Free and low cost things to do in Darlington over summer 2025

The summer holidays and finding things to keep kids entertained can be difficult. However, there are so many things happening in Darlington that kids won't be able to find time to be bored! Take a look at our list to see a range of free and low cost things to do across the borough.

Summer Kids Disco at Darlington Market on Sat 19 July – FREE – enjoy an afternoon full of music, dancing and fun. There’ll be games, dance competitions and prizes to be won.

Darlington by the Sea from Sat 19 to Wed 23 July - FREE - head to Darlington for five days of sun (hopefully), sea and sand for this ever-popular annual family event. From 11am until 5pm each day families can enjoy free sandcastle building in a giant sandpit in the market square, sand art, activities and lots more fun and games.

Hopetown Darlington's First Birthday Bash on Sun 20 July - FREE - there’ll be cake, a climbing wall, stilt walkers, bubbles and even circus workshops, plus live music all day!

Circus Skills at Darlington Libraries on Mon 21 July - £5 per ticket - an exciting and interactive workshop where kids will have the opportunity to learn juggling, plate spinning, stilt walking and more.

Summer Holiday Pool Parties at The Dolphin Centre on Tues 22 and 29 July, and Tues 5, 12, 19 and 26 Aug - £2.75 per child and £5.40 per adult (£2.45 and £4.85 with card) - dive into the summer holidays with a fun-filled Pool Party! Including a live DJ on poolside for the main pool, diving boards, slides and toddler pool!

Toy Fayre at Darlington Market on Thurs 24 July - FREE - a market for toy collectors and kids alike!

Cockerton Carnival on Sat 26 July - FREE - a fun-filled family day with live music, carnival rides, steam train ride, community stalls, food and drink, and more.

Pirate Story Party at The Hullabaloo on Mon 28 July - £4 per ticket - set off on a rollicking, sea-splashing journey as you dive into the pages of 10 Little Pirates in a magical, multi-sensory experience designed for little adventurers! Expect sensory play, music, movement, Makaton and merriment as you swashbuckle our way through the 30-minute session.

Darlington Libraries Takeover Day on Wed 30 July - FREE - enjoy a fun-filled family day out as Darlington Libraries take over the town’s outdoor market square. Throughout the day, they will showcase fantastic entertainers, storytellers, illustrators, authors and more!

Wacky Wednesday at Cornmill Shopping Centre on Wed 30 July - FREE - celebrate all things seaside holidays with arts and crafts sessions to get the kids ready for a summer by the sea.

Curious Takeover at The Hullabaloo and Darlington Hippodrome on Sat 2 Aug - FREE - you can expect storytelling, workshops, arts and crafts and so much more! A day filled with fun, free activities for all the family.

Move More Monday on Mon 4 and 18 Aug - FREE - enjoy a variety of free, fun activities to promote the benefits of keeping active. On the first Move More Monday, there will be a climbing wall and free games including mini golf and frisbee shoot out in the Market Square. The second Move More Monday (August 18) is circus-themed with performers showing off their skills throughout the day as well as arts and craft, and face painting.

Pirate Play at The Hullabaloo on Tues 5 Aug to Wed 17 Sept - FREE - join the crew in the new Pirate Play, held in the theatre space at The Hullabaloo! There’s a giant deconstructed pirate ship with endless opportunities for play.

Wacky Wednesday at Cornmill Shopping Centre on Wed 6 Aug - FREE - experience magic and wonder with live magic performances and other activities.

Big Science Physics and Chemistry at Hopetown Darlington on Fri 8 Aug - £4 per child - there are experiments galore to partake in during these immersive scientific sessions – from making and enjoying your very own sherbet to crafting hovercrafts and making them fly – plus much more!

Pride Picnic at Hopetown Darlington on Sun 10 Aug - FREE - Hopetown’s luscious outdoor spaces are the perfect location for a relaxed, family-friendly pride picnic with crafts, face painting, live music by Tracks Darlington, bubbles and storytelling.

Billingham Folklore International Dancers in the Market Square on Tues 12 Aug - FREE - bringing dance and music to Darlington! Spectacular performances on the big stage from world dancers as part of the International Billingham Folklore Dance Festival 2025.

Wacky Wednesday at Cornmill Shopping Centre on Wed 13 Aug - FREE - create your own magic themed arts and crafts to take home and practice on your family!

Making Sense Together on Thurs 14 Aug - FREE - a community day to raise awareness and support people with learning disabilities or autism, promoting inclusivity for all. Activities include face painting, printing, animal encounters, bubbles, nature-themed crafts and more.

S&DR26miles Family Day on Tues 19 Aug - FREE - join the Stockton and Darlington Railways team to explore the history of the railway in the North East! With family crafts, activities and STEM workshops hosted by organisations and partners including Preston Park Museum and Grounds, Hopetown, Locomotion and the Friends of Stockton and Darlington Railway and the 26 Miles team.

Fairy Tales & Legends Day on Thurs 21 Aug - FREE - by royal command, you are invited to be part of Fairy Tales & Legends Day. Please feel free to dress to impress! Market Square activities and play from 11am – 3pm.

Darlington Market's British Produce Festival on Sat 23 and Sun 24 Aug - FREE - a festival to celebrate local producers with great food and live music.

Dinosaur Day on Thurs 28 Aug - FREE - Step back in time and come face-to-face with the giants of the prehistoric world with Wild West Dino Discovery. Their Portable Dinosaur Exhibition is roaring into town, bringing life-sized, jaw-dropping dinosaurs right to your doorstep. Touch real fossils, snap epic selfies with a T-Rex, and uncover the secrets of the Mesozoic era!

Fairytale Forest Creative Play at The Hullabaloo until Sat 30 Aug - FREE - dress up, play and re-enact popular fairytales or create your own! Make magical potions, collect golden eggs and play in the fairytale castle – your little ones imaginations can run free!

STEAM to the Future at Hopetown Darlington until Sun 5 Oct - FREE - a family-friendly exhibition that looks at steam as a source of power and wonders how the future of rail travel looks.

Activities at Darlington Library across the whole of summer holidays - £2.50-£6 per ticket depending on activity - get stuck into a range of craft activities, story times and more.