Things to do with kids in October Half Term – North West: Manchester & Liverpool

October half term is around the corner and I know parents are frantically looking for things to do with their children!  So below are the top things to do with kids in October Half Term in North West.

The Enchantment of Chester Zoo (Chester 22 – 31st October)

We adore all the Wild Rumpus events (famous for their Just So festival amongst some of their great events) and this half term they have teamed up with Chester Zoo to create a fantastic family event.

An evil sorcerer is casting a spell on Chester Zoo, trying to steal the super powers of nocturnal animals. Visitors this Halloween will have until dusk to break the spell.  Chester zoo has released tickets for its first ever large scale Halloween event, as a host of performers, musicians, aerialists and acrobats prepare to welcome families to the visitor attraction.  The major Chester Zoo spectacular will help to reveal the remarkable natural super powers of some of the zoo’s most mysterious species.

From 22 – 31 October, families at the zoo will meet a cavalcade of curious animal characters with incredible skills – from wise old owls to acrobatic spiders!  It definitely looks like the event not to miss and tickets and further information can be found here.

Manchester Science Festival (across various museums and libraries in Manchester 20th – 31st October)

The 10th Manchester Science Festival and England’s largest Science Festival as always is jam-packed with fun and largely free, hands-on family activities for all ages throughout October Half Term.   I love that the festival has something for the whole family!  Teenagers who cannot get enough of sleeping in the day, and parents who would love their little ones to lie down more often, will be thrilled with the chance to do just that during the Festival in our very own Sleep Lab – The Chronarium.   Family highlights at the Museum of Science and Industry include: the Virtual Reality Playground for gaming fans and tech loving tots and teens featuring the very latest in VR devices, the Manchester Megapixel and Robot Orchestra Live.

Crafty kids can partake in Artist Sundays and Big Draw at the Whitworth; uncover the mysteries of space in the Big Science Telescope Show at Jodrell Bank; go Hunting for Infections at Quarry Bank Mill, join in Messy Science at the University of Bolton and in the Science Spectacular at Manchester Museum.  My favourite is the coding with Junior HackManchester, quick-fire science demonstrations, crafty workshops, science stories, inventing stations and Sublime Science at selected libraries across the city where gooey slime and yummy sweet making is the order of the day.

Harry Potter High Tea – The Philosopher’s Scone (Harvey Nicholls Manchester – 24th October)

Though technically part of the Science Festival as avid Potter fans this looks amazing!   Harry Potter Fans are in for a rare treat with The Philospher’s Scone. Enjoy an afternoon tea with a difference at Harvey Nichols Manchester, there will be miniature cakes and pastries inspired by the world of Hogwarts.  One of Hogwarts’ famous student as author and journalist Roger Highfield explains how magic really works. There will also be a screening of Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone. Fancy Dress is a must and I think it sounds like a truly fantastic event.  More information and tickets can be found here.

Witchy Spells and Pumpkin Hunts Samlesbury Hall (Preston onhealthy.net 24th October – 2nd November)

Samlesbury Hall is a lovely day out and they have done up their play area.  Over half term, you can join the hilarious witch Janey as she tells the gruesome tales of Samlesbury Hall, complete with her grisly collection of skulls, insects and other ghastly horrors.  Learn how to make your own spells (good or bad!) in the Great Hall at Samlesbury and then take a spooky hunt of the Hall.  Having done of the tours by Janet, they are highly recommended, lots of fun and very much Horrible Histories come to life!

Sessions at 11am or 2pm. £5 per ticket and further details are here.

Roald Dahl Frightsome Halloween (Tatton Park, Cheshire 22nd – 30th October)

“In fairy-tales, witches always wear silly black hats and black cloaks, and they ride on broomsticks. But this is not a fairy-tale. This is about REAL WITCHES.”

Continuing with the Roald Dahl celebrations, Tatton Park are celebrating in true Dahlish style by spine chillinglyadding entertainment by a park full of witchy mischief.

Their is a Spooktacular Halloween Party at The Witches’Hotel Magnificent. Find all the ingredients for Formula 86 Delayed Action Mouse-Maker whilst you keep an eye out for real witches who like nothing more than using the potion to turn children into mice! In the depths of the Hall is the creepy witches sweet shop laboratory. Our very own witch spotters will be on hand to help and there’ll be spooky storytelling in the eerie barn.

The event is on 11am – 4pm (last entry 3pm) and tickets can be booked here.

Digital Kids Show (Manchester 29 & 30th October)

This event is definitely on our calendar and sounds like a wonderful event with so much variety for the whole family from activities to big name celebrities from the digital arena to great shows.  Over two days, families can come together and enjoy a fun day out that features rides, obstacle courses, driving lessons for 10-17 yr olds, Trapeze and Parkour groups, scooter disco, coding workshops and much more.

Visitors will meet and interact with some great companies who’ve produced the best educational & tech toys, games and apps as well as organisations that are working to encourage kids into STEM careers. Leading charities will be on hand to talk about dealing with cyberbullying and trolling and we’ll also have experts available to show visitors how to keep their family safe online regardless of the device in use.

Families leaving the event will be exhausted from all the physical fun we have planned and buzzing with excitement after watching the live show which features some awesome celebs!  Tickets and more information can be found here.  

Halloween Spooktacular, Fell Forest Lake District, 31 Oct, from 6pm

There’s no better way of marking Halloween than with a night in the woods.  Fell Forest is a great day out in the Lakes with gorgeous grounds and activities galore for families.  On Halloween this year there is a spooktacular evening at Fell Foot. Festivities begin with pumpkin carving by the fire, in the ghostly 19th Century boathouse of Fell Foot, followed by a terrifying ghost hunt around the park and ending with a hot drink and a spooky snack to warm you up.

These are my picks of the best family events in the North West this October.  Hope they give you lots of ideas of things to do with kids in half term.