There are lots of events over October Half Term which are full of Pumpkin Pickings and scary trails and Halloween Themed activities. However, there is also lots of lovely days out which are nothing to do with Halloween so I've created a whole separate list of these days out.
so if you are after a lovely Autumn activity, or a trail around some gardens then check out this list of What's on in October Half Term that isn't Spooky
🍂 🍎 Dunham Apple Festival
📅 21st Sept - 1st Nov
• Apple Picking Adventure
• Pressing and Tasting Session
• Apple Character Hunt
• Wagon Train Rides
• Bouncy Pad
• Photo Opportunities
• Refreshments: Purchase juice, cider, and other treats from The Apple Barn, plus wood-fired pizza from Little Red Pizza Co.
🌎 Boundary Farm, Sawpit St, Dunham Massey, Altrincham. WA14 5SJ
🐕Buxton Snowdog Art Trail
From 19th October 2024
SNOWDOGS DISCOVER BUXTON is a magical experience created by Wild in Art and proudly supported by Markovitz Ltd, this enchanting event is here in aid of Blythe House Hospice
Find the 12 dogs located around Buxton!
For more information visit:
🦔 Dunham Massey Hedgehog Trail
📅 18th Sept - 3rd Nov
🦔Hedgehog hibernation: a home for Prickles
🦔An autumnal family trail
Autumn is an important time of year for hibernating animals. From foraging and gathering, to building and creating, find out more about the journey towards hibernation in this family-friendly, seasonal trail.
Find out more: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cheshire-greater-manchester/dunham-massey/events/6374e68e-68ed-494e-bd6d-95781f3e980f
Ideal for children age 10 and under. Included in general admission.
"From Here to There" trail at Dunham Massey
Until 3rd Nov
Children are invited to take a journey through the historic house, accompanied by Speechly the Pineapple. Grab a Pineapple Passport from the entrance of the house, spot the suitcase stacks, and collect a stamp for your passport.
Manchester Science Festival
📅 Friday 18 – Sun 27 Oct
At Museum of Science & Industry and other locations across Manchester
Explore the extremes of nature, human capability and creativity through entertaining events, immersive performances, family fun and hands-on activities across 10 days of inspiring experiences.
Discover the full programme
Waywood Festival at Storyhouse Theatre
Saturday 26 October – Monday 4 November 2024
WayWord Festival celebrates the power of words to ignite imaginations, go on an adventure and discover something new. There will be children’s authors and illustrators live on stage, plenty of enchanting theatre performances for kids, workshops, storytelling, arts and crafts, and much much more!
https://www.storyhouse.com/seasons/wayword-festival/
🎭The Tempest (for kids!)
Mon 28 October–Sat 2 November 2024
Storyhouse present a Shakespearean production created specifically for primary school aged kids: an abridged re-telling of Shakespeare’s classic tale. This is a fantastic opportunity to introduce your young people to Shakespeare this October half term.
Embark on a journey to a magical island where a wise magician named Prospero lives with his daughter, Miranda. With the help of a spirit named Ariel, they use magic to teach the visitors important lessons about kindness and forgiveness.
🤔Dr Ranj: Brain Power
Sun 27 October 2024 • 2pm
Discover how to train your brain and become the best you can be with the nation’s favourite doctor. Dr Ranj not only tells you how your brain works but also shows you how to train it to get better at stuff you find difficult. Following Dr Ranj’s advice will help you learn how to make the most of your brain and to keep your mind happy and healthy. A fun and lively event with lots of audience interaction!
📚Story Explorers
1st Nov -Free
Come and join Story Explorers’ Claire as we explore Room On The Broom! There will be songs, finding clues, reading the story and then linked activities before ending with bubbles and dancing. This session is aimed at 5 years and under.
🖊️Creative Writing Workshop
Clara’s event is comprised of a mini creative writing session, for children to learn to write their own news article, doodle FUN draw-along exercises, and even a ‘make your own Press Pack’ session!
📚Illustration with Lydia Monks (The Tooth Fairy and the Crocodile)
Tue 29 October 2024 • 2pm
Join bestselling and award winning illustrator, Lydia Monks, for an interactive storytelling and live illustration event featuring the latest her book, The Tooth Fairy and the Crocodile, written by Julia Donaldson, a terrifically toothy tale full of adventure and suspense!
Half Term Events at Jodrell Bank
21st Oct - 3rd Nov
👽 Alien Trail
• Explore Jodrell Bank’s beautiful green spaces on an intergalactic outdoor trail and keep an eye out for little green men hiding in the trees!
• Teds Space Adventure and Hotel Transylvania in the Dome £5 per person, Under 4's are free.
• Martian Mayhem Science Show - Free
👻 Mad Hatters Adventure Golf at Hartford Golf Club
📅 From 26th -31st Oct 9am-6pm
Mad Hatter’s has become haunted, Alice’s house has ghosts & the Cheshire Cat has a new ghoulish friend 👻
👻 Prizes for best Halloween outfits!!
🎃 Halloween fun & games, suitable for all ages & look out for our family deals & kids discounts…
🔥 Enjoy a magic potion refreshment & you can also toast marshmallows on our fire pit 🔥
For more info & to book ⬇
🏌️♂️Kids play free at Dino Falls Adventure Golf
On 29th, 30th & 31st Oct if in Fancy Dress
Old Park Lane, Manchester M17 8PG
🧪 Half Term at Eureka! Science & Discovery
🔥 Fire & Light
26th Oct - 3rd Nov
All included in the admission cost!
