We’ve got lots of ideas & suggestions for days out & things to do during October half term for all ages from toddlers to teens including plenty of low cost, indoor & rainy day ideas for the holidays.
We also have plenty of ideas for Bonfire Night too!
As well as our special school holidays events don’t forget to check out our year round “Days Out” pages by clicking here
Harrogate Round Table annual Stray fireworks, will once again include a bonfire, is confirmed to take place on Saturday 2nd November 2024 on the Stray near Oatlands.
Date: Saturday 2nd November 2024
Time: 17.00 until 20.30
Location: Oatlands Stray near St. Aidans School
For over 50 years Harrogate Round Table has organised the Charity Fireworks on the Stray, and this year, more than ever, they need the Harrogate public’s help to make this year’s event happen on Saturday 2nd November.
Harrogate Round Table’s members, supporters, friends, and family volunteer their time planning, setting up, managing, and tidying up the event every year. However, there are unavoidable costs of around £15,000 including the fireworks themselves, road traffic management, first aid provision, equipment, licensing etc. Many people think that the council puts on (or funds) the Stray Fireworks but that is not the case. In fact Harrogate RoundTable have to pay a £1,000 deposit to the council in order to put the event on. Every year the generous donations of the public not only cover the costs of the event, but generate a surplus in aid of a local charity.
The Harrogate Round Table are organisers of the Harrogate Stray Charity Fireworks. Being one of the few remaining fireworks events where an entry fee is not charged, Harrogate Round Table are reliant on the generosity of the public on the evening to donate as much as they can afford to this year’s supported charity.
Event Timings:
Entertainment – 5pm
Bonfire lit – 6.30pm
Fireworks – 7:15pm
The fireworks are held on the Stray alongside Oatlands Drive, close to St. Aidan’s School. There is no parking in the immediate vicinity so it is recommended that attendees arrive on foot.
The event is free to attend with a suggested minimum donation of £5 per personÂ
October half term at Beningbrough – Harvest Heroes
Saturday 26 October – Sunday 3 November
Embark on an epic adventure through the walled garden! Seek out the eight hidden Harvest Heroes, mark them off on your spotter sheet and gather the secret letters. Once you’ve discovered them all, rearrange the letters to reveal the mystery harvest word.
Drop-in nature-related activities will be taking place on Tuesday 29 and Thursday 31 October in the American Garden.
Try out the wilderness play area where little (and big) explorers can test their climbing skills on two different clamber stacks. With slides for all ages, a climbing wall, and a rope bridge, there’s plenty of adventure to be had. Choose from a variety of swings, including a spacious cantilever bucket seat perfect for a group of friends. If you’re feeling creative, the den-building zone awaits for you to design your own woodland hideaway.
Don’t forget your coats and wellies—autumn fun often comes with a little mud and plenty of memories made.
Call in the hall and explore The Botanical World of Mary Delany art exhibition, practice your paper folding techniques in the origami room or experience the space using the sensory bags available.
Free entry for National Trust and RHS members and under-fives.
Open 10am – 5pm on 26 & 27 October, then 10am – 3.30pm from 28 October.
Photo credits: Annapurna Mellor
The Villains Lair is RETURNING this October for a SPOOKTACULAR time in the Masonic Hall, Harrogate! Sunday October 27th from 1pm – 3pm. Details below!
We have added a whole extra 30 minutes of time to this mischievious event, meaning The Villains Lair is now 2 Hours! You can also just pay a 50% deposit up front to secure your tickets, with the balance due just 3 days before the event
At just £23.95 per ticket you will get:
🎃1 child entry and a seat at one of our themed tables
🎃1 entry for the accompanying parent/carer (adult seating not guaranteed)
🎃A Trick-or-Treat goodie bag for each child
🎃Photo opportunies with each of our fabulous villain characters
🎃Plenty of sweet treats and refreshments throughout
🎃Lots and lots of fun musical games and craft activities
We have a line up of your favourite, fabulous villains including the return of that rogue Gaston, the dancing queens Mal & Evie from Descendants, and the notorious Captain Hook! Joining them this year will be the most stylish of the villains – Cruella de Vil, and the most famous Sea Witch of them all – Ursula!
