Skip To Main Content

  • Accommodation
    • Don't Miss
      • City Breaks
      • Spa Breaks
      • Dog Friendly
      • Stunning Stays
    • Hotels
    • B&B and Guest Houses
    • Inns & Pubs
    • Self Catering & Holiday Cottages
      • Self Catering Agencies
    • Caravan, Camping & Glamping
    • Hostels
    • Accessible Accommodation
  • Things to Do
    • Don't Miss
      • Binchester Roman Fort
      • Beamish Museum
      • Bishop Auckland Town Hall
      • Bowlees Visitor Centre
      • Crook Hall Gardens
      • Dalton Park Outlet Shopping Centre
      • Durham Castle Tours
      • Durham Cathedral
      • Durham Cricket
      • Durham Town Hall
      • Durham University Botanic Garden
      • Durham University Oriental Museum
      • Hamsterley Forest
      • Hardwick Park
      • High Force
      • Killhope
      • Kynren- An epic Tale of England
      • Locomotion
      • Palace Green Library
      • Raby Castle
      • Seaham Harbour Marina
      • The Auckland Project
      • Spennymoor Town Hall Bob Abley Art Gallery
      • The Bowes Museum
      • Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
      • Wharton Park
    • Attractions
      • Castles & Historic Houses
      • Cathedral & Churches
      • Hands on History
      • Gardens & Parks
      • Family Fun
      • Museums & Galleries
      • Waterfalls & Reservoirs
    • Activities
      • Adventure Activities
      • Cycling
      • Family Fun Activities
      • Festival & Events Organisers
      • Fishing
      • Golf
      • Horse Riding
      • Spas
      • Walking
    • Entertainment
      • Cinema
      • Theatre
    • Shopping
      • Antiques
      • Arts & Crafts
      • Farm Shops & Markets
      • Garden Centres
      • Only in Durham
      • Independent Shops & Boutiques
      • Shopping Centres
    • Sightseeing, Tours & Guides
      • Attraction Tours
      • Tour Guides
      • Scenic Tours
      • Cycling Tours
      • Walking Tours
      • Durham City Guide - Churches, Chapels and Cafes
    • Weddings
      • Historic Wedding Venues
      • Hotel Wedding Venues
      • Wedding Fairs & Events
      • Stag & Hen Party Ideas
      • Wedding Packages
  • What's On
    • What's on this Week
    • Family Events
      • October Half Term Events
      • Free Events
      • Halloween
      • Bonfire Night
      • Festive Fun
    • 2025 Unmissable Events
    • Cinema, Theatre & Music Events
      • Cinema Venues
      • Theatre Venues
    • Sports
    • Dark Skies Events
    • Food & Drink
    • Exhibitions
  • Food & Drink
    • Don't Miss
      • Bishop’s Kitchen at Auckland Palace
      • Botanic Garden Café
      • Cafe Bowes at The Bowes Museum
      • Durham Dales Centre Tea Room
      • El Castillo
      • Gala Lounge
      • High Force Hotel and Waterfall
      • Hotel Indigo Rotunda Bar
      • Jozef’s Riverside Bar & Restaurant
      • Killhope Lead Mining Museum Cafe and Shop
      • Lumley Castle - Knight's Restaurant
      • Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill
      • Geko at Seaham Hall
      • The Dining Room
      • The Dunes Café
      • The Falls Café at Bowlees Visitor Centre
      • The Garden Gate Café at Crook Hall Gardens
      • The Hamsterley Cafe and Ice Cream Kiosk
      • The Neighbourhood @ Hotel Indigo Durham
      • The Oak Room Restaurant
      • The Tower Cafe
      • The Vinery at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
      • Undercroft Restaurant
      • Ushaw Café
    • Restaurants
    • Tearooms & Coffee Shops
    • Pubs & Bars
    • Get a Taste of Durham
    • Afternoon Tea in Durham
  • Inspire Me
    • Don't Miss
      • Auckland Palace
      • Beamish Museum
      • Dalton Park
      • Durham Cathedral
      • Hamsterley Forest
      • High Force
      • Killhope
      • Kynren – an epic tale of England
      • North Pennines National Landscape
    • Short Break Ideas
      • Classic Christmas
      • Dark Skies
      • Dog Friendly Durham
      • Romantic Getaways
      • Spa Breaks
      • Golf Breaks
      • Weddings
      • City Break
    • Seasonal
      • Spring Breaks
      • Summer Breaks
      • Autumn Breaks
      • Winter Breaks
    • Budget-Friendly Days Out in Durham
    • Explore From Your Door
    • Discover Durham's Great Outdoors
    • Discover Wellness in Durham
    • Go Car Free in Durham
    • Only in Durham
    • Delve Into Our Heritage
    • Durham's Unmissable Highlights
    • Itineraries
  • Explore Durham
    • Durham City
    • Durham Dales
    • Vale of Durham
    • Durham Coast
    • Durham Towns
      • Barnard Castle
      • Bishop Auckland
      • Chester-le-Street
      • Seaham
      • Stanhope
    • North Pennines National Landscape
    • North East England
  • Visitor Information
    • Information Points
    • Maps of Durham
    • Getting to Durham
    • Getting Around Durham
      • Car Hire
      • Taxis
      • Electric Car Charging Points
    • Accessible Durham
    • Sustainable and Responsible Tourism in Durham
    • Publications
    • Durham Apps
    • Discover Durham Digitally

