Family events near Durham 2026
Everything on within 20 miles of Durham, grouped by type. 82 events listed, 30 of them free. Each one shows dates, times, prices and tips, and we check them against the organisers' websites.
Fireworks displays (23)
- Kynren Pyromusical
31 Oct 2026 · Show 7pm
Kynren show arena, Bishop Auckland · 9 miles · See event website - Firework Extravaganza at Beamish Hall
1 Nov 2026 to 4 Nov 2026 · Opens 6pm
Beamish Hall, Stanley · 8 miles · See event website - Fireworks by the River, Durham
1 Nov 2026 · Opens 5pm
Durham city riverside · under 1 mile · See event website - Gateshead RFC Fireworks
1 Nov 2026 · Gates 4.30pm; fireworks 6.30pm
Gateshead Rugby Club, Low Fell · 11 miles · Adult £7 · Family £25 - North Tyneside Fireworks Display
1 Nov 2026 · 6pm-7.30pm; fireworks from 7pm (about 15 minutes)
The Links, Whitley Bay · 20 miles · Free - Seaham Fireworks
1 Nov 2026 · 5pm-9pm
Seafront, Seaham · 10 miles · Free - South Tyneside Fireworks
1 Nov 2026 · Two displays: 6pm and 8pm
South Shields seafront, Sea Road NE33 2LD · 17 miles · Free - Stockton Fireworks
1 Nov 2026
Riverside and Waterfront urban park, Stockton · 18 miles · Free - Blue Flames Annual Fireworks
5 Nov 2026 · Gates 5.30pm; display 7.30pm
Blue Flames Sporting Club, Benton · 16 miles · See event website - Spennymoor Firework Display
5 Nov 2026 · 6pm-8pm
Spennymoor · 6 miles · See event website - The Big Blaze, Lintz Hall Farm
5 Nov 2026 to 7 Nov 2026 · 4pm-11pm
Lintz Hall Farm, near Rowlands Gill · 12 miles · Adult £11 · Family £26 - Barmoor Fireworks, Ryton
6 Nov 2026 · Funfair from 4pm; fireworks 7pm
Barmoor Field, Ryton · 15 miles · Free - Brandon Fantastic Fireworks and Bonfire
6 Nov 2026 · 4pm-9pm
Brandon Sports Club · 3 miles · See event website - Floodlit Firework and Funfair Racenight
6 Nov 2026 · Afternoon and evening racing with a fireworks finale
Newcastle Racecourse, Gosforth Park · 18 miles · Adult £21 · Family £30 - Newton Aycliffe Firework Display
6 Nov 2026 · Opens 5pm
Newton Aycliffe · 11 miles · Free - Rutherford AFC Bonfire and Fireworks
6 Nov 2026 · Gates 6pm; fireworks about 8.30pm
Beggarswood Park, Lobley Hill, Gateshead · 12 miles · Adult £12 · Child £9 - Blaydon RFC Bonfire and Firework Extravaganza
7 Nov 2026 · Gates 4pm; bonfire 6.15pm; fireworks 7.15pm
Blaydon RFC, Swalwell · 13 miles · Adult £9.42 · Child £5.74 · Family £25.17 - Festival of Fireworks, Chester-le-Street
7 Nov 2026 · Opens 7.30pm
Banks Homes Riverside, Chester-le-Street · 5 miles · See event website - Gateshead Stadium Firework Frenzy
7 Nov 2026 · 5pm-9pm; fireworks 8.30pm
Gateshead International Stadium · 13 miles · Adult £6 · Child £6 - Gosforth Fireworks Extravaganza
7 Nov 2026 · Gates 5pm; fireworks about 7pm
Gosforth Sports Association, Broadway West · 16 miles · Adult £8.50 · Child £6.50 · Family £25 - Stanley Fireworks
7 Nov 2026 · Opens 5pm
Stanley · 8 miles · See event website - Tynemouth Cricket Club Fireworks
7 Nov 2026 · Gates 5pm; fireworks from 7pm
Tynemouth Cricket Club · 18 miles · Adult £7 · Child £4 · Family £20 - Peterlee and Horden RFC Fireworks Night
8 Nov 2026 · Opens 4.30pm
Peterlee & Horden RFC · 10 miles · See event website
Santa and Christmas experiences (11)
- Fenwick Christmas Window
1 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 · Reveal Sunday 1 November, 6.30pm (live online); windows open to everyone from Monday 2 November
Fenwick, Northumberland Street, Newcastle · 14 miles · Free - Raby Castle at Christmas
14 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Raby Castle, Staindrop · 16 miles · Adult £25 · Family £70 - Christmas Village, Old Eldon Square
19 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Old Eldon Square, Newcastle · 14 miles · See event website - Newcastle Christmas Market
19 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Grey's Monument and Grey Street, Newcastle · 14 miles · Free - Christmas at Beamish
21 Nov 2026 to 31 Dec 2026 · 10am-4pm; closed 25-26 Dec
Beamish, The Living Museum of the North · 8 miles · See event website - Christmas at Gibside
