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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: 111

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  1. Adults and children enjoying the pop-up beach at Locomotion by Richard Salkeld, with colourful buckets and spades, a giant deckchair and seaside photo

    Add Summer Festival - Locomotion to your Itinerary

    Summer Festival - Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Shildon

    Join us for an action-packed summer of fun! Enjoy our sandy beach, take a train ride and get stuck into hands-on family activities as we celebrate the exciting world of engineering. Legendary locomotive Flying Scotsman will be visiting from 2…

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2026to31 Aug 2026
    More info for Summer Festival - Locomotion
  2. A child sitting on the ground toasting marshmallows, supervised by an adult - Forest School activities at St Johns Hall Meadowfield.

    Add Noo Noo Forest School - St Johns Hall Meadowfield to your Itinerary

    Noo Noo Forest School - St Johns Hall Meadowfield

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Meadowfield

    Forest school for primary age.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Aug 2026Open 10:00 - 11:30
    From:
    19 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 11:30
    More info for Noo Noo Forest School - St Johns Hall Meadowfield
  3. 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
  4. Family Stargazing. Starry night's sky over High Force Waterfall.

    Add Family Stargazing at High Force - High Force Hotel and Waterfall to your Itinerary

    Family Stargazing at High Force - High Force Hotel and Waterfall

    Type

    Type:

    Stargazing Events

    Forest in Teesdale, Barnard Castle

    Looking for a unique and educational family activity in October? Join us for a Family Stargazing Adventure at High Force, a professionally hosted evening designed especially for young explorers aged 5–15.

    Dates

    From:
    29 Oct 2026Open 18:00 - 20:00
    More info for Family Stargazing at High Force - High Force Hotel and Waterfall
  5. Buddy from the film Elf (2003) wearing a green festive outfit, smiling with his hands on his hips, on a white background

    Add Grand Cinema: Elf (PG) - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Grand Cinema: Elf (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:
    5 Dec 2026Open 14:00 -
    More info for Grand Cinema: Elf (PG) - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  6. Small child dressed as a knight, hitting a training post with a wooden sword at Auckland Palace

    Add Knight School - Auckland Palace and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Knight School - Auckland Palace and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Bishop Auckland

    Join Medieval Prince Bishop Antony Bek’s ranks for an interactive outdoor adventure! Meet Antony Bek: Crusader, Knight, Prince Bishop and King in the North. Join his ranks for an interactive outdoor session, hone your battle skills and find out what…

    Dates

    From:
    12 Aug 2026to16 Aug 2026Open 10:30 - 15:45
    More info for Knight School - Auckland Palace and Gardens
  7. 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
  8. A historic stone room with low curved ceilings and fairy lights

    Add Medieval Knight Dinner - Lumley Castle to your Itinerary

    Medieval Knight Dinner - Lumley Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Food & Drink

    Chester le Street

    Seated on wooden benches, at wooden tables in the Castles Baronial Hall. A 5-course feast is served with mead & wine, whilst being entertained by Ladies of the court, Court Chamberlain & Herald, with musicians, all in traditional costume.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Nov 2026Open 18:30 - 00:00
    More info for Medieval Knight Dinner - Lumley Castle
  9. Yellow and purple font with a white lego brick background, 'Brick Fairytales, enchanted Bishop Auckland'

    Add Brick Fairytales, Enchanted Bishop Auckland - Bishop Auckland Town Hall to your Itinerary

    Brick Fairytales, Enchanted Bishop Auckland - Bishop Auckland Town Hall

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Bishop Auckland

    Bishop Auckland Town Council is pleased to announce the Brick Fairy tales, Enchanted Bishop Auckland Competition which will open on Monday 17th August 2026, until Sunday 30th August 2026. Step into a world of Fairy tales and discover enchanting…

    Dates

    From:
    17 Aug 2026to30 Aug 2026
    More info for Brick Fairytales, Enchanted Bishop Auckland - Bishop Auckland Town Hall
  10. Small child, with face paint, sat on a large Durham University themed, purple deck chair in the Botanic Garden

    Add Face Painting - Botanic Garden to your Itinerary

    Face Painting - Botanic Garden

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Durham

    Come along and have your face painted with flowers, butterflies, glitter or animals.

