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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: 60

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  1. outer space galaxy

    North Pennines Stargazing Festival 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    The North Pennines Stargazing Festival is returning for 2026 – running between Friday 16 October and Sunday 1 November.

    Dates

    From:
    16 Oct 2026to1 Nov 2026
    More info for North Pennines Stargazing Festival 2026
  2. Teams of eight racing at Durham Regatta on a beautiful sunny day against the backdrop of Durham Cathedral and Castle.

    Add The 193rd Durham Regatta 2026 to your Itinerary

    The 193rd Durham Regatta 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Sporting Event

    Old Elvet, Durham City

    Join us for a spectacular weekend of racing and bank-side entertainment.

    Dates

    From:
    13 June 2026to14 June 2026
    More info for The 193rd Durham Regatta 2026
  3. Zog at Gala Durham

    Add Zog at Gala Durham to your Itinerary

    Zog at Gala Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham City , Durham

    Families can look forward to the return of Zog to County Durham this half-term.

    Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s classic, feel-good story will be brought to roaring, soaring life in a delightful musical for children at Gala Durham. From Tuesday…

    Dates

    From:
    24 Feb 2026to26 Feb 2026
    More info for Zog at Gala Durham
  4. 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
  5. Durham Cathedral

    Add February half term activities at Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    February half term activities at Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Enjoy a day out at Durham Cathedral and enjoy colouring activities, alongside free family-friendly mini tours of Durham Cathedral - celebrating 40 years as a UNESCO world heritage site!

    Free Mini Tours

    Monday 23 February - Friday 27 February,…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Feb 2026to1 Mar 2026
    More info for February half term activities at Durham Cathedral
  6. group of people in colours t shirts smiling at camera inside Locomotion museum.

    Add Be a Record Breaker to your Itinerary

    Be a Record Breaker

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Shildon

    Join in with our "Do the Locomotion" GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ official attempt!

    On Thursday 26 February we are planning to do our very own special record-breaking attempt for the greatest number of people simultaneously performing the “Locomotion”…

    Dates

    From:
    26 Feb 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Be a Record Breaker
  7. Jelly What Cupcakes - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Add Jelly What Cupcakes - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Jelly What Cupcakes - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Lanchester

    Join us and Craftily Ever After for our very first Jelly What Cupcakes class where we will create 2 Jelly What cupcakes along with container decoration to take your creations home.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Mar 2026Open 10:00 - 10:45
    More info for Jelly What Cupcakes - Lanchester Garden Centre
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. Two children in The Plotters' Forest pointing to a dragon hatching from an egg at Raby Castle.

    Add The Plotters' Forest Dragon Quest - Raby Castle to your Itinerary

    The Plotters' Forest Dragon Quest - Raby Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Staindrop

    February Half Term Fun at The Plotters’ Forest Adventure Playground.

    Step into a world of wonder on our brand-new Dragon Quest, weaved amongst the winding paths of our Christmas tree plantation. This family-friendly adventure invites little…

    Dates

    From:
    14 Feb 2026to29 Mar 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for The Plotters' Forest Dragon Quest - Raby Castle
  12. A family speaking to Beamish Museum staff before boarding the tram.

    Add Mothering Sunday 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Mothering Sunday 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Mother's Day

    Beamish

    Make treasured memories this Mother’s Day at Beamish!

    Dates

    From:
    15 Mar 2026
    More info for Mothering Sunday 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  13. Dragon Scale Slime, a wooden sword and shield and a handmade dragon eye.

    Add How to Train Your Dragon Craft School - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    How to Train Your Dragon Craft School - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Lanchester

    Join us and Craftily Ever After for our very first How to Train a Dragon Crafting School.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Mar 2026Open 15:15 - 16:45
    More info for How to Train Your Dragon Craft School - Lanchester Garden Centre
  14. Heritage Open Days Logo

    Heritage Open Days 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage Open Days

    Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture, bringing together over 2,000 local people and organisations, and thousands of volunteers.

    Dates

    From:
    11 Sept 2026to20 Sept 2026
    More info for Heritage Open Days 2026
  15. Crook Hall

    Add Active play: February half term at Crook Hall Gardens to your Itinerary

    Active play: February half term at Crook Hall Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Get active and challenge your family with outdoor games and activities this half term holiday. Expect classic playground games and old fashioned fun.

    Spend quality time together and make the most of being outside during the school holidays.

    Free,…

    Dates

    From:
    17 Feb 2026to25 Feb 2026
    More info for Active play: February half term at Crook Hall Gardens
  16. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Into the Wild And Step into Storytime at Hardwick Park to your Itinerary

    Into the Wild And Step into Storytime at Hardwick Park

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Sedgefield

    Go wild with us this February half term. Build a den with your group, create a fire to toast bread to eat and enjoy a hot chocolate in the comfort of your den. Online booking required. (younger children require additional adult supervision during…

    Dates

    From:
    7 Feb 2026to26 Feb 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Into the Wild And Step into Storytime at Hardwick Park
  17. Two staff perched on Victorian steam locomotive ‘Sir Berkeley’.

    Add Festival of Transport 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Festival of Transport 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Beamish

    Join us for a Festival of Transport as part of May Half Term!

    Dates

    From:
    23 May 2026to31 May 2026
    More info for Festival of Transport 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  18. Durham World Heritage site, Durham Cathedral, Durham Castle and surrounding woodland.

    Add Durham World Heritage Day to your Itinerary

    Durham World Heritage Day

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Join us on Saturday 18th April to celebrate World Heritage Day and visit our wonderful attraction

    Dates

    From:
    18 Apr 2026
    More info for Durham World Heritage Day
  19. Big Science - illustration of an explosion and test tubes.

    Add Big "Easter Physics" Science Workshop - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Big "Easter Physics" Science Workshop - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Easter

    Lanchester

    Join us this Easter for our very first Big Easter Physics Workshop where the children will explore energy and forces with an Easter theme. The children will make Easter bunnies stretch, jump and even fly. All the children will get to take home what…

    Dates

    From:
    17 Apr 2026Open 11:30 - 12:30
    More info for Big "Easter Physics" Science Workshop - Lanchester Garden Centre
  20. 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
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