Don't Miss

  • A family stood at Low Force

    Autumn Breaks

  • A witch sculpture for Halloween

    October Half Term Events

  • Stars at Hardwick Park

    Dark Skies

  • People taking a selfie in Durham

    Share Your Snaps

A German Flag
This is Durham logo
Menu
  • Durham the Culture County logo
  • Print Logo
Close Navigation

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.

Loading..

Number of results:

Number of results: 103

, currently showing 1 to 20.

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • Next Next
Sort By: A-Z Lowest A-Z Highest
  1. Grand Finale all cast of Kynren view from the tribune

    Add Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2026 to your Itinerary

    Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Performance

    Bishop Auckland

    Step into Kynren, a live action outdoor theatre spectacular that immerses you in 2000 years of history on an epic scale.

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2026to12 Sept 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2026
  2. A Family Halloween Trail at St. Cuthbert's Hospice. Poster shows Pumpkins.

    Add Halloween Trail - St Cuthbert's Hospice to your Itinerary

    Halloween Trail - St Cuthbert's Hospice

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Durham

    Join us for an enchanting Halloween woodland trail through the stunning grounds of St Cuthbert's Hospice! This magical family-friendly evening has been created to raise funds for the hospice, with every child's ticket helping to support their vital…

    Dates

    From:
    29 Oct 2025Open 16:00 - 18:00
    More info for Halloween Trail - St Cuthbert's Hospice
  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. Silhouettes of bats and pumpkins and text which reads, 'Big Science, Happy Halloween.'

    Add Big "Spooky" Science - Spooky Sherbet, Dancing Mini Brains & Flying Ghosts to your Itinerary

    Big "Spooky" Science - Spooky Sherbet, Dancing Mini Brains & Flying Ghosts

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Lanchester

    Spooky Sherbet, Dancing Mini Brains & Flying 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 10:00 - 11:00
    More info for Big "Spooky" Science - Spooky Sherbet, Dancing Mini Brains & Flying Ghosts
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. Cartoon image of the character Pumperknickle surrounded by pumpkins and autumn leaves

    Add The Whimsical Tale of Pumperknickle at Auckland Palace to your Itinerary

    The Whimsical Tale of Pumperknickle at Auckland Palace

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Bishop Auckland

    Come along for the whimsical tale of Pumperknickle, penned and performed by the talented thespians of The Auckland Project!

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    29 Oct 2025to31 Oct 2025Open 11:00 - 16:00
    More info for The Whimsical Tale of Pumperknickle at Auckland Palace
  9. Making a pumpkin bath bomb

    Add Halloween Bath Bomb Workshop to your Itinerary

    Halloween Bath Bomb Workshop

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Lanchester

    Join us for a frightfully fun Halloween Bath Bomb Workshop with Bath Bomb Bons.

    Dates

    From:
    28 Oct 2025Open 10:30 - 12:00
    More info for Halloween Bath Bomb Workshop
  10. Spooky image of one of the Raby Castle towers

    Add Ghost Stories for Halloween:  Haunted Places at Raby Castle Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Ghost Stories for Halloween: Haunted Places at Raby Castle Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Staindrop

    This spine-chilling Halloween event brings together ghost story expert Dr Emma Liggins with theatrical performer and writer Adam Z. Robinson. It promises spooky stories, haunted histories and the terror of the unknown.

    Dates

    From:
    29 Oct 2025Open 18:00 -
    More info for Ghost Stories for Halloween: Haunted Places at Raby Castle Park and Gardens
  11. A decorated pumpkin and candles

    Add Little Ones Pumpkin Painting at Raby Castle Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Little Ones Pumpkin Painting at Raby Castle Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Staindrop

    Celebrate the autumn season with a fun and creative pumpkin painting workshop!

