Keeping the Mini Mumblers happy and entertained over the October half-term doesn’t need to break the bank with these fun, FREE or low-cost activities and events in and around Wharfedale & Craven.
You can see the full list of October Half-Term events, activities and days out ideas HERE
Leeds & Bradford Museums and Galleries have some fantastic family Halloween events at a number of attractions.
Kirkstall Abbey Haunted Halloween Hunt Kirkstall Abbey. 31 October – 05 November 2023
With over 870 years of history, our abbey ruins are the perfect place for a haunted Halloween hunt! Soak up the atmosphere of the former monastery as you follow the trail to seek out the creepy creatures, spooky statues and peculiar props that have turned up especially for Halloween. FREE ENTRY for Leeds Residents.
No need to book.
Lotherton. The Spooky Scarecrow Trail. 27 October 2023 – 5 November 2023
Visit Lotherton this October half term and follow the spooky skeletons trail around the estate and into the haunted house! FREE ACTIVITY, admission applies.
Leeds Industrial Museum On the 300th anniversary of John Smeaton, dubbed the Father of Civil Engineering, our new exhibition celebrates civil engineering in its many forms! Uncover unique objects that were central to Smeaton’s journey and an accompanying exhibition by our Young Smeatonians group which poses challenging questions about the subject. FREE ACTIVITY, Normal admission applies.
Abbey House Museum Spooky Streets: 28 October 2023 – 05 November 2023
Experience our Victorian Streets spookily decorated for Halloween this October half term.
Look out for scary spiders, wicked witches, bewitching bats and skeletons pulling pints in our pub! There will be a toddler-friendly trail as well as a trickier trail to get your fangs stuck in to. Hunt for creepy creature hidden around the museum. FREE ACTIVITY, Normal admission applies.
National Science & Media Museum. Learn, create and play together this October half term.
We’re back on the road this October, bringing our FREE live shows and family activities to shopping centres across Bradford. Our activities are part of the Family Learning Festival, with events happening across Bradford District. Click here for full details.
Leeds City Museum Shadow Seekers Trail. 28 October 2023 – 05 November 2023
Step into the shadows of the museum and follow our spooky shadows trail this October half-term. Celebrate Halloween by creating your own shadows as you explore the museum with our fun family trail. FREE ACTIVITY, Admission by donation.
Temple Newsam. Halloween Hauntings. 28 Oct- 5 Nov, Temple Newsam
Spend some spooky time at Temple Newsam this Halloween half-term! Meet the past residents of the estate including the notorious Blue Lady and see the House and Farm dressed up for a truly spooktacular occasion. Get involved with spooky crafts and pick-up a camera to track down the ghosts of Temple Newsam House. Get your film developed at the end of your visit to see whether you managed to track down any creepy characters in the darkened corridors. There are special treats in store for those who get dressed up too! FREE ACTIVITY, Normal admission applies.
Bradford Museums During October half term, Bradford Museums & Galleries are hosting various activities to celebrate autumn.
There will be craft activities for art lovers, a ghost trail for those who enjoy spooky stories, storytelling sessions, and a lantern parade at Lister Park. This year’s October Half Term offers something for everyone and is a fantastic way to enjoy the autumn season in a fun and exciting way. FREE ADMISSION
Thackray Medical Museum Dissecting Stories of the Forgotten
Join us this half-term as we tell the chilling history of surgery and dissect the forgotten stories of the inhabitants of Leeds Union Workhouse.
These free and fascinating activities are included in your museum ticket and have been designed with all the family in mind. Show and Tell: Beckett Street Bodies is recommended for those aged 12+ and is perfect for those keen to learn more about the history of medicine. FREE ACTIVITY, Normal admission applies – Tickets are valid for 1 year from date of purchase so you can visit as many times as you like!
Bronte Parsonage Museum Get curious about curation this October Half Term!
