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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: 123

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  1. Silhouette if people dancing at sunset

    Add Summer Nights Adventure at Adventure Valley to your Itinerary

    Summer Nights Adventure at Adventure Valley

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Brasside

    Summer Nights Adventure returns to Adventure valley on Saturday 16th August, 6pm–9pm.

    Dates

    From:
    16 Aug 2025Open 18:00 - 21:00
    More info for Summer Nights Adventure at Adventure Valley
  2. A cartoon image of children and adults enjoying an outdoor activity at Auckland Palace Deer Park

    Add Hearth Outdoors at Auckland Palace Deer Park to your Itinerary

    Hearth Outdoors at Auckland Palace Deer Park

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Bishop Auckland

    A free, welcoming programme of nature-based activities designed to help you feel good, connect with others, and explore the green spaces of Auckland Palace Deer Park.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    29 July 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Hearth Outdoors at Auckland Palace Deer Park
  3. Durham Book Festival Logo

    Durham Book Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Durham Book Festival

    Durham

    Durham Book Festival is one of the country’s oldest literary festivals, taking place in and around Durham City, returning this year on 10th to 12th October.

    Dates

    From:
    10 Oct 2025to12 Oct 2025
    More info for Durham Book Festival 2025
  4. Playing cards suspended from beams in an illuminated, colourful tunnel

    Add Adventures in Wonderland: An Immersive Experience - Raby Castle Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Adventures in Wonderland: An Immersive Experience - Raby Castle Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Staindrop

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens is encouraging families to journey down the rabbit hole this summer with an Alice in Wonderland inspired takeover of the castle grounds.

    Dates

    From:
    19 July 2025to17 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Adventures in Wonderland: An Immersive Experience - Raby Castle Park and Gardens
  5. The decorated Throne Room at Auckland Palace

    Add Christmas at the Palace - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    Christmas at the Palace - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Market Place, Bishop Auckland

    Immerse yourself in unrivalled festive splendour when you visit Auckland Palace's very special Christmas event.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2025to31 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Christmas at the Palace - The Auckland Project
  6. The Bowes Museum and grounds

    Add Parkland Play - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Parkland Play - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Explore the museum with our spotting and drawing activities and enjoy our outside spaces with the Pocket Parkland Playbook, specially designed to help you get creative with the natural materials around you. All available from reception.

    Dates

    From:
    1 May 2025to31 Dec 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Parkland Play - The Bowes Museum
  7. Grand Finale all cast of Kynren view from the tribune

    Add Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2025 to your Itinerary

    Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Performance

    Bishop Auckland

    Travel through 2,000 years of history in a single unforgettable evening! Watch as legends come to life – Vikings storm ashore, battles rage, and heroes rise beneath a sky ablaze with magic and fire.
    In 2025, celebrate the 200th anniversary of the…

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Weardale Visitor Network Member 2025Weardale Visitor Network Member
    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025 2025TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025

    Dates

    From:
    16 Aug 2025Open 20:45 -
    From:
    23 Aug 2025Open 20:30 -
    From:
    30 Aug 2025Open 20:15 -
    From:
    6 Sept 2025Open 20:00 -
    From:
    13 Sept 2025Open 19:45 -
    More info for Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2025
  8. Crowds enjoying food at Chester-le-EATS. Image credit: Gareth Williams Photo & Film

    Add Chester-le-EATS 2025 to your Itinerary

    Chester-le-EATS 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Food & Drink Festival

    Chester le Street

    Chester-le-EATS Festival Returns to Durham Cricket With An Exciting New Line-Up

    Dates

    From:
    27 Sept 2025to28 Sept 2025Open 11:00 - 17:00
    More info for Chester-le-EATS 2025
  9. Sunset over Raby Castle, view from the lake

    Add Summer Lates - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Summer Lates - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Staindrop

    Join us for a relaxed Summer Late. Amble in the stunning remodelled walled gardens, enjoy a bite to eat or a glass of wine in the beautiful Vinery and why not treat yourself to something from the stunning Coach House Shop.  A wonderful evening…

    Dates

    From:
    26 July 2025to16 Aug 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Summer Lates - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  10. The Story at Mount Oswald

    Add S&DR200 - All Change to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - All Change

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    South Road, Durham City

    Through authentic voices from letters, diaries, court papers, and other day-to-day records from their collections, The Story will uncover the impact of the Stockton & Darlington Railway on the socio-economic fabric of the region.  

