FREE Family Friendly Festival and Events

You don’t have to be beside the seaside to get sand in your toes. Head to Darlington for five days of sun (hopefully), sea and sand for the ever-popular Darlington By The Sea.

Running from Monday 24 July to Friday 28 July between 11am and 4pm, families can enjoy free sandcastle building in a giant sandpit in the market square, face painting, balloon modelling, and lots more fun and games.

Theatre Hullaballoo – the UK’s only dedicated children’s theatre outside London – will once again be taking over South Park in Darlington for a fun-packed five-day outdoor family arts festival, Hullabaloo In The Park. Aimed at kids aged 10 and under, there’s live performances, storytelling, making and adventuring on offer, plus so much more between 26 and 30 July.

The renowned Stockton International Riverside Festival is now in its 36^th year and it’s taking place from 3 to 6 August. It will be bringing its famed brand of global music, dance, theatre and street performers to the centre of Stockton with a packed programme of shows for all the family.

Middlesbrough Mela, one of the biggest and most spectacular multicultural festivals in the North East, is always a treat for young and old. It will be back with food, drink, performances, music a funfair and more in Albert Park on 12 & 13 of August.

Finally, the Festival of Thrift’s celebration of sustainable living will take place in the new location of Billingham this September. Ethical enterprises such as local makers, food producers, artisans, upcyclers, fixers and recyclers, craftspeople and artists will be once again out in force for a weekend of workshops and family entertainment on 23 & 24 September.

And your diary will continue to be packed as we head into autumn and winter with events like Hartlepool Folk Festival, a Taste of Africa and Nightfall rounding out a fantastic year for families.