There is plenty to explore at the Museum this October Half Term! Find out what it takes to look after a Museum collection, discover lost artefacts, enjoy autumn-themed storytelling and make your own mini Museum.
Family tickets can be booked here. Tickets include all activties below, plus a family guidebook and loan of a Wild Explorer backpack.
Half Term activites run from Saturday 21st October to Sunday 5th November. Please note, the Museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. FREE ACTIVITY, Normal admission applies.
The Royal Armouries Leeds: Pirates and Highwaymen
28 October – 5 November 2023
Shiver me timbers!
Half term at the Royal Armouries promises to be packed with pirates and hordes of highwaymen.
And there’ll be no daylight robbery as admission to the museum is FREE!
Bradford Half-Term (23rd – 29th October 2023)
Bradford Libraries have various activities during the half term holidays as part of Bradford’s Family Learning Festival. 3,2,1 … BLAST OFF – join best-selling author and illustrator Kate Pankhurst to…
Tuesday 24 Oct 2023 10:00 – 15:00
At Bradford Cathedral there are lots of things to see, do and discover for children (and adults!) of all ages! We will be doing autumn…
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The Oastler Market will have an afternoon of crafting and creating with knitting, crochet and textile arts on Wednesday 25 October as well as a film for young children and…
Wednesday 25th October 2023, 2 – 4 pm Make a snowman or Christmas character to put in our window for the Otley Snowman Trail. All welcome.
Thursday 26 October 2023, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm An illustrated lantern workshop with artist Sarah Harris and corporate craft volunteer, Becki Law, from Burberry. FREE booking essential. Contact 01274 431212 or…
The Friends of Peel Park have organised a Scarecrow Trail on Thursday 26 October 11am-3pm. Trail maps will be available from Peel Park Y&C Hub.
26 October 2023. 14.00 – 16.00 Thirty years on from its theatrical release, Hocus Pocus has cemented itself as a stylish, scary and silly family Halloween staple. See it at…
Friday 27 Oct 2023 11:00 – 15:00
Come along & get into the Halloween spirit when you can pick up a free pumpkin and take part in carving workshops with the Sand…
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Friday 27 Oct 2023 18:00 – 21:30
Organised by Cecil Green Arts and held in Manningham’s scenic Lister Park, the annual Community Lantern Parade is truly a magical sight. As you wander through the park, enjoy a magical evening show where beautiful lanterns light up the…
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28th October 2023, 12.30 – 2.00 pm
3+ Must be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times. The event is £5 per child which includes a pumpkin, and other…
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28th October 2023, 3 pm – 5 pm The Friends of Harold Park are hosting an absolutely fangtastic Halloween event that promises to be a whole lot of fun for…
October 28 @ 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Last year’s Light party was so much fun that we are doing it all over again! This is a FREE event (donations welcome). Please contact Jacqui on 07823 490135 to…
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October 28 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm Take part in our spooktacular treasure hunt around the store and then collect your treat!
Leeds & North Yorkshire Half-term (30th October – 5th November 2023)
Mon 30th October 2023 10:00am & 2:00PM
Book Tickets Online| £7.50 Join us for a fun-filled Art Club this Halloween – design and create your own textile Sugar Skull keyring!…
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Join us on 30th October 4-6pm for a captivating Lion Learners animal experience party, where we bring a world of fascinating creatures right to your doorstep. Tickets are just £5…
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31st October 203, 10 am – 12 noon
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31 October 2023 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Join us on Halloween to see monstrous magic shows, bat-tastic balloon creations, and get involved in frightening face painting….
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Tue 31st October 2023 10am – 3 pm FREE Drop-In Join us for the Big Draw Festival 2023! This year’s theme is #DrawingwithSenses, exploring the way we personally process the…
Wed 1st November 2023 10:00am & 1:00pm
FREE Drop-In Join us for a relaxed, Bonfore Night themed family craft session in the Concert Hall, suitable for children of all ages….
