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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: 108

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  1. County Durham Libraries Summer Reading Challenge - Stacey Bone - Cornforth Library. 10:30-11:30am.

    Add Stacey Bone - Cornforth Library to your Itinerary

    Stacey Bone - Cornforth Library

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Cornforth

    Join us for an amazing story session with Stacey Bone reading her book, 'The Wonderful Woodlouse', (recommended for ages 3-7).

    Dates

    From:
    11 Aug 2026Open 10:30 - 11:30
    More info for Stacey Bone - Cornforth Library
  2. 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
  3. Vintage green car driving up the grass

    Add Classic and Vintage Vehicle Show - Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    Classic and Vintage Vehicle Show - Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Bishop Auckland

    Join us for our annual show!
    ​​​​​​​Exhibitors of Vintage and classic cars, vans, motorcycles, campervans, tractors, stall holders and our amazing onsite catering and ice cream kiosk will be onsite until 5pm.

    Dates

    From:
    9 Aug 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Classic and Vintage Vehicle Show - Hamsterley Forest
  4. Muppets wearing Victorian Clothing gathered around in the snow in the Muppets Christmas Carol Poster

    Add Grand Cinema: The Muppet Christmas Carol (U) - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Grand Cinema: The Muppet Christmas Carol (U) - 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:
    28 Nov 2026Open 14:15 -
    From:
    19 Dec 2026Open 14:15 -
    More info for Grand Cinema: The Muppet Christmas Carol (U) - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  5. Spidey crouched down low.

    Add Breakfast with Spidey - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Breakfast with Spidey - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Lanchester

    Start your morning with a spectacular superhero treat at Breakfast with Spidey — a fun‑filled, family‑friendly event where everyone's favourite web‑slinger swings in to make breakfast unforgettable.

    Dates

    From:
    16 Aug 2026Open 09:00 - 10:45
    More info for Breakfast with Spidey - Lanchester Garden Centre
  6. Child looking at a flower using a microscope.

    Add Wild Wednesday - Near and Far to your Itinerary

    Wild Wednesday - Near and Far

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Newbiggin

    Near and far - a fun outdoor activity for children aged 5 and over. All children need to be accompanied by an adult. (Younger siblings are welcome but do not need to book).

    Venue

    Bowlees Visitor Centre, Newbiggin

    Dates

    From:
    5 Aug 2026Open 10:30 - 12:30
    More info for Wild Wednesday - Near and Far
  7. 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
  8. 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:
    4 Aug 2026Open 11:00 - 12:00
    From:
    18 Aug 2026Open 11:00 - 12:00
    More info for Nature Spotters - The Bowes Museum
  9. Creative workshops for children of all ages at The Bowes Museum this summer.

    Add Summer Holidays at The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Summer Holidays at The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    School's out! This summer, discover a packed programme of family-friendly activities inspired by the The Bowes Museum's collection, exhibitions and beautiful parkland.

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2026to30 Aug 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Summer Holidays at The Bowes Museum
  10. Grand Finale all cast of Kynren view from the tribune

    Add Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2026 to your Itinerary

    Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Performance

    Bishop Auckland

    Step into Kynren, a live action outdoor theatre spectacular that immerses you in 2000 years of history on an epic scale.

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2026to12 Sept 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2026
  11. 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
  12. A snake being passed to children by a member staff at the Zoolab

    Add Zoolab - Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    Zoolab - Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Bedburn, Bishop Auckland

    From spider to snakes, cockroaches and giant snails - get up close to nature in the forest!

    Dates

    From:
    9 Aug 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Zoolab - Hamsterley Forest
  13. Bishop Auckland Family Festival. Blue sky, green grass and an illustration of a blue and white big top tent.

