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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: 98

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  1. Girl running over larger-than-life, soft recreations of animal figurines - Pippa Hale Pet Project

    Add Exhibitions, Trails and Activities: October Half-Term at The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Exhibitions, Trails and Activities: October Half-Term at The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Barnard Castle

    The Bowes Museum is the perfect place for a day out this October half-term, 25 October – 2 November 2025. From daily self-guided trails and hands-on art activities to interactive exhibitions and an intimate live concert, there is something fun for…

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2025to3 Nov 2025
    More info for Exhibitions, Trails and Activities: October Half-Term at The Bowes Museum
  2. A firework display

    Add Festival of Fireworks at Durham Cricket to your Itinerary

    Festival of Fireworks at Durham Cricket

    Type

    Type:

    Bonfire Night

    Chester le Street

    The Festival of Fireworks is back and set to light up the skies over Banks Homes Riverside on Saturday 1st November 2025 in collaboration with Chester-le-Street CC.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Nov 2025Open 19:30 -
    More info for Festival of Fireworks at Durham Cricket
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. Spooky image of one of the Raby Castle towers

    Add Haunted Raby: Tour by Torchlight at Raby Castle Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Haunted Raby: Tour by Torchlight at Raby Castle Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Staindrop

    Join us at dusk for a special torchlit tour of Raby Castle. Find out from our guides about the unexplained phenomenon and reported hauntings witnessed over centuries at the castle.

    Dates

    From:
    25 Oct 2025to1 Nov 2025Open 17:30 - 19:00
    More info for Haunted Raby: Tour by Torchlight at Raby Castle Park and Gardens
  6. A spooky staircase in Raby Castle

    Add Hauntings and Happenings Family Evening Tour at Raby Castle Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Hauntings and Happenings Family Evening Tour at Raby Castle Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Staindrop

    Join us for a special spooky family tour of Raby Castle …with a difference! Bring your own torch and our knowledgeable guides will escort you through some of our favourite rooms in the castle at twilight.

    Dates

    From:
    25 Oct 2025to1 Nov 2025Open 16:00 - 17:00
    More info for Hauntings and Happenings Family Evening Tour at Raby Castle Park and Gardens
  7. Crook Hall Gardens, exterior of medieval hall

    Add Cinderella: a Christmas puppet panto at Crook Hall Gardens to your Itinerary

    Cinderella: a Christmas puppet panto at Crook Hall Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham City

    Experience the classic tale of magic, princes, glass slippers and pumpkins at the Crook Hall Gardens puppet theatre.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2025to21 Dec 2025Open 12:30 - 14:00
    More info for Cinderella: a Christmas puppet panto at Crook Hall Gardens
  8. Someone partaking in an 'Artist Makers' session at The Bowes Museum

    Add Artist Makers - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Artist Makers - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Make time for making; join in and get creative. An opportunity to try out new techniques, materials and experiment with the Museum’s team of artists, makers and designers in the Create Space.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Jan 2025to3 Jan 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Artist Makers - The Bowes Museum
  9. Two smiling elves.

    Add Tweddle Farm Grotto - Tweddle Farm to your Itinerary

    Tweddle Farm Grotto - Tweddle Farm

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Blackhall Colliery,

    Tweddle Farm's Christmas event is a December to remember! Meet Santa and his friends within our unforgettable Winter Wonderland.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2025to24 Dec 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Tweddle Farm Grotto - Tweddle Farm
  10. Luxury Winter/Christmas Wax Melts decorated with festive botanicals, such as cinnamon sticks, dried oranges, cloves and star anise.

    Add Luxury Winter/Christmas Wax Melts Workshop & Festive Refreshments to your Itinerary

    Luxury Winter/Christmas Wax Melts Workshop & Festive Refreshments

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Lanchester

    Join us this Festive season to make a beautiful set of Festive Christmas wax melt decorations with Bobella Co!

    Dates

    From:
    23 Nov 2025Open 14:00 - 16:00
    More info for Luxury Winter/Christmas Wax Melts Workshop & Festive Refreshments
  11. Crowds enjoying fairground rides and performances in Sacriston.

    Add Sacriston Christmas Extravaganza - The Fulforth Centre to your Itinerary

    Sacriston Christmas Extravaganza - The Fulforth Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Sacriston

    FREE Christmas Light-switch On! Fairground rides, stage performances & visit Santa in his grotto - all free! Cafe, raffle & tombola inside the community centre.