21 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Gibside, Rowlands Gill · 12 miles · See event website - Father Christmas at Raby Castle
21 Nov 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Raby Castle, Staindrop · 16 miles · Family £32 - North Pole Express, Tanfield Railway
28 Nov 2026 to 24 Dec 2026 · Hourly departures 10.25am-4.25pm; about 2 hours in total
East Tanfield Station, DH9 9UY · 9 miles · Adult £24 · Child £24 - Santa Express, Weardale Railway
28 Nov 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Weardale Railway · 17 miles · Adult £33 · Child £33 - Father Christmas: Tales and Treats at Ushaw
1 Dec 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Ushaw Historic House, Durham DH7 7DW · 3 miles · See event website - Mr and Mrs Claus in the Yuletide Yurt, Raby
6 Dec 2026 to 20 Dec 2026
Raby Castle, Staindrop · 16 miles · See event website
Christmas light trails (3)
- The Plotters' Forest Enchanted Christmas Trail
14 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Raby Castle, Staindrop · 16 miles · Child £14 - AGLOW Light Trail at Auckland Palace
20 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Auckland Palace, Bishop Auckland · 9 miles · Adult £23.50 - Northern Lights Newcastle
26 Nov 2026 to 31 Dec 2026
Leazes Park, Newcastle · 14 miles · Adult £12 · Child £12
Christmas light switch-ons (6)
- Dalton Park Christmas Lights and Fireworks
7 Nov 2026 · Festivities from 4.30pm; lights and fireworks 6.30pm
Dalton Park, Murton SR7 9HU · 8 miles · Free - Newcastle Christmas Lights Switch-On
12 Nov 2026
Newcastle city centre · 14 miles · Free - Darlington Christmas Lights Switch-On
15 Nov 2026 · From 4pm; lights on about 5:30pm, then fireworks
Darlington town centre · 17 miles · Free - Spanish City Christmas Tree Lights
15 Nov 2026 · 4pm-6pm; tree lights 5pm
Spanish City, Whitley Bay · 19 miles · Adult £5 · Child £5 - Sunderland Christmas Light Switch-On
19 Nov 2026
Keel Square, Sunderland · 12 miles · Free - Durham Christmas Sparkle
29 Nov 2026 · From 5pm
Durham city centre · under 1 mile · Free
Christmas markets and fairs (15)
- Newcastle Quays Christmas Market
7 Nov 2026 to 8 Nov 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Newcastle Quays, North Shields · 16 miles · Free - Brocksbushes Christmas Fayre
12 Nov 2026 to 15 Nov 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Brocksbushes Farm, near Corbridge · 20 miles · Free - Beamish Hall Christmas Fair
13 Nov 2026 to 15 Nov 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Beamish Hall, near Stanley · 8 miles · Free - Gateshead Stadium Christmas Market
15 Nov 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Gateshead International Stadium · 13 miles · Free - Spanish City Christmas Fayre
20 Nov 2026 to 22 Nov 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Spanish City, Whitley Bay · 19 miles · Free - Wynyard Hall Christmas Fayre
20 Nov 2026 to 22 Nov 2026 · Fri-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm (entry slots 10am and 1pm)
Wynyard Hall, near Billingham · 13 miles · Adult £8 · Child £7 - Blanchland Christmas Artisan Market
21 Nov 2026 to 22 Nov 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Blanchland village · 20 miles · Free - Witton Castle Christmas Market
21 Nov 2026 to 22 Nov 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Witton Castle, Witton-le-Wear · 11 miles · Free - Raby Castle Christmas Market
27 Nov 2026 to 29 Nov 2026
Raby Castle, Staindrop · 16 miles · Adult £2.50 - Stockton Sparkles
1 Dec 2026 to 20 Dec 2026
Stockton High Street · 18 miles · Free - Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town
3 Dec 2026 to 6 Dec 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Bishop Auckland town centre · 9 miles · Free - Durham Christmas Festival
4 Dec 2026 to 6 Dec 2026 · Fri-Sat 9am-5:30pm, Sun 9am-4:30pm
Palace Green, Durham · under 1 mile · See event website - Consett Christmas Market
5 Dec 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Consett town centre · 12 miles · Free - North Shields Christmas Market
