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Extinction - Ushaw, Historic Houses, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Bearpark, Durham

    Extinction affects us all and one in ten of our wildlife in the UK is critically endangered. Scientists have identified five periods of mass extinction over the geological record and the question is now being asked: are we in a sixth? The exhibition…

    Dates

    From:
    20 June 2026to8 Nov 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Extinction - Ushaw, Historic Houses, Chapels and Gardens
  8. Three glowing Christmas trees in an elegant room at Raby Castle

    Add Raby Castle at Christmas - Raby Castle, Park & Gardens to your Itinerary

    Raby Castle at Christmas - Raby Castle, Park & Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Darlington

    Raby Castle is opening it’s doors for Christmas for the second time in five decades to showcase the castle decorated for Christmas, designed by custodian and creative director, Lady Barnard.

    Dates

    From:
    14 Nov 2026to3 Jan 2027Open 11:00 - 16:00
    More info for Raby Castle at Christmas - Raby Castle, Park & Gardens
  9. Scientist performs an experiment which results in a lot of flames.

    Add Big Science of Sound Workshop - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Big Science of Sound Workshop - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Workshop

    Lanchester

    Join us this Summer for our very first Big Science of Sound Workshop.

    This session brings sound to life as children experiment with vibrations, learning how sounds are made and how they move through the air. They will even get to make their own…

    Dates

    From:
    24 Aug 2026Open 10:00 - 11:00
    More info for Big Science of Sound Workshop - Lanchester Garden Centre
  10. Roman actor sat on top of a horse with roman armour and a shield.

    Add Roman Commotion - Binchester Roman Fort to your Itinerary

    Roman Commotion - Binchester Roman Fort

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Bishop Auckland

    Join the Roman Commotion at Binchester Roman Fort! Charge into a weekend of Roman Army and archaeology activity at Binchester.

    Dates

    From:
    29 Aug 2026to31 Aug 2026Open 10:00 - 16:30
    More info for Roman Commotion - Binchester Roman Fort
  11. Doc (left) and Marty McFly (right) looking bewildered into the night holding a scientific remote

    Add Back To The Future: Special Screening - Gala Durham to your Itinerary

    Back To The Future: Special Screening - Gala Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham

    Great Scott!

    In the summer of 1985, Robert Zemeckis’s Back To The Future sent audiences hurtling through time in a DeLorean.
    Just over forty years later, Marty, Doc, Biff, and that unmistakable score are coming back to the big screen, fully…

    Dates

    From:
    5 Sept 2026Open 19:00 -
    More info for Back To The Future: Special Screening - Gala Durham
  12. Burgundy exhibition boards of the Colour and Light exhibit in Durham Cathedral

    Add Colour and Light: Stained Glass Exhibition - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    Colour and Light: Stained Glass Exhibition - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Durham

    This year, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Rose Window. Plan your summer day out as we explore the stories behind the cathedral's much-loved stained glass.

    Dates

    From:
    22 July 2026to14 Sept 2026
    More info for Colour and Light: Stained Glass Exhibition - Durham Cathedral
  13. Ariel view of Wolsingham Show

    Add Wolsingham Show 2026 to your Itinerary

    Wolsingham Show 2026

    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:
    5 Sept 2026to6 Sept 2026
    More info for Wolsingham Show 2026
  14. Person dressed in a woodlouse costume at Pelton Library, event 19th of August.

    Add Stacey Bone - Story Session - County Durham Libraries Summer Reading Challenge - Pelton Library to your Itinerary

    Stacey Bone - Story Session - County Durham Libraries Summer Reading Challenge - Pelton Library

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Pelton Ln, Pelton

    Join us for an amazing story session with Stacey Bone reading her book The Wonderful Woodlouse (recommended for ages 3-7) on Wednesday 19th August. Free, but places must be booked. Contact Pelton Library to book your place at telephoning 03000…

    Dates

    From:
    19 Aug 2026Open 14:15 - 15:15
    More info for Stacey Bone - Story Session - County Durham Libraries Summer Reading Challenge - Pelton Library
  15. Professor Emma Jane Goldsmith stood infront of the Vivienne Westwood exhibit at The Bowes Museum, wearing a large tartan tie.

    Add Front Row: Making Westwood - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Front Row: Making Westwood - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Workshop

    Barnard Castle

    Join designer and Northumbria University Fashion Professor Emma Jane Goldsmith for insights into the cut and construction methods of Vivienne Westwood.

    Dates

    From:
    30 Aug 2026Open 14:30 - 15:30
    More info for Front Row: Making Westwood - The Bowes Museum
  16. A beautiful green garden surrounds a historic stone house

    Add The Pantaloons present Twelfth Night - Crook Hall Gardens to your Itinerary

    The Pantaloons present Twelfth Night - Crook Hall Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Durham

    Enjoy an innovative outdoor theatre performance of the classic Shakespeare play.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Aug 2026Open 19:00 - 21:00
    More info for The Pantaloons present Twelfth Night - Crook Hall Gardens
  17. Close up view of Santa's hand holding a teacup with his little finger pointing out, in front of a plate of croissants.

    Add Breakfast with Santa - Empire Consett to your Itinerary

    Breakfast with Santa - Empire Consett

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Consett

    Ho ho ho! Santa’s coming to town!
    Come and enjoy breakfast with Father Christmas this festive season at Empire Consett where young ones can receive a present and enjoy a light breakfast of toast and pastries with juice or water. Accompanying adults…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2026Open 11:30 - 13:00
    From:
    24 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 10:30
    More info for Breakfast with Santa - Empire Consett
  18. A person working in a sunny florist workshop, cutting paper over a wooden table

    Add Harvest Hand Tied Workshop - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Harvest Hand Tied Workshop - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Workshop

    Darlington

    Join Periwinkle Barn in the Conservatory at Raby Castle, Park & Gardens for a beautifully relaxed autumn floristry workshop, set against views over the Walled Gardens.

    Dates

    From:
    5 Sept 2026Open 10:30 -
    More info for Harvest Hand Tied Workshop - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  19. Enchanted Forest showing The Gingerbread Man, candy canes, Toadstool houses and Little Red Riding Hood.

    Enchanted Durham LEGO Trail

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Durham

    Enchanted Durham LEGO Trail – Save The Date For A Spectacular New Event

    Dates

    From:
    1 Aug 2026to15 Aug 2026
    More info for Enchanted Durham LEGO Trail
  20. The planet Saturn in the dark night sky

    Add Saturn At Its Closest - Grassholme Observatory to your Itinerary

    Saturn At Its Closest - Grassholme Observatory

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    Saturn – the enigmatic ringed beauty is by far most people’s favorite – I mean if you haven’t looked through a telescope at Saturn then don’t miss this opportunity to do so. With its glorious ring system dazzling the observer as a veritable…

    Dates

    From:
    4 Oct 2026Open 20:00 - 23:00
    More info for Saturn At Its Closest - Grassholme Observatory
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