    Dates

    From:
    14 Aug 2026Open 10:00 - 15:00
    More info for Face Painting - Botanic Garden
  11. Forky Pen

    Add Forky Pens & Alien Goo Creations - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Forky Pens & Alien Goo Creations - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Lanchester

    Get ready for some Toy Story magic! Join us and Craftily Ever After for a hands‑on craft session where kids can make their own Forky Pen and mix up a pot of bright green Alien Slime. Creative, colourful, and full of character — the perfect family…

    Dates

    From:
    16 Aug 2026Open 13:30 - 14:15
    More info for Forky Pens & Alien Goo Creations - Lanchester Garden Centre
  12. A scientist conducting an experiment with fire - Big Science.

    Add Big Sweetie Science - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Big Sweetie Science - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Workshop

    Lanchester

    Join us this Summer for the return of our Big "Sweetie" Science Workshop.

    The children will explore different science areas using sweets. Every child will make their own pot of sherbet and a chemistry mocktail, making fizzy reactions.

    Dates

    From:
    24 Aug 2026Open 11:30 - 12:30
    More info for Big Sweetie Science - Lanchester Garden Centre
  13. Landscape view of an archway building at Raby Castle, with a striped market stall outside in the sun

    Add Bank Holiday Harvest Seasonal Market - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Bank Holiday Harvest Seasonal Market - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Bank Holiday Weekend

    Darlington

    Mark your calendars for the highly anticipated, ever-popular Harvest Market held in the stunning Riding School and Dutch Barn, expect live music, local produce, delectable food, and unique gifts for all the family and friends here at Raby Castle,…

    Dates

    From:
    29 Aug 2026to31 Aug 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Bank Holiday Harvest Seasonal Market - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  14. Poster from the 1951 'A Christmas Carol,' Scrooge wearing a long coat, top hat and yellow scarf, looking glumly on the left of the image

    Add Grand Cinema: A Christmas Carol (1951) - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Grand Cinema: A Christmas Carol (1951) - 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:
    22 Nov 2026Open 14:15 -
    More info for Grand Cinema: A Christmas Carol (1951) - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  15. 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:
    28 Aug 2026to29 Aug 2026Open 11:00 - 15:00
    From:
    12 Sept 2026Open 11:00 - 15:00
    More info for Skulls, Science & Investigation - Museum of Archaeology at Palace Green Library
  16. 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
  17. Scoops & Scales - close up of a reptile.

    Add Scoops & Scales - Lanchester Garden Centre to your Itinerary

    Scoops & Scales - Lanchester Garden Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Workshop

    Lanchester

    Scoops & Scales is a hands‑on, family‑friendly experience where guests get up close with a variety of fascinating lizards before heading to Moo's Ice Cream Bar for a delicious scoop of their choice.

    Dates

    From:
    14 Aug 2026Open 10:00 - 11:00
    From:
    27 Aug 2026Open 10:00 - 11:00
    More info for Scoops & Scales - Lanchester Garden Centre
  18. Professor Emma Jane Goldsmith stood infront of the Vivienne Westwood exhibit at The Bowes Museum, wearing a large tartan tie.

    Add Front Row: Making Westwood - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Front Row: Making Westwood - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Workshop

    Barnard Castle

    Join designer and Northumbria University Fashion Professor Emma Jane Goldsmith for insights into the cut and construction methods of Vivienne Westwood.

    Dates

    From:
    30 Aug 2026Open 14:30 - 15:30
    More info for Front Row: Making Westwood - The Bowes Museum
  19. Enchanted Forest showing The Gingerbread Man, candy canes, Toadstool houses and Little Red Riding Hood.

    Enchanted Durham LEGO Trail

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Durham

    Enchanted Durham LEGO Trail – Save The Date For A Spectacular New Event

    Dates

    From:
    1 Aug 2026to15 Aug 2026
    More info for Enchanted Durham LEGO Trail
  20. County Durham Libraries Summer Reading Challenge - Stacey Bone - Cornforth Library. 10:30-11:30am.

    Add Stacey Bone - Cornforth Library to your Itinerary

    Stacey Bone - Cornforth Library

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Cornforth

    Join us for an amazing story session with Stacey Bone reading her book, 'The Wonderful Woodlouse', (recommended for ages 3-7).

    Dates

    From:
    11 Aug 2026Open 10:30 - 11:30
    More info for Stacey Bone - Cornforth Library
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