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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: 68

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  1. 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
  2. Santa placing presents under the tree.

    Add Breakfast with Santa - Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Breakfast with Santa - Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Chester le Street

    Share a magical morning with the big man himself! 
    We’ve  teamed up with Make My Day Events to bring you the ultimate  Christmas experience – a festive breakfast filled with sparkle,  songs, and a sprinkle of Santa magic.

    Dates

    From:
    13 Dec 2025Open 09:30 - 11:30
    From:
    20 Dec 2025Open 09:30 - 11:30
    From:
    22 Dec 2025Open 09:30 - 11:30
    More info for Breakfast with Santa - Lumley Castle Hotel
  3. The decorated Throne Room at Auckland Palace

    Add Christmas at Auckland Palace - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    Christmas at Auckland Palace - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Market Place, Bishop Auckland

    Immerse yourself in unrivalled festive splendour when you visit Auckland Palace's very special Christmas event.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2025to31 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Christmas at Auckland Palace - The Auckland Project
  4. Close up of Santa's legs sitting on a chair.

    Add Santa's Adapted Enchanted Garden Grotto to your Itinerary

    Santa's Adapted Enchanted Garden Grotto

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Lanchester

    Join Father Christmas and Mrs. Claus in Our Adapted Enchanted Garden Grotto – A Magical Experience for Neurodiverse Children.

    Dates

    From:
    5 Dec 2025Open 11:00 - 15:00
    From:
    12 Dec 2025Open 11:00 - 15:00
    More info for Santa's Adapted Enchanted Garden Grotto
  5. St Peter's Chapel at Auckland Palace

    Add Christmas Carol Service - The Auckland Palace to your Itinerary

    Christmas Carol Service - The Auckland Palace

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Market Place, Bishop Auckland

    Join us for a magical evening of festive cheer at the historic St Peter’s Chapel, as Revd Dr Chris Knights, Chaplain to the Bishop of Durham, leads a heartwarming carol service filled with seasonal favourites.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    21 Dec 2025Open 15:00 - 15:50
    More info for Christmas Carol Service - The Auckland Palace
  6. Four friends enjoying festive drinks at The Bowes Museum Winter Market. ©TheBowesMuseum

    Add The Bowes Museum Winter Market to your Itinerary

    The Bowes Museum Winter Market

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Barnard Castle

    The galleries and grounds of the French styled Museum in Barnard Castle are once again set to come alive with the sights, sounds and smells of the season as the highly anticipated annual Winter Market returns from Friday 12th  December until Sunday…

    Dates

    From:
    12 Dec 2025to14 Dec 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for The Bowes Museum Winter Market
  7. 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
  8. Christmas Town at Bishop Auckland photo by Liam Dobinson

    Add Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town to your Itinerary

    Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Bishop Auckland

    Step into a world of festive wonder at Bishop Auckland’s Christmas Town, 4-7 December 2025! Join us for four unforgettable days filled with twinkling lights, enchanting markets, live entertainment, and the magic of Santa’s Grotto.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Dec 2025to7 Dec 2025
    More info for Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town
  9. Christmas Fayre, noon - 4pm -  Framwellgate Moor Youth and Community Association.

    Add Christmas Fayre - Framwellgate Youth and Community Association to your Itinerary

    Christmas Fayre - Framwellgate Youth and Community Association

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Framwellgate Moor

    Framwellgate Moor Youth and Community Association presents our Christmas Fayre, Saturday 13th December 2025 from 12pm - 4pm. 

    Dates

    From:
    13 Dec 2025Open 12:00 - 16:00
    More info for Christmas Fayre - Framwellgate Youth and Community Association
  10. 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
  11. Table set for Christmas Day lunch with two glasses of champagne at the Radisson Blu Durham

    Add Christmas Day at Józef’s Riverside Restaurant to your Itinerary

    Christmas Day at Józef’s Riverside Restaurant

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham City

    Following the excitement of Christmas Day morning, come together with family and friends, and let the Radisson Blu Durham do all the hard work for you to celebrate your Christmas Day in style.

    Dates

    From:
    25 Dec 2025Open 12:00 - 15:00
    More info for Christmas Day at Józef’s Riverside Restaurant
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. Children and families enjoying the 'Forest of Light' at Beamish Hall Hotel

    Add Forest of Light at Beamish Hall Hotel to your Itinerary

    Forest of Light at Beamish Hall Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Beamish

    Our Forest of Light is a captivating illuminated experience set within our enchanted ancient woodland.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Nov 2025to4 Jan 2026
    More info for Forest of Light at Beamish Hall Hotel
  15. Josef's restaurant at the Radisson Blu Durham

    Add Family Santa Sunday Lunch to your Itinerary

    Family Santa Sunday Lunch

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham City

    A relaxed family-friendly atmosphere, delicious food and a visit from the main man himself – Santa Claus will be delivering a selection box for the kids!

    Dates

    From:
    7 Dec 2025Open 12:30 - 15:30
    From:
    14 Dec 2025Open 12:30 - 15:30
    From:
    21 Dec 2025Open 12:30 - 15:30
    More info for Family Santa Sunday Lunch
  16. People looking at the exhibition display stand at Locomotion

    Add S&DR200 - Railway Firsts at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - Railway Firsts at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Shildon

    Home to one of largest collections of historic rail vehicles in the world, Locomotion is pulling out all the stops to commemorate S&DR200.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Feb 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for S&DR200 - Railway Firsts at Locomotion
  17. Luxury Winter/Christmas Wax Melts decorated with festive botanicals, such as cinnamon sticks, dried oranges, cloves and star anise.

    Add Luxury Winter/Christmas Wax Melts Workshop & Festive Refreshments to your Itinerary

    Luxury Winter/Christmas Wax Melts Workshop & Festive Refreshments

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Lanchester

    Join us this Festive season to make a beautiful set of Festive Christmas wax melt decorations with Bobella Co!

    Dates

    From:
    23 Nov 2025Open 14:00 - 16:00
    More info for Luxury Winter/Christmas Wax Melts Workshop & Festive Refreshments
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. 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
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