Half term and Halloween fun and events for families
The leaves are falling, the weather is turning and the nights are getting darker – cue October half term fun with the kids!!
So as usual we’ve got our round up of holiday fun activities and events to do with the kids; including free and paid activities; scary and non-scary, day and night; there is something for every family!
So get your planner out and check out these great events and activities for October half term for the kids…
Hocus Pocus Adventure Challenge; school of Wizardry at Rivendell Garden Centre
Mon 22nd October
Let Merlin the Wizard take you through your own exciting Wizard School!
Enjoy wizard themed challenges, games and much more. Learn the Wizard anthem, wand technique and broomstick riding and at the end be awarded your very own certificate as an honorary Wizard!
Interactive, high energy, wizard themed fun workshop for your under 10’s.
This is a one hour, immersive and fun filled session!!
2 sessions available, pre-booing essential
http://wonderadventures.co.uk/events/hocus-pocus-adventure-challenge-school-of-wizardry-at-rivendell-garden-centre/
Red House Farm, Dunham Massey
Thousands of pumpkins across the fields mean its one of the best locations for Pumpkin picking in the North West. Add to this half term fun including Spook hunt, the barrel train, climbing wall, inflatables and fancy dress competition AND Hocus Pocus School of Wizardy is also running from Thurs 25th – Sun 28th Oct.
More information here –
http://www.redhousefarm.co.uk/halloween.html
Bents Garden and Home; Pumpkin painting, Hocus Pocus School of Wizardry and much more
Children can enjoy pumpkin painting activities in the run up to Halloween.
Create a truly unique pumpkin using paints and glitter. Sessions cost £6, with tickets available online , and run 9am to 11am from October 25 to October 28.
And if your half term is running the week after then Hocus Pocus School of Wizardry is also taking place on Mon 29th and Tues 30th. Pre booking essential.
https://www.bents.co.uk/hocus-pocus-adventure-tuesday-31st-october-proret0180-1
Willow the Wisp and the Fire Sprite
Embark on a magical walkabout fairytale adventure Willo the Wisp & the Fire Sprite in parks and woodlands across Merseyside this autumn. Enrol at Wizard School and go on a quest with the Story Wizard to find the Wisp and save the Fire Sprite Princess Ember.
Along the way you will meet lots of fairytale characters – trees elves, fire sprites, white witches, gnomes, wisps and trolls; in beautiful locations around the parks. You can choose to go on your adventure by daylight or twilight depending on how brave you feel. Music, dance, light, fairies and fire will bewitch your mind and dazzle your senses – wrap up warm and don’t miss this spectacular family walkabout adventure!
Various dates from 21st Oct – 4th November Book here
Halloween in the City; Manchester city centre
Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 October 2018
Plenty of tricks. Plenty more treats. Mark the arrival of Halloween with a weekend of terrifyingly good events. Featuring: momentous monsters, petrifying parades, a trick or treat trail and a gigantic ghostly gathering – plus events and offers from the biggest, baddest names in shopping, food and drink.
https://www.visitmanchester.com/ideas-and-inspiration/halloween-in-the-city
Beeston castle
Enjoy crafts, stories, and hands-on activities this Halloween half term at Beeston Castle and Woodland Park. Dress to scare in our daily fancy dress competition.
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/beeston-creepy-castle-oct-nov-2018/
Sat 27 Oct – Sun 4 Nov 2018 11-4pm
Museums at Night: Trick or Treat Experience
Saturday 27 October 2018
Lion Salt Works, Northwich
Aimed at children aged 4-9. Join for a night of frights at the museum as we lock the doors and meet the ghostly characters who come out to play at night. Put on your scariest costume and join our ghostly tours around the site, go trick or treating in a safe environment, and listen to spooky stories about the mysterious happenings at the salt works. 4.30pm will be our Autism Friendly Tour, with a quieter tour and lights on.
http://lionsaltworks.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk/
Manchester Science Festival
Get hands on and up close with scientists, hackers, coders, artists, musicians, experiments, explosions, space and lots more this half term from 22 October to 1 November at the 9th Manchester Science Festival. The 11 day exploration and celebration of the wonders of science features largely free and drop-in activities, shows and events for all ages at the museum and many venues across Greater Manchester.
http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com
Brick or Treat LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester
20 Oct – 04 Nov
This October bring your little monsters to the LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Manchester and get into the Halloween spirit with our Brick or Treat event!
