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You are here > Home > What's On > Family Events > October Half Term Events

October Half Term Events

There's plenty to keep the kids entertained during half term. And don’t forget, with indoor and outdoor attractions now open across the county, there’s even more opportunities for fun family days out.

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Number of results: 78

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  1. Spooky black font, 'Halloween Karting,' on an orange background.

    Add Halloween Karting - Top Gear Karting to your Itinerary

    Halloween Karting - Top Gear Karting

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Gilesgate Moor, Durham

    Start Your Halloween With a Hit of Adrenaline...and Pizza! Fuel the Kids up on Racing, Pizza & Goodies for a Guaranteed Treat - No Tricks!

    Dates

    From:
    30 Oct 2026to31 Oct 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Halloween Karting - Top Gear Karting
  2. A group of children gathered around a wooden frame filled with sticks and bricks on grass, engaged in a hands-on outdoor activity.

    Add Parkland Explorers: Hedgehog Houses - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Parkland Explorers: Hedgehog Houses - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Barnard Castle

    Head to the wildflower meadow behind the museum to discover hidden wildlife and make habitats for hibernating hedgehogs using recycled materials.

    Venue

    The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

    Dates

    From:
    27 Oct 2026Open 10:30 - 11:30
    More info for Parkland Explorers: Hedgehog Houses - The Bowes Museum
  3. Two children sat on a hay bail in an autumnal field, smiling whilst holding up two pumpkins, and surrounded by other pumpkins either side of them.

    Add Mini Pumpkin Patch to your Itinerary

    Mini Pumpkin Patch

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Forest in Teesdale, Staindrop

    Choose your very own mini pumpkin from our new patch. Perfectly sized for little ones to decorate this Autumn! Can you find all of the objects on the trail sheet as you wander through the pumpkin patch and match up all the pumpkin pairs? Decorate…

    Venue

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop

    Dates

    From:
    17 Oct 2026to31 Oct 2026Open 11:00 - 14:00
    More info for Mini Pumpkin Patch
  4. A cartoon halloween landscape with a spooky silhouette of a castle, bats, zombies and a bus with cartoon red eyes driving forward. Text reads 'Spookta

    Add Halloween Half Term Activities to your Itinerary

    Halloween Half Term Activities

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Seaham

    Get ready for a frightfully fun Half Term at Dalton Park! There’s spooky happenings throughout half term and we can’t wait to see you there.Calling all mini monsters! Dress up in your best Halloween costume on 31st October and pop into Guest…

    Dates

    From:
    23 Oct 2026to31 Oct 2026
    More info for Halloween Half Term Activities
  5. A Wednesday Addams character standing in front of a Stanhope railway sign with a fake severed hand.

    Halloween Family Fun Days

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Stanhope, Bishop Auckland

    Join us for a ride onboard our spooktacular ghost train!

    Dates

    From:
    30 Oct 2026to31 Oct 2026Open 10:30 - 17:00
    More info for Halloween Family Fun Days
  6. Poster for Halloween scare nights, decorated with horror characters and circus tents.

    Add SCARE NIGHTS - Thorpe Farm Centre to your Itinerary

    SCARE NIGHTS - Thorpe Farm Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Barnard Castle

    Two Spooktacular Experiences – Choose Your Scare!

    Dates

    From:
    29 Oct 2026to31 Oct 2026Open 16:00 - 21:00
    More info for SCARE NIGHTS - Thorpe Farm Centre
  7. Photograph of a young child with red hair wearing a mustard yellow shirt and beige shorts, smiling while crawling on a large white cushioned surface.

    Add Bowes Babies - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Bowes Babies - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    A sensory museum session for little ones and their grown-ups.

    Venue

    The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

    Dates

    From:
    29 Oct 2026Open 11:00 - 12:00
    More info for Bowes Babies - The Bowes Museum
  8. A bearded person, wearing a black and yellow striped top and blue jacket, screaming whilst holding a skull next to their face on a black background.

    Add Ghastly Stories for Gruesome Gremlins - Middleton-in-Teesdale to your Itinerary

    Ghastly Stories for Gruesome Gremlins - Middleton-in-Teesdale

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    Boggarts, ghosts & things that go burp in the night... Ghastly Stories for Gruesome Gremlins is a silly & spooky storytelling show for ages 6+ and their families from master storyteller, Gav Cross!

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2026Open 13:45 - 15:45
    More info for Ghastly Stories for Gruesome Gremlins - Middleton-in-Teesdale
  9. A rubber duck in the shape of a knight surrounded by carved pumpkins, the text reads 'The Auckland Pumpkin Trail.'

    Add Pumpkin Trail at Auckland Gardens to your Itinerary

    Pumpkin Trail at Auckland Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Bishop Auckland

    The ducks are at it again… After their summer adventures, our mischievous ducks have discovered a collection of pumpkins at Auckland Palace – and naturally, they’ve hidden them.

    Dates

    From:
    17 Oct 2026to1 Nov 2026
    More info for Pumpkin Trail at Auckland Gardens
  10. A spooky poster which reads ' A Family Halloween Trail,' decorated with purple smoke, carved pumpkins, bats and cobwebs.

    Add St Cuthberts Hospice Halloween Trail to your Itinerary

    St Cuthberts Hospice Halloween Trail

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Durham

    The Halloween Trail is back... and this year it's even bigger! We're delighted to be teaming up with Poplar Tree Garden Centre & Brambles Coffee Shop once again as their fantastic Family Halloween Trail returns to St Cuthbert's Hospice for not one,…

    Dates

    From:
    28 Oct 2026to29 Oct 2026Open 16:00 - 18:00
    More info for St Cuthberts Hospice Halloween Trail
  11. Yellow cricket stumps being hit by a yellow cricket ball, on a green lawn.