    Dates

    From:
    25 Oct 2025to26 Oct 2025Open 11:00 - 14:00
    More info for Little Ones Pumpkin Painting at Raby Castle Park and Gardens
  12. A Christmas evening at Beamish Museum with a vintage car and Christmas lights

    Add Christmas Evenings at Beamish to your Itinerary

    Christmas Evenings at Beamish

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Beamish

    Immerse yourself in an extra-special enchanting evening at Beamish. Enjoy twinkling lights, festive entertainment, and seasonal treats under the night sky.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Dec 2025to5 Dec 2025Open 17:00 - 21:30
    From:
    11 Dec 2025to12 Dec 2025Open 17:00 - 21:30
    From:
    18 Dec 2025to19 Dec 2025Open 17:00 - 21:30
    More info for Christmas Evenings at Beamish
  13. Jack and the Beanstalk written in Gold on a green background

    Add Jack and the Beanstalk - Gala Durham to your Itinerary

    Jack and the Beanstalk - Gala Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Pantomimes

    Durham City

    Join Jack and his friends as we are transported to a land of magical creatures and a very hungry Giant.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Nov 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Jack and the Beanstalk - Gala Durham
  14. A small child looking at a skeleton on the Plotters' Forest Halloween trail

    Add Halloween Trail at The Plotters' Forest - Raby Castle Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Halloween Trail at The Plotters' Forest - Raby Castle Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Staindrop

    Join us for a spooktacular Halloween adventure at The Plotters’ Forest!

    Venue

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop

    Dates

    From:
    4 Oct 2025to2 Nov 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Halloween Trail at The Plotters' Forest - Raby Castle Park and Gardens
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. Santa greeting visitors aboard the Santa Express

    Add Santa Express at Weardale Railway to your Itinerary

    Santa Express at Weardale Railway

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Station Road, Stanhope

    Santa Express returns to Weardale Railway this Christmas.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2025to24 Dec 2025
    More info for Santa Express at Weardale Railway
  18. Locomotive pulling a coach pulling a crowd of people

    Add S&DR200 Celebrating Railways: Past, Present and Future at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 Celebrating Railways: Past, Present and Future at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Shildon

    The highlight of the anniversary year will be Rail Futures, a celebratory festival taking place in late September and early October.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Sept 2025to31 Dec 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for S&DR200 Celebrating Railways: Past, Present and Future at Locomotion
  19. 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 2025to31 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for South Causey Monthly Dog Walk
  20. Cartoon images of children dressed in Halloween costume with the wording Halloween Kid's Disco

    Add Halloween Kids’ Disco to your Itinerary

    Halloween Kids’ Disco

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Beamish

    Calling all little monsters! Join us this Halloween for a spook-tacular afternoon of dancing, games and lots of prizes! – perfect for children under 12 years old. 

    Dates

    From:
    31 Oct 2025Open 15:00 - 17:00
    More info for Halloween Kids’ Disco
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • Next Next
Loading..Loading..
  • Enewsletter Sign Up

  • Contact Us

  • Print Page
  • Email Page
Home Accommodation
  • Hotels,
  • B&B and Guest Houses,
  • Inns & Pubs,
  • Self Catering & Holiday Cottages,
  • Caravan, Camping & Glamping,
  • Dog Friendly,
  • Hostels,
Things to Do
  • Attractions,
  • Activities,
  • Shopping,
  • Sightseeing, Tours & Guides,
What's On
  • Family Events,
  • 2025 Unmissable Events,
  • What's on this Week,
  • Cinema, Theatre & Music Events,
  • Dark Skies Events,
Food & Drink
  • Restaurants,
  • Tearooms & Coffee Shops,
  • Pubs & Bars,
  • Get a Taste of Durham,
  • Tasty Places to Stay,
  • Foodie Events,
Inspire Me
  • Short Break Ideas,
  • Discover Durham's Great Outdoors,
  • Delve Into Our Heritage,
  • Durham's Unmissable Highlights,
  • Itineraries,
Explore Durham
  • Durham City,
  • Durham Dales,
  • Vale of Durham,
  • Durham Coast,
  • Durham Towns,
  • North East England,
Visitor Information
  • Information Points,
  • Maps of Durham,
  • Getting to Durham,
  • Getting Around Durham,
  • Accessible Durham,
  • Sustainable and Responsible Tourism in Durham,
  • Publications,
Submit Event
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map
  • Submit Event
  • Terms & Conditions

© Copyright Visit County Durham. All Rights Reserved

Registered Office: Visit County Durham, East Wing, 1st Floor, Corten House, Aykley Heads, Durham, DH1 5TS

  • North East England logo

Ratings & Reviews

Powered By

tripadvisor

  • Durham County Council