Last Updated on 23 October 2025 by Colette
October half term 2025 falls on the last full week in October in Manchester this year with most schools off the week of Halloween (so finishing on Friday 24th October and going back into school on Monday 3rd November 2025) but do make sure you check your school’s calendar before you book anything as there’s definitely some schools off the week before that!
I’m just going to come right out there and say it… I don’t like Halloween. In fact I’d even go so far as to say I think I hate Halloween.
I know that’s an unpopular opinion and some people will think I’m a misery (they might be right) but Halloween has just never been a thing for me – we never went Trick or Treating as kids (though I think we wanted to, it was just that Mum didn’t like it), we never dressed up. Halloween just wasn’t really on our radar. We did all our autumnal celebrations on bonfire night instead which happens to be my Mum’s birthday!
If, unlike me, you love Halloween – check out these lists of things to do in Manchester this Halloween or things to do in York this Halloween. Or if you fancy pumpkin picking, you’ll find the best pumpkin patches in Manchester here and places to go pumpkin picking in York!
Of course Halloween is now on everyone’s radar. It’s become a thing in a major way – so much so that pumpkins, which usually hit my Instagram feed on the 1st October, seem to have been making an appearance since the start of September this year and Halloween now seems to last for the best part of a month rather than one day.
So, whilst I’m being all bah about Halloween, here’s 15 lovely things to do in and around Manchester this October half term that have nothing to do with Halloween or pumpkins… I’ve included Manchester specific events first and then some more general October half term ideas!
Do keep checking back on this post as I will add more events in as they are announced!
Dunham Apple Festival, Boundary Farm, Dunham Massey – weekends from Saturday 20th September and to Saturday 12th October 2025 | SOLD OUT
This year there will be no Dunham Pumpkins – instead the team have launched Dunham Apple Festival which returns for a second season in autumn 2025. (Last year this event ran through half term but this year ends in the middle of October – I’m including it anyway because it’s cute!)
You are invited to pick your own apples directly from the tree in the orchard with with guidance from friendly staff, take part in an interactive “Pressing and Tasting session” to see how the apples are made into fresh juice. You can ride the wagon train through the 20-acre orchard and burn off some energy on the “bouncy pad”.
Visit The Apple Barn to enjoy freshly pressed apple juice, locally crafted cider, and a variety of other tasty options. you can also grab a wood-fired pizza from Little Red Pizza Co.
Tickets for The Dunham Apple Festival must be pre-booked online to try and spread out the number of visitors through the day – tickets are priced at £5 per per person. Dogs are welcome at The Dunham Apple Festival too!
From Here to There: a trail for children at Dunham Massey -Thursday 25th September to Sunday 2nd November 2025
This year, children are invited to take a journey through the historic house at Dunham Massey, accompanied by Speechly the Pineapple.
Pick up your Pineapple Passport from the entrance of the house, spot the suitcase stacks, and collect a stamp for your passport.
The trail is free to take part with no booking required. Standard National Trust admission charges apply.
October Half Term at Dunham Massey – Saturday 25th October to Sunday 2nd November 2025
This autumn, discover the changing colours of the season at Dunham Massey. Follow self-guided walks through the parkland, join a family trail celebrating art in the natural world or get creative with autumn crafts inspired – perfect for little hands and curious minds.
Normal National Trust admission charges apply.
Autumn crafts – half term creations at Dunham Massey – Saturday 25th October to Sunday 2nd November 2025
Get crafty at Dunham Massey this October half term! Enjoy hands-on fun and take home your very own seasonal leafy crown or fluffy pumpkin pompom.
Normal National Trust admission charges apply.
All Things Autumn trail at Lyme – Saturday 25th October to Sunday 2nd November 2025
This October half term, head down to Lyme to take part i their autumn trail for families.
Look out for all the colours and weird and wonderful creatures that autumn has to offer, and enjoy autumn games and indoor creative activities.
£3 per trail, normal National Trust admission applies.
