What’s On Events Calendar
Family Activities: Festival of Archaeology Special Event
24 July 2026 - 24 July 2026
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Pop along to our handling station and get hands on with some museum objects unearthed by archaeologists with the help of our Learning Team. Why not bring in your own finds to show us too.
- Accessible
- Creative
- Outreach & community
- Family friendly
- Children and families
- Everyone
Family Activities: Super Silk Worms
25 July 2026 - 25 July 2026
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Find out how silk is made, and make your own wiggly silk worm to take home.
- Accessible
- Creative
- Outreach & community
- Family friendly
- Children and families
- Everyone
Little Dragons
29 July 2026 - 29 July 2026
9:30 AM - 11:45 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
- Outreach & community
- Public
- Family friendly
- Under 5s
Family Activities: Glorious Gardens
29 July 2026 - 29 July 2026
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Get creative and make a mini Japanese Zen garden.
- Accessible
- Creative
- Outreach & community
- Family friendly
- Children and families
- Everyone
Crazy Creatures
31 July 2026 - 31 July 2026
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Botanic Garden
Get interactive with the Crazy Creatures visiting the Garden for the day.
- Family friendly
Family Activities: Spice Chest
31 July 2026 - 31 July 2026
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Discover the smells and spices of the Silk Road and make spice map and spice bag to take home.
- Accessible
- Creative
- Outreach & community
- Family friendly
- Children and families
- Everyone
Little Dragons
05 August 2026 - 05 August 2026
9:30 AM - 11:45 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
- Outreach & community
- Public
- Family friendly
- Under 5s
Life Drawing at Palace Green Library
08 August 2026 - 08 August 2026
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Historic Libraries
Hello and welcome to Life Drawing at Palace Green Library! This is an in-person life drawing class that is open to everybody and hosted at Palace Green Library in Durham City.
- Creative
- Alumni
- Everyone
- Friends of Palace Green Library
- Lifelong Learners and Community groups
- Students in HE
- Young People
Little Dragons
12 August 2026 - 12 August 2026
9:30 AM - 11:45 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
- Outreach & community
- Public
- Family friendly
- Under 5s
Face Painting
14 August 2026 - 14 August 2026
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Botanic Garden
Come along and have your face painted with flowers, butterflies, glitter or animals.
- Family friendly
Little Dragons
19 August 2026 - 19 August 2026
9:30 AM - 11:45 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
- Outreach & community
- Public
- Family friendly
- Under 5s
Little Dragons
26 August 2026 - 26 August 2026
9:30 AM - 11:45 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
- Outreach & community
- Public
- Family friendly
- Under 5s
Crazy Creatures
27 August 2026 - 27 August 2026
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Botanic Garden
Get interactive with the Crazy Creatures visiting the Garden for the day.
- Family friendly
Durham Art Collective: Marbling Paper
28 August 2026 - 28 August 2026
3:30 PM - 4:55 PM
Museum of Archaeology
A youth group for 12-18 year olds to learn practical art skills. This month we will be marbling paper, taking inspiration from the rare books in Durham University's Archives and Special Collection.
- Creative
- Children and families
- School students
- Teachers / Home Educators
- Young People
Little Dragons
02 September 2026 - 02 September 2026
9:30 AM - 11:45 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
- Outreach & community
- Public
- Family friendly
- Under 5s
Durham Orchid Show
06 September 2026 - 06 September 2026
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Botanic Garden
The North East of England Orchid Society, Durham University and the Botanic Garden present the Durham Orchid Show and Craft Fair at Josephine Butler College.
- Family friendly
Little Dragons
09 September 2026 - 09 September 2026
9:30 AM - 11:45 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
- Outreach & community
- Public
- Family friendly
- Under 5s
Life Drawing at Palace Green Library
12 September 2026 - 12 September 2026
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Historic Libraries
Hello and welcome to Life Drawing at Palace Green Library! This is an in-person life drawing class that is open to everybody and hosted at Palace Green Library in Durham City.
- Creative
- Alumni
- Everyone
- Friends of Palace Green Library
- Lifelong Learners and Community groups
- Students in HE
- Young People
Little Dragons
16 September 2026 - 16 September 2026
9:30 AM - 11:45 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
- Outreach & community
- Public
- Family friendly
- Under 5s
Little Dragons
23 September 2026 - 23 September 2026
9:30 AM - 11:45 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
- Outreach & community
- Public
- Family friendly
- Under 5s
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.