Peak District October half term 2024 and Autumn events

October half term 2024 dates for schools in Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire East and Sheffield are: 28th October to 1st November
(with the last school day being Friday 27th October, and most schools going back 4th November, unless there is an inset day)

From the fireworks and bonfire at Chatsworth and the stunning displays of Matlock Bath Illuminations, to pumpkin picking and Halloween trails, there is a lot going on in an around the Peak District October half term 2024, and we’ve rounded up all the events right here for you.

Please note that most of these Peak District October half term and autumn events need to be pre-booked, so don’t leave it too late!

If you are looking for ideas for general days out, rather than specific events, please check out our guide to Family Days Out in the Peak District, which provides lots of inspiration. Also, not much beats a long family walk in the Peak District armed with hot chocolate in your flask during Autumn.

As always, we keep this page updated as much as possible with news from these Peak District summer holiday events. But also keep an eye on the Peak District Kids Facebook Group and also our Instagram. Feel free to email us if you are an event organiser and your event is not listed.

Camping this October half term? Click here to see which of our Peak District family friendly campsites are open.

Paid advertising may affect placement on this page

Pumpkin Picking Farms

UPDATE: Village Pumpkins in Barlow is now closed for the season.

Before we launch in to the October half term events, I wanted to share pumpkin picking farms that are open over the holidays. These actually opened the first weekend of October, but they hope to stay open until 31st October if there are enough pumpkins available. This article will be updated if there are any changes to dates.

For the first time in forever, there is now a pumpkin picking patch in the Peak District National Park! Litton Lanterns have opened this year and pumpkins are at the ready!

Alternatively, if you are closer to the Chesterfield/Sheffield side of the Peak District, Village Pumpkins in Barlow may be a better option, although this patch is technically one mile outside the National Park boundary.

If you are based in or around the south of the Peak District, we usually recommend Pumpkin Corner near Ashbourne. However, due to the poor growing season, Pumpkin Corner has made the very difficult decision to not open for the 2024 season.

1. Family Day Rock Climbing with Peak Lines

Available dates throughout October half term
Click here for further information and to book
Click here for the Peak District Kids review

Spend quality time with your family, discover stunning locations in the Peak District, and create memories to last a lifetime with the family rock climbing sessions over the May half term.

Peak Lines offer private half-day and full-day climbing experiences in the Peak District. 

• The sessions are friendly, encouraging, and aimed to get you working together as a family
• You will have a go at climbing and abseiling, learn how to hold each other’s ropes and even learn some of the techniques essential to climbing independently
• The session will be tailored to you and your family based on experience, age, and fitness level
• Top-of-the-range safety equipment is provided

The cost for a half-day is £150 and for the full day it is £240. Prices includes all of the equipment and up to 6 people. 

2. Trick or Treat Circus Live at Buxton Opera House

2pm, Wednesday 30th October
Pavilion Arts Centre
Age guidance 2-11
Click here for further information and to book

3. Halloween in Enchanted Ilam

Ilam Park comes alive with colour in autumn and there are plenty of seasonal themed events for children and adults including enchanted and magical events for Halloween.

4. October half term at Longshaw Estate

Longshaw Estate is a wonderful place to discover spectacular views of the Peak District in autumn and an excellent location for a family walk. Check out the Peak District Kids pram-friendly Longshaw Estate walk, or the toddler Longshaw Estate walk.

After a walk you can visit the bookshop, which has a great selection of fact and fiction for all ages. There’s also an award-winning café, serving seasonal lunches, cake, ice cream and hot and cold drinks.

And for the Peak District October half term, Longshaw Estate has some fangtastic activities laid on for families.

5. Family Activity Day and a SEND Family Activity Day at White Hall Centre, Buxton

Friday 1st November
Click here to book the SEND Family Activity Day
Click here to book the Family Activity Day
Click here to read the Peak District Kids review of a White Hall activity day

On Friday 1st November, visit White Hall for a day packed with exciting activities crafted for families seeking an unforgettable adventure together – The Family Activity Day. Throughout the day, a wide range of activities will be available from onsite activities such as zip wires and ropes courses, to exploring iconic venues around the Peak District. Prices start at £34.05 per person. The day begins at 9:30 and ends at 16:30 at White Hall Centre.