FREE Boomchikkaboom Family Rave! at Kargo MKT, Central Bay, MediaCity – Sunday 26th October 2025 | SOLD OUT
Head down to Kargo MKT this October half term for a Boomchikkaboom Family Rave.
Get the party started with good music and BIG energy! There will be dance routines, singing, pom poms, parachute mayhem, bubbles, snow machine and more!
This event is aimed at 0-10 years however all ages are welcome.
Book tickets for the FREE Boomchikkaboom Family Rave! – This event is free to attend but adults and children must have a ticket.
Bricklands Lego Build and Play Workshop at Kargo MKT – Monday 27th October 2025
Get ready to unleash your creativity as Bricklands provide a ton of Lego bricks for you to build your own masterpieces or get stuck into one of their LEGO activities. There will also be Duplo out for the mini builders! Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned builder, our workshop offers something for everyone.
This event is free to attend however spaces are limited so must be pre-booked.
The Smeds and The Smoos at The Lowry – Monday 27th October to Saturday 1st November 2025
This October, get comfy at The Lowry and join the Smeds and the Smoos in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the much-loved book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
Expect music, laughs and interplanetary adventures with Tall Stories – the team behind the Gruffalo and Room on the Broom stage shows!
Book tickets for The Smeds and The Smoos – recommended for children age 3 and up.
Cinderella Ice Cream Seller at Z-Arts – Wednesday 29th October 2025
Head to Z-Arts this October half term for a brand new musical featuring perseverance, princes, palace balls, glass slippers and ice cream . .
Expect a fun musical retelling of a much-loved traditional tale with live music, engaging storytelling, and a touch of theatrical magic for children and their families.
Book tickets for Cinderella Ice Cream Seller
Family garden wildlife watch at Quarry Bank – Thursday 30th October 2025
Join gardener Sophie and discover the wildlife that lives in the gardens of Quarry Bank. Sophie will share plenty of hints and tips on how you can encourage wildlife to visit your own garden at home too!
Tickets are required for children, priced at £3 each. Adults do not need a ticket to accompany children and can attend free of charge.
Family-friendly Wellbeing Walk at Lyme – Thursday 30th October 2025
Take some time to re-connect with nature, and stretch your legs on one of a volunteer-led group walk at Lyme this October half term.
This walk has been created for children over the age of 8 and their adults. Whilst no walking experience is required it is worth noting that the the route is approximately 2 miles (3.2km) and will go over uneven and rough terrain to the Cage and through Elmerhurst Wood.
This walk is free to join however spots are limited so you are asked to book a place (and to ensure you cancel if if you are not longer able to attend).
Click through here for some tips on choosing the right hiking shoes for your kids.
FREE Mini Disco with The Princess with the Red Rose at Kargo MKT, Central Bay, MediaCity – Sunday 2nd November 2025
Mark the end of October half term with a magical morning filled with enchantment and elegance as Kargo MMT proudly present a Mini Disco with the Belle from Beauty and the Beast!
Book tickets for the FREE Mini Disco with The Princess with the Red Rose! – This event is free to attend but all children must have a ticket.
Blackpool Illuminations – Friday 29th August 2025 to Sunday 5th January 2026
Around an hours drive from Manchester, I would suggest that Blackpool Illuminations is a great October half term suggestion if you live up North or fancy an over night stay up here this October. A trip to Blackpool Illuminations has become an annual Butler / Burgess tradition – though one the dads seem to have dipped out on in recent years. Wrapping up warm, eating chips and taking in all the lights on the sea front makes for a really lovely night out.
Kick leaves
If you’re in the market for an autumnal cliché, playing in the leaves is up there. I don’t care how old you are – kicking, crunching & chucking about leaves is a whole world of fun (just watch the eyes of you’re throwing them around). Our most favourite place to do this is Heaton Park and we will almost always have a good family stomp up there at some point during the autumn.
