October half term activities Lancashire 2025
There are loads of October half term activities Lancashire in 2025 to choose from. There are plenty of Halloween themed ones and some that have nothing to do with Halloween. This post will focus on those that aren’t about Halloween but it will link to my guides on Halloween events and Pumpkin picking locations in Lancashire too. Find more October half term activities North West here.
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I have done my best to make sure this post is up to date and accurate but please check the organiser’s website before travelling as events may be cancelled at short notice, details might be changed and mistakes happen. I have included links to the event organisers so you can check the up to date details and terms and conditions before boking or travelling. Most of the events need pre-booking.
As always, I will be updating these guides right up to and October half term. Please do send me details if you have an event that I have missed. I can be reached by emailing info@northwestforkids.co.uk
If you love finding new family days out and events in the North West then you need to follow me on Facebook or Instagram. If you use Facebook you might like to join my Family Days out North West group.
Blackpool illuminations
When: until 4th January 2026.
Blackpool illuminations are on currently and they will be switched on every evening including throughout half term. If you are in the area, you could drive through them one evening or perhaps catch a tram or even walk part of the lights.
Full details here – Blackpool Illuminations
Lightpool festival, Blackpool
When: 15th October – 1st November 2025.
Enjoy a spectacular programme of light-based art installations, live performances, 3D projection shows and family-friendly activities.
Find out more & book some events here – Lightpool Festival | Visit Blackpool
Sundown, Go Ape, Blackburn
When: 17th October – 9th November 2025.
Navigate the high ropes and zip lines in the dark. The forest will be illuminated with colourful lighting.
Book here – * Sundown Go Ape
Scarecrow Festival, Rufford Old Hall
When: 17th October – 2nd November 2025. Closed Wednesday and Thursday
The theme for 2025 is monsters and legends.
Free entry for National Trust members.
Full details here – Scarecrow Festival 2025 | National Trust
October half term at Horse and Bamboo
Free Craft afternoon, 28th October 2025
Wallace & Gromit, the curse of the Were-rabbit, film and craft. 29th October, booking required. £3.50 per ticket
Free family board games, 30th October
Free Wizard & the mechanic (theatre show), 1st November
Book here – October half term at Horse + Bamboo
Xplorer at Brockholes – Details for 2025
Where: Brockholes nature reserve, just off Junction 31 of the M6, Preston, Lancashire, PR5 OAG
When: 22nd October – 9th November 2025
Cost: £4.50 if booked in advance, £5.50 on the day
Summary: Explore Brockholes, find the markers, complete the challenge and have fun together! Brought to you in partnership with British Orienteering, Xplorer is the perfect outdoor activity to get the whole family outside in the fresh air together! There are certificates for those completing the challenge along with a sweet treat!
There are 2 courses available, one is pram-friendly and the markers are in number order in a circular route. The other course is more challenging and not pram-friendly. Families will need to use navigation skills to find markers across the reserve.
Book here – Xplorer at Brockholes
free, drop in, Family-friendly activities at Darwen market
Where: Darwen market, Darwen Town centre
Willow weaving – 25th October 2025
Patch works, a sensory puppet play, 27th October 2025
Create colourful origamis butterflies, 29th October 2025
Natural dying workshop, 31st October 2025
Full details here – Darwen markets
Halloween events Lancashire
There’s loads more going on across Lancashire this half term but everything else has a spooky theme.
Find all the best Halloween events Lancashire here.
Here are the big events but find many more in the main guide (linked above).
October half term at Martin Mere – 2025 event, no need to book
Where: WWT Martin Mere, Fish Lane, Burscough, Lancashire, L40 0TA
When: 25th October – 2nd November 2025
Cost: included in admission fee
For one week only make magical memories and experience the wonder of wetlands through enchanting activities:
- Pick up a super natural log book and go on a wetland adventure.
- Weave a little magic with a handmade willow wand
- Examine an owl pellet to find out what they eat for breakfast
- Mix a magical potion and cast a spell for nature.
- Search for shaggy ink cap, fly agaric, and more on a fungi hunt.
- Be wowed in our super natural science show.
