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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: 122

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  1. Alexander Armstrong and Aled Jones standing side-by side in blue velvet suits against a festive background.

    Add The Big Christmas Sing A-Long with Aled Jones and Alexander Armstrong - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    The Big Christmas Sing A-Long with Aled Jones and Alexander Armstrong - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Get ready to lift your voices and celebrate the festive season as The Big Christmas Sing-a-Long embarks on its debut UK tour in November and December 2026. Starring much-loved performers and presenters Aled Jones and Alexander Armstrong, this…

    Dates

    From:
    2 Dec 2026Open 19:30 -
    More info for The Big Christmas Sing A-Long with Aled Jones and Alexander Armstrong - Durham Cathedral
  2. A glowing carved pumpkin, surrounded by other pumpkins.

    Add Floral Pumpkin Workshop - South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Floral Pumpkin Workshop - South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Stanley

    Enjoy a relaxed and creative evening at South Causey Inn with our beautiful Floral Workshop.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Oct 2026Open 17:00 - 19:30
    More info for Floral Pumpkin Workshop - South Causey Inn
  3. Scarecrows and pumpkins in a garden

    Add Halloween Scarecrow Festival - South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Halloween Scarecrow Festival - South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Stanley

    Step forth… if you dare! This Halloween, South Causey Inn comes alive with fright, fun and plenty of spooky surprises at our Halloween Scarecrow Festival...

    Dates

    From:
    23 Oct 2026to1 Nov 2026
    More info for Halloween Scarecrow Festival - South Causey Inn
  4. A beautiful view of the Aurora Borealis in the dark night sky

    Add Aurora Night - Grassholme Observatory to your Itinerary

    Aurora Night - Grassholme Observatory

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    The event will begin with a personal welcome from our astronomer, Gary Fildes. Gary is a very experienced science communicator and astronomer, and founder of the Kielder Observatory, where he was Director and CEO for over 11 years.

    Dates

    From:
    27 Sept 2026Open 20:00 - 23:00
    More info for Aurora Night - Grassholme Observatory
  5. Two photos of people smiling on a blue background surrounded by cartoon books

    Add An Evening with Hollie McNish and Michael Pedersen - Durham Book Festival to your Itinerary

    An Evening with Hollie McNish and Michael Pedersen - Durham Book Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    Join award-winning poet Hollie McNish for a hilarious and heartfelt evening of poetry, reading from her latest collection, Virgin, and unpicking the meaning of the word with her trademark feminist wit, fury and compassion. 

    Dates

    From:
    9 Oct 2026Open 19:00 - 20:00
    More info for An Evening with Hollie McNish and Michael Pedersen - Durham Book Festival
  6. Festive scene of street lamps and Christmas lights decorating a stone building.

    Add Christmas Light Switch-On Spectacular - South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Christmas Light Switch-On Spectacular - South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Join us for a magical festive evening as South Causey Inn lights up for Christmas in unforgettable style. 

    Dates

    From:
    20 Nov 2026Open 18:00 -
    More info for Christmas Light Switch-On Spectacular - South Causey Inn
  7. A historical street view, a tram driver on a vintage tram, smiling at children on the street.

    Add October Half-Term - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    October Half-Term - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Stanley

    Step back in time this October. Join us this Autumn for family friendly fun across our museum.

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2026to1 Nov 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for October Half-Term - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  8. Two children dressed up as a witch and a skeleton, smiling holding pumpkins against a stone wall.

    Add Spooky Half Term - Hall Hill Farm to your Itinerary

    Spooky Half Term - Hall Hill Farm

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Durham

    Are you brave enough to come to Hall Hill Farm for a ghoulishly-good time? There are�lots of extra activities- including giant scarecrows, haunted Sheep Race, Mini Monster Maze, Trick or Treat treasure hunt, choose your pumpkin from the pumpkin…

    Dates

    From:
    17 Oct 2026to18 Oct 2026Open 10:30 - 17:00
    From:
    24 Oct 2026to1 Nov 2026Open 10:30 - 17:00
    More info for Spooky Half Term - Hall Hill Farm
  9. An exhibition of many little decorated peg dolls on a stage.

    Add Memory of a Journey: Final Station - Hopetown Darlington to your Itinerary

    Memory of a Journey: Final Station - Hopetown Darlington

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Darlington

    Step into the final chapter of Memory of a Journey, the much-loved S&DR200 festival that brought communities together across Teesside and County Durham. At Hopetown Darlington, thousands of hand-crafted peg dolls - each telling its own story - will…

    Dates

    From:
    22 Sept 2026to27 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Memory of a Journey: Final Station - Hopetown Darlington
  10. Three witches from Hocus Pocus, looking mischievously at the camera.

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

    Grand Cinema: Hocus Pocus - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Stanley

    A teenage boy named Max and his little sister move to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before awakening a trio of diabolical witches that were executed in the 17th century.

