Last Updated on 15 October 2026 by Colette
October half term 2026 falls on the last full week in October in Manchester this year with most schools off the week of Halloween (so finishing on Friday 23rd October and going back into school on Monday 2nd November 2026) 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 20 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!
Scarecrow Festival at Quarry Bank – Saturday 3rd October to Sunday 1st November 2026
Quarry Bank are hosting a Scarecrow Festival this October with scarecrows dotted around the gardens for families to find as they explore. It’s a good excuse to get outdoors during October half term and enjoy the autumn colours while you’re there!
The Scarecrow Festival at Quarry Bank is included in normal National Trust admission charges. Entry is free for National Trust Members.
Chadderton Scarecrow Festival – Saturday 17th October to Sunday 1st November 2026
Brand new this October half term is Chadderton’s very first Chadderton Scarecrow Festival raise money for St Mary’s Hospital’s Rainbow Clinic which supports bereaved parents.
Pick up a trail map and head out in search of scarecrows dotted around the local area. Hunting out scarecrows is a cracking way to keep the kids distracted from moaning about having to go for a walk!
Trail maps cost £3 and can be purchased online or from the Co-op on Cathedral Road, Hunt Lane Tavern on Middleton Road, The Pavilion Cafe at Chadderton Park, Lydia’s Tearoom at Foxdenton Park or Chaddy Kids Club at St Matthew’s School.
Bricklands Lego Build and Play Workshop at Kargo MKT – Sunday 18th October 2026
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, the workshop offers something for everyone.
This event is free to attend however tickets must be booked in advance.
Wellbeing Walk at Lyme – Tuesday 20th October 2026
Take some time to re-connect with nature, and stretch your legs on one of the volunteer-led group walks at Lyme this October.
This walk is recommended for children over the age of 12 and their adults. Whilst no walking experience is required it is worth noting that the route is approximately 2 miles (3.2km) and will go over uneven and rough terrain, taking in views from Cage Hill and through Elmerhurst Wood. The walk will take approximately 1.5 hours.
This walk is free to join however normal admission charges apply and spots are limited so you are asked to book a place (and to ensure you cancel if you are no longer able to attend).
Click through here for some tips on choosing the right hiking shoes for your kids.
October Half Term at Dunham Massey – Saturday 24th October to Sunday 1st November 2026
This autumn, discover the changing colours of the season at Dunham Massey. Follow self-guided walks through the parkland, join a family trail or head into the house for a family friendly tour with Speechly the Pineapple. There will also be autumn crafts to get stuck into during the week.
Normal National Trust admission charges apply.
From Here to There: a tour for children at Dunham Massey – Until Sunday 1st November 2026
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 stamps for your passport. Keep an eye out for Speechly hiding in some of the rooms too!
The trail is free to take part with no booking required. Standard National Trust admission charges apply.
The Enormous Turnip at Z-arts – Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th October 2026
Head to Z-arts this October half term for The Enormous Turnip, a family friendly retelling of the much-loved traditional tale. Follow the story of a farmer who grows an enormous turnip that’s just too big to pull out of the ground without a little help! Expect plenty of fun, storytelling and a reminder of what can be achieved when everyone works together.
Suitable for children aged 3 and over, with performances at 11am and 2pm on both days.
Book tickets for The Enormous Turnip at Z-arts
Not Now, Bernard at Waterside, Sale – Sunday 25th October 2026
Head to Waterside in Sale this October half term for Not Now, Bernard, a stage adaptation of the much-loved children’s book by David McKee. Expect live music, plenty of laughs and a rather large purple monster as this familiar story is brought to life on stage!
The performance takes place at 2.30pm and is suitable for children aged 3 and over, with integrated Makaton throughout.
Book tickets for Not Now, Bernard at Waterside – adults £14 and children £12.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar at The Lowry – Monday 26th October to Sunday 1st November 2026
This October, get comfy at The Lowry and join The Very Hungry Caterpillar in a magical stage adaptation of the much-loved book by Eric Carle.
Expect colourful puppets, music and storytelling as The Very Hungry Caterpillar and three other Eric Carle stories are brought to life on stage.
Book tickets for The Very Hungry Caterpillar – suitable for children aged 1 and up, with performances lasting approximately one hour.
Collage Creations at Dunham Massey – Monday 26th to Friday 30th October 2026
Get crafty at Dunham Massey this October half term! Enjoy hands-on fun with Cut Loose Creatives as you turn a blank postcard into your very own work of art using paper, scissors and a bit of imagination.
This event is free to attend with no booking required, however normal National Trust admission charges apply.
Creative Families at Manchester Art Gallery – Tuesday 27th to Thursday 29th October 2026
Head to Manchester Art Gallery this October half term for some free family friendly creative fun! Get stuck into hands-on art activities inspired by the gallery’s exhibitions, with plenty of opportunities to experiment with different materials and create your own masterpieces to take home.
These sessions are suitable for children aged 3 and over and are free to attend with no booking required.
Find out more about Creative Families at Manchester Art Gallery.
Half Term Family Fun at Manchester Museum – Tuesday 27th to Saturday 31st October 2026
Manchester Museum have plenty of free family friendly activities taking place this October half term. Expect nature themed activities, storytelling with Billie Bee and the chance to get creative with recycled materials. There’s something different happening throughout the week so it’s worth checking the programme before you visit.
Activities at Manchester Museum are free to attend, as is entry to the museum itself.
Find out what’s happening at Manchester Museum this October half term.
Autumn Make your Mark at Salford Museum & Art Gallery – Wednesday 28th October 2026
This autumn contribute to a giant artwork using the materials provided. Make your mark with paint brushes, crayons, or even use your hands and feet! Be prepared to get messy!
This activity is chargeed at £1 and booking is required.
Blackpool Illuminations – Friday 4th September 2026 to Sunday 3rd January 2027
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.
Lightpool Festival, Blackpool – Sunday 25th to Thursday 29th October 2026
If you’re heading to Blackpool Illuminations this October half term, it’s worth timing your visit to coincide with the Lightpool Festival. Taking place over five nights, this free festival brings even more colour to Blackpool with spectacular light installations, illuminated artworks and entertainment around the town centre and promenade. It’s a lovely way to make a bit more of your trip to see the Illuminations, and best of all, it’s completely free to enjoy!
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.
What have you got on your “to do list” this October half term? Will you be celebrating Halloween?
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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.