Halloween Fun For Families in the North West
Date published
18 October 2024
If the thought of keeping your young ones entertained this half-term is giving you chills, our round up of scarily good events happening in the North West is packed full of Halloween fun for all the family.
Halloween in Rossendale
There’s loads going on in Rossendale this half-term!
Get in the mood for spooky season with a family film screening of Hocus Pocus at the Horse + Bamboo in Waterfoot or take part in the popular Pumpkin Trail in Edgeside Park. While very little ones are sure to love Mini Monster Mess, messy playtime in Edenfield.
The East Lancashire Railway has its usual ghost trains running during half-term, and there are Halloween parties all across Rossendale this year, including at St Mary’s Chambers, Rawtenstall, Haslingden Cricket Club and at The Circle in Bacup.
Halloween in Lancashire
You don’t need to look far to spot some spooky goings-on in Lancashire this autumn.
Whether you fancy brushing up or showing off your pumpkin carving skills at Martin Mere or embarking on a spooky quest at Clitheroe Castle, there’s something for everyone!
Gawthorpe Hall has a full program of events running over half-term, including a Halloween Trail, crafts and spooky story sessions, as well as the chance to meet a creepy-looking plague doctor to learn all about the grisly side of life in the 17th century!
If you want to get outdoors, the Wild Magic sessions at Brockholes Nature Reserve will bring a touch of autumn-magic to your half-term. Or you could catch the pumpkin express or hop aboard a terrifying train at West Lancashire Light Railway.
You can investigate ghostly occurrences on the Samlesbury Hall Ghost Trail or hunt monsters in Blackpool! The Pumpkins in the Park Festival in Lytham St Anne’s is a full weekend event for families that’s free to enter.
HAPPA in Burnley also has a whole host of family events this October including a fun family dog show, a potion madness trail, themed own-a-pony days and a Halloween party!
Halloween in Greater Manchester
Halloween in the City is back for 2024 and there will be free events for all the family held across the city during half-term, including the popular Manchester Monsters trail. The Halloween weekender across Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th of October will be packed with fun, games and live entertainment, plus a spectacular procession in the city centre.
Heaton Park is offering a full seven days of family events over half-term, including free midweek activities, and budget-friendly options like their haunted history trail, storytelling, facepainting and a creepy crawly show.
Reddish Vale Farm are hosting Moonlight Pumpkin Evenings and there are family discos across the city, including one at Z-Arts in Hulme and a Spooky Silent Disco at The Old Library in Levenshulme.
There’s also going to be a Pop-up Pumpkin Patch at The Trafford Centre for a suggested donation of £2 per child with all proceeds going to charity. But you’ll have to be quick for this one, as it’s first-come, first-serve!
Don’t forget to also check out what’s happening in your local library as there’s sure to be plenty going on this half-term, such as family fun days, arts and crafts and spooky storytime sessions, like these story and craft sessions at Morecambe Library or Wigan Library.
Halloween in Merseyside
Take part in a Spooky Welly Walk in Sefton Park for a fun-filled family day that also raises money for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.
Liverpool’s museums also have lots going on to keep youngsters entertained this half-term, such as Spooky Sudley, the free Halloween event happening at Sudley House.
Head to Williamson Square on Wednesday 30th or Thursday 31st October and you’ll find it transformed into Williamson Scare, with stilt-walking witches, ghoulish goblins, pumpkin carving and crafts.
For Halloween Fun in St. Helens, visit Earlestown Market on Friday the 25th October or St Mary’s Markets on Saturday 26th October where you’ll find free family events taking place including balloon modelling, facepainting and special guest visitors!
Halloween in Cheshire
Halloween Light Trails are a big part of autumn celebrations in Cheshire, and there are plenty to choose from! Or get lost inside the Halloween Maze at Seven Sisters in Knutsford.
Pull on your wellies and get your blood pumping rather than curdling with a family walk! The Halloween Trail at Teggs Nose Country Park is running throughout half-term, and there’s a spooky trail to be found at Brereton Heath Nature Reserve too.
Plus, don’t miss Skellies and Wellies at Tatton Park, and a free Halloween trail in Congleton town centre (maps can be collected from the Town Hall or downloaded online).
Halloween Fun For Older Children
We understand that it can sometimes be tricky to include older kids in Halloween activities as they get older. They may be too big to take trick or treating and might not want to join in with crafts and party games. But there are still plenty of fiendishly fun events going on this Halloween that are specifically geared towards teenagers.
Workshop at UCLAN, Preston
https://www.visitlancashire.com/whats-on/the-case-of-the-body-in-the-cellar-p1115190
Halloween Fright Night at Smithills, Bolton (age 8 and over? Not for the faint of heart!)
Haunted Mansion By Candlelight, Speke Hall (over 12’s)
One of the Cheshire trails also had a specific event for teens…the terror trail aimed at 14-18 year olds.
Happy Half-Term From Olive Branch Fostering
We hope all our families have a wonderful half-term together and enjoy their celebrations.
If you would like information on fostering or foster care in the North West then please do not hesitate to get in touch. Our team will be more than happy to help.
Category
News
Date published
18 October 2024