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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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  1. A telescope silhouetted against a star-filled night sky, with the Milky Way visible in the background.

    Add Saturn - Lord of the Rings - North Pennines Stargazing Festival to your Itinerary

    Saturn - Lord of the Rings - North Pennines Stargazing Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    Saturn – the enigmatic ringed beauty is by far most people's favourite – if you haven't looked through a telescope at Saturn then do not miss this opportunity to do so. With its glorious ring system dazzling the observer it is a veritable observing…

    Venue

    Grassholme Observatory, Teesdale

    Dates

    From:
    23 Oct 2026Open 20:00 - 23:00
    From:
    31 Oct 2026Open 20:00 - 23:00
    More info for Saturn - Lord of the Rings - North Pennines Stargazing Festival
  2. Large sculpture of a Velociraptor dinosaur in the lobby of Ushaw.

    Add Extinction - Ushaw, Historic Houses, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Extinction - Ushaw, Historic Houses, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Bearpark, Durham

    Extinction affects us all and one in ten of our wildlife in the UK is critically endangered. Scientists have identified five periods of mass extinction over the geological record and the question is now being asked: are we in a sixth? The exhibition…

    Dates

    From:
    20 June 2026to8 Nov 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Extinction - Ushaw, Historic Houses, Chapels and Gardens
  3. A large pumpkin patch, with a welcome sign in the shape of a pumpkin to the left.

    Add Kinley Hill Pumpkin Patch to your Itinerary

    Kinley Hill Pumpkin Patch

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Seaham

    Come and explore our family-run, home-grown pumpkin patch, set in the beautiful coastal town of Seaham, County Durham. We’re a local family farm that started our pumpkin patch in 2022, and each year we’re growing, improving, and welcoming more…

    Dates

    From:
    3 Oct 2026to31 Oct 2026Open 09:00 - 17:00
    More info for Kinley Hill Pumpkin Patch
  4. A handmade paper autumn wreath on a tree.

    Add Autumn Leaves - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Autumn Leaves - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Bearpark, Durham

    Ready for an Autumnal Celebration of Leaves at Ushaw? Join us this October Half Term for two days packed with autumn-inspired creativity, colour and craft.

    Dates

    From:
    26 Oct 2026to27 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Autumn Leaves - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
  5. A couple performing ballet on a festive stage

    Add Crown Ballet: The Nutcracker - Empire Consett to your Itinerary

    Crown Ballet: The Nutcracker - Empire Consett

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Consett

    The beloved Christmas classic returns! After last year’s acclaimed tour, Crown Ballet® brings back its dazzling production of The Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky’s timeless masterpiece.

    Dates

    From:
    14 Nov 2026Open 14:30 -
    More info for Crown Ballet: The Nutcracker - Empire Consett
  6. Santa walking through train carriages.

    Add Father Christmas - Locomotion to your Itinerary

    Father Christmas - Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Shildon

    Make magical memories with your family this Christmas. Father Christmas and his cheerful elf are waiting to meet you in his cosy train carriage.

    Dates

    From:
    5 Dec 2026to6 Dec 2026Open 11:00 - 13:00
    From:
    12 Dec 2026to14 Dec 2026Open 11:00 - 13:00
    From:
    18 Dec 2026to23 Dec 2026Open 11:00 - 13:00
    More info for Father Christmas - Locomotion
  7. An orange pumpkin sat amongst the green leaves in a field.

    Add Pumpkin Patch - East Grange Farm to your Itinerary

    Pumpkin Patch - East Grange Farm

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    This year we will grow over 100,000 pumpkins spread out over 20 acres. There will be 17 varieties, 6 different colours and sizes ranging from 500g to 12kg. Don't worry about carrying all those pumpkins; we will have plenty of wheelbarrows to help.

    Dates

    From:
    11 Oct 2026to12 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    From:
    18 Oct 2026to19 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    From:
    24 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Pumpkin Patch - East Grange Farm
  8. Santa reading a list in a festive grotto

    Add Santa Sunday's - South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Santa Sunday's - South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Step into the magic of Christmas at South Causey Inn’s Santa Sundays... Join us in the enchanting Old Barn on 6th, 13th or 20th of December for a truly unforgettable festive experience the whole family will love. From the moment you arrive, the…

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2026Open 11:30 -
    From:
    13 Dec 2026Open 11:30 -
    From:
    20 Dec 2026Open 11:30 -
    More info for Santa Sunday's - South Causey Inn
  9. Whimsical festive green and red font of The Elves and the Shoemaker, on a forest green background

    Add The Elves and the Shoemaker - Pantomime - Gala Durham to your Itinerary

    The Elves and the Shoemaker - Pantomime - Gala Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Step into our sole-ful festive production that’s the perfect fit for families!

    Dates

    From:
    8 Dec 2026to24 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for The Elves and the Shoemaker - Pantomime - Gala Durham
  10. Festival of Fireworks - Graphic image of a silhouette of a fairground against an orange sky full of fireworks.

