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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: 42

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  1. A woman leans over a table helping two young children with an arts-and-crafts activity. The children sit at a bright yellow table covered with paper,

    Add Family Open Day - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Family Open Day - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Join us for a free day of family-friendly activities. Inspired by the museum's Pippa Hale: Pet Project exhibition, enjoy a variety of activities as we celebrate all things pets at the museum.

    Dates

    From:
    21 Feb 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Family Open Day - The Bowes Museum
  2. Mother holding a baby

    Add Family Wednesday Morning at South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Family Wednesday Morning at South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Stanley

    A great place to meet other parents with your little one's...

    Dates

    From:
    12 Nov 2025to31 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Family Wednesday Morning at South Causey Inn
  3. 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
  4. A child sitting beside an illuminated reindeer on the Enchanted Christmas Trail.

    Add The Plotters’ Forest Enchanted Christmas Trail at Raby Castle Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    The Plotters’ Forest Enchanted Christmas Trail at Raby Castle Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Staindrop

    Enchanted Christmas Trail at The Plotters’ Forest – Day & Evening Experiences. Step into a world of festive wonder this Christmas.

    Venue

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop

    Dates

    From:
    29 Dec 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    1 Jan 2026to4 Jan 2026
    More info for The Plotters’ Forest Enchanted Christmas Trail at Raby Castle Park and Gardens
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. Large Christmas Tree at Raby Castle

    Add Raby Castle at Christmas to your Itinerary

    Raby Castle at Christmas

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Staindrop

    Step back in time to experience a traditional family Christmas at Raby Castle.

    Venue

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop

    Dates

    From:
    29 Dec 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    2 Jan 2026to4 Jan 2026
    More info for Raby Castle at Christmas
  8. LGBTQIA+ Object Trail at The Bowes Museum

    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
  9. 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
  10. Someone partaking in an 'Artist Makers' session at The Bowes Museum

    Add Artist Makers - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Artist Makers - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Make time for making; join in and get creative. An opportunity to try out new techniques, materials and experiment with the Museum’s team of artists, makers and designers in the Create Space.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Jan 2025to3 Jan 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Artist Makers - The Bowes Museum
  11. Jack and the Beanstalk logo with cast members

    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
  12. Cartoon painting of characters from children's animated films

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

    Films at the Hearth - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Bishop Auckland

    A free, community-led film club bringing people together through stories on screen. Each month we show a relaxed, family-friendly movie in the afternoon, followed by an early evening film for general audiences. Third Sunday of every month.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    13 Oct 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Films at the Hearth - The Auckland Project
  13. Cinderella and Prince Charming

    Add Santa and Cinders at Hardwick Hall to your Itinerary

    Santa and Cinders at Hardwick Hall

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Sedgefield

    Hardwick Hall Hotel, near Sedgefield, has revealed a festive programme of entertainment for all ages in the run up to Christmas and beyond – with some magical treats in store for children.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2025to3 Jan 2026
    More info for Santa and Cinders at Hardwick Hall
  14. People stood watching the traditional lion dance at Millennium Place Durham, part of the Lunar New Tear celebrations.

    Chinese New Year 2026 Celebrations - The Year of The Horse

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Celebrate the Chinese New Year in Durham City with a programme of exciting events.

    Dates

    From:
    21 Feb 2026
    More info for Chinese New Year 2026 Celebrations - The Year of The Horse
  15. Heritage Open Days Logo

    Heritage Open Days 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage Open Days

    Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture, bringing together over 2,000 local people and organisations, and thousands of volunteers.

    Dates

    From:
    11 Sept 2026to20 Sept 2026
    More info for Heritage Open Days 2026
  16. Cartoon image of a woman, wearing a tiara, sitting on a throne, reading a book

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

    Books at the Hearth - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Bishop Auckland

    Take some time out for yourself and get lost in a good book. At this friendly, drop-in book club you can bring something you’re already reading or pick from our shared shelf. Fourth Sunday of every month.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    13 Oct 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Books at the Hearth - The Auckland Project
  17. Crowds of people enjoying the Durham Fringe Festival on Palace Green, Durham city.

    Add Durham Fringe Festival 2026 to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham City

    Between 29th July and 2nd August 2026, Durham Fringe Festival will host a spectacular array of performing arts.  Genres include theatre, music, stand-up comedy, comedy theatre, magic, spoken word, cabaret, dance, physical theatre, circus, and…

    Dates

    From:
    29 July 2026to2 Aug 2026
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival 2026
  18. A Robin perched on a wooden sculpture.

    Add Father Christmas has Lost his Presents Trail at High Force Waterfall to your Itinerary

    Father Christmas has Lost his Presents Trail at High Force Waterfall

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Forest in Teesdale

    Wrap up warm and enjoy a wintery walk to High Force Waterfall this December. Collect your complimentary trail sheet from the hotel bar or kiosk and get exploring.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Dec 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Father Christmas has Lost his Presents Trail at High Force Waterfall
  19. Cartoon image of the performance area with a stage, trees, hills and a yellow aeroplane with a banner with wording Derwent Fest!

    Add Derwent Fest 2026 to your Itinerary

    Derwent Fest 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Edmundbyers

    A weekend festival of live tribute music, food and drink, and children’s activities and entertainment, set in a stunning location, not far from you. Bring all the family, including the dog, and enjoy some fun, quality time together.

    Venue

    Derwent Waterside Park, Shotley Bridge

    Dates

    From:
    14 Aug 2026to15 Aug 2026
    More info for Derwent Fest 2026
  20. A visitor to the Faith Museum looking at the Neapolitan Nativity

    Add Neapolitan Nativity - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    Neapolitan Nativity - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Market Place, Bishop Auckland

    Be dazzled by our monumental 18th-century Neapolitan Nativity scene. This remarkable Baroque créche, known in Italian as a presepe, is a giant Nativity scene staged in a true-life Neapolitan setting.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2025to31 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Neapolitan Nativity - The Auckland Project
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