What’s On Events Calendar
![Group of people at an exhibition](https://pxl-duracuk.terminalfour.net/fit-in/1600x900/filters:format(webp)/prod01/channel_4/things-to-do/media/things-to-do/whatx27s-on/whats-on-calendar-1920X540.jpg)
Toy Box: celebrating toys and games across cultures
23 May 2024 - 15 September 2024
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Oriental Museum
A student-led, family-friendly summer exhibition showcasing toys from across Asia and Egypt to celebrate a simple fact of humanity: we all love to play.
- Creative
- Exhibition
- Exhibitions
- Public
- Family friendly
- Everyone
Eternal Ascent: Bentley Beetham and the 1924 Mount Everest Expedition
24 May 2024 - 15 September 2024
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Oriental Museum
This exhibition marks the centenary of the 1924 Mount Everest Expedition, the first Western, and ultimately tragic, attempt to climb the highest mountain in the world.
- Creative
- Exhibition
- Exhibitions
- Partnerships & Collaboration
- Public
- Family friendly
- Everyone
DU Poetry Society 'Living Objects'
31 May 2024 - 30 September 2024
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Oriental Museum, Art Collection
Living Objects shows a display of poems by DU Poetry Society
- Exhibition
- Exhibitions
- Children and families
- Everyone
- Friends of the Oriental Museum
- Lifelong Learners and Community groups
- Local and family historians
- School students
- Students in HE
- Teachers / Home Educators
- Young People
Tanabata Festival
06 July 2024 - 06 July 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Tanabata is the Japanese summer star festival. Find out about this special time of year and make tanabata decorations.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Silk Painting Workshop
06 July 2024 - 06 July 2024
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Join us for a creative workshop led by artist Gail Bell and design your own silk painting.
- Workshop
- Everyone
Festival of Archaeology Fun
13 July 2024 - 13 July 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Handle some archaeological finds from Ancient Egypt and China and try our special archaeology trail.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Lego Fun: Autism-Friendly Family Activities
18 July 2024 - 18 July 2024
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Join us for some autism-friendly lego fun for families at the Oriental Museum when the galleries are quieter.
- Accessible
- Creative
- Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Outreach & community
- Public
- Workshop
- Family friendly
- Children and families
- Everyone
Yak-tastic!
20 July 2024 - 20 July 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Did you know that yaks were a vital part of the first attempts to climb Mount Everest? Find out why and make cute yak puppet.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Toy Box
27 July 2024 - 27 July 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Explore our new exhibition, try our new playful gallery trail and make your own game.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Sketchbook Workshop
31 July 2024 - 31 July 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Get a free mini sketchbook and try some easy, fun drawing ideas.
- Workshop
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Awesome Armies
02 August 2024 - 02 August 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Learn about the Chinese terracotta army, and make your own terracotta warrior from clay.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Terrible Teeth
03 August 2024 - 03 August 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Find out why many Ancient Egyptians had terrible teeth and make a set of chompers from plasticine.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Gorgeous Glass
07 August 2024 - 07 August 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Decorate a glass jar with your favourite colours.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Paper Marbling Workshop
09 August 2024 - 09 August 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Experiment with colour and try paper marbling.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Sculpture Saturday
10 August 2024 - 10 August 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
See our huge Ancient Egyptian temple frieze and then make your own relief sculpture.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Mountain Zine Making
14 August 2024 - 14 August 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Explore the sights and sounds of the Himalayas and make a cool mountain zine.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Games Night Fun: Autism-Friendly Family Activities
15 August 2024 - 15 August 2024
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Explore our new exhibition all about toys and games, then play some fun games like Ancient Egyptian senet, snakes and ladders and more - all while the museum galleries are generally quieter.
- Accessible
- Creative
- Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Outreach & community
- Public
- Workshop
- Family friendly
- Children and families
- Everyone
Sail Away
16 August 2024 - 16 August 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
See a beautiful boat on display and make your own watercolour sail boat.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Awesome Obelisks
17 August 2024 - 17 August 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Find out about the ancient Egyptian obelisk on display and create your own 3D model to take home.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Chinese Writing Workshop
21 August 2024 - 21 August 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Learn some Chinese characters and try writing your own.
- Family friendly
- 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.