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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. The Grinch in front of a Christmas tree.

    Add Merry Grinchmas Breakfast - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Merry Grinchmas Breakfast - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Lanchester

    Join us for a delicious cooked breakfast, fun and photos with your favourite green mischievous character that stole Christmas.

    Dates

    From:
    29 Nov 2025to30 Nov 2025Open 09:00 - 10:30
    More info for Merry Grinchmas Breakfast - Lanchester Garden Centre
  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. Close up of Santa's legs sitting on a chair.

    Add Santa's Adapted Enchanted Garden Grotto to your Itinerary

    Santa's Adapted Enchanted Garden Grotto

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Lanchester

    Join Father Christmas and Mrs. Claus in Our Adapted Enchanted Garden Grotto – A Magical Experience for Neurodiverse Children.

    Dates

    From:
    5 Dec 2025Open 11:00 - 15:00
    From:
    12 Dec 2025Open 11:00 - 15:00
    More info for Santa's Adapted Enchanted Garden Grotto
  4. Cartoon image of the character Pumperknickle surrounded by pumpkins and autumn leaves

    Add The Whimsical Tale of Pumperknickle at Auckland Palace to your Itinerary

    The Whimsical Tale of Pumperknickle at Auckland Palace

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Bishop Auckland

    Come along for the whimsical tale of Pumperknickle, penned and performed by the talented thespians of The Auckland Project!

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    29 Oct 2025to31 Oct 2025Open 11:00 - 16:00
    More info for The Whimsical Tale of Pumperknickle at Auckland Palace
  5. A pumpkin on a rock at High Force Waterfall

    Add Halloween Trail at High Force Waterfall to your Itinerary

    Halloween Trail at High Force Waterfall

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Forest in Teesdale

    Perfect for families looking to enjoy the outdoors with a seasonal twist, this self-led trail is included with general admission.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Oct 2025to2 Nov 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Halloween Trail at High Force Waterfall
  6. Child holding a crayon, sitting with other children at Little Dragons.

    Add Little Dragons - Durham University Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Little Dragons - Durham University Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and…

    Dates

    From:
    13 Aug 2025to17 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Little Dragons - Durham University Oriental Museum
  7. 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
  8. Silhouettes of bats and pumpkins and text which reads, 'Big Science, Happy Halloween.'

    Add Big "Spooky" Science - Potion Making, Colour Changing Monster Brains & Dancing Ghosts to your Itinerary

    Big "Spooky" Science - Potion Making, Colour Changing Monster Brains & Dancing Ghosts

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Lanchester

    Potion Making, Colour Changing Monster Brains & Dancing Ghosts. Join us for a session of  Big 'Spooky' Science where every child will take part in some hands on creepy science experiments.

    Dates

    From:
    31 Oct 2025Open 11:30 - 12:30
    More info for Big "Spooky" Science - Potion Making, Colour Changing Monster Brains & Dancing Ghosts
  9. Ruins at Binchester Roman Fort

    Add Life of a Roman Soldier - Binchester Roman Fort to your Itinerary

    Life of a Roman Soldier - Binchester Roman Fort

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Bishop Auckland

    Join Julius as he takes you on a tour of the Roman fort and explains what life was like for the 2,000 soldiers who lived here. After the tour you can talk to a soldier who will show you his marching pack and tell you everything a beginner soldier…

    Dates

    From:
    29 Oct 2025Open 10:30 -
    More info for Life of a Roman Soldier - Binchester Roman Fort
  10. Girl running over larger-than-life, soft recreations of animal figurines - Pippa Hale Pet Project

    Add Exhibitions, Trails and Activities: October Half-Term at The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Exhibitions, Trails and Activities: October Half-Term at The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Barnard Castle

    The Bowes Museum is the perfect place for a day out this October half-term, 25 October – 2 November 2025. From daily self-guided trails and hands-on art activities to interactive exhibitions and an intimate live concert, there is something fun for…

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2025to3 Nov 2025
    More info for Exhibitions, Trails and Activities: October Half-Term at The Bowes Museum
  11. Illustration of ghosts for 'Children's Halloween Party'.

    Add Golf Clubhouse Children's Halloween Party to your Itinerary

    Golf Clubhouse Children's Halloween Party

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Durham

    Our children’s Halloween party is packed with fun and frightful delights, including delicious food, Halloween-themed games and a spooky disco that’s sure to get everyone dancing.

