Halloween falls just after the October Half Term holiday this year and there are lots of spooktacular events happening in Cheshire, the Wirral and Greater Manchester.   If you’re looking for ideas of where to go with the kids over October Half Term 2024 and family friendly Halloween activities, then look no further.

If it’s pumpkin picking you’re after, skip straight to our guide to the best pumpkin patches in Cheshire.

October Half Term Activities in Cheshire 2024

Cockfields have 3 fantastic pumpkin picking events on the farm. Staring off with Little Pumpkin Pickers which is targeted to the smaller kids during half term, which include lots of fun activities like pumpkin picking and carving, spooky storytime, and a haunted tractor hayride.

The main event has all the pumpkin picking and exciting activities that the little ones have, but instead of a story time they have a fantastic trick or treat training show!

For something a little different try Pumpkins After Dark, with pumpkin picking under magical festoon lighting, and live musical entertainment.

• Jurassic World at the Trafford Centre (Manchester) until 3rd November
• Bolton Abbey Welly Walk (Bolton) until 3rd November
• Halloween Spectacular at Malpas Farm (Malpas) 2nd- 31st October
• Church Farm family fright festival (Thurstaton) 4th October – 3rd November
• Halloween Lakeside Light Trail (Warrington) selected dates from 4th – 31st October
• Magical Woodland Halloween Light Trail (Northwich) 11th – 31st October

The Crocky Trail will be open weeks from 12th October and then over October Half Term 24th to 31st October 2024.  Packed with challenges and adventures, it’s a great fun family day out.  The special discount code has been set up through Danglebids and might look a little strange but it’s all totally verified.

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• Gandeys Spooktacular Circus at the Trafford Centre (Manchester) 11th – 3rd October
• All Things Autumn Trail at National Trust Lyme (Disley near Stockport) 11th October – 3rd November
• Hedgehog Hibernation Trail at Dunham Massey National Trust 11th October – 3rd Nov
• Halloween Festival at Reddish Vale Farm (Reddish, near Stockport) 12th – 31st October
• Glorious Glowing Lantern Parade at BeWILDerwood Cheshire (Malpas) 12th October – 3rd November
• Fright Fiesta at Gulliver’s World (Warrington) select dates 12th – 31st October
• Halloween Trail at the Trafford Centre (Manchester) 17th October – 3rd November
• Halloween Hearts trail  (Disbury) 18th October – 3rd November

Halloween at Alderford (Whitchurch) 

Find spine-tingling thrills and family friendly chills this Halloween at Alderford. Spooks & Surprises for October half term.

Alderford Witchcraft Woods for under 10s – Your budding witches and wizards are invited to Alderford’s school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, to learn the boundless limits of their own abilities

Halloween Drive-In Cinema –  featuring a thrilling lineup of horror and family friendly films.

Spooky Island for 8+ – a spooky experience speckled with small frights for older children and not-so-brave adults! With a maze that will have you running for the hills.

Alderford Nightmare Island 16_ – Where can those who are kept hidden from the world be found? And what measure are taken to keep them in? Do you dare to find out?

• Pirate pumpkin trail  at Blakemere Village (Northwich) 19th – 31st October
• Family Friend half term activities at Dunham Massey 19th October – 3rd November
• BBC Cbeebies Bedtime Story at the Science & Industry Museum (Manchester) 21st – 27th October FREE
• The Elmer Adventure at The Lowry (Manchester) 22nd – 26th October
• Nighmaze with Scarecrows at Seven Sisters Ice Cream (Knutsford) 25th/26th October

Halloween at Quarry Bank (Wilmslow) 25th October – 3rd November

Brought to you by the producers of Christmas at Dunham Massey, this brand-new Halloween trail at Quarry Bank is filled with so many hidden surprises.

Halloween Spooktacular at Castaway Play (Congleton) 26th – 31st October

A thrilling Halloween event – it’s packed with fun and surprises for the whole family! Enjoy educational shows from Creature Feature Experience, perfect for little animal lovers and lots more.

Nantwich Halloween spooktacular fireworks display (Nantwich) 26th October

Prepare for a night filled with unearthly thrills and eerie chills at the Northwest’s largest and most spellbinding fireworks display, among other Halloween marvels.

• October Half Term Fun at Quarry Bank (Wilmslow) 26th October – 3rd November
• Skellies & Wellies Halloween Trail at Tatton Park Gardens 26th October – 3rd November
• Brereton Heath Nature Reserve Halloween trail (near Congleton) 26th October – 3rd November

Spooky Saturday Halloween Event (Macclesfield) 26th October FREE

Spooky Saturday is packed with free family fun. With Junior Herb Club from Cath Couzens, Medical Herbalist, The Face Painting Queen of course (it’s not an MTC event without her!) crafts and activities from Macclesfield Community ArtSpace, the ever popular pumpkin trail around town and much more (including dinosaurs) !

• Teggs Nose Country Park Halloween trail (Knutsford) 26th October – 3rd November
• Halloween day maze at Seven Sisters Ice Cream (Knutsford) 26th October – 3rd Nov (closed 28th/29th Oct)
• Halloween Half Term at Beeston Castle (Beeston) 26th October – 3rd November
• Mini Off Roaders  (Knutsford) 26th, 27th +31st October

Big Fish Little Fish Halloween Family Rave (Chester) 27th October

Big Fish Little Fish, the ultimate family rave,  is back in Chester. Embark on a journey through the haunted dancefloor and groove the afternoon away amidst swirling bubbles, eerie fog machines, colossal pumpkin balloons, a chilling confetti blast, and a spellbinding parachute dance finale – all within the heart of a real rave venue, now transformed into a haunted house of dance.

Spooktacular Family Event with Cheshire Forest School 1st November

Come along and enjoy a Halloween Family Event at Cheshire Forest School. There will be opportunities to make wands, potions, spiders and other Halloween crafts. Plenty of time to play on the straplines, tree swings, in hammocks, the mud kitchen and other imaginative play areas. Finish by toasting a marshmallow on the campfire.

• Oli The Choc edible slime making (High Lane) 28th, 30th + 31st October
• Halloween Party at The PlayBarn (Northwich) 29th – 30th October

Big Fish Little Fish Halloween Family Rave (Manchester) 3rd November

Embark on a journey with Big Fish Little Fish through the haunted dancefloor and groove the afternoon away. Spooktacular Fun for the Post-Rave Generation of Parents.  There will also be crafting area with spooky activities and a licensed bar.

If you’re on the hunt for just a great fun family day out, check out all the honest Mum reviews of places to visit with kids in Cheshire

Find all the best bonfire night and firework displays in Cheshire

Where to go Pumpkin Picking in Cheshire