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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: 77

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  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. A skeleton at The Halloween Maize Maze at Thorpe Farm Centre.

    Add Halloween Maize Maze Trail - Thorpe Farm Centre to your Itinerary

    Halloween Maize Maze Trail - Thorpe Farm Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Barnard Castle

    Spooktacular family fun awaits at Thorpe Farm Centre. The Spooky Halloween Maize Maze opens on Saturday 4th October! Grab a map and activity sheet from The Courtyard Café and head off to explore the 4 acre maize and find surprises around every…

    Dates

    From:
    4 Oct 2025to2 Nov 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Halloween Maize Maze Trail - Thorpe Farm Centre
  4. 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
  5. Children two children laughing. One dressed as a witch and the other wearing an orange top with a bat pattern.

    Add Fa-BOO-lous Halloween - Adventure Valley to your Itinerary

    Fa-BOO-lous Halloween - Adventure Valley

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Brasside, Durham

    This October, join our Fa-BOO-lous Fun event, where there will be more giggles than ghouls for all the family! This event is friendly for kids of all ages - no scaries, but plenty of adventure and fun!

    Dates

    From:
    25 Oct 2025to1 Nov 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Fa-BOO-lous Halloween - Adventure Valley
  6. Art installation beside New Hall at Locomotion

    Add S&DR200 Public Art Commissions at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 Public Art Commissions at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Shildon

    As part of the S&DR200 celebrations, two special public art installations will be unveiled in 2025, each capturing a unique story of the Stockton & Darlington Railway’s legacy and its connection to the community.

    Dates

    From:
    1 June 2025to30 Sept 2025
    More info for S&DR200 Public Art Commissions at Locomotion
  7. 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
  8. Two people dressed as characters from Wicked

    Add Children's "Good" or "Wicked" Halloween Party to your Itinerary

    Children's "Good" or "Wicked" Halloween Party

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Lanchester

    Halloween just wouldn't be the same without a Halloween Party at Lanchester Garden Centre!

    Dates

    From:
    30 Oct 2025Open 17:00 - 18:30
    More info for Children's "Good" or "Wicked" Halloween Party
  9. Someone dressed as a Mickey Mouse Wizard

    Add Wizard Mouse Breakfast to your Itinerary

    Wizard Mouse Breakfast

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Lanchester

    Join us for a delicious cooked breakfast, fun and photos with your favourite Wizard Mouse.

    Dates

    From:
    19 Oct 2025Open 09:00 - 10:30
    More info for Wizard Mouse Breakfast
  10. 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
  11. The decorated Throne Room at Auckland Palace

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

    Christmas at the 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 the Palace - The Auckland Project
  12. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Forest Club - Hardwick Park to your Itinerary

    Forest Club - Hardwick Park

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Sedgefield

    Forest Club is a hands-on experience designed to engage children with the world around them through natural and play based activities. The programme is aimed at children between two and six years of age. Each session will include a different …

    Dates

    From:
    28 Oct 2025Open 10:00 - 12:00
    More info for Forest Club - Hardwick Park
  13. 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
  14. outer space galaxy

    North Pennines Stargazing Festival 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    The North Pennines Stargazing Festival is returning for 2025 – running for a week between Friday 24 October and Sunday 2 November.

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2025to2 Nov 2025
    More info for North Pennines Stargazing Festival 2025
  15. Children exploring the Maize Maze at Thorpe Farm Centre

    Add Maize Maze to your Itinerary

    Maize Maze

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Embark on an exciting hunt through our 4-acre trail. Our Maize Maze is brand new for 2025 with twists, turns and dead ends!!

    Dates

    From:
    28 July 2025to21 Sept 2025Open 09:00 - 17:00
    More info for Maize Maze
  16. A firework display

    Add Festival of Fireworks at Durham Cricket to your Itinerary

    Festival of Fireworks at Durham Cricket

    Type

    Type:

    Bonfire Night

    Chester le Street

    The Festival of Fireworks is back and set to light up the skies over Banks Homes Riverside on Saturday 1st November 2025 in collaboration with Chester-le-Street CC.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Nov 2025Open 19:30 -
    More info for Festival of Fireworks at Durham Cricket
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. Skeleton in a field - Family Time Scare Night at Thorpe Farm Centre.

    Add Family Time Scare Night - Thorpe Farm Centre to your Itinerary

    Family Time Scare Night - Thorpe Farm Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Barnard Castle

    Family Time Scare Night at Thorpe Farm Centre … where fright comes to life!!!

    Dates

    From:
    30 Oct 2025to31 Oct 2025Open 16:00 - 18:00
    More info for Family Time Scare Night - Thorpe Farm Centre
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