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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: 76

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  1. Image of The Snowman © Snowman Enterprises

    Add The Snowman – Film with Live Orchestra to your Itinerary

    The Snowman – Film with Live Orchestra

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    The College, Durham City

    Make this Christmas truly unforgettable with a special screening of the beloved festive classic The Snowman, brought to life by a live performance from a professional orchestra.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for The Snowman – Film with Live Orchestra
  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. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Forest Club - Hardwick Park to your Itinerary

    Forest Club - Hardwick Park

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Sedgefield

    Forest Club is a hands-on experience designed to engage children with the world around them through natural and play based activities. The programme is aimed at children between two and six years of age. Each session will include a different …

    Dates

    From:
    28 Oct 2025Open 10:00 - 12:00
    More info for Forest Club - Hardwick Park
  4. 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:
    18 Oct 2025to19 Oct 2025
    From:
    25 Oct 2025to2 Nov 2025
    More info for Spooky Half Term at Hall Hill Farm
  5. Someone holding a tortoise in their hand.

    Crazy Creatures - Durham University Botanic Garden

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham

    Get interactive with the Crazy Creatures visiting the Garden for the day.

    Dates

    From:
    25 Oct 2025Open 10:30 - 16:00
    More info for Crazy Creatures - Durham University Botanic Garden
  6. 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
  7. Cupcakes decorated in pink and green with a witch's hat and wand

    Add Wickedly Good Cupcakes Masterclass to your Itinerary

    Wickedly Good Cupcakes Masterclass

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Lanchester

    Join us and Craftily Ever After for our Wickedly Good Cupcakes Masterclass where Madame M leads the decoration of 2 Wickedly good cupcakes along with container decoration to take your creations home.

    Dates

    From:
    29 Oct 2025Open 09:30 - 10:15
    More info for Wickedly Good Cupcakes Masterclass
  8. Someone dressed as a Halloween character at Beamish Museum

    Add Halloween Evenings at Beamish Museum to your Itinerary

    Halloween Evenings at Beamish Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Beamish

    Step into the The Un-living Museum of the North this Halloween, where the past comes alive… in a most unexpected way.

    Dates

    From:
    27 Oct 2025Open 17:00 - 21:30
    From:
    29 Oct 2025Open 17:00 - 21:30
    From:
    31 Oct 2025Open 17:00 - 21:30
    More info for Halloween Evenings at Beamish Museum
  9. Aerial view of Raby Castle and grounds

    Add S&DR200: Coal, Canals and Carriages: The Story of Raby and the Railways to your Itinerary

    S&DR200: Coal, Canals and Carriages: The Story of Raby and the Railways

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Staindrop

    Raby Castle will celebrate the year with stories associated with 19th-century inventions, including the reactions of landowners and farmers to trains, as well as how travel evolved into a privilege for the upper classes from their collections.

    Dates

    From:
    28 June 2025to31 Oct 2025Open 11:00 - 16:00
    From:
    3 July 2025to29 Oct 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for S&DR200: Coal, Canals and Carriages: The Story of Raby and the Railways
  10. 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
  11. 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
  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. 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
  14. Staff and children dressed up as Vikings at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Add Viking Weekend - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Viking Weekend - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Durham

    On Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 September head to Ushaw for their Viking Weekend where history comes alive!

    Dates

    From:
    27 Sept 2025to28 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Viking Weekend - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
  15. A photo of Santa Claus, and a child wearing a Christmas hat.

    Add Winter Wonderland - Adventure Valley to your Itinerary

    Winter Wonderland - Adventure Valley

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Brasside, Durham

    Winter Wonderland is back for 2025 at Adventure Valley! From the 29th November to the 21st December – Each Weekend AND the 22nd, 23rd December & 24th December. In the ‘Christmas week’.

    Dates

    From:
    29 Nov 2025to21 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    From:
    22 Dec 2025to24 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Winter Wonderland - Adventure Valley
  16. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Passport to Nature: Wildfowl Identification to your Itinerary

    Passport to Nature: Wildfowl Identification

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Sedgefield

    As autumn fades and winter takes hold, there's no better time to discover the fascinating world of wildfowl at Hardwick Park.

    Dates

    From:
    31 Oct 2025Open 07:00 - 09:00
    More info for Passport to Nature: Wildfowl Identification
  17. Painting of Old Locomotive Engine Wylam Coll from the Hatton Gallery, Newcastle University

    Add S&DR200 - Fuelling the Railway Revolution to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - Fuelling the Railway Revolution

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Bishop Auckland

    This special exhibition explores the inextricable link between coal mining and the railways.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    27 June 2025to21 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for S&DR200 - Fuelling the Railway Revolution
  18. Someone dressed as a Mickey Mouse Wizard

    Add Wizard Mouse Breakfast to your Itinerary

    Wizard Mouse Breakfast

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Lanchester

    Join us for a delicious cooked breakfast, fun and photos with your favourite Wizard Mouse.

    Dates

    From:
    19 Oct 2025Open 09:00 - 10:30
    More info for Wizard Mouse Breakfast
  19. Preston Park Museum and Grounds

    Add S&DR200: Tracks of Change to your Itinerary

    S&DR200: Tracks of Change

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Stockton on Tees

    Following a major redevelopment, Preston Park will open its new exhibition space with Tracks of Change, a series of exhibitions exploring the impact and legacy of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. 

    Dates

    From:
    1 June 2025to30 Sept 2025
    More info for S&DR200: Tracks of Change
  20. Children and families enjoying the 'Forest of Light' at Beamish Hall Hotel

    Add Forest of Light at Beamish Hall Hotel to your Itinerary

    Forest of Light at Beamish Hall Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Beamish

    Our Forest of Light is a captivating illuminated experience set within our enchanted ancient woodland.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Nov 2025to4 Jan 2026
    More info for Forest of Light at Beamish Hall Hotel
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