    Dates

    From:
    25 May 2025to26 Jan 2026
    More info for S&DR200 - All Change
  11. A family enjoying arts and crafts at Ushaw

    Add Summer Holidays at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Summer Holidays at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham

    We’re celebrating a special summer of stories at Ushaw!

    Dates

    From:
    25 July 2025to1 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Summer Holidays at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
  12. Artist Dinah Kelly in her studio

    Add Enchanted Objects: Adornment and Personal Protection from Amulets to the Mobile Phone to your Itinerary

    Enchanted Objects: Adornment and Personal Protection from Amulets to the Mobile Phone

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Durham City

    Contemporary artist Dinah Kelly shines a light on the protective powers and symbolism of charms, talismans and amulets.

    Venue

    Durham University Oriental Museum, Durham City

    Dates

    From:
    13 June 2025to9 Nov 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Enchanted Objects: Adornment and Personal Protection from Amulets to the Mobile Phone
  13. Colourful print of autumn leaf shapes

    Add Family Activities: Falling into Autumn - Durham University Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Family Activities: Falling into Autumn - Durham University Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Spot the first signs of autumn and make some autumn leaf art.

    Dates

    From:
    27 Sept 2025Open 13:00 - 15:00
    More info for Family Activities: Falling into Autumn - Durham University Oriental Museum
  14. outer space galaxy

    North Pennines Stargazing Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    The North Pennines Stargazing Festival is returning for 2025 – running for a week between Friday 24 October and Sunday 2 November.

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2025to2 Nov 2025
    More info for North Pennines Stargazing Festival 2025
  15. The Bowes Museum and grounds

    Add LGBTQIA+ Object Trail - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    LGBTQIA+ Object Trail - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Explore The Bowes Museum’s collection through a different lens and learn about the stories and emotions objects hold through the lived experiences of those who identify as LGBTQIA+.

    Dates

    From:
    1 May 2025to31 Dec 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for LGBTQIA+ Object Trail - The Bowes Museum
  16. Poster promoting free family fun day in Peterlee. Illustrations of the sun, ice creams, doughnuts and hot dogs.

    Add Free Family Fun Day in Peterlee to your Itinerary

    Free Family Fun Day in Peterlee

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Peterlee

    Looking for something exciting to do with the kids this summer? Peterlee Town Council is bringing you FREE Family Fun Days packed with entertainment, activities, and summer vibes!

    Dates

    From:
    27 Aug 2025Open 10:30 - 15:30
    More info for Free Family Fun Day in Peterlee
  17. A family taking a selfie at Diggerland

    Add Family Selfie Adventure at Diggerland to your Itinerary

    Family Selfie Adventure at Diggerland

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Langley Park

    Strike a pose and share your best Diggerland moments! 

    Dates

    From:
    13 Aug 2025
    More info for Family Selfie Adventure at Diggerland
  18. Four steam engines at Tanfield

    Add Railway 200: Diesel Pioneers Gala at Tanfield Railway to your Itinerary

    Railway 200: Diesel Pioneers Gala at Tanfield Railway

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Marley Hill, Tanfield

    Join us this September for the Diesel Pioneers Gala, a standout event in our Tanfield300 celebrations! Taking place on the 20th and 21st of September 2025, this gala is a tribute to the industrial diesel locomotives that played a vital role in…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2025to21 Sept 2025
    More info for Railway 200: Diesel Pioneers Gala at Tanfield Railway
  19. Crook Hall gardens

    Add Nature crafts: Summer of Play at Crook Hall Gardens to your Itinerary

    Nature crafts: Summer of Play at Crook Hall Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Be inspired by nature and create some wild art.

    Dates

    From:
    12 Aug 2025Open 11:00 - 15:00
    From:
    19 Aug 2025Open 11:00 - 15:00
    From:
    26 Aug 2025Open 11:00 - 15:00
    More info for Nature crafts: Summer of Play at Crook Hall Gardens
  20. Kids Kayaking at Seaham Harbour Marina

    Add Adventure Camp to your Itinerary

    Adventure Camp

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    The Waterside, Seaham

    A full afternoon of activities for kids ages 8-16.

    Venue

    Seaham Harbour Marina, Seaham

    Dates

    From:
    20 Aug 2025Open 12:00 -
    From:
    27 Aug 2025Open 12:00 -
    More info for Adventure Camp
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