    Add Festival of Fireworks - Banks Homes Riverside to your Itinerary

    Festival of Fireworks - Banks Homes Riverside

    Type

    Type:

    Bonfire Night

    Chester-le-Street

    Experience the North East's ultimate Festival of Fireworks, featuring one of the region's largest fireworks, laser and pyrotechnic spectaculars, perfectly choreographed to music against the stunning backdrop of the River Wear at Banks Homes…

    Dates

    From:
    7 Nov 2026Open 19:30 -
    More info for Festival of Fireworks - Banks Homes Riverside
  11. A Witch and a cat riding a broom.  Room on the Broom © 2001 Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler. Licensed by Magic Light Pictures Ltd.

    Add Room on the Broom Trail at Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    Room on the Broom Trail at Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Redford, Hamsterley Forest

    This interactive family trail is packed with Room on the Broom themed activities, fascinating forest facts and plenty of hands-on fun. 

    Dates

    From:
    28 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Room on the Broom Trail at Hamsterley Forest
  12. A vibrant firework display

    Add Barnard Castle Bonfire Night - Upper Demesnes to your Itinerary

    Barnard Castle Bonfire Night - Upper Demesnes

    Type

    Type:

    Bonfire Night

    Barnard Castle

    Barnard Castle Christmas Lights in association with The Clique present Bonfire Night with traditional fireworks on Upper Demesnes (opposite The Bowes Museum).

    Dates

    From:
    6 Nov 2026Open 17:30 -
    More info for Barnard Castle Bonfire Night - Upper Demesnes
  13. Santa standing in front of a stone building waving

    Add Breakfast With Santa - South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Breakfast With Santa - South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Create unforgettable festive memories with a magical morning at South Causey Inn’s much-loved Breakfast With Santa event! 

    Dates

    From:
    5 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 11:30
    From:
    12 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 11:30
    More info for Breakfast With Santa - South Causey Inn
  14. An artwork of book pages with a spotlight.

    Add Travelling Tales Artist’s Workshop - The Story to your Itinerary

    Travelling Tales Artist’s Workshop - The Story

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Durham

    They say a picture paints a thousand words. Artist Hannah Kelly is on a mission to gather pictures drawn by people of all ages from across the county to create her new artwork ‘Travelling Tales’.

    Dates

    From:
    29 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 15:00
    More info for Travelling Tales Artist’s Workshop - The Story
  15. Two photos of people smiling on a blue background surrounded by cartoon books

    Add An Evening with Hollie McNish and Michael Pedersen - Durham Book Festival to your Itinerary

    An Evening with Hollie McNish and Michael Pedersen - Durham Book Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    Join award-winning poet Hollie McNish for a hilarious and heartfelt evening of poetry, reading from her latest collection, Virgin, and unpicking the meaning of the word with her trademark feminist wit, fury and compassion. 

    Dates

    From:
    9 Oct 2026Open 19:00 - 20:00
    More info for An Evening with Hollie McNish and Michael Pedersen - Durham Book Festival
  16. A glowing carved pumpkin, surrounded by other pumpkins.

    Add Floral Pumpkin Workshop - South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Floral Pumpkin Workshop - South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Stanley

    Enjoy a relaxed and creative evening at South Causey Inn with our beautiful Floral Workshop.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Oct 2026Open 17:00 - 19:30
    More info for Floral Pumpkin Workshop - South Causey Inn
  17. A group of people sit on hay bales inside a barn while a speaker gives an astronomy presentation beside a projected image.

    Add Star Camp - North Pennines Stargazing Festival to your Itinerary

    Star Camp - North Pennines Stargazing Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Cotherstone

    Join the Star Camp for an astronomical weekend in Teesdale. The camp is perfect for novice astronomers and is great for adults and children (6+ years).

    Dates

    From:
    23 Oct 2026to25 Oct 2026Open 19:00 - 10:00
    More info for Star Camp - North Pennines Stargazing Festival
  18. A vibrant firework display

    Add Firework Display - Spennymoor to your Itinerary

    Firework Display - Spennymoor

    Type

    Type:

    Bonfire Night

    Spennymoor

    Our annual Firework display will be held on Thursday 5th November at 6pm. Details to be confirmed

    Dates

    From:
    5 Nov 2026Open 18:00 - 20:00
    More info for Firework Display - Spennymoor
  19. The Snowman playing on a large projector in Durham Cathedral, with a large crowd watching

    Add The Snowman: Film with Live Orchestra - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    The Snowman: Film with Live Orchestra - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Make it a Christmas to remember with a special screening of the much-loved film. The Snowman, shown on the big screen with its unforgettable soundtrack performed live by a professional orchestra.

    Dates

    From:
    5 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for The Snowman: Film with Live Orchestra - Durham Cathedral
  20. A spooky poster which reads ' A Family Halloween Trail,' decorated with purple smoke, carved pumpkins, bats and cobwebs.

    Add St Cuthberts Hospice Halloween Trail to your Itinerary

    St Cuthberts Hospice Halloween Trail

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Durham

    The Halloween Trail is back... and this year it's even bigger! We're delighted to be teaming up with Poplar Tree Garden Centre & Brambles Coffee Shop once again as their fantastic Family Halloween Trail returns to St Cuthbert's Hospice for not one,…

    Dates

    From:
    28 Oct 2026to29 Oct 2026Open 16:00 - 18:00
    More info for St Cuthberts Hospice Halloween Trail
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