Go to the coast
Whilst days out at the seaside might conjure up images of sandy toes and ice cream, we actually love a trip to the beach in other seasons too (in fact we’ve only been to Formby in the colder months!). Chance your arm on a seaside trip this October half term and you might just strike lucky with a bright, fresh day – fill your lungs with sea air and your soul with vitamin Sea. (And as my Grandad would have told you, “You’ll sleep well tonight” after all that sea air!) (You’ll find a list of our favourite beaches near to Manchester here)
Hunt gruffalos in the woods
If you’re lucky, you might find a forest near you with a Gruffalo sculpture or even an organised Gruffalo orienteering trail but even if you don’t have one close by, what’s stopping you sticking on your walking boots or wellies and taking a woodland walk and hunting out signs of the Grufflao and his friends anyway? Can you spot some big footprints that might just belong to the Gruffalo, or what about a log-pile house or some feathers that could belong to owl? Forests are fabulous places to explore at this time of year full of exciting muddy puddles and beautiful autumnal colours!
Watch a film
Whilst I do love to get the kids out and about as much as possible, the weather doesn’t always play ball – and although I’m a huge advocate of “there’s no such thing as poor weather, only poor clothing” sometimes you just don’t want to go outside!
We almost always go to the cinema in October half term – many cinemas will offer special rates on older releases during the school holidays – eg Movies for Juniors at Cineworld means I can take all three kids for under £13. (Of course you could always snuggle up at home to watch a film too – though no scary films for me thanks!)
Check out this list of films to watch with your 12 year old daughter.
Below you’ll find a list of events which took place during October half term last year but which are not yet confirmed for October half term 2025:
Apple Day at Heaton Park – October 2025 TBC
The information below relates to a previous event and will be updated as soon as information becomes available.
Pay a visit to Heaton Park for their first Apple Day on Monday 21st of October.
Kickstart your half term with lots of family friendly fun including chutney tastings, apple juicing, appley games and autumnal activities galore.
This event is free to attend – get all the details of timings etc here.
Apple Weekend at Quarry Bank – Saturday 27th September 2025
Apple Weekend will take place at the end of September this year rather than in October half term!
Round of September with a celebration of all things apple at Quarry Bank.
Head to the Apprentice House Orchard to taste different apples, sip some fresh apple juice, get stuck into some apple themed crafts and have a go at traditional apple bobbing.
The Apple Weekend celebrations at Quarry Bank are free however normal National Trust admission charges apply. Entry is free for National Trust Members.
What have you got on your “to do list” this October half term? Will you be celebrating Halloween?
If you have enjoyed this post and found it helpful, here are a few ways you can say thanks and support We’re going on an adventure:
Click here to buy me a virtual coffee – it’s like a little tip jar but with caffeine!
Click here to leave We’re going on an adventure a Google Review
Share this post with your friends – you’ll be helping me and them!
Follow We’re going on an adventure on Facebook or Instagram
We never used to do Halloween but have started as the kids got older and wanted to get involved. We still do lots of Autumn activities and bonfire night crafts as I like to have a mixture of Autumn and Halloween.
I don’t like Halloween either; there’s a particularly awful poster at Gateshead metro station for ‘Terror in the trees’ with a horrible scary clown on it. Being scared is not my bag and my kids would be terrified not enthralled.
Our half term is the week with Halloween in it. My mum used to do parties with the apple bobbing and getting the kids to make plasticine spiders and decorating biscuits with icing etc but she’s not so well this year. Sometimes the churches have ‘Light parties’ rather than celebrating Halloween and the dark side, they do parties that are not Halloween at all tho the odd one may have apple bobbing.
Sunderland also has illuminations so we may go and see those. We are doing the Elmer the Elephant trail round Newcastle/Sunderland/Shields so our plan is to find all of the ones we haven’t done so far that week. Every time we’ve planned to go and do the ones at North Shields it’s rained so hoping to be luckier weather wise that week. I’m working the first 2 days and have to take my mum to hospital on the Thursday so haven’t really planned any more than that.
Thanks for this article, it’s good to know I’m not the only one who’s not a Halloween fan.