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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: 135

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  1. Close up of the Grinch looing quizzical at the camera wearing a Santa hat in the snowy night

    Add Grand Cinema: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (PG) - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Grand Cinema: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (PG) - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Transport yourself to the golden age of cinema with a nostalgic afternoon in our beautifully restored 1950s Grand cinema. The Grand cinema, from Ryhope, in Sunderland, has been recreated and brought to life in our 1950s Town.

    Dates

    From:
    12 Dec 2026Open 13:45 -
    More info for Grand Cinema: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (PG) - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  2. Festive scene of street lamps and Christmas lights decorating a stone building.

    Add Christmas Light Switch-On Spectacular - South Causey Inn to your Itinerary

    Christmas Light Switch-On Spectacular - South Causey Inn

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Join us for a magical festive evening as South Causey Inn lights up for Christmas in unforgettable style. 

    Dates

    From:
    20 Nov 2026Open 18:00 -
    More info for Christmas Light Switch-On Spectacular - South Causey Inn
  3. A green steam train in the snowy wilderness.

    Add North Pole Express - Tanfield Railway to your Itinerary

    North Pole Express - Tanfield Railway

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Tanfield Lea, Stanley

    Step aboard the Tanfield Railway’s famous North Pole Express for a steam train journey to the North Pole! Tanfield Railway’s famous North Pole Express is one of the most popular and magical festive experiences in the North East, perfect for families…

    Dates

    From:
    28 Nov 2026to20 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    From:
    22 Dec 2026to24 Dec 2026Open 10:25 - 16:25
    More info for North Pole Express - Tanfield Railway
  4. A pretend spider crawling in a large spiderweb at Hopetown.

    Add Into the Wild! - A Halloween Bushcraft Experience - Hopetown Darlington to your Itinerary

    Into the Wild! - A Halloween Bushcraft Experience - Hopetown Darlington

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Darlington

    Venture into the shadowy corners of Hopetown for a Halloween-themed bushcraft adventure where strange things lurk in the woods and only the bravest little monsters will thrive.

    Dates

    From:
    26 Oct 2026Open 10:15 - 15:15
    More info for Into the Wild! - A Halloween Bushcraft Experience - Hopetown Darlington
  5. A lilac poster for Lumley Castle's Children's Halloween Disco, decorated with a cartoon bat, ghost, Frankenstein's Monster and a spooky full moon.

    Add Children's Halloween Disco to your Itinerary

    Children's Halloween Disco

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Chester le Street

    Get ready for a spooktacular afternoon of Halloween fun! Join us for games, dancing, music, prizes and plenty of spooky surprises. Come dressed in your favourite Halloween costume and show off your spooky style, there’ll be a prize for the best…

    Dates

    From:
    30 Oct 2026Open 14:00 - 16:00
    More info for Children's Halloween Disco
  6. Poster for 'The Nice List', text which reads 'Tom Rolfe Production Proudly Presents, A Magical Family Santamime.' A large festive book open with red r

    Add The Nice List! Santamime to your Itinerary

    The Nice List! Santamime

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Barnard Castle

    Step into a sparkling festive adventure this Christmas as Tom Rolfe Productions proudly present The Nice List!

    Dates

    From:
    10 Dec 2026Open 18:00 -
    More info for The Nice List! Santamime
  7. A telescope silhouetted against a star-filled night sky, with the Milky Way visible in the background.

    Add Dark Sky Astronomy and Stargazing - North Pennines Stargazing Festival to your Itinerary

    Dark Sky Astronomy and Stargazing - North Pennines Stargazing Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    A welcome from the lead astronomer at Grassholme Observatory, Gary Fildes. Gary is a very experienced science communicator and astronomer, and founder of the Kielder Observatory, where he was Director and CEO for over 11 years. After the welcome…

    Venue

    Grassholme Observatory, Teesdale

    Dates

    From:
    17 Oct 2026Open 20:00 - 23:00
    More info for Dark Sky Astronomy and Stargazing - North Pennines Stargazing Festival
  8. Four people wearing red festive clothing, hugging and laughing in the snow with a horse drawn carriage behind.

    Add Grand Cinema: White Christmas (U) - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Grand Cinema: White Christmas (U) - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Transport yourself to the golden age of cinema with a nostalgic afternoon in our beautifully restored 1950s Grand cinema. The Grand cinema, from Ryhope, in Sunderland, has been recreated and brought to life in our 1950s Town.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2026Open 13:45 -
    From:
    20 Dec 2026Open 13:45 -
    More info for Grand Cinema: White Christmas (U) - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  9. Two children dressed up as a witch and a skeleton, smiling holding pumpkins against a stone wall.

    Add Spooky Half Term - Hall Hill Farm to your Itinerary

    Spooky Half Term - Hall Hill Farm

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Durham

    Are you brave enough to come to Hall Hill Farm for a ghoulishly-good time? There are�lots of extra activities- including giant scarecrows, haunted Sheep Race, Mini Monster Maze, Trick or Treat treasure hunt, choose your pumpkin from the pumpkin…

    Dates

    From:
    17 Oct 2026to18 Oct 2026Open 10:30 - 17:00
    From:
    24 Oct 2026to1 Nov 2026Open 10:30 - 17:00
    More info for Spooky Half Term - Hall Hill Farm
  10. Children sat on hay bales decorated with pumpkins and plastic skeletons.

