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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: 82

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  1. outer space galaxy

    North Pennines Stargazing Festival 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    The North Pennines Stargazing Festival is returning for 2026 – running between Friday 16 October and Sunday 1 November.

    Dates

    From:
    16 Oct 2026to1 Nov 2026
    More info for North Pennines Stargazing Festival 2026
  2. Two people stand in a recreated pit cottage, in front of a coal-fired range. One holds a bread display for Harvest Celebration.

    Add Harvest Celebrations at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Harvest Celebrations at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Beamish

    Experience traditional harvest celebrations at Beamish Museum.

    Dates

    From:
    3 Oct 2026to4 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Harvest Celebrations at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  3. A volunteer demonstrates anatomy with an animal skull. Skulls, Science and Investigation.

    Add Skulls, Science & Investigation - Museum of Archaeology at Palace Green Library to your Itinerary

    Skulls, Science & Investigation - Museum of Archaeology at Palace Green Library

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Palace Green, Durham City

    Are you fascinated by the natural world past and present? Investigate the archaeology and science of animal bones with experts from the Skull Index CIC at FREE family-friendly workshops at the Museum of Archaeology.

    Venue

    Museum of Archaeology at Palace Green Library, Durham City

    Dates

    From:
    12 Sept 2026Open 11:00 - 15:00
    More info for Skulls, Science & Investigation - Museum of Archaeology at Palace Green Library
  4. A telescope silhouetted against a star-filled night sky, with the Milky Way visible in the background.

    Add Saturn - Lord of the Rings - North Pennines Star Gazing Festival to your Itinerary

    Saturn - Lord of the Rings - North Pennines Star Gazing Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    Saturn – the enigmatic ringed beauty is by far most people's favourite – if you haven't looked through a telescope at Saturn then do not miss this opportunity to do so. With its glorious ring system dazzling the observer it is a veritable observing…

    Venue

    Grassholme Observatory, Teesdale

    Dates

    From:
    23 Oct 2026Open 20:00 - 23:00
    From:
    31 Oct 2026Open 20:00 - 23:00
    More info for Saturn - Lord of the Rings - North Pennines Star Gazing Festival
  5. South Causey Monthly Dog Walk

    Add South Causey Monthly Dog Walk to your Itinerary

    South Causey Monthly Dog Walk

    Type

    Type:

    Dog-Friendly

    Stanley

    Join the South Causey Dog Walking Club every 1st Saturday of the month at 10 am for a picturesque stroll through the beautiful Beamish Valley. 

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for South Causey Monthly Dog Walk
  6. A young girl in a brown dress with hair in a ponytail, holding something made of paper, with craft materials on a yellow table in front

    Add October Half Term - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    October Half Term - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Barnard Castle

    This October Half Term, families can enjoy a lively mix of creative and nature-inspired activities across The Bowes Museum's galleries, creative spaces and parkland.

    Venue

    The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2026to1 Nov 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for October Half Term - The Bowes Museum
  7. 3 children standing whilst Mr and Mrs Clause sit beside them with red presents

    Add Meet Mr and Mrs Claus at the Yuletide Yurt - Raby Castle, Park & Gardens to your Itinerary

    Meet Mr and Mrs Claus at the Yuletide Yurt - Raby Castle, Park & Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Staindrop, Darlington

    Step inside the beautifully decorated Yultide Yurt at Raby Castle this Christmas for a magical meet-and-greet with Mr and Mrs Claus Surrounded by sparkling lights and festive décor, enjoy a heart-warming experience.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Dec 2026
    From:
    12 Dec 2026to13 Dec 2026
    From:
    19 Dec 2026to20 Dec 2026
    More info for Meet Mr and Mrs Claus at the Yuletide Yurt - Raby Castle, Park & Gardens
  8. 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
  9. A beautiful view of the Aurora Borealis in the dark night sky

    Add Aurora Night - Grassholme Observatory to your Itinerary

    Aurora Night - Grassholme Observatory

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    The event will begin with a personal welcome from our astronomer, 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.

    Dates

    From:
    27 Sept 2026Open 20:00 - 23:00
    More info for Aurora Night - Grassholme Observatory
  10. Little girl and boy participating in 'Little Dragons' at Durham University Oriental Museum.

    Add Little Dragons - Durham University Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Little Dragons - Durham University Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    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:
    7 Jan 2026to30 Sept 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Little Dragons - Durham University Oriental Museum
  11. The Craft & Producers' Marquee at Durham Christmas Festival

    Add Durham Christmas Festival to your Itinerary

    Durham Christmas Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Durham Market Place, Durham City

    Durham Christmas Festival returns – the perfect combination of Christmas shopping and seasonal entertainment in the unique and stunning setting that is Durham City Centre.

