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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: 88

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  1. Children playing at The Bowes Museum

    Add Stay and Play - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Stay and Play - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Time for The Bowes’ youngest visitors to explore and play in the Conversation Gallery, investigate materials and be creative in this self-led, free-play session.

    Dates

    From:
    2 Jan 2025to8 Jan 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Stay and Play - The Bowes Museum
  2. Queen Elsa, Princess Anna & Holly the Elf

    Add Frozen Princess Party - The Manor House Hotel & Spa to your Itinerary

    Frozen Princess Party - The Manor House Hotel & Spa

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    West Auckland, Bishop Auckland

    Join us in The Great Hall of Arendelle for Afternoon Tea where we will meet Queen Elsa, Princess Anna & Holly the elf

    Dates

    From:
    14 Dec 2025Open 15:00 - 19:00
    More info for Frozen Princess Party - The Manor House Hotel & Spa
  3. 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
  4. Man demonstrating a science experiment with fire

    Add Big "Lava Lamp" Science to your Itinerary

    Big "Lava Lamp" Science

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Bargate Bank, Lanchester

    This Summer we welcome back Big Science for some more exciting and fun experiments, this time centred around lava lamps.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 11:00
    More info for Big "Lava Lamp" Science
  5. Crowds of people at Seaham Food Festival

    Add Seaham Food Festival 2025 to your Itinerary

    Seaham Food Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Seaham

    The festival welcomes thousands of visitors each year for two days of sun, sea, family fun and, of course, food. 

    Dates

    From:
    2 Aug 2025to3 Aug 2025
    More info for Seaham Food Festival 2025
  6. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Hardwick Holiday Club 2025 - Hardwick Park to your Itinerary

    Hardwick Holiday Club 2025 - Hardwick Park

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Sedgefield

    Join us this August for Hardwick Holiday Club. Each day will offer opportunities to explore and discover a range of outdoor adventures while making new friends, playing games, and learning new skills. Holiday Club will include a themed morning…

    Dates

    From:
    11 Aug 2025to15 Aug 2025Open 09:00 - 16:00
    More info for Hardwick Holiday Club 2025 - Hardwick Park
  7. 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
  8. An audience watching outdoor cinema at Raby Castle

    Add Adventure Cinema at Raby Castle to your Itinerary

    Adventure Cinema at Raby Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Film

    Staindrop

    Outdoor cinema at Raby Castle.

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2025Open 19:30 -
    From:
    19 July 2025Open 18:30 -
    From:
    20 July 2025Open 13:30 -
    From:
    20 July 2025Open 19:30 -
    More info for Adventure Cinema at Raby Castle
  9. Locomotive outside of Locomotion's Collection Building

    Add S&DR200 - Summer Festival at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - Summer Festival at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Shildon

    Head down to Locomotion for a summer of fun.

    Dates

    From:
    19 July 2025to31 Aug 2025
    More info for S&DR200 - Summer Festival at Locomotion
  10. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Hardwick Conservation Champions 2025 to your Itinerary

    Hardwick Conservation Champions 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Sedgefield

    Become a Durham Countryside Conservation Champion this Summer through our park experience.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Aug 2025to8 Aug 2025Open 09:00 - 16:00
    More info for Hardwick Conservation Champions 2025
  11. Crowds of people watching a performance at the Hardwick Festival

    Add Hardwick Festival 2025 to your Itinerary

    Hardwick Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Sedgefield

    Hardwick Festival returns 15th to 17th August. The 2025 line-up will be revealed soon.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Aug 2025to17 Aug 2025
    More info for Hardwick Festival 2025
  12. poster promoting free family fun day in Peterlee

    Add Free Family Summer Fun Day to your Itinerary

    Free Family Summer Fun Day

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Helford Road, 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:
    4 Aug 2025Open 10:30 - 15:30
    More info for Free Family Summer Fun Day
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. x-ray photograph of a knee joint

    Add Mysterious Mummies at The Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Mysterious Mummies at The Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Learn how archaeologists study Ancient Egyptian mummies and make an x-ray of your own!

    Venue

    Durham University Oriental Museum, Durham City

    Dates

    From:
    25 July 2025Open 13:00 - 15:00
    More info for Mysterious Mummies at The Oriental Museum
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. HST charter at Stanhope Station - Credit Dan Millard

    Add InterCity 125 High Speed Train (HST) at The Weardale Railway to your Itinerary

    InterCity 125 High Speed Train (HST) at The Weardale Railway

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Station Road, Stanhope

    Railway fans and families are in for a treat this summer as the legendary InterCity 125 High Speed Train (HST) makes a rare appearance on the scenic Weardale Railway.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    17 Aug 2025
    More info for InterCity 125 High Speed Train (HST) at The Weardale Railway
  19. Classic MG Car on Display at Durham University Botanic Garden

    Add MG Car Display - Durham University Botanic Garden to your Itinerary

    MG Car Display - Durham University Botanic Garden

    Type

    Type:

    Show / Display

    Durham

    The Durham MG & Classic Car Club was formed in 2001 for local car enthusiasts interested in MG cars, both classic and modern. This informal gathering will showcase cars representing models produced from the late 1940s through to the early 2000s.

    Dates

    From:
    3 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 15:00
    More info for MG Car Display - Durham University Botanic Garden
  20. Durham Fringe Festival 2025 - a group of singers performing on stage.

    Add Durham Fringe Festival 2025 to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham City

    Between 23rd and 27th July 2025, Durham Fringe Festival will host a spectacular array of performing arts across nine Durham City Centre venues. Audiences will be invited to explore over 110 unique acts across a programme of 270+ performances. Genres…

    Dates

    From:
    23 July 2025to27 July 2025
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival 2025
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