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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: 77

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  1. Pockerley at Beamish with three people dressed in period dress

    Add Pockerley 30th Anniversary Celebrations at Beamish to your Itinerary

    Pockerley 30th Anniversary Celebrations at Beamish

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Stanley

    To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the opening of Pockerley Old Hall, the museum will hold 30 activities at Pockerley between 17th May and 31st December 2025.

    Dates

    From:
    17 May 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Pockerley 30th Anniversary Celebrations at Beamish
  2. Queen Elsa, Princess Anna & Holly the Elf

    Add Frozen Princess Party - The Manor House Hotel & Spa to your Itinerary

    Frozen Princess Party - The Manor House Hotel & Spa

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    West Auckland, Bishop Auckland

    Join us in The Great Hall of Arendelle for Afternoon Tea where we will meet Queen Elsa, Princess Anna & Holly the elf

    Dates

    From:
    14 Dec 2025Open 15:00 - 19:00
    More info for Frozen Princess Party - The Manor House Hotel & Spa
  3. Cliffecon 2026 advertising poster with event date and location

    Add Cliffecon 2026 to your Itinerary

    Cliffecon 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Newton Aycliffe

    Cliffecon 2026 is a comic con and pop culture event in County Durham.

    Dates

    From:
    9 May 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Cliffecon 2026
  4. Santa's Grotto covered in snow at Dalton Park

    Add Dalton Park Santa's Grotto to your Itinerary

    Dalton Park Santa's Grotto

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Murton

    Make your family Christmas truly special this year with a visit to Santa's Grotto at Dalton Park. Children can meet elves packing gifts, ask Santa for their Christmas list and create memories that will last a lifetime in the festive experience…

    Dates

    From:
    8 Nov 2025to24 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Dalton Park Santa's Grotto
  5. Rosettes from the Durham County Show

    Add The Durham County Show to your Itinerary

    The Durham County Show

    Type

    Type:

    Agricultural Show

    nr Thornley

    The Annual Durham County Show is a vibrant event featuring a variety of activities and attractions for all ages.

    Dates

    From:
    4 July 2026to5 July 2026Open 09:00 - 17:00
    More info for The Durham County Show
  6. Two men and a woman looking at one of the Christmas Trees for sale at Raby Castle

    Add Raby Christmas Trees to your Itinerary

    Raby Christmas Trees

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Staindrop

    Real Christmas Trees at Raby.  Bring Festive Magic Home – Starting 22nd November.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Nov 2025to24 Dec 2025
    More info for Raby Christmas Trees
  7. Snow covered double decker bus at South Causey Inn

    Add Christmas Eve Santa Lunch at South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Christmas Eve Santa Lunch at South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Make Christmas Eve magical with festive feasting, live entertainment, and a visit from Santa himself!

    Dates

    From:
    24 Dec 2025Open 11:30 -
    More info for Christmas Eve Santa Lunch at South Causey Inn
  8. Children in Hamsterley Forest searching for stick characters on The Stickman Man Trail. Credit Forestry England Crown Copyright

    Add The Stick Man Trail at Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    The Stick Man Trail at Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland

    Families can join a new forest adventure as the much-loved character Stick Man, based on the beautiful picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, returns to Forestry England Hamsterley.

    Dates

    From:
    12 Feb 2025to31 Jan 2026
    More info for The Stick Man Trail at Hamsterley Forest
  9. 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
  10. Four friends enjoying festive drinks at The Bowes Museum Winter Market. ©TheBowesMuseum

    Add The Bowes Museum Winter Market to your Itinerary

    The Bowes Museum Winter Market

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Barnard Castle

    The galleries and grounds of the French styled Museum in Barnard Castle are once again set to come alive with the sights, sounds and smells of the season as the highly anticipated annual Winter Market returns from Friday 12th  December until Sunday…

    Dates

    From:
    12 Dec 2025to14 Dec 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for The Bowes Museum Winter Market
  11. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Passport to Nature: Winter Wildlife Walk to your Itinerary

    Passport to Nature: Winter Wildlife Walk

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Sedgefield

    It might be cold outside but that does not stop the wildlife at Hardwick Park! Join the education team as we explore the park's tranquil beauty, from the rustling of winter leaves to the tracks left by the park's wildlife. Whether you're a nature…

    Dates

    From:
    12 Dec 2025Open 07:00 - 09:00
    More info for Passport to Nature: Winter Wildlife Walk
  12. Christmas Fayre, noon - 4pm -  Framwellgate Moor Youth and Community Association.