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Wednesday 1st November 2023, 2 pm Buckle up and get ready to code the Spherooooo ghost train! Use our Sphero Bolt robots to create your gruesome ghost train car, then…
01 – 02 November 2023 Venue: Leeds City Museum 10am – 12pm, 1pm – 3pm This October half term, create spooky shadow puppets and bring them to life with our…
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The Friends of Prince of Wales Park Halloween Trail Prince of Wales Park, Bingley: Running 23rd to 31st October! Dare you follow the Halloween Trail? Start at the Eldwick entrance. If you come after dark a torch would be helpful.
Halloween Spider Hunt at Kirkgate Arcade, Otley. Running throughout October 2023 Children must be between the ages of 4 and 11 years old and at all times be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Discover Ilkley Spooktacular Trivia Trail A free Spooktacular Trivia Trail is taking place in Ilkley from Friday 13th October – 31st October Simply download the LoyalFree app and then follow the trail around town looking out for posters.
RHS Harlow Carr this Half Term 28th October – 5th November 2023. Come face to face with fascinating creatures with Zoolab’s ethical animal encounters, delve into the Halloween spirit by joining a crafts workshop, and unearth the mysteries of the garden with the Garden Detectives. Elsewhere ignite your creativity in Forest School, using natural materials to get crafting. Free activities, normal admission charges apply.
Bolton Abbey Pumpkin Trail– Follow the trail of oversized pumpkins through Strid Wood and discover the mystery doors hidden among the trees. Behind each door is a clue to help unravel the witch’s magical spell. This is a free event. The estate’s admission will apply. Running Saturday 21 October – Sunday 5 November 2023
Spooktacular Halloween Trail at Thorp Perrow. Scary spooks and witches, ghosts and goblins in the ditches! The spooktacular Halloween trail is back – follow it if you dare! £2.50 per child inc themed gift (standard entry charges apply) Must book.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly Halloween party there are lots of options locally, including the below baby, free and low-cost options.
Burley in Wharfedale Cricket Club Halloween Party
Friday 27 Oct 2023
The club is hosting a Halloween party for the village on Friday 27th October. There will be a fancy dress theme for the evening. Doors open from 6pm and we…
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Date: October 28th 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Price: £2.50 per child What’s in Store: Buffet: A delicious buffet filled with delightful treats that’ll satisfy even the hungriest of little monsters. Games: Prepare for a series…
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Due to the popularity and success of our Children’s Halloween Party last year, we are bringing you another one this year! For £12.95 per child, they can enjoy: Delicious homemade…
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If you fancy picking your own pumpkin and bringing it home to carve/decorate we have listed Pick Your Owns in and around Wharfedale & Craven here. * Entrance charges may apply
Or you could try some Pumpkin related crafts at home with our blog PUMPKINS: 9 Other Things To Do
Keeping the kids full over the half-term holidays is a neverending chore! Fear not there are lots of local places with KIDS EAT FREE & other offers to help us out
CLICK HERE for full details.
If you fancy an Autumn Scavenger Hunt, The Woodland Trust Nature Detectives have an amazing scavenger hunt pack you can download here and other packs including Autumn Leaf Hunt and an Autumn Treasure Hunt
We have lots of nature walks on our doorstep in Wharfedale & Craven.
If you find a few conkers still kicking around, have a read of our recent blog for some inspiration of 10 activities children can do with conkers!
If the weather doesn’t play ball at times over the holidays or you want a quiet day at home why not try some of Mumbler’s tried and tested activities to do at home. From spy games to creating time capsules, you’re guaranteed to have fun!
Our October Half Term Specials Page has loads more ideas of one-off events and day trip ideas.
Why don’t you join the Wharfedale & Craven Mumbler Chat Group where you can share reviews of days out/activities and get ideas from others!
Hopefully, some of these ideas will help you entertain the children without costing a fortune.
Hope you have a great half term!
Sarah x
* Information correct at time of publishing, please check all events/activities before travelling in case of last-minute changes.