On the same day there is also a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) family activity day. Explore tailored activities designed to nurture diverse abilities and create a supportive environment for everyone. Foster social connections and engage in activities that promote sensory exploration and skill development. Prices start at £34.05 per person. The day begins at 9:30 and ends at 16:30 at White Hall Centre.

6. Canoeing and abseiling with Peaks and Paddles Outdoor Adventure

Dates available throughout October half term
Click here for further information and to book
DISCOUNT CODE: kids5%

Don’t forget to use your Peak District Kids discount code: kids5%

Peaks and Paddles family canoe trip is a lovely journey down the Cromford Canal and back (read the Peak District Kids review here). This is just for your family only with an instructor to guide you in getting control, as well as providing you with a few games and challenges along the way.

The trip takes about 2 hours and prices are from £26pp depending on group size. Meeting point will be Cromford Wharf car park – GOOGLE MAP LINK.

Plus there is also abseiling! Fancy dress optional on Halloween!

Abseil 90ft off the stunning Millers Dale bridge into the valley below (read the Peak District Kids review here). You’re in control with a safety rope attached at all times. Head torches supplied for evening abseils with a light positioned at the bottom to see your landing area.

£30pp day or £35pp night. Allow 1.5hr to 2hrs depending on group size. Meeting point is the Monsal Trail Car Park at Millers Dale. You may also want to combine your abseiling with the Chee Dale Stepping Stones walk or a cycle along the Monsal Trail.

7. TrYumphant October Holiday Camp

Monday 28th October to Friday 1st November, 8:30am-4pm with optional extra time until 6pm
Baslow Sports Field
From £29.75/day
Click here for more information and to book

The TrYumphant October Holiday Camp runs from 28th October to 1st November and is open to all kids (age 4-14), whether you live locally or are visiting on holiday. You can book for as many or as little days as you like.

Rated 5 stars on Google, this club offers a great mix of creativity, sportiness, and silliness to suit all tastes and talents. They pride themselves on low staff-child ratios (average 1:6) so that they can give each and every child a memorable, confidence-building and fun experience! 

My own kids have actually done these holiday camps many times over the years and they have an absolute blast! Everyone is so friendly and welcoming. Also, lots of families who visit the Peak District on holiday also use this as an opportunity to experience a kid-free date day (you’re on holiday after all), so perhaps try out a Peak District spa after a long walk?

Use code PDK10 to get 10% off or get 50% off  with code FSM if you qualify for free school meals based on benefits. 

8. Fright Fiesta at Gulliver’s Kingdom

Saturday 26th to Saturday 1st November
READ: Top tips for visiting GULLIVER’S KINGDOM MATLOCK in 2024
Click here to pre-book tickets online (discounted tickets if booking at least 2 days in advance)

Spooktacular fun is guaranteed this Halloween season at Gulliver’s Kingdom, with special rides and attractions conjured up as part of the park’s Fright Fiesta!

The festival-style Halloween celebration will run on selected October dates until 2nd November, when the park in Matlock Bath will be bursting with colour, costumes and magic.

Tickets start from £16 per person, with brave adventurers able to explore the Creepy Cave, enter the Haunted House, join Gully’s Halloween Show, and hop aboard the Silver Mine ride.

Brand new for 2024 there will be a Ghost House LIVE experience which is an interactive walkthrough experience for kids aged five and above and our Silver Mine: Zombie Shootout where unruly zombie cowboys await, suitable for those aged eight and up.

And, of course, all the usual Gulliver’s Kingdom rides and attractions will be open too, including the Drop Tower, Dino Falls, Riggers Revenge zip line, and the new Safari Kingdom.

Save money on the freaky festivities by booking your theme park tickets at least two days in advance.

9. Matlock Bath Illuminations

Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th October
READ: Tips for attending Matlock Bath Illuminations in 2024
Click here to pre-book tickets online

The start of October half term marks the end of the Matlock Bath Illuminations, which runs every weekend from the 7th September through to the 27th October.

This event is a long standing tradition (since 1897) where small boats along the River Derwent are decorated with twinkling lights. The first decorations were candle lights to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, but these days the boats are decorated in colourful electric lights, featuring Ghost Busters and a roving Carousel in recent years!

