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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: 95

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  1. A group of cartoon characters from The Grinch, surrounded by green sparkles.

    Add The Grinch & Friends Festive Family Show to your Itinerary

    The Grinch & Friends Festive Family Show

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Carville, Durham

    Join The Grinch and friends live on stage. Enjoy magical fun and games played with on stage characters like Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Elsa singing LIVE! Numerous stage games and prizes, balloon drops and more, includes photographs and meet and…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2026Open 12:00 - 16:00
    More info for The Grinch & Friends Festive Family Show
  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 statue of Taweret, an Egyptian god in the shape of a combination of a hippopotamus, lion and crocodile.

    Add Family Activities: Build a Beast to your Itinerary

    Family Activities: Build a Beast

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Durham

    Learn about the powerful ancient Egyptian goddess Taweret and build your own mythological creature!

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2026Open 13:00 - 15:00
    More info for Family Activities: Build a Beast
  4. Father Christmas sitting in an armchair greeting a young family in the cafe

    Add Breakfast with Father Christmas - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Breakfast with Father Christmas - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stanley

    Kick off your day with something magical! Join Father Christmas for breakfast in the Coffee Pot Café at the Entrance Building, before he heads off on his Christmas duties.

    Dates

    From:
    5 Dec 2026to6 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 10:00
    From:
    12 Dec 2026to13 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 10:00
    From:
    19 Dec 2026to20 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 10:00
    More info for Breakfast with Father Christmas - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  5. Small colourful squares with snowflakes, trees, presents and hot chocolates inside on a white background.

    Add Early Festive Farmers & Indie Market to your Itinerary

    Early Festive Farmers & Indie Market

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas Markets

    Middleton-In-Teesdale

    Skip the corporate aisles & support the region's finest independent makers, farmers & creatives... we bring you 100% authentic local talent! From fresh regional food and drink to high quality handcrafted gifts. Come along - shop & scoff in the…

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2026Open 09:00 - 14:00
    More info for Early Festive Farmers & Indie Market
  6. Santa giving a present to a small child in front of two ornate Christmas trees

    Add Father Christmas at Raby Castle to your Itinerary

    Father Christmas at Raby Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Staindrop

    Experience the Magic of Christmas with Father Christmas in Raby Castle’s Barons’ Hall. Cherish and create new family traditions with a special visit to see Father Christmas at Raby Castle. Bells will ring and footmen will guide you up to the…

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2026to24 Dec 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Father Christmas at Raby Castle
  7. 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
  8. Photograph shows two children visiting a museum display, with young girl wearing colourful unicorn headband viewing a large feathered specimen behind

    Add Wonder Workshop: Animal Automaton to your Itinerary

    Wonder Workshop: Animal Automaton

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Wonder Workshop explores The Bowes Museum's collection through art, science, technology, engineering and maths, from how mechanisms work to the meaning of symbols in paintings and the history of well-known pieces. This session encourages young…

    Venue

    The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

    Dates

    From:
    10 Feb 2027Open 13:30 - 14:45
    From:
    17 Feb 2027Open 13:30 - 14:45
    More info for Wonder Workshop: Animal Automaton
  9. 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
  10. A black and white image of Hardwick Park

    Add Father Christmas to your Itinerary

    Father Christmas

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Stockton-on-Tees

    Make Christmas extra special this year, visit Father Christmas at Hardwick Park in his Festive Yurt.

    Dates

    From:
    5 Dec 2026to6 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    From:
    12 Dec 2026to13 Dec 2026
    More info for Father Christmas
  11. The front of Locomotion Museum covered in snow.

    Add Christmas at Locomotion - Locomotion to your Itinerary

    Christmas at Locomotion - Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Shildon

    Enjoy a festive day out amongst trains, engines and carriages. Highlights include a Christmas Market, Father Christmas in his cosy carriage grotto and free family activities.

    Dates

    From:
    26 Nov 2026to3 Jan 2027
    More info for Christmas at Locomotion - Locomotion
  12. Text reads 'Cinderella' in a purple font and a small cartoon pumpkin surrounded by glitter, with a gold ribbon which reads 'You shall go to the ball.'

    Add Cinderella Pantomime to your Itinerary

    Cinderella Pantomime

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Barnard Castle

    You shall go to the ball as Tom Rolfe Productions return to The Witham for their sixth smash hit pantomime Cinderella! Join Cinderella an her adorable friend Buttons as they set out on the most magical adventure of all!

    Dates

    From:
    18 Dec 2026to24 Dec 2026
    More info for Cinderella Pantomime
  13. Alexander Armstrong and Aled Jones standing side-by side in blue velvet suits against a festive background.