Featuring some fun spook-tacular activities such as:
- Creepy creations – Add your creation to our LEGO® pumpkin patch
- ‘Scarevenger’ hunt
- Spooky stop motion animation
- Meet and greet with our new Halloween character mascot!
- Scarily themed mini land
- Limited Edition pop-badges and factory bricks whilst stocks last
Not only that but all little Vampires go free! – All kids who come down to this event in Halloween costume will gain free entry into the attraction! Please note; 1 free child per paying adult.
Brick or Treat is on from 20October – 4November … BOOk now before those naughty LEGO® ghosts beat you to it!
https://manchester.legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk/tickets/
Wicked treats at the Trafford Centre
Visitors to the Trafford Centre will be treated to special performances from the West End and Broadway musical sensation Wicked.
The show is returning to Manchester for one last time this December and to celebrate cast members will appear on the main stage in The Orient to perform a selection of songs from the show.
Performances will take place at various times over the weekend of Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, October 28.
Fans will also be able to get up close and personal with some of the production’s award-winning costumes, which will be on display in the Main Dome from the Sunday for three weeks.
During October half term the shopping centre is being transformed for the spooky celebration.
The annual intu trick or treat family event is taking place on Thursday, October 25 and Friday, October 26, from 10am to 2pm.
Little trick or treaters can pick up their free special Halloween bucket from the customer services desk and then scour the centre for specially decorated pumpkins in spooky windows to collect their treats.
Trafford Centre, Trafford, Manchester, M17 8AA.
Halloween Ghost Trains, East Lancashire Railway
Ghost trains will be rattling through Greater Manchester on the East Lancashire Railway again this Halloween.
A ghastly cast of giggling ghouls, ghosts and goblins will be joining any passengers brave enough to board the spooky steam train services from Bury to Rawtenstall and back.
There’ll be goody bags full of tricks and treats for every child as well as food and drink for everyone at the station buffet.
Bury Transport Museum will also be hosting a creepy craft workshop as part of the fun.
The ghost train is running on October 26, 27 and 31, at 5.30pm, 6.30pm, 7.30pm and 8.30pm each day.
Tickets are on sale now, priced at £15.50 for adults and £9.50 for children aged 3 to 17, on the website here.
East Lancashire Railway, Bolton Street, Bury, BL9 0EY.
Halloween at Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Blackpool welcomes Vampire Pleasure Beach this Halloween.
A drive-in cinema will screen three horror classics for older ones with Nightmare on Elm Street, The Conjuring 2 and Halloween H:20 between October 29 and 31.
Guests are invited to enjoy the thrills, spills and screams at the popular amusement park, all from the comfort of their own car.
The drive-in cinema is just one of a series of spooky events at the attraction.
From October 27 Vampire Pleasure Beach will be transformed into a spine-tingling sight, with zombies, vampires and goblins around every corner.
Visitors are encouraged to ‘dress to thrill’ in their spookiest costumes, while the Spooky Maze will also provide a fright with ghosts and ghouls around every corner, and park visitors can ride into the twilight with a special late night experience. A magnificent firework display will finish the evening at 10pm.
For little ones Creepy Hollow comes alive between October 20 and 31, an interactive experience with some gruesome real life animals, such as giant snails, cockroaches and snakes.
Pumpkin carving and face painting will also be available from October 26 to 28
For further details on dates, tickets and age restrictions visit the website here.
Screamania Halloween Family Fun event, Reddish Vale Park
20th to 28th October 2018.
Lots of spooky fun for all the family to enjoy across the half term. From live actors, special effects, spooky challenges and lots more. See here for all the details .
