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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: 75

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  1. Santa Claus wearing red festive suit and sunglasses.

    Add Santa's Walkergate Walkabout to your Itinerary

    Santa's Walkergate Walkabout

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Santa Claus is taking break from his busy North Pole workshop to visit the families of Durham at Walkergate this Christmas!

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2025Open 12:30 - 16:30
    More info for Santa's Walkergate Walkabout
  2. Children listening to Santa telling a story beside the Christmas Tree

    Add Fireside Story & Breakfast with Santa to your Itinerary

    Fireside Story & Breakfast with Santa

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Lanchester

    This Festive season revel in the magic and excitement of Christmas and enjoy a delicious breakfast in comfortable surroundings, complete with fireplace setting and a visit from Father Christmas.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2025to23 Dec 2025Open 09:00 - 10:45
    More info for Fireside Story & Breakfast with Santa
  3. Snow covered double decker bus at South Causey Inn

    Add Christmas Eve Santa Lunch at South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Christmas Eve Santa Lunch at South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Make Christmas Eve magical with festive feasting, live entertainment, and a visit from Santa himself!

    Dates

    From:
    24 Dec 2025Open 11:30 -
    More info for Christmas Eve Santa Lunch at South Causey Inn
  4. Mr. Grinch and Cindy-Lou posing for a photo in front of a Christmas tree at Lanchester Garden Centre.

    Add "Who Stole our Christmas?" Party - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    "Who Stole our Christmas?" Party - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Lanchester

    Join us this Festive season for the return of our ever-popular children's Christmas Party!

    Dates

    From:
    18 Dec 2025to19 Dec 2025Open 17:00 - 19:00
    More info for "Who Stole our Christmas?" Party - Lanchester Garden Centre
  5. 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:
    21 Dec 2025Open 12:30 - 15:30
    More info for Family Santa Sunday Lunch
  6. 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
  7. Two elves laughing and playing with a snowball.

    Add Little Elves Christmas Hunt - Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Little Elves Christmas Hunt - Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Chester le Street

    Arrive at the castle and be greeted by our very own team of elves, then receive a castle map and clues. Head around the grounds solving riddles, collecting clues and finding all of Santa’s favourite festive friends. Make your way to the finishing…

    Dates

    From:
    21 Dec 2025to22 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Little Elves Christmas Hunt - Lumley Castle Hotel
  8. 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
  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. 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:
    18 Dec 2025to19 Dec 2025Open 17:00 - 21:30
    More info for Christmas Evenings at Beamish
  11. 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
  12. Festive illustration of horse carriage rides at South Causey Inn, with silhouette of Santa and his reindeer flying across the sky.

    Add Santa's Horse Carriage Rides at South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Santa's Horse Carriage Rides at South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Santa’s Magical Horse Carriage Rides, an experience for all the family...

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2025to24 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Santa's Horse Carriage Rides at South Causey Inn
  13. Snow covered double decker bus at South Causey Inn

    Add Christmas Eve Afternoon Tea at South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Christmas Eve Afternoon Tea at South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Step into a world of festive enchantment, where the joy of Christmas Eve comes alive...

    Dates

    From:
    24 Dec 2025Open 13:30 -
    More info for Christmas Eve Afternoon Tea at South Causey Inn
  14. 6 members of the cast of Snow White Pantomime at The Witham.

    Add Snow White Pantomime 2025 - The Witham to your Itinerary

    Snow White Pantomime 2025 - The Witham

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Barnard Castle

    Join us for a magical and hilarious adventure in the classic pantomime ‘Snow White’ at The Witham in Barnard Castle, brought to life by Tom Rolfe Productions!

    Dates

    From:
    19 Dec 2025to24 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Snow White Pantomime 2025 - The Witham
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. 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
  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. 'Cinderella' glass slipper and snowflakes.

    Add Cinderella Family Show - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa to your Itinerary

    Cinderella Family Show - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham

    A festive family day out packed with sparkle, songs and silliness. Cinderella brings all the magic of a traditional pantomime, with dazzling costumes, energetic performances and plenty of laughs for kids and grown-ups alike.
    Arrival: 11:30 | Lunch:…

    Dates

    From:
    7 Dec 2025to21 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Cinderella Family Show - Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa
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