🍂 SEASONAL · 17 OCT - 1 NOV
October Half Term in Manchester 2026: 97 things to do, dates and prices
97 things to do within reach of Manchester for 2026, running from 17 Oct - 1 Nov, across 20 towns and villages. 37 are free and paid tickets start from £2. The nearest is Wheel of the Year: Yoga Flow in Manchester, under a mile from the centre of Manchester.
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97 things to do around Manchester
1Wheelgate Family Halloween Spooktacular
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Wheelgate Park · Farnsfield · 55 miles from the centre
from £10.99
2UKYCC PowerShift
Sat 17 October · 09:30
Manchester Museum · Manchester · 1 mile from the centre
Free
3Fright Fiesta
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Gulliver's Valley · Rotherham · 41 miles from the centre
from £19ages 2-13
4Fright Fiesta
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Gulliver's Kingdom · Matlock Bath · 38 miles from the centre
from £19
5Daily animal talks
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Chester Zoo · Chester · 32 miles from the centre
See listing
6One Step Beyond: A Journey to Mars
17-23 October · 7 days
Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre · Macclesfield · 17 miles from the centre
from £2ages 7+
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7A Trail of Tails: Christmas in the House
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Dunham Massey · Altrincham · 9 miles from the centre
See listing- 8
Human Natures
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Manchester Museum · Manchester · 1 mile from the centre
Freeages 11+ 
9Sundown Spooktacular Halloween 2026
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Sundown Adventureland · Retford · 60 miles from the centre
from £20.75- 10
CAPCOM GO! The Apollo Story
17-23 October · 7 days
Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre · Macclesfield · 17 miles from the centre
from £2ages 8+ 
11Secret Society skeleton activity
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
People's History Museum · Manchester · under 1 mile from the centre
Freeages 5-12
12Exhibition - The Longest Yarn
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Astley Hall · Chorley · 21 miles from the centre
See listing
13Journey to Hell
17-31 October · 15 days
The Big One · Blackpool · 40 miles from the centre
Free- 14
Collection Spotlight case: Remembering Peterloo
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
People's History Museum · Manchester · under 1 mile from the centre
Free - 15
Anindilyakwa Arts: Stories from our Country
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Manchester Museum · Manchester · 1 mile from the centre
Free 
16Ascarium: Tricks & Treats
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
SEA LIFE Manchester · Manchester · 5 miles from the centre
from £16- 17
The Botanical World of Mary Delany
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Dunham Massey · Altrincham · 9 miles from the centre
Free - 18
Pineapple Post with Speechly the Pineapple
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Dunham Massey · Altrincham · 9 miles from the centre
Freeup to age 10 - 19
Dead or Alive: Birds in our World
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Manchester Museum · Manchester · 1 mile from the centre
Free - 20
Money in a time of crisis
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Manchester Museum · Manchester · 1 mile from the centre
Free 
21Festive Skating
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Wentworth Garden Centre · Rotherham · 34 miles from the centre
See listing- 22
Pumpkin Picking & Carving
17-31 October · 15 days
Wentworth Garden Centre · Rotherham · 34 miles from the centre
from £4.25 
23Character Design Studio Workshop with Stu Harrison
17-18 October · 2 days
Norton Priory Museum & Gardens · Runcorn · 20 miles from the centre
Freeages 8+
24Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Science and Industry Museum · Manchester · under 1 mile from the centre
See listing- 25
Exhibition - Elemental Earth
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 10 days
Astley Hall · Chorley · 21 miles from the centre
Free - 26
Dunham Massey House
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Dunham Massey · Altrincham · 9 miles from the centre
See listing - 27
Elephant talk
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Chester Zoo · Chester · 32 miles from the centre
Free - 28
Black Rhino talk
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Chester Zoo · Chester · 32 miles from the centre
See listing - 29
Meet the London Mining Network
Sat 17 October · 12:00
Manchester Museum · Manchester · 1 mile from the centre
Free 
30Carols by Candlelight
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 6 days
Treak Cliff Cavern · Castleton · 21 miles from the centre
ages 0+- 31
Komodo Dragon talk
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Chester Zoo · Chester · 32 miles from the centre
Free - 32
Flamingo talk
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Chester Zoo · Chester · 32 miles from the centre
See listing - 33
Secrets of the Mill - a seasonal tour
17-22 October · 6 days
Dunham Massey · Altrincham · 9 miles from the centre
See listing - 34
Penguin talk
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Chester Zoo · Chester · 32 miles from the centre
See listing - 35
Giant Otter talk
17 Oct - 1 Nov · 16 days
Chester Zoo · Chester · 32 miles from the centre
See listing 
36Scottish Ensemble and Brìghde Chaimbeul
Sat 17 October · 19:30
Stoller Hall · Manchester · under 1 mile from the centre
from £27.50- 37
Meditation at the Museum
Sun 18 October · 09:00
Norton Priory Museum & Gardens · Runcorn · 20 miles from the centre
from £8 
38Volunteer Drop in Session
Sun 18 October · 10:00
Samlesbury Hall · Preston · 24 miles from the centre
Free
39Open Call: Autumn Open Exhibition
Sun 18 October
The Whitaker · Rossendale · 15 miles from the centre
See listing- 40
'Eerie Encounters' Guided Tour
Sun 18 October · 10:00
Samlesbury Hall · Preston · 24 miles from the centre
from £5 - 41
BSL Tours and Talks
18 Oct - 1 Nov · 3 days
Chester Zoo · Chester · 32 miles from the centre
Free 
42Cheetham Cultural Festival 2026: Museum Open Day!