    Add Christmas Fayre - Framwellgate Youth and Community Association to your Itinerary

    Christmas Fayre - Framwellgate Youth and Community Association

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Framwellgate Moor

    Framwellgate Moor Youth and Community Association presents our Christmas Fayre, Saturday 13th December 2025 from 12pm - 4pm. 

    Dates

    From:
    13 Dec 2025Open 12:00 - 16:00
    More info for Christmas Fayre - Framwellgate Youth and Community Association
  13. A visitor to the Faith Museum looking at the Neapolitan Nativity

    Add Neapolitan Nativity - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    Neapolitan Nativity - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Market Place, Bishop Auckland

    Be dazzled by our monumental 18th-century Neapolitan Nativity scene. This remarkable Baroque créche, known in Italian as a presepe, is a giant Nativity scene staged in a true-life Neapolitan setting.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2025to31 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Neapolitan Nativity - The Auckland Project
  14. Father Christmas sitting in front of a Christmas Tree at Raby Castle

    Add Father Christmas at Raby Castle to your Itinerary

    Father Christmas at Raby Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Staindrop

    ​​​​​​Experience the Magic of Christmas with Father Christmas in Raby Castle’s Barons’ Hall.

    Venue

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop

    Dates

    From:
    29 Nov 2025to30 Nov 2025
    From:
    6 Dec 2025to7 Dec 2025
    From:
    13 Dec 2025to14 Dec 2025
    From:
    19 Dec 2025to24 Dec 2025
    More info for Father Christmas at Raby Castle
  15. Snowman animation on the big screen with a live orchestra.

    Add The Snowman with Live Orchestra to your Itinerary

    The Snowman with Live Orchestra

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Step into the wonder of the season with a heartwarming performance of The Snowman — perfect for all ages.

    Dates

    From:
    13 Dec 2025
    More info for The Snowman with Live Orchestra
  16. Cartoon image of the performance area with a stage, trees, hills and a yellow aeroplane with a banner with wording Derwent Fest!

    Add Derwent Fest 2026 to your Itinerary

    Derwent Fest 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Edmundbyers

    A weekend festival of live tribute music, food and drink, and children’s activities and entertainment, set in a stunning location, not far from you. Bring all the family, including the dog, and enjoy some fun, quality time together.

    Venue

    Derwent Waterside Park, Shotley Bridge

    Dates

    From:
    14 Aug 2026to15 Aug 2026
    More info for Derwent Fest 2026
  17. Josef's restaurant at the Radisson Blu Durham

    Add Family Santa Sunday Lunch to your Itinerary

    Family Santa Sunday Lunch

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham City

    A relaxed family-friendly atmosphere, delicious food and a visit from the main man himself – Santa Claus will be delivering a selection box for the kids!

    Dates

    From:
    7 Dec 2025Open 12:30 - 15:30
    From:
    14 Dec 2025Open 12:30 - 15:30
    From:
    21 Dec 2025Open 12:30 - 15:30
    More info for Family Santa Sunday Lunch
  18. Children playing at The Bowes Museum

    Add Stay and Play - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Stay and Play - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Time for The Bowes’ youngest visitors to explore and play in the Conversation Gallery, investigate materials and be creative in this self-led, free-play session.

    Dates

    From:
    2 Jan 2025to8 Jan 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Stay and Play - The Bowes Museum
  19. Mother holding a baby

    Add Family Wednesday Morning at South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Family Wednesday Morning at South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Stanley

    A great place to meet other parents with your little one's...

    Dates

    From:
    12 Nov 2025to31 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Family Wednesday Morning at South Causey Inn
  20. Father Christmas sitting beside a Christmas Tree, talking to a child being held by a woman.

    Add Father Christmas at Ushaw to your Itinerary

    Father Christmas at Ushaw

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Ho Ho Ho! Step into the festive fun and meet Father Christmas at Ushaw this December, on select dates for a truly magical experience.

    Dates

    From:
    2 Dec 2025to3 Dec 2025
    From:
    6 Dec 2025to7 Dec 2025
    More info for Father Christmas at Ushaw
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