Held at Derwent Gardens, opposite the entrance to Gulliver’s Kingdom, Matlock Bath Illuminations is quite the unique, local event. You will also find food stalls, fair ground rides (aimed at kids aged 5 and under), and roving entertainers.

This year, your ticket includes 20% off entry to The Heights of Abraham on the same day. Click here for more tips on attending Matlock Bath Illuminations this year.

10. Scarefest at Alton Towers

11th October to 3rd November
Click here for more information and to book

As the nights get longer, Scarefest beckons. On October’s spookiest dates, tiptoe into Alton Towers Resort for all sorts of creepy scares and shocks as its award-winning Scarefest returns for 2024 with live entertainment for all ages and the award-winning spooktacular scare experiences for the bravest of souls. Plus, Scarefest coincides with the opening of new attractions, including live action scare maze COMPOUND and the interactive family attraction Amigos in the Afterlife.

The Resort’s new family-friendly scare attraction, Trick O’ Treat Town with HARIBO will also return for 2024, welcoming guests to knock on the doors from Spooky Avenue all the way up to the Witchy Woods for the ultimate trick-or-treating experience.

Open until 9pm each day daring guests can face head-spinning, hair-raising rides and attractions in darkness including Wicker Man and The Smiler! 

An Alton Towers visit fits nicely into a family holiday to the National Park, and is certainly an enticing end-of-the-holiday reward after all those family walks. However, if your kids are between the ages of 6-9 (where they’ve outgrown CBeebies and are too small for Nemesis), we recommend reading our guide to visiting Alton Towers with kids as their height will depend on how much they will get out of the day.

11. Severn Trent’s Spooky the Ghost trail

Saturday 26th October to Sunday 3rd November
Click here for more information and to book

This event takes place at both Tittesworth Reservoir and Carsington Water. It does not take place at Derwent Reservoir / Ladybower Reservoir.

Spooky the Ghost has left a trail of clues hidden in the Halloween scenes to help find his friends. Follow the route and find the answers to the questions. Once you’ve completed the trail, head back for a prize!

£3 per trail sheet. Pick up your trail sheet from the visitor centre. Non-sweet prize option available.

12. Halloween week at Thornbridge Estate

28th October to 3rd November (10am to 4:30pm)
Click here for more information
Family Ticket: £22 for 2 adults and 2 children (3-16 yrs)
Adults: £8 (17+ yrs) / Children: £4 (3-16 yrs)
Thornbridge Club Members’ Children: Free / Under 3s: Free

Thornbridge Estate have got a spine-chillingly good line-up of spooktacular activities that will keep the whole family entertained this October half term, including:

• Fancy-Dress Competitions – dress to impress in your best ghoulish gear and stand a chance to win eerie prizes!
• House of Witch Crafts – unleash your creativity with some bewitching arts and crafts in the Carriage House.
• Halloween Trail – embark on a spooky adventure and see if you can uncover all the hidden surprises.
• Freaky Food & Drink – treat yourself to some devilishly delicious eats and drinks from the café and Carriage House.
• Workshops (selected dates) – join ghostly guides for some hands-on fun! Booking required.
• Pumpkin Patch – pick out your perfect pumpkin for Halloween!
• Horrifying House Tours available to book all week

Access to the garden trail and other kids activities are included with standard garden entry tickets, additional charges apply for food, workshops and house tours. Pre-book now to avoid any tricks and save 20% on your tickets!

13. 200% Wolf (U) at Buxton Cinema

1:30pm, Thursday 31st October
Pavilion Arts Centre
Adults £7, Students/Children (15 and under) £5
Click here for more information and to book

14. The Whitworth Fantazia Fireworks

Thursday 31st October
Adults £10, Children (6-15) £5, Family ticket (2+2) £20, under 5s FREE
Gates open at 5:30pm
Click here for more information and to book

At 7pm there will be the first of two displays. This will be a 10 minute, ‘low noise’ display for children and people who are sensitive to loud fireworks. The second display will be at 7:45pm. This gives people who don’t like loud fireworks sufficient time to leave the park. The firework finale will be Halloween themed and last approximately 15 minutes.

There will also be food and drink stands and kids’ funfair rides (bring cash).