Sun 18 October · 12:00
Manchester Jewish Museum · Manchester · 1 mile from the centre
Free- 43
Manchester Literature Festival presents Sufiyaan Salam and Monika Radojevic
Sun 18 October · 17:00
Manchester Museum · Manchester · 1 mile from the centre
Free 
44Toddler Mornings
19-30 October · 10 days
Jungle J's Play & Party Centre · Oldham · 6 miles from the centre
from £3ages 0-5
45Toddler Show
19-30 October · 10 days
Head Over Heels Chorlton · Manchester · 3 miles from the centre
ages 1+
46Guided Wildlife Walk
Mon 19 October · 16:00
Mount Sion Steam Crane · Manchester · 7 miles from the centre
Free- 47
Haha! Britain, with The Mothers' Bridge of Love
Tue 20 October · 12:30
Manchester Museum · Manchester · 1 mile from the centre
Free 
48Free Homework Club
20-27 October · 2 days
The Place at Platt Lane · Manchester · 2 miles from the centre
Freeages 9-16
49Autism-Friendly sessions
20-27 October · 2 days
Dino Falls Adventure Golf · Manchester · 5 miles from the centre
See listing
50Remember the Coal
Wed 21 October
National Coal Mining Museum for England · Wakefield · 28 miles from the centre
Free
51A Great Betrayal? One Hundred Years On. The lessons of the 1926 strike revisited
21-30 October · 6 days
Working Class Movement Library · Salford · 1 mile from the centre
Free- 52
Early Years
21-28 October · 2 days
The Whitaker · Rossendale · 15 miles from the centre
See listing 
53Wheel of the Year: Yoga Flow
Wed 21 October · 17:00
The Portico Library · Manchester · under 1 mile from the centre
from £8- 54
Intergenerational Climate Café
Wed 21 October · 17:30
Manchester Museum · Manchester · 1 mile from the centre
Free - 55
Made in South Asia Games Night
21-28 October · 2 days
Manchester Museum · Manchester · 1 mile from the centre
Free 
56Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
22 Oct - 1 Nov · 11 days
The Altrincham Garrick Playhouse · Altrincham · 7 miles from the centre
from £19ages 6+- 57
Artist Support Network: What Happens After Art School
Thu 22 October
The Whitaker · Rossendale · 15 miles from the centre
See listing - 58
Portico Ubuntu: Crafting Your Own Book of Inspiration
Thu 22 October
The Portico Library · Manchester · under 1 mile from the centre
See listing - 59
Jungle Jam
22-29 October · 2 days
Jungle J's Play & Party Centre · Oldham · 6 miles from the centre
from £3ages 0-5 - 60
Talk English Circle
22-29 October · 2 days
Manchester Museum · Manchester · 1 mile from the centre
Free - 61
Threaded Legacies - Black Heritage in Manchester Museum
23-30 October · 8 days
Manchester Museum · Manchester · 1 mile from the centre
Free - 62
Villagers: Sculpting the Community
23 Oct - 1 Nov · 10 days
National Coal Mining Museum for England · Wakefield · 28 miles from the centre
Free - 63
Highlights Tours
23-30 October · 2 days
Manchester Museum · Manchester · 1 mile from the centre
from £5 - 64
Free Friday Night Jazz
23-30 October · 2 days
Stoller Hall · Manchester · under 1 mile from the centre
Free - 65
Paws Beneath the Waves
23-30 October · 2 days
SEA LIFE Manchester · Manchester · 5 miles from the centre
from £24 - 66
Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out
24-25 October · 2 days
Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre · Macclesfield · 17 miles from the centre
from £13 - 67
October Half Term
24 Oct - 1 Nov · 9 days
National Coal Mining Museum for England · Wakefield · 28 miles from the centre
Free - 68
Why's Our Water Orange?