- Set off on a mystical canoe adventure
- Get your costumes ready for the fancy dress competition on 31 October
Find out more here – October Half Term | WWT
Farmer Teds Pumpkin Festival – book now for 2025
Where: Farmer Teds Adventure Farm, Ormskirk
When: Selected dates 5th to 31st October 2025
Cost: Adults from £16, Children from £20 (with pumpkin)
Summary: 1 free pumpkin per paying child. Expect dinosaurs, a dead scary maize maze, pumpkin carving, fancy dress competitions, spooky ghost stories and loads of photo opportunities. Designed for young children, spooky not scary
Find out more and book here – Pumpkin Festival | Farmer Teds
Mrs Dowsons Farm Park’s Pumpkin Festival – 2025 tickets on sale now
Where: Hawkshaw Farm, Longsight Road, Clayton-le-Dale, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 7JA
When: Selected dates from 4th to 31st October 2025.
Cost: Children £13.57, Adults £11.48. Every ticket includes a pumpkin token. You can also stay an explore the farm included in the ticket price.
Summary: explore 3 acres of pumpkins including homegrown and 12 imported varieties of pumpkins. They also offered adult-only evenings (see below).
Book here – Pumpkin Patch 2025 | Mrs Dowsons Farm
Halloween ghost trains, East Lancashire Railway – 2025 tickets on sale now
Where: The East Lancashire Railway, Bolton Street Station, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0EY
When: 30th and 31st October 2025, evenings from 6pm
Cost: from £14-£20
Summary: On the platform be warned as unexpected singing and dancing led by Vampire Veronica could break out at any moment. When the train steams into the platform hop on board and head into the dimming light, as you are encouraged to join in telling the terrifying tale of the ‘Blood Bat of Irwell Vale’! But don’t be too petrified…as the Monster Squad are here to protect you, with many of your Halloween favourites including Zombie Bob.
Book here – * Halloween Ghost Trains
Wizarding adventure at East Lancashire Railway – 2025 tickets on sale now
Where: The East Lancashire Railway, Bolton Street Station, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0EY
When: 29th October 2025
Cost: from £17.50 £20 per ticket
Summary: Your adventure includes a steam train ride from Bury to Rawtenstall and back, a roughly two-hour wizard experience with our madcap magicians, wizard themed activities and plenty of photo opportunities
Book here – * Wizarding adventure
Pumpkin Festival, Ridgeway farm, Blackpool – book now for 2025
Where: Ridgeway farm, Peel Road, Blackpool, FY4 5JX
When: Selected dates from 11th October – 31st October 2025
Cost: from £7.99 per ticket (no pumpkin) or £9.99 with a pumpkin
Full details – Meet the animals, pick your pumpkin from the patch and decorate it in the orchard whilst eating an ice cream.
Book here – Ridgeway Farm
Asquarium, Blackpool sea life centre – book now for 2025
Where – Blackpool Sea life centre
When – 26th September – 2nd November 2025
Cost – Included in admission fees
Follow an immersive trail to help them keep their fellow sea creatures safe and look after the ocean. Complete the ‘spook-splash-tastic’ challenges to join their army of Sea Defenders.
Book here – Ascarium: Tricks & Treats Event | SEA LIFE Manchester
Wild magic at Brockholes nature reserve – book now for 2025
Where: Brockholes nature reserve, just off Junction 31 of the M6, Preston, Lancashire, PR5 OAG
When: 28th & 31st October 2025
Cost: £9 per child
This Halloween, come along to our woodland school of magic nestled deep in the bewitching Brockholes woods. Using natural materials, you can design an enchanted cloak, build your very own broomstick from scratch, create magical wild potions and choose a wand to conjure your spells! Are you ready to be spellbound?
Book here – Wild Magic at Brockholes Nature Reserve
Pumpkin carving at Brockholes – book now for 2025
Where: Brockholes nature reserve, just off Junction 31 of the M6, Preston, Lancashire, PR5 OAG
When: 25th, 26th & 31st October 2025
Cost: £9.99 includes 1 pumpkin, a cookie and hot chocolate or juice
Summary: Includes 1 pumpkin for carving in the pumpkin carving space.
Book here – Pumpkin Carving (25th)
Wild magic at Mere sands wood – book now for 2025
Where: Mere sands wood nature reserve, Rufford
When: 29th October 2025,
Cost: £9 per child
This Halloween, come along to our woodland school of magic nestled in the mystical Mere Sands Wood. Using natural materials, you can design an enchanted cloak, build your very own broomstick from scratch, create magical wild potions and make a wand to conjure your spells! Are you ready to be spellbound?
