Things to Do in Derby & Derbyshire This October Half Term 2026: Family & Kids Events, Halloween Fun & More!
Looking for fun and affordable things to do with the kids this October half term in Derby or Derbyshire? Whether you’re planning spooky Halloween adventures, creative indoor activities, or outdoor family days out, there are plenty of events happening this October to keep everyone entertained.
Information correct at the time of posting, please check with the organisers for any updates to availability.
Jump to:
- Trick Or Treat Trails and Free Events
- City Centre
- Pumpkin Patches and Mazes
- Parks and Outdoors
- Farm Parks and Family Attractions
- Museums
- Libraries
- Parties and Other Activities
- Baby and Toddler Specials
Trick Or Treat Trails and Free Events
ILKESTON Town Centre and Erewash Museum
Trick or Treat Trail
31/10/2026 · 3.30pm onwards · FREE · Drop-in
Pumpkin Patches and Mazes
See our separate blog post here!
City Centre
Electric daisy
Spooky Messy Play Party
28 October · 12pm–3pm · from £8.50 · booking required
Family Outdoor Cinema – Hocus Pocus 2
29 October · 3pm–6pm · £6 · booking required
Kids Rave: Halloween Special
30 October · 4pm–8pm · £15.65 for a family of 4, Individual £5 · booking required
DERBY MARKET HALL
Lara Croft Day
24 Oct · 11am–10pm · FREE
Haunted Derby Festival
31 October–1 November · 10am–5pm · FREE · drop-in
Derby de Los Muertos – Halloween Music Show
31 October · 6pm–9pm · FREE · drop-in
Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust
Derby River Boat Trips
Date: Weds, Sat and Sundays , Time: 11am-4pm, Price: Adults £8, Under 16s £6, Family ticket – £22
Under 3 Free but still require a ticket, booking required
Derby Cathedral
Helios
Tuesday, October 20 – Saturday, October 31, 2026 · 4pm–8pm · FREE (donations of £5pp) · drop in
Parks, Gardens, Stately Homes and National Trust
NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM
Arbie’s i-Spy: Autumn Trail
24/10/2026-01/11/2026 · 10am-4pm · £2.50 per person
Interactive Storytelling
26-30/10/2026 · Times TBC · FREE · booking required
Drop-In Arts and Crafts
26-30/10/2026 · 11am-3pm · FREE · Drop-in
Stick Man Outdoor Trail
Date: Daily, ongoing · Time: during opening hours · Price: Free · Drop in
CONKERS
Halloween Forest Light Walk
28-31/10/2026 · Doors open 5pm · Price TBC · booking required
October Half Term at Conkers
19/10/2026-01/11/2026 · Included with admission
Hicks lodge
Room on the Broom Trail (ongoing in 2026)
from 27 Jan · during opening hours · free – trail packs £4 – parking from £7.50 · Drop-in
Hardwick hall
Craft Activities & Demonstrations
27/10/2026 and 29/10/26 · 11am–3pm · Adult £6, Children £3, Admission also applies · Drop-in
Hallowtide Half Term Activities
17-31/10/2026 · 9am-5pm · FREE · Drop-in
Stranger Folk at Hardwick
17-31/10/2026 · 9am-5pm · Admission applies
The Pikachu Art Adventure
1 Oct – 1 Nov 2026 · 9am-6pm · Included in Admission
Kedleston Hall
Lighting up Kedleston for Diwali 2026
Dates: 23 October –15 November
Prices: Included with normal admission.
Calke abbey
October Half Term Scarecrow Competition Trail
17/10/2026-01/11/2026 · 9am-5pm · FREE · Drop-in
Spooky Tunnels at Calke Abbey
17/10/2026-01/11/2026 · 11am-4.30pm · FREE · Drop-in
October Half Term: Under-5s Storytelling Session (5 and under)
23/10/2026 · 10am-11.30am · £5 · booking required
Relaxed October Half Term Storytelling Session (SEND-friendly)
23/10/2026 · 1pm-2.30pm · £5 · booking required
October Half Term Storytelling Sessions
24-25/10/2026 · 10am-12pm · Price £7 · booking required
SUDBURY Hall
The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ Trail
19/10/2026-01/11/2026 · 10am-4pm · FREE · Drop-in
Myriad by Architects of Air (Luminarium)
16 -25 October 2026 · Multiple Time Slots· £10pp, booking required
Bolsover Castle
Halloween Half-Term at Bolsover Castle
24/10/2026-01/11/2026 · 10am-4pm · Included with admission · booking required
Carsington Water
Halloween Trail 2026
24 Oct–1 Nov · Daily, 10am–4pm · £4 per trail sheet · no booking required
Chatsworth House
Half Term Fun
24/10/2026-01/11/2026 · Included with farmyard admission · booking recommended. Halloween-themed crafts, face painting, a spooky tractor and trailer ride, animal feeding and guinea pig cuddling at the farmyard. Pumpkin carving is available until 31 October.