Sat 24 October
National Coal Mining Museum for England · Wakefield · 28 miles from the centre
Free 
69The Killaz UK
Sat 24 October
The Witchwood · Ashton-under-Lyne · 6 miles from the centre
from £12.50- 70
October half term at Dunham Massey
24 Oct - 1 Nov · 9 days
Dunham Massey · Altrincham · 9 miles from the centre
See listing - 71
Femina Cupla: Poetry Readings
Sat 24 October
The Portico Library · Manchester · under 1 mile from the centre
See listing - 72
Haunted Halloween Trail
24 Oct - 1 Nov · 9 days
Wentworth Garden Centre · Rotherham · 34 miles from the centre
from £2.95 - 73
Zoology Club with Animal Teach
Sat 24 October · 10:15
Norton Priory Museum & Gardens · Runcorn · 20 miles from the centre
from £14ages 4-15 - 74
Meet the Wentworth Witch
24-31 October · 8 days
Wentworth Garden Centre · Rotherham · 34 miles from the centre
from £5ages 1+ - 75
Creepy-crawly & Animal Encounters
24 Oct - 1 Nov · 9 days
Wentworth Garden Centre · Rotherham · 34 miles from the centre
from £4.25ages 0+ - 76
Meet Jewish Genealogical Society at the museum!
Sun 25 October · 12:00
Manchester Jewish Museum · Manchester · 1 mile from the centre
Free - 77
Halloween Pumpkin Fest
26-30 October · 5 days
Samlesbury Hall · Preston · 24 miles from the centre
See listing - 78
Frightfully Fascinating Workshop with Animal Teach
Mon 26 October · 10:30
Norton Priory Museum & Gardens · Runcorn · 20 miles from the centre
Freeages 3-16 - 79
Collage Creations
26-30 October · 5 days
Dunham Massey · Altrincham · 9 miles from the centre
See listing - 80
Jack-o'-Lanterns Light Walk
26-27 October · 2 days
Norton Priory Museum & Gardens · Runcorn · 20 miles from the centre
from £7.50ages 3-16 - 81
Pokémon Party
Wed 28 October
National Coal Mining Museum for England · Wakefield · 28 miles from the centre
See listing - 82
Trash to Treasure
Wed 28 October
The Whitaker · Rossendale · 15 miles from the centre
Free - 83
Human Natures Late
Wed 28 October · 18:00
Manchester Museum · Manchester · 1 mile from the centre
Free - 84
Family Film: Hocus Pocus
Thu 29 October
The Whitaker · Rossendale · 15 miles from the centre
See listing - 85
Portico Ubuntu: Diaspora Dine and Discussion - 100 years of Black History Month
Thu 29 October
The Portico Library · Manchester · under 1 mile from the centre
See listing - 86
Family Theatre: Kindness Karl, The Misunderstood Devil
Fri 30 October
The Whitaker · Rossendale · 15 miles from the centre
See listing - 87
Ascarium: The Cursed Depths
30 Oct - 1 Nov · 3 days
SEA LIFE Manchester · Manchester · 5 miles from the centre
from £16ages 10+ - 88
Foodie Group: Three ways with Challah Dough
Fri 30 October · 11:00
Manchester Jewish Museum · Manchester · 1 mile from the centre
See listing 
89Halloween Crafts in the Creative Space
Fri 30 October · 13:30
Wythenshawe Forum Library · Manchester · 7 miles from the centre
ages 8+
90Family Halloween Spooktacular Party
Fri 30 October · 18:00
Party and Play Funhouse · Westhoughton · 13 miles from the centre
from £4.95ages 1-12- 91
HALLOWEEN TORCHLIGHT TOURS
Fri 30 October · 18:00
Samlesbury Hall · Preston · 24 miles from the centre
See listing - 92
Halloween Paint and Sip Evening at The Brooke Café
Fri 30 October · 19:00
Norton Priory Museum & Gardens · Runcorn · 20 miles from the centre
from £30 - 93
Samhain: Something That Was Ours Screening and tour of Witches & Healers
Sat 31 October
The Portico Library · Manchester · under 1 mile from the centre
See listing 
94Fangtastic! A Fun Filled Halloween Magic and Illusion Show.
Sat 31 October · 11:00
Hebden Bridge Little Theatre · Hebden Bridge · 20 miles from the centre
from £8ages 0+- 95
Black History Month storytelling, with CALFE
Sat 31 October · 12:00
Manchester Museum · Manchester · 1 mile from the centre
Free - 96
Astley After Dark
Sat 31 October · 16:00
Astley Hall · Chorley · 21 miles from the centre
from £5ages 0+ - 97
The Hands of Orlac - Film with Live Music
Sat 31 October · 19:30
Stoller Hall · Manchester · under 1 mile from the centre
from £5.50
ALSO ON AROUND MANCHESTER
PLAN A DIFFERENT DAY
What's on, when you need it
Everything open and on in Manchester today, with times and prices.
TOP PICKHuman Natures · free- Fri34 things · Wheelgate Family Halloween Spooktacular
- Sat25 things · Wheelgate Family Halloween Spooktacular