For high quality costumes and performance from our dedicated team of actors, spend the Halloween weekend with these silly spooky villains and kick off the half term by joining us, at The Villains Lair!
Thinking about October half term already? So are we!
Start planning your visit to Fountains Abbey. Head on a mystical hunt and make some autumnal magic. The monks of Fountains Abbey used plants to heal illness and injuries… but what if plants had more than healing powers? What if a fallen conker, a prickly pinecone or a crisp fallen leaf were more than they seem? Bring your object back to Swanley Grange to discover what magic it might make and learn more about the magic of autumn.
There’s lots to do but don’t worry if you can’t fit it all in this time – we’ll be here another day! Become a member on your first visit and come back for free as many times as you’d like. For everything you need to know about visiting Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal this October half term – visit Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal | Yorkshire | National Trust
Morning sessions 10am-1pm, afternoon 2pm-5pm.
With jaw-dropping rides and amazing inflatables for all ages, Harrogate Indoor Funfair offers all the fun of the fair in an indoor, climate-controlled and family-friendly environment.
There is also a cafe and baby changing facilities for families on-site.
Tickets on the door will be limited. We recommend booking online to avoid disappointment.
*Quieter session will be held onSunday 27th October at 10am
Football Freddie | TUE 29 OCT | 11am & 2pm | Ages 3-9
A warm and witty new show for children and their grown-ups about football, team-work and the joy of joining in.
Football Freddie tells the story of Freddie Farren, a little girl who loves football but is too nervous to join in a game in her local park. Out of a magical photograph steps Freddie’s Great-Great-Great Uncle Fred, a real footballer from the olden days. Uncle Fred takes Freddie back in time and they re-live footballing glories of old. With Uncle-Fred’s encouragement, Freddie renews her confidence and enthusiasm and everyone joins in a good old-fashioned kick around.
Football Freddie is a magical new show for children and their families. The production features playful storytelling, friendly audience participation and integrated audio description alongside original sound design and vibrant set and costumes.
Saturday 26th October
Join us for a spooktakular event this Halloween and enjoy a festive day filled with pumpkin picking, tricks, treats and lots of autumn magic.
Enjoy a wonderful family event this spooky season and help make a difference and brighten children’s lives in Leeds!
Our Pumpkin Festival is a ticketed event with all proceeds directly supporting Leeds Children’s Charity at Lineham Farm and the young people we work with. All ticket donations will support us in welcoming as many children as possible for a Halloween Holiday event throughout October Half Term!
Hocus Pocus Halloween at Mother Shipton’s: 26th of October to the 3rd of November 2024
It’s just a bunch of Hocus Pocus! Get ready to be spellbound this Halloween at Mother Shipton’s, from the 26th of October to the 3rd of November, join us for a bewitching adventure with our ‘Hocus Pocus’ themed event, inspired by the iconic, spooky Halloween film.
Step into a world of enchantment as you explore themed displays featuring witches, mysterious cauldrons and magical spells being cast by our characterful actors. Engage in SPOOKTACULAR activities and capture the magic of the season with our terror-ific photo opportunities. Share your haunting photos with us on social media using #mothershiptons for a chance to win free tickets to come back again!
As England’s Oldest Tourist Attraction, Mother Shipton’s offers something for the whole family. Explore the birthplace of the Yorkshire Prophetess Mother Shipton, marvel at the incredible Petrifying Well, and let the little ones unleash their imagination in our Adventure Playground (weather permitting). Indulge in scrumptious treats from our vintage-style kiosks, including hot dogs, sweet treats, and warming beverages.
Take a moment to relax, with plenty of covered picnic benches offering scenic views of the autumnal landscape. And don’t forget to bring your furry friends along for a picturesque mile-long walk along the River Nidd.
Booking is essential
Oxygen York – the NEW indoor free-jumping, Active Play, climbing & trampolining centre at Clifton Moor – NOW OPEN.