Book here – Wild Magic at Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve
Halloween crafts and spooky storytime at Gawsthorpe Hall – details for 2025
Where: Gawsthorpe Hall, Burnley Road, Padiham, near Burnley, Lancashire, BB12 8UA
When: 29th October 2025
Join our Halloween crafty fun in the Victorian kitchen, where you can have a go at making your own spooky bat to take home and keep. Afterward, creep along to the spooky story time and see if our scary stories will make you jump.
Full details here – Halloween crafts and spooky storytime
Halloween trail at Gawsthorpe Hall – details for 2025
Where: Gawsthorpe Hall, Burnley Road, Padiham, near Burnley, Lancashire, BB12 8UA
When: 26th October 2024
Cost: £2.50 per ticket
Summary: Are you brave enough to explore Gawthorpe Hall’s gardens and see if you find the ghosts, pumpkins, black cats and witches hiding on the Hallowe’en trail? Collect a trail sheet at the front of the Hall and set off to explore.
Full details – Halloween trail | National Trust
Halloween at Bowland Wild Boar Park – details for 2025
When: 25th October – 2nd November 2025
Pumpkin Carving, Scavenger Hunt, Halloween Activities in the Education Centr3. Magic Bubbles with eBublio – Thursday 30th October only!
Daily Fancy Dress Competition, hook-a-Duck and Halloween Pebble Hunt.
Full details here – Events Archive – Bowland Wild Boar Animal Park
Halloween at Billy bobs Myerscough -details for 2025
When: 27th September – 2nd November 2025
Where: Billy Bob’s Parlour Ltd, North Planks Farm, Garstang Road, Myerscough, PR3 5AD
Get ready to be dazzled inside and out this season, from pumpkins galore to enchanting fall décor, Billy Bob’s is transforming into a cozy autumn wonderland. Also includes big inflatable, haunted trail (£4 per child), Professor Nit Wit’s madcap lab (science, silliness and sweet treats), candy scramble (£3 per child). Pumpkins for sale, Halloween treats in the parlour and so much more!
Full details here – Yikes, Fall Fun is almost here at Billy Bob’s!
Find our review of Billy Bobs here – Billy Bob’s Preston
Hoghton Tower school of witchcraft & wizardry – Book now for 2025
Where: Hoghton Hall, Hoghton, Lancashire, PR5 0SH
When: 29th & 30th October 2025
Cost: £7 adults, £16 children (6-10 years)
Summary: Calling all eager witches and wizards! Embrace your imagination in our immersive story telling adventure. This half term, enrol your little monsters in the Hoghton Tower School of Witchcraft & Wizardry to begin a new adventure. Our magical professors will teach you how to cast spells, brew exploding potions and practise broomstick racing. A spellbinding session full of mystery, magic and mischief awaits you!
Suitable for children age 6-10 years old. No younger siblings allowed. All childre must be accompanied by an adult with a ticket.
Book here – Hoghton Tower School of Witchcraft & Wizardry
Free Spooky Supervillains week – Details for 2025
Where: Affinity Lancashire
When: 25th October – 1st November 2025
Meet supervillians, enjoy magic shows, trick-or-treating, colouring and more free workshops during the week.
Full details here – Spooky Supervillains Week
Halloween at Blackpool zoo – 2025 details
When: 18th – 31st October 2025
Expect wizard talks, guardians trail and much more
Full details here – Wizarding wildlife school
Halloween at Fishergate shopping centre – 2025 details
Where: Fishergate Shopping Centre, Fishergate, Preston, Lancashire PR1 8HJ
Halloween party – 29th October 2025
Halloween storytelling – 30th October 2025
Full details here – Halloween at Fishergate
Pumpkin picking Lancashire
Some of the pumpkin patches across Lancashire have additional activities on this autumn. Find your nearest here – Pumpkin picking Lancashire.
Nearby October half term activities guides
If you are happy to travel a little further there is plenty going on in Liverpool, Greater Manchester and Cumbria too which aren’t too far away.
October Half term activities Liverpool
October half term activities Manchester
October half term activities Cumbria
More things to do with kids in Lancashire
Find out all about this great children’s farm – Mrs Dowsons farm park review
This is a great family walk at the time of year – Pendle sculpture trail
Find some of the best parks in Lancashire here