    Add The Big Christmas Sing A-Long with Aled Jones and Alexander Armstrong - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    The Big Christmas Sing A-Long with Aled Jones and Alexander Armstrong - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    Get ready to lift your voices and celebrate the festive season as The Big Christmas Sing-a-Long embarks on its debut UK tour in November and December 2026. Starring much-loved performers and presenters Aled Jones and Alexander Armstrong, this…

    Dates

    From:
    2 Dec 2026Open 19:30 -
    More info for The Big Christmas Sing A-Long with Aled Jones and Alexander Armstrong - Durham Cathedral
  14. A vintage Starwars poster witg many iconic characters, with the text 'May The Toys Be With You' in the yellow starwars font, on a black background.

    Add May The Toys Be With You to your Itinerary

    May The Toys Be With You

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Darlington

    From a galaxy far, far away to Hopetown Darlington, celebrate 50 years of Star Wars with one of the UK's finest collections of vintage toys, original cinema posters and memorabilia.

    Dates

    From:
    9 Jan 2027to21 Mar 2027Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for May The Toys Be With You
  15. Elegant white font which reads 'Breakfast with the Grinch' on a green background with a cartoon grinch character on the bottom left surrounded with go

    Add Breakfast With The Grinch to your Itinerary

    Breakfast With The Grinch

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    West Auckland, Bishop Auckland

    Bring the whole family along for a magical festive morning filled with Christmas cheer and plenty of mischievous surprises. Keep your eyes peeled for a special green guest who’s known for causing a little festive chaos!

    Dates

    From:
    13 Dec 2026Open 10:00 - 12:30
    More info for Breakfast With The Grinch
  16. Bright green fur holding a red candy cane against a red background.

    Add Breakfast with The Grinch & Cindy Lou to your Itinerary

    Breakfast with The Grinch & Cindy Lou

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Chester le Street

    Get ready for a morning of mayhem as the mean, green, Christmas crunching Grinch takes over breakfast! We’ve teamed up with Make My Day Events to bring Whoville’s most mischievous resident to life, enjoy some Yuletide yumminess with a side of…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2026to21 Dec 2026Open 09:30 -
    More info for Breakfast with The Grinch & Cindy Lou
  17. Three singers in traditional clothing, next to a Christmas tree, performing festive live music during Beamish Museum's Christmas Evenings.

    Add Beamish, The Living Museum of the North’s Magical Christmas Evenings to your Itinerary

    Beamish, The Living Museum of the North’s Magical Christmas Evenings

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Beamish

    Beamish Museum Christmas Evening Tickets on Sale Soon!

    Dates

    From:
    3 Dec 2026to4 Dec 2026Open 17:00 - 21:30
    From:
    10 Dec 2026to11 Dec 2026Open 17:00 - 21:30
    From:
    17 Dec 2026to18 Dec 2026Open 17:00 - 21:30
    More info for Beamish, The Living Museum of the North’s Magical Christmas Evenings
  18. A festive view of a historical stone house, in the snow with a small festive elf looking up to the house.

    Add Little Elves Christmas Hunt to your Itinerary

    Little Elves Christmas Hunt

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Chester le Street

    Get ready for a festive adventure on the beautiful Castle grounds! Our Little Elves Hunt invites children to follow a trail of Christmas-themed clues, solving puzzles and discovering hidden surprises along the way. It’s the perfect way for little…

    Dates

    From:
    22 Dec 2026to23 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Little Elves Christmas Hunt
  19. A scene from The Nutcracker ballet of a dancer looking up, with their back to the stage with their arm elegantly raised at a large christmas tree.

    Add The Royal Ballet: The Nutcracker to your Itinerary

    The Royal Ballet: The Nutcracker

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham

    At a cosy Christmas party, young Clara meets the mysterious magician Drosselmeyer, who gives her a nutcracker doll. When the guests have departed and the house is asleep, Clara sneaks downstairs in search of the doll. Instead, she finds…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Dec 2026Open 19:15 -
    More info for The Royal Ballet: The Nutcracker
  20. Santa Claus sitting near a Christmas tree, reading a book with toys.

    Add Father Christmas at Ushaw - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Father Christmas at Ushaw - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Bearpark, Durham

    Make magical Christmas memories at Ushaw this festive season with a visit to meet Father Christmas. Children can share their festive wishes, receive a cuddly gift, and take a keepsake photo in our beautifully decorated Parlour.

    Dates

    From:
    12 Dec 2026to13 Dec 2026
    From:
    15 Dec 2026
    More info for Father Christmas at Ushaw - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
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