Oxygen is a brilliant Free-Jumping, climbing, soft play and trampolining centre for lots of energetic fun. The new park will include:
Along with an extensive café plus a separate quiet lounge, Oxygen York will have two VIP party rooms on the mezzanine floor and additional party areas on the lower floor.
Oxygen Activeplay is the UK’s leading provider of multi-activity indoor leisure experience – with our mission to revolutionise the activeplay world for every child (and adult), we can’t wait to welcome you to our new York site!
Clifton Moor Centre, Hurricane Way, Rawcliffe, York, YO30 4XU
Open every October weekend and daily 26 October- 3 November
Join us for fang-tastic fun with some of the spookiest Halloween events in Yorkshire – with a wide range of parties and adventures available when Stockeld Park comes alive for the Autumn Half Term (with a free pumpkin up to October 31st for every paying child)!
The Halloween Adventure includes;
Stone Age WorkshopsÂ
Listen to captivating stories about early human life, make stone age crafts using traditional methods and see first-hand what tools were used in the Stone Age demonstrations.
Halloween Trail
Venture into the shadowy depths of the ancient caverns, find the clues and solve the spooky riddles to win a prize! (The trail quiz is included with every child’s ticket)
Ultraviolet Caves
After 3pm the lights in the caverns are turned off and you can explore the glowing caves in the dark. You are provided with a UV torch that reacts with the calcite causing it to fluoresce.
Fossil DigsÂ
Our fantastic fossil digs take place in our cosy cinema between 12:30-1:30pm every day throughout the half term. See our impressive fossil collection and press your own clay ammonites!
Best Costume competition
Come dressed in your spookiest, most creative Halloween costume and you could win a special prize! We’ll be awarding a prize to the best costume, so make sure you bring your A-game and join in the fun.
Sunday 20 October Huddersfield Town Hall
Tuesday 29 October Leeds Grand Theatre
Recommended for families with children aged 5 to 12 years old
Can you help to stop a struggling theatre from closing? The final show is over and it’s time to lock up the building. But a whole host of operatic characters are on a mission to save the theatre, and they need your help! Solve clues, unravel riddles and sing along in this new interactive show, as you meet fairy tale characters, animals and even a grandfather clock. With music from the Orchestra of Opera North, this is a fun and engaging opportunity for families to dive into the world of opera.
Tickets Adults from £12, Under 16s from £6*
Running time Approximately 50 minutes
Language Sung in English with English subtitles**
Accessibility BSL interpreted performances
*Prices vary by venue. Booking fees may apply.
**Excluding 20 Oct.
The Harrogate Bus Company operates buses in and around the city of Harrogate and across north Yorkshire. In particular, it runs the award-winning line 36, which connects Harrogate, Ripon and Leeds with buses every 10 minutes throughout the day.
Our signature style and attention to detail is all about giving you, our customer, a relaxed, enjoyable and great value journey – and, as a research-led business, with all our decisions handled quickly and locally, we always welcome your feedback about everything we do.
With regular buses running to Leeds, Knaresborough, Wetherby, Ripon, Pateley Bridge, Knaresborough and throughout Harrogate catching the bus is the perfect way to start your family day out.
All fares are no more than £2.
For little ones we have our own free to join Bright Sparks Club .
Join today and you’ll get your Bright Spark’s Club bus pass in the post within a few weeks!
A great place to visit at Halloween! Billy Bob’s really know how to put the spook into SPOOKtacular!
Open daily from 9am – 6pm. Booking essential.
01756 711826
Join us for a spooktacular half-term packed with magical family activities. Kids Go Free (0-15). Create Halloween memories at the NYMR with thrilling events at our stations which are sure to enchant any young witch or wizard.
Pickering Station Park Street Pickering YO18 7AJ
T: 01751 472508
All the fun and excitement of the Wild West in a safe enclosed space! All tickets include a meal and a drink.
*NOTE:Â These Experiences are released fortnightly to prevent clashes with private hire party bookings