    Add Bishop Auckland Family Festival to your Itinerary

    Bishop Auckland Family Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Bishop Auckland

    Bishop Auckland Family Festival is back for its third year. It has become one of the town's favourite summer events, bringing the community together for a day of fun, family and making memories.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Aug 2026Open 11:00 - 16:00
    More info for Bishop Auckland Family Festival
  14. A Witch and a cat riding a broom.  Room on the Broom © 2001 Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler. Licensed by Magic Light Pictures Ltd.

    Add Room on the Broom Trail at Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    Room on the Broom Trail at Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Redford, Hamsterley Forest

    This interactive family trail is packed with Room on the Broom themed activities, fascinating forest facts and plenty of hands-on fun. 

    Dates

    From:
    28 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Room on the Broom Trail at Hamsterley Forest
  15. Landscape view of Crook Hall gardens in the summer, lush greenery

    Add Summer of Play: SEND kids sports and games with Smile Through Sport - Crook Hall Gardens to your Itinerary

    Summer of Play: SEND kids sports and games with Smile Through Sport - Crook Hall Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Durham

    Join us for outdoor games and sports activities designed for children aged 6 and up with SEND and their families. Try out different sports and games with trained coaches. Each session will be adapted to suit the needs and interests of the children…

    Dates

    From:
    12 Aug 2026Open 11:00 - 12:30
    More info for Summer of Play: SEND kids sports and games with Smile Through Sport - Crook Hall Gardens
  16. Grand historic door surrounded by beautiful bushes of flowers in Ushaw House.

    Add Ushaw Flower Festival - Ushaw, Historic Houses, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Ushaw Flower Festival - Ushaw, Historic Houses, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Bearpark, Durham

    Experience the sound of the North East reimagined in flowers. Discover breathtaking floral displays inspired by our region’s rich musical heritage, filling the spectacular buildings of Ushaw with colour, creativity and charm.

    Dates

    From:
    10 Sept 2026to13 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Ushaw Flower Festival - Ushaw, Historic Houses, Chapels and Gardens
  17. AI generated image of a cartoon medieval castle with knights, eagles and children playing archery.

    Add Medieval Mayhem - Auckland Palace and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Medieval Mayhem - Auckland Palace and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Bishop Auckland

    Back by popular demand, Medieval Mayhem returns for a second year with a full day of free, family-friendly activity. Step into an early medieval world with Acle Re-enactment Society, and get up close to magnificent birds of prey. Get stuck into…

    Dates

    From:
    22 Aug 2026Open 10:30 - 15:30
    More info for Medieval Mayhem - Auckland Palace and Gardens
  18. Roman actor sat on top of a horse with roman armour and a shield.

    Add Roman Commotion - Binchester Roman Fort to your Itinerary

    Roman Commotion - Binchester Roman Fort

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Bishop Auckland

    Join the Roman Commotion at Binchester Roman Fort! Charge into a weekend of Roman Army and archaeology activity at Binchester.

    Dates

    From:
    29 Aug 2026to31 Aug 2026Open 10:00 - 16:30
    More info for Roman Commotion - Binchester Roman Fort
  19. Opulence at Lumley Castle Hotel

    Add Opulence at Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Opulence at Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Music Event

    Chester-Le-Street

    Lumley Castle Hotel at Chester-le-Street, County Durham, will be the backdrop for Opulence, running on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 September.

    While the big-name performers are not being unveiled until later this month, organisers have promised it will…

    Dates

    From:
    4 Sept 2026to5 Sept 2026
    More info for Opulence at Lumley Castle Hotel
  20. Summer reading challenge ' Not Just a Pretty Facepaint Langley Park Library'. Photo of little girl with her face painted.

    Add Not Just a Pretty Facepaint - Langley Park Library to your Itinerary

    Not Just a Pretty Facepaint - Langley Park Library

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Langley Park

    Join us to get your face painted (recommended for ages 3+).

    Dates

    From:
    4 Aug 2026Open 14:30 - 16:30
    More info for Not Just a Pretty Facepaint - Langley Park Library
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