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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: 103

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  1. Four steam engines at Tanfield

    Add Railway 200: Diesel Pioneers Gala at Tanfield Railway to your Itinerary

    Railway 200: Diesel Pioneers Gala at Tanfield Railway

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Marley Hill, Tanfield

    Join us this September for the Diesel Pioneers Gala, a standout event in our Tanfield300 celebrations! Taking place on the 20th and 21st of September 2025, this gala is a tribute to the industrial diesel locomotives that played a vital role in…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2025to21 Sept 2025
    More info for Railway 200: Diesel Pioneers Gala at Tanfield Railway
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. Japanese Kimono

    Add Dress Up at The Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Dress Up at The Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    See a beautiful Japanese kimono and try dressing up your own mini doll.

    Venue

    Durham University Oriental Museum, Durham City

    Dates

    From:
    26 July 2025Open 13:00 - 15:00
    More info for Dress Up at The Oriental Museum
  5. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Passport to Nature: Wildfowl Identification to your Itinerary

    Passport to Nature: Wildfowl Identification

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Sedgefield

    As autumn fades and winter takes hold, there's no better time to discover the fascinating world of wildfowl at Hardwick Park.

    Dates

    From:
    31 Oct 2025Open 07:00 - 09:00
    More info for Passport to Nature: Wildfowl Identification
  6. HST charter at Stanhope Station - Credit Dan Millard

    Add InterCity 125 High Speed Train (HST) at The Weardale Railway to your Itinerary

    InterCity 125 High Speed Train (HST) at The Weardale Railway

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Station Road, Stanhope

    Railway fans and families are in for a treat this summer as the legendary InterCity 125 High Speed Train (HST) makes a rare appearance on the scenic Weardale Railway.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    17 Aug 2025
    More info for InterCity 125 High Speed Train (HST) at The Weardale Railway
  7. Painting of a young man in a waistcoat and Dickie Bow Tie posing in front of gold magic equipment and a red balloon.

    Add Durham Fringe Festival: The Wonder Years to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival: The Wonder Years

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Durham

    Magician, Tim Lichfield, was first bitten by the magic bug at the tender age of 7.

    Dates

    From:
    23 July 2025Open 15:45 -
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival: The Wonder Years
  8. Two bracelets:1 plaited leather,1 wool and glass bead

    Add Make Your Own Bracelet to your Itinerary

    Make Your Own Bracelet

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Bishop Auckland

    Children can make their own Roman style bracelet to take home, using leather cord or beads.

    Dates

    From:
    25 July 2025Open 10:00 - 16:30
    More info for Make Your Own Bracelet
  9. People sitting in a carriage drawn by two beautiful black horses at Beamish Museum

    Add Attelage Horse Weekend 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Attelage Horse Weekend 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Beamish

    See a remarkable carriage driving competition by the Concours d'International d'Attelage de Tradition (CIAT) take place around the museum.

    Dates

    From:
    13 Sept 2025to14 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Attelage Horse Weekend 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  10. Spooky family with bats - Cliffecon Halloween Edition

    Add Cliffecon - Halloween Edition at Oak Leaf Sports Complex to your Itinerary

    Cliffecon - Halloween Edition at Oak Leaf Sports Complex

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Newton Aycliffe

    Cliffecon Halloween Edition will be taking place on Saturday 25th October 2025 at Oakleaf Sports Complex.
    You can expect all the delicious geekiness of Cliffecon but with a spooky twist!

    Dates

    From:
    25 Oct 2025Open 10:30 - 16:00
    More info for Cliffecon - Halloween Edition at Oak Leaf Sports Complex
  11. The Bowes Museum and grounds

    Add Sensory Packs - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Sensory Packs - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    To ensure everyone can fully enjoy their museum experience, we’ve collaborated with three local schools from across County Durham to create new sensory packs designed to enhance your visit.
    Please ask at Reception if you would like to borrow a…

    Dates

    From:
    1 May 2025to31 Dec 2025Open 10:00 - 16:30
    More info for Sensory Packs - The Bowes Museum
  12. Durham Book Festival Logo

    Durham Book Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Durham Book Festival

    Durham

    Durham Book Festival is one of the country’s oldest literary festivals, taking place in and around Durham City, returning this year on 10th to 12th October.

    Dates

    From:
    10 Oct 2025to12 Oct 2025
    More info for Durham Book Festival 2025
  13. Young girl with coloured hair braids

    Add Hair Braids & Milkshakes - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Hair Braids & Milkshakes - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Bargate Bank, Lanchester

    Join us for some more hair-raising fun with another helping of our Hair Braids & Milkshakes event.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 16:30
    More info for Hair Braids & Milkshakes - Lanchester Garden Centre
  14. Fringe Festival logo, colourful image of the Sanctuary Knocker

    Add Durham Fringe Festival: Durham Fringe Family Showcase to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival: Durham Fringe Family Showcase

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    To celebrate the 5th year of the Fringe & our biggest family offering to date, we're hosting a FREE family showcase.

    Dates

    From:
    23 July 2025Open 13:30 - 14:30
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival: Durham Fringe Family Showcase
  15. 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
  16. Artist Dinah Kelly in her studio

    Add Enchanted Objects: Adornment and Personal Protection from Amulets to the Mobile Phone to your Itinerary

    Enchanted Objects: Adornment and Personal Protection from Amulets to the Mobile Phone

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Durham City

    Contemporary artist Dinah Kelly shines a light on the protective powers and symbolism of charms, talismans and amulets.

    Venue

    Durham University Oriental Museum, Durham City

    Dates

    From:
    13 June 2025to9 Nov 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Enchanted Objects: Adornment and Personal Protection from Amulets to the Mobile Phone
  17. Modern Japanese bluish glass sculpture with a design based on ancient form.

    Add Exploring Ancient Japan at The Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Exploring Ancient Japan at The Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Learn about prehistoric Japan and make a clay dogu figure.

    Venue

    Durham University Oriental Museum, Durham City

    Dates

    From:
    1 Aug 2025Open 13:00 - 15:00
    More info for Exploring Ancient Japan at The Oriental Museum
  18. 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
  19. Crowds of people watching a performance at the Hardwick Festival

    Add Hardwick Festival 2025 to your Itinerary

    Hardwick Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Sedgefield

    Hardwick Festival returns 15th to 17th August. The 2025 line-up will be revealed soon.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Aug 2025to17 Aug 2025
    More info for Hardwick Festival 2025
  20. Photography by Claire Collinson. Larger-than-life, soft recreations of an animal

    Add Pippa Hale: Pet Project - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Pippa Hale: Pet Project - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Barnard Castle

    See the museum’s renowned ceramic collection re-imagined into a vibrant and interactive experience for all ages.

    Dates

    From:
    26 July 2025to1 Mar 2026
    More info for Pippa Hale: Pet Project - The Bowes Museum
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