    Add Spooktown - Hopetown Darlington to your Itinerary

    Spooktown - Hopetown Darlington

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Darlington

    All Hallows’ Eve will soon be on us and something spooky is stirring at Hopetown Darlington. This Halloween, Hopetown transforms into Spooktown; a hauntingly fun destination packed with thrills, chills and ghostly goings-on for the whole family.…

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2026to1 Nov 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Spooktown - Hopetown Darlington
  11. Cartoon characters, including a person with a guitar, a dog, dinosaur, robot and a lizard on a polka dot orange background.

    Add The Nick Cope Family Show 2026 - Gala Durham to your Itinerary

    The Nick Cope Family Show 2026 - Gala Durham

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Durham

    Come and join Nick Cope for a brand new, delightful family concert, featuring all your favourite Nick Cope hits and more. Nick has been writing and recording his beautiful and totally unique songs for children and their families for over 10 years,…

    Dates

    From:
    27 Oct 2026Open 11:30 -
    More info for The Nick Cope Family Show 2026 - Gala Durham
  12. Poster for a pumpkin patch with spooky carved pumpkins on a field.

    Add Pumpkin Patch - Thorpe Farm Centre to your Itinerary

    Pumpkin Patch - Thorpe Farm Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Barnard Castle

    Get ready, families — it’s time for a spooktacular autumn adventure at Thorpe Farm Centre’s beloved Pumpkin Patch, returning this October and bigger than ever! The Pumpkin Patch is free to enter. Once you have chosen your perfect pumpkin, and take…

    Dates

    From:
    3 Oct 2026to31 Oct 2026
    More info for Pumpkin Patch - Thorpe Farm Centre
  13. A garden in front of a historic stone house.

    Add Wellies, Wildlife & Autumn Fun Trail - October Half Term 2026 - Crook Hall Gardens to your Itinerary

    Wellies, Wildlife & Autumn Fun Trail - October Half Term 2026 - Crook Hall Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Durham

    Autumn has arrived! Leaves are falling, and the gardens are changing from bright green to lovely gold, orange, and brown.

    Dates

    From:
    17 Oct 2026to8 Nov 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Wellies, Wildlife & Autumn Fun Trail - October Half Term 2026 - Crook Hall Gardens
  14. A variety of Halloween themed spooky pottery products.

    Add Halloween Pottery Painting - Crafty Ceramics to your Itinerary

    Halloween Pottery Painting - Crafty Ceramics

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    North Bitchburn, Crook

    Get creative this October half term and paint your very own Halloween pottery. Looking for something fun and creative to do this October half term ? Come along to the Dairy Barn and paint your very own Halloween themed pottery.

    Dates

    From:
    28 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 12:00
    More info for Halloween Pottery Painting - Crafty Ceramics
  15. The illustrated Snowman flying with a child.

    Add The Snowman with Live Orchestra - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    The Snowman with Live Orchestra - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Bearpark, Durham

    Step into the wonder of the season with a heartwarming performance of The Snowman — perfect for all ages. Enjoy a live orchestral accompaniment by the Durham Music Youth Orchestra as they bring the beloved animated film to life, complete with the…

    Dates

    From:
    12 Dec 2026
    More info for The Snowman with Live Orchestra - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
  16. Cartoon monsters in front of a red stage curtain with text that reads, "There's a Monster in your Show."

    Add There’s A Monster In Your Show - Gala Durham to your Itinerary

    There’s A Monster In Your Show - Gala Durham

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Durham

    Tom Fletcher’s interactive adventures for big imaginations are leaping from page to stage, as the beloved ‘Who’s in Your Book?’ series comes to Durham in a brand-new musical show.

    Dates

    From:
    28 Oct 2026to30 Oct 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for There’s A Monster In Your Show - Gala Durham
  17. Yellow cricket stumps being hit by a yellow cricket ball, on a green lawn.

    Add Free Indoor Cricket Taster Session to your Itinerary

    Free Indoor Cricket Taster Session

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    North Lodge, Chester-le-Street

    Looking for a fun, active activity for your child to try this half-term? North Durham Cricket Academy (NDCA) is inviting children aged 5-11 to attend a FREE cricket trial session. Designed specifically for beginners, these sessions are a great…

    Dates

    From:
    30 Oct 2026Open 15:00 - 16:00
    More info for Free Indoor Cricket Taster Session
  18. Aglow Auckland Palace & Gardens. A child in a wool hat looks upwards at the colourfully lit sky.

    Add AGLOW 2026 - Auckland Palace and Gardens to your Itinerary

    AGLOW 2026 - Auckland Palace and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Bishop Auckland

    The Auckland Project has announced that its much-loved illuminated trail will return to Auckland Palace from Friday 20 November to 3 January (excluding Christmas Day and New Year's Day), promising exciting new additions alongside the spectacular…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Nov 2026to3 Jan 2027
    More info for AGLOW 2026 - Auckland Palace and Gardens
  19. Poster for Thorpe Farm Centre's Halloween Maize Trail, with a spooky maze decorated with pumpkins, ghosts and scarecrows.

    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! Get ready for thrills, giggles, and pumpkin-filled adventures—our beloved Spooky Halloween Maize Maze Trail is BACK for another year of magical autumn memories!

    Dates

    From:
    3 Oct 2026to23 Oct 2026Open 09:00 - 17:00
    More info for Halloween Maize Maze Trail - Thorpe Farm Centre
  20. Santa stroking a small brown dog on his lap, a person sit in an arm chair on the right

    Add Paws & Claus 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Paws & Claus 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    A ‘Paw’fect photo opportunity. Join Father Christmas in the Coffee Pot Café at the Entrance Building for a cosy breakfast experience designed especially for visitors and their four‑legged friends.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 10:00
    From:
    18 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 10:00
    More info for Paws & Claus 2026 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
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