😃 Fire Show
Hailing from Liverpool, this fiery crew of performers, circus pros, and flow arts fanatics will have you on the edge of your seat with a spectacular fusion of traditional fire theatre, jaw-dropping pyrotechnics, and mesmerizing light manipulation. It’s an electrifying show that you’ll never forget!
😃 Fluorescence Frenzy Workshop! 🌟
Get ready to dive into 4 mind-blowing experiments that show off the amazing luminescent and fluorescent properties of materials you can find at home!
😃 Glow Craft!
From vibrant crafts to brain-teasing crosswords, there’s something for everyone – whether you’re a mini artist, a crafty genius, or a puzzle master!
🎃 Autumn Celebration at Cholmondeley Castle
📅 Sun, October 27th, for our last open day of 2024!
Join us for a fun-filled day featuring a carved pumpkin trail, roast your own marshmallows over the campfire, press apples and make your own delicious apple juice, and take part in our fancy dress and carved pumpkin competitions—complete with engraved trophies for the winners!
Enjoy traditional games like conkers, get creative with autumn leaf crafts, indulge in candy floss creations, savor a hog roast, and sip on local ciders while enjoying live music and more.
Children arriving in fancy dress or with a carved pumpkin get free entry.
🎃 HALLOWEEN & HALF-TERM at Heaton Park & Hall
This October half-term, Heaton Park & Hall has something on every day for you to come and get involved in! From haunted history trails, Apple Day and even a Creepy Crawly show. 🕷
Saturday 19th October – Thursday 31st October
Haunted History Trail activity packs will be available every day for just £2. This Halloween, our popular heritage hunters trail has been overtaken by 13 spooky scarecrows. Can you find them all and uncover some hidden history along the way to win an extra spooky prize? activity packs include a copy of the trail, additional activities and puzzles, plus a prize at the end of the route.
Face painting will also be available on weekends (Sat 19th, Sun 20th, Sat 26th and Sun 27th) for a small additional cost.
Fun and Free Midweek Activities
As well as picking up your £2 trail and activity pack, we have some special midweek activities for ghouls and goblins of all ages to get involve with. And best of all, they’re all completely free!
Sunday 20th October – Manchester & District Beekeepers’ Association Honey Show
12pm – 4pm, Dower House
Monday 21st October – Heaton Park’s Apple Day
11:30am – 3pm, Outside near The Stables.
Kickstart your half term with lots of family friendly fun including chutney tastings, apple juicing, appley games and autumnal activities galore.
From 11:30am – 1:30pm you can also join Earlybird in the stables classroom for one of their popular ‘Little Green Artists’ drop-in workshops.
Tuesday 22nd October – The Creepy Crawly Show
12pm – 3pm, Stables Classroom: Your chance to get up close and personal with some of The Creepy Crawly Show’s fascinating animals.
Wednesday 23rd October – Heaton Hall-Oween Storytelling
Storytelling at 12pm, 1:30pm, 3pm. Bookable in advance through the Facebook event
Thursday 24th October – Halloween Crafts with Earlybird Project
12pm – 3pm, Stables Classroom
This is a drop-in activity aimed at children 3+ and their families. No need to book. Just turn up.
Friday 25th October – Magic Show with Wacky Woody.
Shows at 12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2:30pm
Kids go free* at Knowsley Safari!
📅19th October to 3rd November
Pack up the car and head out on an epic safari adventure. Plus, there’s a Halloween event from October 23rd to 31st to enjoy along the way! Don’t miss out on this wild offer!
*T&Cs apply
🌼 RHS Bridgewater
📅 19th Oct - 3rd Nov
Discover deadly plants on a family garden trail, take part in spooky craft and planting activities, meet fascinating creatures with ZooLab and have a go at Rangoli to celebrate Diwali.
🪴 Wicked Plant Trail
Follow our family garden trail and spot the ingredients for a witch’s potion to cast your own magic spell! Learn about beautiful but toxic flowers, insect-munching carnivorous plants, freaky fungi called dead man’s fingers and plants used for spells and potions.
🎨 Rangoli art
Sun 20th Oct
Make your own Rangoli to take home and learn about the celebration of Diwali.
🍃 Basil planting
Tuesday 22 October
Drop-in session 11am – 2.30pm, Learning Studios
Get your hands dirty and plant your own bewitched basil to take home and grow.
🍄 Mushroom house crafting
Wednesday 23 October
Drop-in session 11am – 2.30pm, Learning Studios
Explore freaky fungi and create your own mushroom house out of a toilet roll tube.
🪲 ZooLab insect workshops
Thursday 24 October
11am, 12noon, 2pm and 3pm, Learning Studios
Come and meet a variety of insects and hear about the wicked plants they love to eat.
🧟♂ Zombie Disco
Sunday 27 and Monday 28 October
11am, 12noon, 1.30pm and 2.30pm, meet at Welcome Building
Dance and stomp your way around the garden with Bread and Butter’s Zombie Disco.
💀 Day of the Dead mask making
Sunday 3 November
Drop-in session 11am – 2.30pm, Learning Studios
Celebrate the Day of the Dead and honour the Mexican tradition by creating your very own Day of the Dead mask
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