Cromford Mills
Autumn Half-Term Activities
24–30 Oct · 10am–4pm · FREE, drop in
Spookémon
31 Oct · 10am–3pm · £5 booking recommended
NEWHALL PARK
Halloween Trail and Craft Event
29 Oct · 1pm–3pm · FREE · DE11 0JY · No booking required
Farm Parks & Family Attractions
BLUebell dairy
Bluebells School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
24-31 October 2026 · 10am–4pm · £16.50 adults, £17 Children · booking recommended
national forest adventure farm
Pumpkin Village
Selected dates in October 2026 · 10am-5pm · £5pp · booking required
Peak Wildlife PArk
Halloween at Peak
24 Oct–1 Nov · 10am–5pm . included with standard park admission
Alton Towers*
Scarefest*
Selected Dates 26 Sep-1 November 2026 · 10am–8pm · from £34 (under 90cm free) · booking recommended for best prices
Heights of Abraham (Matlock Bath)
Halloween at the Heights
19-31/10/2026 · 10am-4.30pm · Admission applies · booking recommended
Matlock Farm Park
Fang-tastic Halloween Festival
24/10/2026-01/11/2026 · £18.50 adult, £16.50 child (2-16), under 2s FREE · booking required
Twycross Zoo
Room on the Broom Corn Maze
3 Oct – 1 Nov 2026 · 10am–4pm · £5 plus admission · Booking recommended
GULLIVER’S KINGDOM
Fright Fiesta
24 Oct–1 Nov · See website for opening times and prices · Matlock Bath
RENISHAW HALL
Spooktacular Halloween Trail
31 Oct–1 Nov · See website for times and prices · Booking recommended
Museums, Galleries and Theatre Event
Erewash Museum
Half-Term Blast Off: Space & Science Week
28th – 30th October · 11-4pm · All ages · FREE · Drop-in
All Treat and No Trick!
30th October · 11-4pm · All ages · FREE · Drop-in
Derby Museum of Making
Assemble: Derby’s Making Festival 2026
24/10/2026 · 11am-4pm · £5 adult, FREE under 16s · booking recommended
Calm Start at the Museum of Making – SEND Friendly Session
27/10/2026 · 10-11.30am · FREE (suggested £3 per family) · booking required
The Big Draw Festival 2026: Make a Mark!
28/10/2026 · 10.30am-12.30pm, 1.30-3.30pm · FREE · Drop-in
Making at the Museum – Make a Balance Machine
28/10/2026 · 10.30am-12.30pm, 1.30-3.30pm · FREE · Drop-in
How Are Things Made?
28/10/2026 · Time TBC · FREE · Drop-in
STEAM Tots – October (2-5)
28/10/2026 · Time TBC · Price TBC · Drop-in
PICKFORD’S HOUSE
Craft at Pickfords’ – Make a Plaster Decal
27/10/2026 · 10.30am-12.30pm, 1.30-3.30pm · FREE · Drop-in
DERBY MUSEUM & ART GALLERY
Family Fun – Mono Prints
29/10/2026 · 10.30am-12.30pm, 1.30-3.30pm · FREE · Drop-in
SHARPE’S POTTERY MUSEUM
October Museum Trail – Edmund’s Bone-chilling Birthday Bash!
01-31/10/2026 · 10am-4pm · £1 per trail · Drop-in
Sea Glass Art for Families with Shore Things
22/10/2026 · 10am-12pm · £15 per person · booking required
Little Potters: Under 5’s Sensory and Messy Play (5 and under)
23/10/2026 · 10am-12pm · £5 per child, adults free · booking required
Sharpe’s Studio: Clay Play!
28/10/2026 · 10am-12pm · £5 · booking required
Sea Glass for Families
29/10/2026 · 10am-12pm · £15pp · booking required
Sharpe’s Studio: Paint a Pot!
