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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: 46

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  1. Forky Pen

    Add Forky Pens & Alien Goo Creations - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Forky Pens & Alien Goo Creations - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Lanchester

    Get ready for some Toy Story magic! Join us and Craftily Ever After for a hands‑on craft session where kids can make their own Forky Pen and mix up a pot of bright green Alien Slime. Creative, colourful, and full of character — the perfect family…

    Dates

    From:
    16 Aug 2026Open 13:30 - 14:15
    More info for Forky Pens & Alien Goo Creations - Lanchester Garden Centre
  2. Yellow classic car at Raby Castle.

    Add Classic Car Show - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Classic Car Show - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Show / Display

    Staindrop

    Classic Car Show – a Raby Castle collaboration with Durham Automobile Club.

    Dates

    From:
    28 June 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Classic Car Show - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  3. Crowds of people enjoying the Durham Fringe Festival on Palace Green, Durham city.

    Add Durham Fringe Festival 2026 to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham City

    Between 29th July and 2nd August 2026, Durham Fringe Festival will host a spectacular array of performing arts.  Genres include theatre, music, stand-up comedy, comedy theatre, magic, spoken word, cabaret, dance, physical theatre, circus, and…

    Dates

    From:
    29 July 2026to2 Aug 2026
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival 2026
  4. Member of Beamish Museum staff with a Nutcracker figure and festive decorations in the background.

    Add Christmas Daytimes - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Christmas Daytimes - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Beamish

    Experience the magic of a traditional Christmas through time at Beamish.

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2026to24 Dec 2026
    More info for Christmas Daytimes - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  5. Image of a group of people at a Durham Book Festival event who are seated and clapping.

    Durham Book Festival 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Durham Book Festival

    Durham

    The Durham Book Festival takes place from Friday 9 to Sunday 11 October, celebrating the power of the written word.

    Dates

    From:
    9 Oct 2026to11 Oct 2026
    More info for Durham Book Festival 2026
  6. Illustration of a tractor mowing a lawn against a background of blue sky, sunshine and fluffy white clouds.

    Add Little Farmers: Bonny Babies - High Farm Holiday Park to your Itinerary

    Little Farmers: Bonny Babies - High Farm Holiday Park

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Toft Hill, Bishop Auckland

    Little Farmers: Baby Sensory Experience at The Paddocks

    Dates

    From:
    1 June 2026to29 June 2026Open 11:30 - 15:30
    More info for Little Farmers: Bonny Babies - High Farm Holiday Park
  7. Polynesian Princess Breakfast

    Add Polynesian Princess Breakfast - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Polynesian Princess Breakfast - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Lanchester

    Join us for a delicious cooked breakfast, fun and photos with your favourite Polynesian Princess.

    Dates

    From:
    19 July 2026Open 09:00 - 10:30
    More info for Polynesian Princess Breakfast - Lanchester Garden Centre
  8. Italian vehicles on display at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens.

    Add The Italian Car Show - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    The Italian Car Show - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Show / Display

    Staindrop

    Italian Car Show 2026 in collaboration with Auto Italia Magazine.

    Dates

    From:
    26 July 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for The Italian Car Show - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  9. Explore a range of techniques and styles led by expert artists, designers and makers

    Add Artist Makers - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Artist Makers - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Join in and get creative at this hands-on workshop for children aged 5 and over.

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2026to29 Aug 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Artist Makers - The Bowes Museum
  10. 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
  11. Child with dinosaur model at High Force Waterfall.

    Add May Half Term: Discover Dinosaurs at High Force Waterfall to your Itinerary

    May Half Term: Discover Dinosaurs at High Force Waterfall

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Forest-in-Teesdale, Durham

    Breathe in the fresh summer air and stomp into a prehistoric world of fun at High Force Hotel & Waterfall. Our brand‑new Discover Dinosaurs Trail is waiting for little explorers who love big adventures and fascinating history.

    Dates

    From:
    23 May 2026to31 Aug 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for May Half Term: Discover Dinosaurs at High Force Waterfall
  12. Text 'Hopetown Comic Con' with Dr. Who's Tardis in the background.

    Add Hopetown Comic Con - Hopetown Darlington to your Itinerary

    Hopetown Comic Con - Hopetown Darlington

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Darlington

    Hopetown Comic Con – Doctor Who Themed Event. 

    Dates

    From:
    3 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Hopetown Comic Con - Hopetown Darlington
  13. Durham Miners' Gala. Crowds enjoying the Gala outside of the County Hotel. Colliery Banners can be seen as the Bands march through the streets.

    Add Durham Miners' Gala 2026 to your Itinerary

    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
  14. 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
  15. Little boy in green jacket, peering into binoculars - Nature Spotters at The Bowes Museum

    Add Nature Spotters - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Nature Spotters - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Gather around an indoor campsite to explore the plants and animals that thrive in the museum's surrounding parkland.

    Dates

    From:
    21 July 2026Open 11:00 - 12:00
    From:
    4 Aug 2026Open 11:00 - 12:00
    From:
    18 Aug 2026Open 11:00 - 12:00
    More info for Nature Spotters - The Bowes Museum
  16. Crowds of people enjoying a cricket match at Durham Cricket's Banks Homes Riverside Stadium

    Add Durham Cricket 2026 Vitality Blast T20 to your Itinerary

    Durham Cricket 2026 Vitality Blast T20

    Type

    Type:

    Sporting Event

    Chester le Street

    Durham Men and Women kick off their home Vitality Blast campaign against Leicestershire Foxes and Hampshire Hawks in the first of five double headers at Banks Homes Riverside in 2026.

    Dates

    From:
    24 May 2026to10 July 2026
    More info for Durham Cricket 2026 Vitality Blast T20
  17. Toy Story Crafts. Collage of photos showing Toy Story key rings, Etch-A-Sketch and personalised Toy Story room signs.

    Add Galactic Crafts: Toy Story Edition - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Galactic Crafts: Toy Story Edition - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Arts & Crafts

    Lanchester

    Join us for a Toy Story craft day packed with creativity! Make your own Alien Key Ring, build an Etch‑A‑Sketch–inspired frame, and design a personalised Toy Story Room Sign. Three crafts, endless fun.

    Dates

    From:
    16 Aug 2026Open 15:00 - 16:30
    More info for Galactic Crafts: Toy Story Edition - Lanchester Garden Centre
  18. Three singers in traditional clothing, next to a Christmas tree, performing festive live music during Beamish Museum's Christmas Evenings.

    Add Beamish, The Living Museum of the North’s Magical Christmas Evenings to your Itinerary

    Beamish, The Living Museum of the North’s Magical Christmas Evenings

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Beamish

    Beamish Museum Christmas Evening Tickets on Sale Soon!

    Dates

    From:
    3 Dec 2026to4 Dec 2026Open 17:00 - 21:30
    From:
    10 Dec 2026to11 Dec 2026Open 17:00 - 21:30
    From:
    17 Dec 2026to18 Dec 2026Open 17:00 - 21:30
    More info for Beamish, The Living Museum of the North’s Magical Christmas Evenings
  19. 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
  20. Little girl and boy participating in 'Little Dragons' at Durham University Oriental Museum.

    Add Little Dragons - Durham University Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Little Dragons - Durham University Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Durham City

    Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and…

    Dates

    From:
    7 Jan 2026to30 Sept 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Little Dragons - Durham University Oriental Museum
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