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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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  1. Oriental illustrations of dragons, Pharos and monsters.

    Add Telling Tales: Making Stories Come to Life at The Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Telling Tales: Making Stories Come to Life at The Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Durham City

    Experience the joy and wonder of storytelling through the Oriental Museum’s new summer exhibition, Telling Tales Making Stories Come to Life.

    Dates

    From:
    13 June 2025to9 Nov 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Telling Tales: Making Stories Come to Life at The Oriental Museum
  2. The Grinch in front of a Christmas tree.

    Add Merry Grinchmas Breakfast - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Merry Grinchmas Breakfast - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Lanchester

    Join us for a delicious cooked breakfast, fun and photos with your favourite green mischievous character that stole Christmas.

    Dates

    From:
    29 Nov 2025to30 Nov 2025Open 09:00 - 10:30
    More info for Merry Grinchmas Breakfast - Lanchester Garden Centre
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. Pumpkin Patch East Grange Farm.

    Add Pumpkin Patch - East Grange Farm to your Itinerary

    Pumpkin Patch - East Grange Farm

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Durham

    This year we will grow over 100,000 pumpkins spread out over 20 acres. There will be 17 varieties, 6 different colours and sizes ranging from 500g to 12kg. Don't worry about carrying all those pumpkins; we will have plenty of wheelbarrows to help.

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2025to27 Oct 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    From:
    24 Oct 2025to25 Oct 2025Open 16:00 - 18:00
    More info for Pumpkin Patch - East Grange Farm
  6. A pumpkin on a rock at High Force Waterfall

    Add Halloween Trail at High Force Waterfall to your Itinerary

    Halloween Trail at High Force Waterfall

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Forest in Teesdale

    Perfect for families looking to enjoy the outdoors with a seasonal twist, this self-led trail is included with general admission.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Oct 2025to2 Nov 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Halloween Trail at High Force Waterfall
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. Santa Claus wearing glasses and holding popcorn

    Add Magic at the Movies to your Itinerary

    Magic at the Movies

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham City

    Get ready to sprinkle some festive magic this December. Prepare for an enchanting evening featuring a fabulous festive movie that will warm your heart.

    Dates

    From:
    7 Dec 2025Open 16:30 -
    From:
    21 Dec 2025Open 16:30 -
    More info for Magic at the Movies
  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. 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
  13. 'Cinderella' glass slipper and snowflakes.

    Add Cinderella Family Show - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa to your Itinerary

    Cinderella Family Show - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham

    A festive family day out packed with sparkle, songs and silliness. Cinderella brings all the magic of a traditional pantomime, with dazzling costumes, energetic performances and plenty of laughs for kids and grown-ups alike.
    Arrival: 11:30 | Lunch:…

    Dates

    From:
    7 Dec 2025to21 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Cinderella Family Show - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. 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:
    22 Oct 2025to2 Nov 2025
    More info for North Pennines Stargazing Festival 2025
  17. An illustration of a mixture of different board games

    Add Games at the Hearth - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    Games at the Hearth - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Bishop Auckland

    A relaxed afternoon of board and card games for all ages. Whether you're a seasoned player or just in it for the laughs, there's something for everyone. Second Sunday of every month 1.30pm – 4.30pm

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    12 Oct 2025to14 Dec 2025
    More info for Games at the Hearth - The Auckland Project
  18. Silhouettes of bats and pumpkins and text which reads, 'Big Science, Happy Halloween.'

    Add Big "Spooky" Science - Potion Making, Colour Changing Monster Brains & Dancing Ghosts to your Itinerary

    Big "Spooky" Science - Potion Making, Colour Changing Monster Brains & Dancing Ghosts

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Lanchester

    Potion Making, Colour Changing Monster Brains & Dancing Ghosts. Join us for a session of  Big 'Spooky' Science where every child will take part in some hands on creepy science experiments.

    Dates

    From:
    31 Oct 2025Open 11:30 - 12:30
    More info for Big "Spooky" Science - Potion Making, Colour Changing Monster Brains & Dancing Ghosts
  19. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Halloween Forest Club - Hardwick Park to your Itinerary

    Halloween Forest Club - Hardwick Park

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Sedgefield

    Halloween Forest Club is a hands-on experience designed to engage children about the natural world around them, aimed at children between 2 and 6 years of age. This session will include having a go at toasting a marshmallow on a fire. Outdoor…

    Dates

    From:
    28 Oct 2025Open 13:00 - 15:00
    More info for Halloween Forest Club - Hardwick Park
  20. 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
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