What’s On Events Calendar
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Binding the Bard
04 April 2025 - 02 November 2025
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Historic Libraries
An exhibition of the entrants to our international bookbinding competition.
- Creative
- Exhibition
- Exhibitions
- Holiday activities
- Public
- Everyone
Shakespeare Recovered: Durham's First Folio
04 April 2025 - 02 November 2025
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Historic Libraries
This year, our iconic book takes centre stage at Palace Green Library.
- Exhibition
- Exhibitions
- Holiday activities
- Public
- Everyone
Weaving Stories: From Community Hands and Hearts
24 May 2025 - 14 September 2025
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Oriental Museum
A vibrant exhibition celebrating the creativity and voices of community groups who regularly collaborate with the Oriental Museum.
- Creative
- Exhibition
- Exhibitions
- Public
- Family friendly
- Everyone
Telling Tales: Making Stories Come to Life
13 June 2025 - 09 November 2025
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Experience the joy and wonder of storytelling through the Oriental Museum’s new summer exhibition, Telling Tales Making Stories Come to Life.
- Creative
- Exhibition
- Exhibitions
- Public
- Family friendly
- Everyone
Enchanted Objects: Adornment and Personal Protection from Amulets to the Mobile Phone
13 June 2025 - 09 November 2025
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Contemporary artist Dinah Kelly shines a light on the protective powers and symbolism of charms, talismans and amulets.
- Creative
- Exhibition
- Exhibitions
- Public
- Family friendly
- Everyone
Beasts and Legends: Adventures Through North East Folklore
14 June 2025 - 02 November 2025
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Historic Libraries
Beasts and Legends: Adventures Through North East Folklore is a free exhibition which explores the development of storytelling throughout Historic County Durham.
- Accessible
- Creative
- Exhibition
- Exhibitions
- Holiday activities
- Public
- Children and families
- Everyone
Family Craft Club does Lego Printing
22 July 2025 - 22 July 2025
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Historic Libraries
Join us for family activities inspired by our exhibition, Shakespeare Recovered. Drop in, all welcome, aged 5-12
- Creative
- Exhibition
- Exhibitions
- Holiday activities
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Little Dragons
23 July 2025 - 23 July 2025
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Oriental Museum
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 stories.
- Creative
- Public
- Family friendly
- Under 5s
Sunken Shipwrecks
23 July 2025 - 23 July 2025
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Hunt for the Tek Sing shipwreck and learn how underwater archaeologists study shipwrecks.
- Accessible
- Creative
- Family friendly
- Children and families
- Everyone
Mysterious Mummies
25 July 2025 - 25 July 2025
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Learn how archaeologists study Ancient Egyptian mummies and make an x-ray of your own!
- Accessible
- Creative
- Family friendly
- Children and families
- Everyone
Festival of Archaeology: Roman Life Uncovered at the Museum of Archaeology
26 July 2025 - 26 July 2025
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Museum of Archaeology
Be part of the Festival of Archaeology with a family-friendly event at the Museum of Archaeology. Join Out There Adventures Living History Team as they bring Roman archaeology to life, and meet our curators who will share fascinating insights into our collections.
- Holiday activities
- Outreach & community
- Public
- Family friendly
- Children and families
- Everyone
Dress Up
26 July 2025 - 26 July 2025
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
See a beautiful Japanese kimono and try dressing up your own mini doll.
- Accessible
- Creative
- Family friendly
- Children and families
- Everyone
Enchanted Objects: Amulet Making Workshop
26 July 2025 - 26 July 2025
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Join us for a creative workshop with artist Dinah Kelly. Create your own unique amulet full of personal meaning.
- Creative
- Public
- Workshop
- Alumni
- Everyone
- Friends of the Oriental Museum
- Lifelong Learners and Community groups
Family Craft Club does Book Mark Marbling
29 July 2025 - 29 July 2025
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Historic Libraries
Join us for family activities inspired by our exhibition, Shakespeare Recovered. Drop in, all welcome, aged 5-12
- Creative
- Exhibition
- Exhibitions
- Holiday activities
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Little Dragons
30 July 2025 - 30 July 2025
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Oriental Museum
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 stories.
- Creative
- Public
- Family friendly
- Under 5s
Fakes and Forgeries
30 July 2025 - 30 July 2025
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Be a detective and hunt down some objects that might not be exactly what they seem and make one of your own.
- Accessible
- Creative
- Family friendly
- Children and families
- Everyone
Exploring ancient Japan
01 August 2025 - 01 August 2025
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Learn about prehistoric Japan and make a clay dogu figure.
- Accessible
- Creative
- Holiday activities
- Family friendly
- Children and families
- Everyone
- School students
Festival of Archaeology Special event: Mapping the Past
02 August 2025 - 02 August 2025
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Find out how archaeologists record their discoveries and draw a giant site plan of the museum and its treasures. Perfect for budding archaeologists.
- Accessible
- Creative
- Holiday activities
- Family friendly
- Children and families
- Everyone
- School students
MG Car Display
03 August 2025 - 03 August 2025
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Botanic Garden
The Durham MG & Classic Car Club was formed in 2001 for local car enthusiasts interested in MG cars, both classic and modern. This informal gathering will showcase cars representing models produced from the late 1940s through to the early 2000s.
- Family friendly
Family Craft Club does Book Beetle Printing
05 August 2025 - 05 August 2025
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Historic Libraries
Join us for family activities inspired by our exhibition, Shakespeare Recovered. Drop in, all welcome, aged 5-12
- Creative
- Children and families
What’s on across our venues
Our unique cultural attractions include Durham Castle, Botanic Garden, Historic Libraries at Palace Green, Oriental Museum, Museum of Archaeology and our World Heritage Site Visitor Centre. Whatever your interest, there's something for everyone to enjoy.