    Dates

    From:
    24 Nov 2025Open 16:00 - 19:00
    More info for Sacriston Christmas Extravaganza - The Fulforth Centre
  12. People looking at the exhibition display stand at Locomotion

    Add S&DR200 - Railway Firsts at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - Railway Firsts at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Shildon

    Home to one of largest collections of historic rail vehicles in the world, Locomotion is pulling out all the stops to commemorate S&DR200.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Feb 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for S&DR200 - Railway Firsts at Locomotion
  13. Two people looking at autumn leaves. Forestry England

    Add October Half-Term Activities at Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    October Half-Term Activities at Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland

    Looking for unforgettable days out that won’t break the bank this October half-term? Forestry England invites families to explore the magic of the nation’s forests, where a wide range of affordable and free activities are waiting to be discovered.

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2025to2 Nov 2025
    More info for October Half-Term Activities at Hamsterley Forest
  14. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Gothic Gargoyles Halloween Trail - Hardwick Park to your Itinerary

    Gothic Gargoyles Halloween Trail - Hardwick Park

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Sedgefield

    Gargoyles have descended on Hardwick Park this Halloween.  But do not fear, they are here to scare away any Halloween evil spirits and protect the park. Can you collect all of the letters to work out which building acts as a portal for spirits to…

    Dates

    From:
    25 Oct 2025to2 Nov 2025Open 11:00 - 16:00
    More info for Gothic Gargoyles Halloween Trail - Hardwick Park
  15. Close up of Santa's legs sitting in a chair beside a table with a gold bell

    Add Santa's Enchanted Garden Grotto to your Itinerary

    Santa's Enchanted Garden Grotto

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Lanchester

    Join us, Father Christmas and Mrs. Claus this Christmas in our Enchanted Garden Grotto.

    Dates

    From:
    29 Nov 2025to30 Nov 2025Open 09:00 - 16:30
    From:
    5 Dec 2025Open 16:00 - 20:00
    From:
    6 Dec 2025Open 11:00 - 16:30
    From:
    12 Dec 2025Open 16:00 - 20:00
    From:
    13 Dec 2025to14 Dec 2025Open 11:00 - 16:30
    From:
    20 Dec 2025to23 Dec 2025Open 11:00 - 16:30
    More info for Santa's Enchanted Garden Grotto
  16. Two children dressed in Halloween costumes at Hall Hill Farm

    Add Spooky Half Term at Hall Hill Farm to your Itinerary

    Spooky Half Term at Hall Hill Farm

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Lanchester

    Are you brave enough to come to Hall Hill Farm for a ghoulishly-good time?

    Dates

    From:
    25 Oct 2025to2 Nov 2025
    More info for Spooky Half Term at Hall Hill Farm
  17. Aerial view of Aglow presented by The Auckland Project

    Add AGLOW - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    AGLOW - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Bishop Auckland

    Auckland Palace's dazzling light trail AGLOW will light up the skies of Bishop Auckland once again this Christmas.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for AGLOW - The Auckland Project
  18. Close up of Santa's legs sitting on a chair.

    Add Santa's Adapted Enchanted Garden Grotto to your Itinerary

    Santa's Adapted Enchanted Garden Grotto

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Lanchester

    Join Father Christmas and Mrs. Claus in Our Adapted Enchanted Garden Grotto – A Magical Experience for Neurodiverse Children.

    Dates

    From:
    5 Dec 2025Open 11:00 - 15:00
    From:
    12 Dec 2025Open 11:00 - 15:00
    More info for Santa's Adapted Enchanted Garden Grotto
  19. Children listening to Santa telling a story beside the Christmas Tree

    Add Fireside Story & Breakfast with Santa to your Itinerary

    Fireside Story & Breakfast with Santa

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Lanchester

    This Festive season revel in the magic and excitement of Christmas and enjoy a delicious breakfast in comfortable surroundings, complete with fireplace setting and a visit from Father Christmas.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2025to7 Dec 2025Open 09:00 - 10:45
    From:
    13 Dec 2025to14 Dec 2025Open 09:00 - 10:45
    From:
    20 Dec 2025to23 Dec 2025Open 09:00 - 10:45
    More info for Fireside Story & Breakfast with Santa
  20. A man dressed on Folk costume at Beamish Museum.

    Add Fun and Folklore: October Half Term at Beamish Museum to your Itinerary

    Fun and Folklore: October Half Term at Beamish Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Beamish

    Come and join us this October Half-Term for fun and folklore. From Saturday, 25th October to Sunday, 2nd November, join us for a programme of activities as we delve into the quirky, mysterious, and sometimes spooky world of North East folklore.

    Dates

    From:
    25 Oct 2025to2 Nov 2025
    More info for Fun and Folklore: October Half Term at Beamish Museum
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