    Dates

    From:
    29 Oct 2025Open 17:30 - 20:30
    More info for Golf Clubhouse Children's Halloween Party
  12. Spooky image of one of the Raby Castle towers

    Add Haunted Raby: Tour by Torchlight at Raby Castle Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Haunted Raby: Tour by Torchlight at Raby Castle Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Staindrop

    Join us at dusk for a special torchlit tour of Raby Castle. Find out from our guides about the unexplained phenomenon and reported hauntings witnessed over centuries at the castle.

    Dates

    From:
    25 Oct 2025to1 Nov 2025Open 17:30 - 19:00
    More info for Haunted Raby: Tour by Torchlight at Raby Castle Park and Gardens
  13. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Passport to Nature: Wildfowl Identification to your Itinerary

    Passport to Nature: Wildfowl Identification

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Sedgefield

    As autumn fades and winter takes hold, there's no better time to discover the fascinating world of wildfowl at Hardwick Park.

    Dates

    From:
    31 Oct 2025Open 07:00 - 09:00
    More info for Passport to Nature: Wildfowl Identification
  14. Children in Hamsterley Forest searching for stick characters on The Stickman Man Trail. Credit Forestry England Crown Copyright

    Add The Stick Man Trail at Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    The Stick Man Trail at Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland

    Families can join a new forest adventure as the much-loved character Stick Man, based on the beautiful picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, returns to Forestry England Hamsterley.

    Dates

    From:
    12 Feb 2025to31 Jan 2026
    More info for The Stick Man Trail at Hamsterley Forest
  15. Cupcakes decorated in pink and green with a witch's hat and wand

    Add Wickedly Good Cupcakes Masterclass to your Itinerary

    Wickedly Good Cupcakes Masterclass

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Lanchester

    Join us and Craftily Ever After for our Wickedly Good Cupcakes Masterclass where Madame M leads the decoration of 2 Wickedly good cupcakes along with container decoration to take your creations home.

    Dates

    From:
    29 Oct 2025Open 09:30 - 10:15
    More info for Wickedly Good Cupcakes Masterclass
  16. Robin Hood - The Pantomime. Background shows stage curtain.

    Add Robin Hood Pantomime - Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Robin Hood Pantomime - Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Chester le Street

    The Sheriff of Nottingham and Bad Prince John are up to their usual nasty tricks, and only Robin Hood and the Merry  Men and Women of Sherwood Forest can put a stop to their  wicked behaviour.  

    Dates

    From:
    20 Dec 2025to23 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Robin Hood Pantomime - Lumley Castle Hotel
  17. A girl meets Santa, Christmas Tree and fireplace

    Add Christmas Family Fun Day to your Itinerary

    Christmas Family Fun Day

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Belmont, Durham

    Emmanuel Church's free Christmas Family Fun Day returns on Saturday 6 December, at The Durham Centre, Belmont Industrial Estate, from 1.30-4.30pm.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2025Open 13:00 - 16:00
    More info for Christmas Family Fun Day
  18. A photo of Santa Claus, and a child wearing a Christmas hat.

    Add Winter Wonderland - Adventure Valley to your Itinerary

    Winter Wonderland - Adventure Valley

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Brasside, Durham

    Winter Wonderland is back for 2025 at Adventure Valley! From the 29th November to the 21st December – Each Weekend AND the 22nd, 23rd December & 24th December. In the ‘Christmas week’.

    Dates

    From:
    29 Nov 2025to21 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    From:
    22 Dec 2025to24 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Winter Wonderland - Adventure Valley
  19. A visitor to the Faith Museum looking at the Neapolitan Nativity

    Add Neapolitan Nativity - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    Neapolitan Nativity - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Market Place, Bishop Auckland

    Be dazzled by our monumental 18th-century Neapolitan Nativity scene. This remarkable Baroque créche, known in Italian as a presepe, is a giant Nativity scene staged in a true-life Neapolitan setting.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2025to31 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Neapolitan Nativity - The Auckland Project
  20. Three Nightmare Before Christmas Jack in the Box toys.

    Add Nightmare Before Christmas Jack's Toy Jack in a Box Craft Workshop to your Itinerary

    Nightmare Before Christmas Jack's Toy Jack in a Box Craft Workshop

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Lanchester

    During this workshop you will be guided through the process to create your very own Nightmare Before Christmas Jack's Toy Jack in Box.

    Dates

    From:
    9 Nov 2025Open 14:45 - 15:45
    More info for Nightmare Before Christmas Jack's Toy Jack in a Box Craft Workshop
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