Please note that fireworks and sparklers are not permitted to be brought into the venue. Also, dogs will not be allowed into the ground for this event.

15. October Half Term at the Heights

Saturday 19th October to Sunday 3rd November (10.00am to 4.30pm)
Click here for more information and to book
Check out our review of Heights of Abraham

This October Half Term, our the Heights of Abraham attractions are open, including the cable car, exhibitions, adventure playgrounds, woodland and sculpture trails, plus two amazing cavern tours: The Great Masson Cavern tour provides a fascinating insight into the geological formation of these spectacular caverns, whilst the highlight has to be the stunning sound and light show towards the end! Down in the Rutland Cavern meet the Victorians and join them on a second underground tour though this mysterious cavern. Look out for the Tommy-Knockers though, those pesky sprites get everywhere!

You’ll find plenty of Halloween entertainment too:

• Meet Belinda Broomsticks in the Masson Pavilion, and for a small fee she’ll read your fortune (believe it or not!) and give children a chance to take a lucky dip into her cauldron.
  
• Take part in the Tommy-knockers hunt, and if you find all six of them you could be in with a chance to win a golden ticket for next year.
  
• Don’t miss the Heights of Abraham Scarecrows, a traditional appearance at this time of year, and there will be plenty of decorations and Halloween tasty treats on offer in the café and snap tin.
  
• Head down to the Tavern for even more spooky fun, and take part in the games there too.

16. Halloween Fun at Crich Tramway Village

Monday 28th October to Friday 1st November (10.00am to 4.30pm)
Click here for more information and to book
Check out our review of Crich Tramway Village

Have a spooky fun Halloween at Crich Tramway Village. See the Halloween show every day (Monday to Friday) at 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm. Enjoy stories with Maria on a tram at 12pm, 12.30pm, 1.00pm, 2pm, 2.30pm, and 3pm.

There is also face painting, plus Halloween crafts where you can make a spider on a stick (Monday and Tuesday) and make flappy bats (Wednesday to Friday).

Take the Halloween trail though the woodland walk with an extra bewitching surprise on Thursday 31st October . Why not dress up and enjoy Halloween half term with us? Don’t forget we are an outdoor site so stay warm!

And for those who don’t want anything too scary, enjoy non Halloween shows with Pinxton Puppets every day in the Learning Centre at 11.30am, 1.00pm, and 3.00pm. There are three shows: Red Riding Hood, Three Little Pigs, The Pirate on Treasure Island.

All included in the admission price or with your return ticket. Scarily good fun!!!

17. Halloween at Haddon Hall

Saturday 19th October to Friday 1st November
Click here for more information and to book
The Owls will be at Haddon: 19th, 20th, 26th, 27th, and 31st October (11am-3pm)
Little School of Ecology: 28th, 29th, and 31st October (11am to12.30pm)
Pop-up Gift Shop: Friday 27th to Sunday 29th October
General admission: Children £7.50, Adults £26
Little School of Ecology: Tickets are £9 per child and £9 per adult

Halloween at Haddon will see children embark on a spellbinding journey throughout the hall, where they’ll find something to captivate and enthral! The Medieval Kitchens become home to The Apothecary, where children can ‘Guess the Scent’ and concoct their own herbal elixir to take home (adults are also welcome to get involved!).

Storytelling will feature in the Great Chamber, with a range of spooky stories shared throughout the day, while in the Banqueting Hall, at weekends from 19th October and Halloween on 31st October (11am-3pm), children will have the opportunity to meet and hold a real-life owl!

The Parlour will host Spell Writing Classes, offering quills, parchment and advice on how to scribe the perfect spell, which will then be rolled, tied and ready to take home.

The Lower Courtyard is the place for broomstick making – where there’ll be daily demonstrations and the chance to make a mini broomstick to take home.

There’ll also be a make your own ghost craft workshop, creating the perfect spooky decoration for children to take home.

The Little School of Ecology also returns, offering children (with an adult) the chance to explore the ancient parkland with experienced guides, learning about the plants and animals that call this place home and discovering the mysterious superstitions, fascinating folklore and ancient beliefs that would have been so important to the people living and working here in the past. 