30/10/2026 · 10am-1pm · from £5 · booking required
Halloween Crafts
31/10/2026 · 11am-3pm · FREE · Drop-in
Libraries and Council Events
Libraries
Sprout’s Halloween Surprise with author Susan Hughes
27 October – Chellaston Library 11-12pm, -29 October 2-3pm Normanton Library · FREE · booking required
Mickleover Library
Children’s Autumnal / Halloween Craft Sessions
27-30/10/2026 · 2.30-3.30pm · FREE · booking required
Halloween Story and Rhyme Time
29/10/2026 · 2.30-3.30pm · FREE · booking required
SANDIACRE LIBRARY
Family Fun – Spooky Stories and Monster Crafts
27/10/2026 · 2-4pm · FREE · booking required
STAVELEY LIBRARY
Family Fun – Spooky Stories and Monster Crafts (4-11)
26/10/2026 · 1-3pm · FREE · booking required
LONG EATON LIBRARY
Family Fun – Spooky Stories and Monster Crafts
28/10/2026 · 10.30am-12.30pm · FREE · booking required
ILKESTON LIBRARY
Family Fun – Spooky Stories and Monster Crafts
29/10/2026 · 11am-12pm · FREE · booking required
Leisure Centres
MOORWAYS LEISURE CENTRE
Spooktacular Halloween Party
28/10/2026 · 1.30PM-3PM OR 3-4.30PM · £12.50 PER CHILD ADULTS FREE · booking required
Meadowside Leisure Centre
Spooktacular Soft Play Halloween Party
29/10/2026 · 4.15-5.45pm, 6-7.30pm · £9.50 ages 3+, £7 ages 1-3, under 12 months FREE · booking required
Green Bank Leisure Centre
Spooktacular Kids Halloween Party
31st October · 1pm–3pm · £6 per child, adults FREE · booking required
Rutland sports park
Halloween Fun Tots
29th October · 10.30am-12pm ·
Parties, Indoor Play and Other Activities
Doodle & Moo’s Play Village
Halloween Collab with Regain Fitness
30th October · £16.95, 4pm–6pm · booking required
Halloween Party
29 Oct · 4pm–6pm · booking required
INFINITY PARKS DERBY
Halloween Party
31 Oct · 10am–12pm, 1pm–3pm · £15.95 per child
Chase and Marshall Meet & Greet
25 Oct · 10am–12pm, 1pm–3pm · £15.95 per child
Swadlincote Snowsports Centre
Halloween Party
31st October · 6-8.30pm , £15 per child · Booking required
Little moos play barn
Spooktacular Halloween Messy Play & Craft
24/10/2026, 29/10/2026 · 10am, 9.30am · £14.95 · booking required
Halloween Party (0-5)
25/10/2026, 31/10/2026 · 10am, 9am · £19.95 · booking required
Halloween Themed Stay & Play – Sensory Room
26 and 28/10/2026 · 9.30am, 12.30pm · £7.95 · booking required
Halloween Themed Baby Only Stay & Play – Sensory Room
26/10/2026 · 12.30pm · £6.95 · booking required
Moo Music Halloween Party
27/10/2026 · 9.30am and 12.30 (baby only) · £12.95 · booking required
Halloween Themed Stay & Play with Mickey Mouse
30/10/2026 · 9.30am · £14.95 · booking required
Halloween Themed Stay & Play with Bluey!
30/10/2026 · 12.30pm · £14.95 · booking required
0-1 Years Halloween Party
31/10/2026 · 12pm · £19.95 · booking required
Freddy’s play kingdom
Halloween Party
31/10/2026 · 12-2pm · Price TBC · booking required
Halloween fancy dress party with disco lights, music and sweet treats. A 50% deposit is required when booking.
SEND Halloween Party
31/10/2026 · 2.30-4.30pm · Price TBC · booking required
Workshops and Craft
hobbycraft Derby
Kids’ Halloween Mache Pumpkin Workshop
4, 18, 25 October 2pm · £8 · Age 3+ · Booking Required
Kids Spooky Canvas Decorating Workshop
8, 22 October 2026 4pm, 15 October 2pm · £8 · Age 3+ · Booking Required
Kids Halloween Mache Ghost Workshop
Saturdays – 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 October 2pm · £8 · Age 3+ · Booking Required
Lush Derby
LUSH Derby’s Scare-tastic Bath Bomb Making (5+)
26-30/10/2026 · 12pm, 2pm · £5 · booking required
Pets at home – Derby Kingsway and Derby Meteor
Free Pet Pals Workshops
Half Term Dates – tbc · 2pm · FREE · Age 3+ · Booking Required
Dobbies Derby
Little Scare-lings (3-10)
24-25/10/2026, 29-31/10/2026 · 90 minutes · £15 per child · booking required
Garden King
Pumpkin Woods
26/09/2026-31/10/2026 · 9.30am-5pm Mon-Sat, 10.30am-4pm Sun · booking required
Additional Halloween Activities to add on
Bear Making, Mini Golf, Pebble Painting, Soft Play etc
Peacock Craft Barn, Markeaton Park
Halloween Party
30th October · 3pm–5.30pm · ages 6–12 · booking required
Baby and Toddler Groups Specials and Holiday Clubs
Magic and Mudpies
Halloween Outdoor Stay and Play session
23, 28th & 30th October · 10.30am–11.30am · Eyre Chapel, Chesterfield · booking required
Mums of derby
Stay and play Halloween Special
Wednesday 28th October, 9.30am , Darley Abbey · booking required
Tiny Talk Erewash
Halloween Party
30th October · 10.20am–12.20pm ·£12.50 Trowell Parish Hall · booking required
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