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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: 101

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  1. Father Christmas sitting in an armchair greeting a young family in the cafe

    Add Breakfast with Father Christmas - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Breakfast with Father Christmas - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Kick off your day with something magical! Join Father Christmas for breakfast in the Coffee Pot Café at the Entrance Building, before he heads off on his Christmas duties.

    Dates

    From:
    5 Dec 2026to6 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 10:00
    From:
    12 Dec 2026to13 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 10:00
    From:
    19 Dec 2026to20 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 10:00
    More info for Breakfast with Father Christmas - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  2. Santa reading a list in a festive grotto

    Add Santa Sunday's - South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Santa Sunday's - South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Step into the magic of Christmas at South Causey Inn’s Santa Sundays... Join us in the enchanting Old Barn on 6th, 13th or 20th of December for a truly unforgettable festive experience the whole family will love. From the moment you arrive, the…

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2026Open 11:30 -
    From:
    13 Dec 2026Open 11:30 -
    From:
    20 Dec 2026Open 11:30 -
    More info for Santa Sunday's - South Causey Inn
  3. A vibrant background of pink, gold and blue fireworks in a dark night sky, with white and orange bold text which reads, 'Stanley Fireworks 2026.'

    Add Stanley Fireworks 2026 to your Itinerary

    Stanley Fireworks 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Bonfire Night

    Stanley

    Get ready for a spectacular night of fireworks, live entertainment and family fun! Bring your family and friends and join us for a fantastic night in Stanley!

    Dates

    From:
    7 Nov 2026Open 17:00 -
    More info for Stanley Fireworks 2026
  4. A cartoon illustration of the flying car from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, with colourful musical notes in the background and people waving from the car.

    Add Cinema Grand Cinema: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to your Itinerary

    Cinema Grand Cinema: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

    Type

    Type:

    Film

    Stanley

    A down-on-his-luck inventor turns a broken-down Grand Prix car into a fancy vehicle for his children, and then they go off on a magical fantasy adventure to save their grandfather in a far-off land. Transport yourself to the golden age of cinema…

    Dates

    From:
    27 Dec 2026Open 13:30 -
    More info for Cinema Grand Cinema: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
  5. South Causey Monthly Dog Walk

    Add South Causey Monthly Dog Walk to your Itinerary

    South Causey Monthly Dog Walk

    Type

    Type:

    Dog-Friendly

    Stanley

    Join the South Causey Dog Walking Club every 1st Saturday of the month at 10 am for a picturesque stroll through the beautiful Beamish Valley. 

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for South Causey Monthly Dog Walk
  6. A group of cartoon characters from The Grinch, surrounded by green sparkles.

    Add The Grinch & Friends Festive Family Show to your Itinerary

    The Grinch & Friends Festive Family Show

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Carville, Durham

    Join The Grinch and friends live on stage. Enjoy magical fun and games played with on stage characters like Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Elsa singing LIVE! Numerous stage games and prizes, balloon drops and more, includes photographs and meet and…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2026Open 12:00 - 16:00
    More info for The Grinch & Friends Festive Family Show
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. Photograph of a young child with red hair wearing a mustard yellow shirt and beige shorts, smiling while crawling on a large white cushioned surface.

    Add Bowes Babies - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Bowes Babies - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    A sensory museum session for little ones and their grown-ups.

    Venue

    The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

    Dates

    From:
    26 Nov 2026Open 11:00 - 12:00
    From:
    30 Dec 2026Open 11:00 - 12:00
    More info for Bowes Babies - The Bowes Museum
  10. Stalls in a Christmas market, full of handmade goods and crafts.

    Add Christmas Markets - South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Christmas Markets - South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Our Christmas Markets are filled with twinkling lights, beautifully dressed stalls, and the comforting scent of mulled wine and seasonal treats in the air. Wander through a handpicked selection of independent traders offering unique gifts,…

    Dates

    From:
    24 Nov 2026Open 10:00 - 20:00
    From:
    1 Dec 2026Open 10:00 - 20:00
    From:
    8 Dec 2026Open 10:00 - 20:00
    From:
    15 Dec 2026Open 10:00 - 20:00
    From:
    22 Dec 2026Open 10:00 - 20:00
    More info for Christmas Markets - South Causey Inn
  11. Small colourful squares with snowflakes, trees, presents and hot chocolates inside on a white background.

    Add Early Festive Farmers & Indie Market to your Itinerary

    Early Festive Farmers & Indie Market

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas Markets

    Middleton-In-Teesdale

    Skip the corporate aisles & support the region's finest independent makers, farmers & creatives... we bring you 100% authentic local talent! From fresh regional food and drink to high quality handcrafted gifts. Come along - shop & scoff in the…

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2026Open 09:00 - 14:00
    More info for Early Festive Farmers & Indie Market
  12. The Craft & Producers' Marquee at Durham Christmas Festival

    Add Durham Christmas Festival to your Itinerary

    Durham Christmas Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham Market Place, Durham City

    Durham Christmas Festival returns – the perfect combination of Christmas shopping and seasonal entertainment in the unique and stunning setting that is Durham City Centre.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Dec 2026to6 Dec 2026
    More info for Durham Christmas Festival
  13. 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
  14. A bright firework display on a burgundy red background, with a bold flashy text which reads 'Fireworks Night' in white and gold.

    Add Fireworks Night At Peterlee & Horden RFC 2026 to your Itinerary

    Fireworks Night At Peterlee & Horden RFC 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Bonfire Night

    Eden Lane, Peterlee

    Join us on Sunday 8th November for a brilliant family evening at the club. There’ll be food and drink available, plenty of atmosphere and a fantastic fireworks display for everyone to enjoy. Bring the family, wrap up warm and come along for a great…

    Dates

    From:
    8 Nov 2026Open 16:30 -
    More info for Fireworks Night At Peterlee & Horden RFC 2026
  15. Landscape view of Raby Castle with the open starry sky

    Add Stargazing at Raby Castle to your Itinerary

    Stargazing at Raby Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    Staindrop

    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
  16. Santa Claus delivering presents under the Christmas tree.

    Add Breakfast with Santa to your Itinerary

    Breakfast with Santa

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Chester le Street

    Share a magical morning with the big man himself! We’ve teamed up with Make My Day Events to bring you the ultimate Christmas experience - a festive breakfast filled with sparkle, songs and a sprinkle of Santa magic

    Dates

    From:
    22 Dec 2026to23 Dec 2026Open 09:30 -
    More info for Breakfast with Santa
  17. 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
  18. A vintage Starwars poster witg many iconic characters, with the text 'May The Toys Be With You' in the yellow starwars font, on a black background.

    Add May The Toys Be With You to your Itinerary

    May The Toys Be With You

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Darlington

    From a galaxy far, far away to Hopetown Darlington, celebrate 50 years of Star Wars with one of the UK's finest collections of vintage toys, original cinema posters and memorabilia.

    Dates

    From:
    9 Jan 2027to21 Mar 2027Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for May The Toys Be With You
  19. 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
  20. A close up image of Santa smiling with a bucket of popcorn.

    Add Movies and Magic - Elf to your Itinerary

    Movies and Magic - Elf

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Snuggle up in your PJ’s, get comfy to watch the fabulous festive movie Elf, be in awe and entertained by our magician and enjoy endless popcorn, hot dogs, pizzas, potato wedges and Christmas stotties!

    Dates

    From:
    21 Dec 2026Open 14:30 - 18:00
    More info for Movies and Magic - Elf
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