    Add Free Indoor Cricket Taster Session to your Itinerary

    Free Indoor Cricket Taster Session

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    North Lodge, Chester-le-Street

    Looking for a fun, active activity for your child to try this half-term? North Durham Cricket Academy (NDCA) is inviting children aged 5-11 to attend a FREE cricket trial session. Designed specifically for beginners, these sessions are a great…

    Dates

    From:
    30 Oct 2026Open 15:00 - 16:00
    More info for Free Indoor Cricket Taster Session
  12. South Causey Monthly Dog Walk

    Add South Causey Monthly Dog Walk to your Itinerary

    South Causey Monthly Dog Walk

    Type

    Type:

    Dog-Friendly

    Stanley

    Join the South Causey Dog Walking Club every 1st Saturday of the month at 10 am for a picturesque stroll through the beautiful Beamish Valley. 

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for South Causey Monthly Dog Walk
  13. Two individuals examining a large, circular mechanical device with intricate components, possibly an antique or scientific instrument.

    Add Wonder Workshop: Cloud Collage - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Wonder Workshop: Cloud Collage - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Barnard Castle

    A workshop for curious young people aged 10–16 who enjoy asking questions, looking closely and thinking creatively.

    Venue

    The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

    Dates

    From:
    27 Oct 2026to28 Oct 2026Open 12:30 - 13:45
    More info for Wonder Workshop: Cloud Collage - The Bowes Museum
  14. A book propped up against a mossy tree.

    Add Welcome to Storytime with Gruffalo Granny to your Itinerary

    Welcome to Storytime with Gruffalo Granny

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland

    Come to the forest for a day of family fun this October half-term and hear the new Gruffalo story. There’s also a visit from The Gruffalo! You’ll be able to enjoy Gruffalo Granny storytelling sessions and Gruffalo meet-and-greets at intervals…

    Dates

    From:
    27 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Welcome to Storytime with Gruffalo Granny
  15. A colourful poster, with bold red, green and yellow font which reads 'Black History Month Celebration 2026,' with Durham Cathedral in the background a

    Add Black History Month Celebration to your Itinerary

    Black History Month Celebration

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    Honouring Our Heritage, Heroes & Futures. Join us on Saturday 24 October 2026 for a vibrant afternoon celebrating Black history, heritage, culture, achievements and the people helping to shape the future of our communities. Organised by Wonderful…

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2026Open 14:00 - 18:00
    More info for Black History Month Celebration
  16. A telescope silhouetted against a star-filled night sky, with the Milky Way visible in the background.

    Add Saturn - Lord of the Rings - North Pennines Stargazing Festival to your Itinerary

    Saturn - Lord of the Rings - North Pennines Stargazing Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    Saturn – the enigmatic ringed beauty is by far most people's favourite – if you haven't looked through a telescope at Saturn then do not miss this opportunity to do so. With its glorious ring system dazzling the observer it is a veritable observing…

    Venue

    Grassholme Observatory, Teesdale

    Dates

    From:
    31 Oct 2026Open 20:00 - 23:00
    More info for Saturn - Lord of the Rings - North Pennines Stargazing Festival
  17. A Halloween poster, which reads 'Halloween Hounds, Obstacle Course' at Country Canines Dog Park, decorated with a full moon, bats, witches silhouette

    Add Halloween Hounds Obstacle Course to your Itinerary

    Halloween Hounds Obstacle Course

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Eggleston, Barnard Castle

    Halloween hounds have arrived! Get ready for a spooktacular family adventure packed with spooky challenges, muddy mayhem, treats and photo fun - not just for the dogs, children and adults can join in too! ️‍

    Dates

    From:
    29 Oct 2026to1 Nov 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Halloween Hounds Obstacle Course
  18. A Child digs at an archaeological excavation

    Add Eagle Eyed Excavators: Become an Archaeologist for the Day to your Itinerary

    Eagle Eyed Excavators: Become an Archaeologist for the Day

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Palace Green, Durham City

    Become an archaeologist for the day this half term at the Museum of Archaeology! Dig into a family-fun packed day on Thursday 29th October and camp out in our brand-new Archaeology Skills Tent in the newly refurbished upstairs gallery!

    Venue

    Museum of Archaeology at Palace Green Library, Durham City

    Dates

    From:
    29 Oct 2026Open 11:00 - 15:00
    More info for Eagle Eyed Excavators: Become an Archaeologist for the Day
  19. Children dressed up in fancy dress walking around a spooky outdoor trail.

    Add The Haunted Forest: Trick or Trail - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    The Haunted Forest: Trick or Trail - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Staindrop, Darlington

    Join us for a spooktacular Halloween adventure at The Plotters’ Forest! Dress up, bring your family, and get ready for a Halloween experience like no other. Get ready to unleash your inner spookiness and dive into a world of double trouble…

    Dates

    From:
    3 Oct 2026to1 Nov 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for The Haunted Forest: Trick or Trail - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  20. A wooden easel holding a drawing pad with a charcoal sketch of a sphere against a dark shaded background. Natural light from a window behind.

    Add Make an Impression! The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Make an Impression! The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Barnard Castle

    Inspired by Impressions of Light: Masterpieces from MuMa – Le Havre and The Bowes Museum, look out from the Create Space and make their own artwork based on what they can see.

    Venue

    The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

    Dates

    From:
    26 Oct 2026to30 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    From:
    27 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    From:
    28 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    From:
    29 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    From:
    30 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Make an Impression! The Bowes Museum
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