    Dates

    From:
    29 Oct 2026to1 Nov 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Grand Cinema: Hocus Pocus - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  11. A green steam train in the snowy wilderness.

    Add North Pole Express - Tanfield Railway to your Itinerary

    North Pole Express - Tanfield Railway

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Tanfield Lea, Stanley

    Step aboard the Tanfield Railway’s famous North Pole Express for a steam train journey to the North Pole! Tanfield Railway’s famous North Pole Express is one of the most popular and magical festive experiences in the North East, perfect for families…

    Dates

    From:
    28 Nov 2026to20 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    From:
    22 Dec 2026to24 Dec 2026Open 10:25 - 16:25
    More info for North Pole Express - Tanfield Railway
  12. A couple performing ballet on a festive stage

    Add Crown Ballet: The Nutcracker - Empire Consett to your Itinerary

    Crown Ballet: The Nutcracker - Empire Consett

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Consett

    The beloved Christmas classic returns! After last year’s acclaimed tour, Crown Ballet® brings back its dazzling production of The Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky’s timeless masterpiece.

    Dates

    From:
    14 Nov 2026Open 14:30 -
    More info for Crown Ballet: The Nutcracker - Empire Consett
  13. A pretend spider crawling in a large spiderweb at Hopetown.

    Add Into the Wild! - A Halloween Bushcraft Experience - Hopetown Darlington to your Itinerary

    Into the Wild! - A Halloween Bushcraft Experience - Hopetown Darlington

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Darlington

    Venture into the shadowy corners of Hopetown for a Halloween-themed bushcraft adventure where strange things lurk in the woods and only the bravest little monsters will thrive.

    Dates

    From:
    26 Oct 2026Open 10:15 - 15:15
    More info for Into the Wild! - A Halloween Bushcraft Experience - Hopetown Darlington
  14. Four musicians playing brass instruments.

    Add Brass and Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia Winter Tour - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    Brass and Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia Winter Tour - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Festive Event

    Durham

    This isn’t just a collection of Christmas music – it’s a celebration of the season’s full emotional range. Joy, wonder, reflection, play. Big bold choruses and quiet, candlelit moments. Music that lets you sing along one minute and stop to breathe…

    Dates

    From:
    27 Nov 2026Open 19:30 -
    More info for Brass and Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia Winter Tour - Durham Cathedral
  15. An adult holding a baby in festive clothes, looking at a light installation of a bear.

    Add AGLOW 2026 - Auckland Palace and Gardens to your Itinerary

    AGLOW 2026 - Auckland Palace and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Bishop Auckland

    Bishop Auckland’s AGLOW light trail is alive!  
    Walk in wonder through one and a half magical miles of light and sound. Imagine a place where an ancient palace overlooks 150 acres of Deer Park that, as the sun sets, comes alive with wonderful lights…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Nov 2026to3 Jan 2027Open 16:30 - 19:30
    More info for AGLOW 2026 - Auckland Palace and Gardens
  16. Elegant font depicting "The Fairytale Pantomime: Beauty and the Beast," with an extravagant interior background and a rose

    Add Beauty and the Beast - Pantomime - Empire Consett to your Itinerary

    Beauty and the Beast - Pantomime - Empire Consett

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Consett

    Leah Bell and company return in 2026 with a tale as old as pantomime – Beauty and the Beast.

    Dates

    From:
    27 Nov 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Beauty and the Beast - Pantomime - Empire Consett
  17. Small child playing with paint in a craft session.

    Add Halloween Craft Day - The Story to your Itinerary

    Halloween Craft Day - The Story

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    South Road, Durham

    Gather your little monsters for a spooktacular craft day at The Story!

    Dates

    From:
    26 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Halloween Craft Day - The Story
  18. A cloud-like pink light installation in a dark room at The Light

    Add Family Cloud Dreaming with Tine Bech - The Light to your Itinerary

    Family Cloud Dreaming with Tine Bech - The Light

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham

    Drop in to colour, sound and dreaming for all the family at The Light on Saturday 3 October 2026. Step into the magical world of Dreaming of You.

    Dates

    From:
    3 Oct 2026
    More info for Family Cloud Dreaming with Tine Bech - The Light
  19. 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
  20. A person wearing a red top smiling to the left, the the title 'Tracy Borman, Tudors on Tour', with two Tudor-style paintings of notable people.

    Add Tracy Borman: Tudors on Tour - Gala Durham to your Itinerary

    Tracy Borman: Tudors on Tour - Gala Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Durham

    Discover the Tudors as you’ve never seen them before with historian, broadcaster and bestselling author Tracy Borman OBE. Tudors on Tour brings the drama, scandal and intrigue of England’s most notorious dynasty to life in a thrilling theatrical…

    Dates

    From:
    14 Oct 2026Open 19:30 -
    More info for Tracy Borman: Tudors on Tour - Gala Durham
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