    Dates

    From:
    4 Dec 2026to6 Dec 2026
    More info for Durham Christmas Festival
  12. Santa and his helpers aboard the train.

    Add Santa Express - Weardale Railway to your Itinerary

    Santa Express - Weardale Railway

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Bishop Auckland,

    Santa Express – A Magical Christmas Journey. Create unforgettable Christmas memories aboard the Santa Express at Weardale Railway. Running on selected dates throughout November and December, this festive heritage train departs from Stanhope Station…

    Dates

    From:
    28 Nov 2026to24 Dec 2026Open 09:30 - 18:00
    More info for Santa Express - Weardale Railway
  13. A bearded person, wearing a black and yellow striped top and blue jacket, screaming whilst holding a skull next to their face on a black background.

    Add Ghastly Stories for Gruesome Gremlins - Middleton-in-Teesdale to your Itinerary

    Ghastly Stories for Gruesome Gremlins - Middleton-in-Teesdale

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    Boggarts, ghosts & things that go burp in the night... Ghastly Stories for Gruesome Gremlins is a silly & spooky storytelling show for ages 6+ and their families from master storyteller, Gav Cross!

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2026Open 13:45 - 15:45
    More info for Ghastly Stories for Gruesome Gremlins - Middleton-in-Teesdale
  14. Spooky scarecrow looking sinisterly at the camera at Beamish, at night.

    Add Halloween Evening - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Halloween Evening - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Stanley

    Something spooky is coming… Step back in time and get ready for a night you’ll never forget.
    Join us for a special spine-tingling experience as Beamish is transformed into The Un-living Museum of the North.

    Dates

    From:
    28 Oct 2026to31 Oct 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Halloween Evening - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  15. People observing framed sketches and drawings displayed on a gallery wall, highlighting an art exhibition setting.

    Add Heritage Open Days - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Heritage Open Days - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage Open Days

    Barnard Castle

    Celebrate Heritage Open Days with free admission to The Bowes Museum and a packed programme of activities inspired by this year's theme, Everyday Histories. Enjoy guided tours, including rare behind-the-scenes access to the museum's vaults, hands-on…

    Venue

    The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

    Dates

    From:
    12 Sept 2026to13 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Heritage Open Days - The Bowes Museum
  16. The planet Saturn in the dark night sky

    Add Saturn At Its Closest - Grassholme Observatory to your Itinerary

    Saturn At Its Closest - Grassholme Observatory

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    Saturn – the enigmatic ringed beauty is by far most people’s favorite – I mean if you haven’t looked through a telescope at Saturn then don’t miss this opportunity to do so. With its glorious ring system dazzling the observer as a veritable…

    Dates

    From:
    4 Oct 2026Open 20:00 - 23:00
    More info for Saturn At Its Closest - Grassholme Observatory
  17. Festival of Fireworks - Graphic image of a silhouette of a fairground against an orange sky full of fireworks.

    Add Festival of Fireworks - Banks Homes Riverside to your Itinerary

    Festival of Fireworks - Banks Homes Riverside

    Type

    Type:

    Bonfire Night

    Chester-le-Street

    Experience the North East's ultimate Festival of Fireworks, featuring one of the region's largest fireworks, laser and pyrotechnic spectaculars, perfectly choreographed to music against the stunning backdrop of the River Wear at Banks Homes…

    Dates

    From:
    7 Nov 2026Open 19:30 -
    More info for Festival of Fireworks - Banks Homes Riverside
  18. 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
  19. A person is cooking over a fire outdoors, outside Beamish Museum's 1950s Farm

    Add Atchin-tan and Celebration of Gypsy Roma Traveller History at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Atchin-tan and Celebration of Gypsy Roma Traveller History at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Beamish

    Visit Beamish Museum for this special celebration of Gypsy Roma Traveller history.

    Dates

    From:
    12 Sept 2026to13 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Atchin-tan and Celebration of Gypsy Roma Traveller History at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  20. Two photos of people smiling on a blue background surrounded by cartoon books

    Add An Evening with Hollie McNish and Michael Pedersen - Durham Book Festival to your Itinerary

    An Evening with Hollie McNish and Michael Pedersen - Durham Book Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Durham

    Join award-winning poet Hollie McNish for a hilarious and heartfelt evening of poetry, reading from her latest collection, Virgin, and unpicking the meaning of the word with her trademark feminist wit, fury and compassion. 

    Dates

    From:
    9 Oct 2026Open 19:00 - 20:00
    More info for An Evening with Hollie McNish and Michael Pedersen - Durham Book Festival
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