5 Dec 2026 to 6 Dec 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
North Shields · 17 miles · Free - The Luna Night Christmas Market
5 Dec 2026 · Check opening times with the organiser.
Middlesbrough Town Hall · 19 miles · Free
Pantomimes and Christmas shows (14)
- Rapunzel (Gala Durham)
19 Nov 2026 to 31 Dec 2026
Gala Theatre, Durham · under 1 mile · See event website - Sleeping Beauty (Customs House panto)
20 Nov 2026 to 2 Jan 2027
The Customs House, South Shields · 17 miles · See event website - Jack and the Beanstalk (Theatre Royal panto)
24 Nov 2026 to 17 Jan 2027
Theatre Royal, Grey Street, Newcastle · 14 miles · See event website - Beauty and the Beast (Empire Consett)
27 Nov 2026 to 31 Dec 2026
Empire Theatre, Consett · 12 miles · See event website - Sleeping Beauty (Forum Theatre)
2 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Forum Theatre, Billingham · 16 miles · See event website - The Snow Queen (Northern Stage)
3 Dec 2026 to 2 Jan 2027
Northern Stage, Barras Bridge, Newcastle · 14 miles · See event website - Aladdin (Tyne Theatre panto)
4 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Westgate Road, Newcastle · 14 miles · See event website - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
4 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Playhouse Whitley Bay · 19 miles · See event website - Aladdin (Middlesbrough Theatre)
5 Dec 2026 to 31 Dec 2026
Middlesbrough Theatre, The Avenue · 20 miles · Adult £26 · Child £25 · Family £96 - Cinderella (Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre)
10 Dec 2026 to 27 Dec 2026
Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre · 16 miles · Adult £16 · Child £14 - Beauty and the Beast (Darlington Hippodrome)
11 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Darlington Hippodrome · 17 miles · See event website - Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook
11 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Sunderland Empire, High Street West · 12 miles · See event website - Jack and the Beanstalk (Majestic Theatre)
12 Dec 2026 to 28 Dec 2026
The Majestic Theatre, Bondgate, Darlington DL3 7JT · 17 miles · See event website - Christmas at The Glasshouse with Matt Baker
17 Dec 2026 · 7:30pm (about 2 hours)
The Glasshouse, Gateshead Quays · 13 miles · Adult £5
Ice skating (1)
- Newcastle's Outdoor Ice Rink
7 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 · Hour-long sessions (about 45 minutes on the ice)
Times Square, Life Science Centre, Newcastle · 13 miles · Adult £15.75 · Child £14.50 · Family £49.50
Halloween events (5)
- On now Pumpkin patch at Holmside Park
2 Oct 2026 to 31 Oct 2026
Holmside Park, Edmondsley DH7 6EY · 5 miles · Child £15 - On now Baydale Farm pumpkin patch
3 Oct 2026 to 31 Oct 2026 · Half term 10am-4pm
Baydale Farm, Coniscliffe Road, Darlington DL3 8TA · 18 miles · Free - On now Pumpkin picking at Hall Hill Farm
17 Oct 2026 to 1 Nov 2026
Hall Hill Farm, Lanchester DH7 0TA · 9 miles · Adult £13.50 · Child £12.50 · Family £48 - On now Pumpkin picking at Tweddle Farm
24 Oct 2026 to 30 Oct 2026 · 10am-5pm (last entry about 3pm)
Tweddle Farm, Blackhall Colliery TS27 4BT · 12 miles · See event website - Family Fright Fest, Lintz Hall Farm
30 Oct 2026 to 31 Oct 2026 · 11am-4pm
Lintz Hall Farm, near Burnopfield NE16 6AS · 12 miles · Adult £14
New Year's Eve events (2)
- New Year's Eve fireworks, Newcastle and Gateshead Quayside
31 Dec 2026 · Usually an early family display at 6pm and a midnight display
Newcastle and Gateshead Quayside · 13 miles · Free - Sunderland New Year's Eve double fireworks
31 Dec 2026 · Last year: children's activities from 3pm, parade 5:45pm, family fireworks 6:30pm, midnight fireworks
Keel Square, Sunderland · 12 miles · Free
Festivals and exhibitions (2)
- On now Turner Prize 2026 exhibition
26 Sep 2026 to 29 Mar 2027
MIMA, Centre Square, Middlesbrough · 20 miles · Free - Chinese New Year in Newcastle
6 Feb 2027 to 28 Feb 2027
Chinatown, Stowell Street, Newcastle · 14 miles · Free
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