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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: 102

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  1. A steam train with the dates 1825 - 2025 as a header

    Add West Side Story Exhibition at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    West Side Story Exhibition at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Shildon

    Discover the untold story of Stockton & Darlington’s far-reaching rail legacy through rare photos and maps.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Oct 2025to24 Oct 2025
    More info for West Side Story Exhibition at Locomotion
  2. Rosettes from the Durham County Show

    Add The Durham County Show to your Itinerary

    The Durham County Show

    Type

    Type:

    Agricultural Show

    nr Thornley

    The Annual Durham County Show is a vibrant event featuring a variety of activities and attractions for all ages.

    Dates

    From:
    4 July 2026to5 July 2026Open 09:00 - 17:00
    More info for The Durham County Show
  3. Santa reading three children a story.

    Add Story Time with Santa - Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Story Time with Santa - Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Chester le Street

    Are you ready for Storytime? Get those PJ's on, bring your most cuddly teddy and join us for an afternoon of spreading Christmas spirit with Mr and Mrs Claus. With milk & cookies on arrival, this event is guaranteed to get your little ones excited…

    Dates

    From:
    23 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Story Time with Santa - Lumley Castle Hotel
  4. 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
  5. Photography by Claire Collinson. Larger-than-life, soft recreations of an animal

    Add Pippa Hale: Pet Project - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Pippa Hale: Pet Project - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Barnard Castle

    See the museum’s renowned ceramic collection re-imagined into a vibrant and interactive experience for all ages.

    Dates

    From:
    26 July 2025to1 Mar 2026
    More info for Pippa Hale: Pet Project - The Bowes Museum
  6. Silhouettes of bats and pumpkins and text which reads, 'Big Science, Happy Halloween.'

    Add Big "Spooky" Science - Potion Making, Colour Changing Monster Brains & Dancing Ghosts to your Itinerary

    Big "Spooky" Science - Potion Making, Colour Changing Monster Brains & Dancing Ghosts

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Lanchester

    Potion Making, Colour Changing Monster Brains & Dancing 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 11:30 - 12:30
    More info for Big "Spooky" Science - Potion Making, Colour Changing Monster Brains & Dancing Ghosts
  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:
    22 Nov 2025to23 Nov 2025
    From:
    28 Nov 2025to30 Nov 2025
    From:
    3 Dec 2025to7 Dec 2025
    From:
    10 Dec 2025to12 Dec 2025
    From:
    14 Dec 2025
    From:
    17 Dec 2025to24 Dec 2025
    From:
    29 Dec 2025to31 Dec 2025
    From:
    2 Jan 2026to4 Jan 2026
    More info for Raby Castle at Christmas
  8. Hamsterley Forest Disc Golf

    Add Hamsterley Forest Disc Golf to your Itinerary

    Hamsterley Forest Disc Golf

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Bedburn

    Autumn Adventures Await—Try Disc Golf at Its Most Magical! Crisp air, golden leaves, and the satisfying zing of a perfect throw—autumn is the ultimate season to fall in love with disc golf! Whether you're a seasoned player or just curious, now's the…

    Dates

    From:
    4 Oct 2025to2 Nov 2025Open 10:00 - 15:00
    More info for Hamsterley Forest Disc Golf
  9. 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
  10. Artwork relating to beasts and legends on display at Palace Green Library. Silhouette of knights and dragons.

    Add Beasts and Legends: Adventures Through North East Folklore to your Itinerary

    Beasts and Legends: Adventures Through North East Folklore

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Durham

    This family friendly exhibition features a selection of artefacts from across the Durham University collections to help tell the stories of local folktales. 

    Dates

    From:
    14 June 2025to2 Nov 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Beasts and Legends: Adventures Through North East Folklore
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. Artist Dinah Kelly in her studio

    Add Enchanted Objects: Adornment and Personal Protection from Amulets to the Mobile Phone to your Itinerary

    Enchanted Objects: Adornment and Personal Protection from Amulets to the Mobile Phone

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Durham City

    Contemporary artist Dinah Kelly shines a light on the protective powers and symbolism of charms, talismans and amulets.

    Venue

    Durham University Oriental Museum, Durham City

    Dates

    From:
    13 June 2025to9 Nov 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Enchanted Objects: Adornment and Personal Protection from Amulets to the Mobile Phone
  15. Wicked Tea Party. Wicked Witch of the West reaching out to Glinda the Good.

    Add Wicked Tea Party - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa to your Itinerary

    Wicked Tea Party - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Durham

    Step into a world of magic and mischief this Halloween. ​​​​​​Join us for a spooktacular afternoon tea, enchanting entertainment, and memorable moments for the whole family.

    Dates

    From:
    31 Oct 2025Open 14:00 - 17:00
    More info for Wicked Tea Party - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa
  16. A pumpkin decorated with a painting of a spider

    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
  17. 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
  18. Halloween Disco at Lumley Castle Hotel. Poster of a witch on a broom flying past the moon.

    Add Children's Halloween Disco - Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Children's Halloween Disco - Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Chester le Street

    Come along for a spooktacular evening of Halloween fun at our Children’s Halloween Disco!

    Dates

    From:
    30 Oct 2025Open 17:00 - 20:00
    More info for Children's Halloween Disco - Lumley Castle Hotel
  19. Image of The Snowman © Snowman Enterprises

    Add The Snowman – Film with Live Orchestra to your Itinerary

    The Snowman – Film with Live Orchestra

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    The College, Durham City

    Make this Christmas truly unforgettable with a special screening of the beloved festive classic The Snowman, brought to life by a live performance from a professional orchestra.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for The Snowman – Film with Live Orchestra
  20. 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
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