Before heading home, families can enjoy some ghoulish delights from Haddon’s restaurant, which is serving a Halloween-themed menu for the occasion, and then stop into Haddon’s pop-up gift shop, where Willbott’s Wands, The Lost Cauldron and The Lonely Broomstick will be in situ, offering an array of magical goodies!

18. Interactive art at LEVEL Centre

Throughout October half term, the LEVEL Centre in Rowsley will be exhibiting ‘Is This Me?’ and there is also a Big Draw event right at the start of holidays.

19. October half term at Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust

Crescent Crafts with Through The Lense Photography Sessions

Monday 28 October (10am – 4pm)
Buxton Crescent, The Assembly Rooms
Pay as you feel, no booking necessary, just drop in
Click here for more information and to book

Come and learn how to be a spy agent and undercover top secret tricks. 

21. The Pumpkin Puzzle Trail at Blaze Farm

Open over half term, but closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Information can be found on their Instagram page
Activity sheet at pencil £1.95
Check out our review of Blaze Farm

The naughty pumpkins have escaped and The Pumpkin Puzzle Trail is ready to be solved. Pop into the ice cream parlour to pick up your activity sheet and pencil for the trail (£1.95).

Blaze Farm is such a lovely morning or afternoon out with little ones. There’s a little walk around Blaze Farm, plus farm animals to meet, a slide and tractor behind the café to play on, and the most delicious homemade Peak District ice-cream to taste. Perhaps stay a little longer and get crafty at The Potty Sheep Craft Studio where you can paint ceramics (a lovely rainy day activity).

22. Halloween Festival Fun at Matlock Farm Park

Saturday 26th October to Friday 1st November (10.00am to 4.30pm)
Click here for more information and to book
Check out our review of Matlock Farm Park

Get involved in some spooky goings on at Matlock Farm Park!

Come and walk along the spooky trail in our woodland and see some familiar Halloween characters at different prop sets – don’t worry – it’s fun, not scary! Don’t miss the Ghoul Games as you wander and there will also be friendly characters too to interact with in the woodland and around the park, even providing some broomstick flying workshops.

Of course, there’ll be our Pumpkin Patch which you can pick up a token for, and children with their grown-ups can grab a wheelbarrow to explore the patch and pick their favourite pumpkin – carve it here at our carving stations or take it home with you! This year, every child with a paid park entry ticket will receive a FREE PUMPKIN (subject to availability).

Witch Wendolyn will be running her craft workshops every day for little ones to make lovely keepsakes and if you keep your eyes peeled, you may even be lucky enough to catch sight of the Headless Horseman late afternoon, just as the light fades…

There will be all the usual animal delights of Matlock Farm Park including Sheep Racing, Small Animal Petting, Meerkat Talks, Wallaby Encounters & Ferret Racing, as well as our daily Pony Rides for children (extra fee). There’s lots of opportunity to play too, including the fabulous covered Enchanted Hamlet multi-zone play area, marvellous indoor playcentre, The Rainforest, and the outdoor Jumping Pillow.

23. Monster Mash Train with Peak Rail

Thursday 31st October
Departing at 11:00, 13:00 & 15:00
Click here for more information and to book

24. Chatsworth Estate

As with every year, Chatsworth are running some excellent activities for families over the Peak District October half term.

October half term at Chatsworth Farmyard

Saturday 26th to Sunday 3rd November
Click here for more information and to book

Bring your little monsters to the farmyard to meet the animals and join in with creepy Halloween themed activities this Autumn half-term.

As well as the fun daily activities, such as animal feeding and milking demonstrations, you can join in any of these spook-tacular Halloween themed events:

• Visit the pumpkin patch and choose your own pumpkin (26-31 October only)
• Carve and decorate your pumpkin to take home (26-31 October only)
• Halloween themed face painting
• Spooky Halloween themed crafts

If you’re feeling brave you could even go on a mysterious journey on our spooky tractor and trailer ride – who knows what lies in store?

Please check the noticeboard on arrival for specific timings. All activities may not be available each day.

Children’s Autumn Nature Scavenger Hunt

Monday 28 October | 10am – 11.45am 
Child: £2.50, Adult: £6.50
Click here for more information and to book

Head to the Stickyard for an autumn adventure. You will be exploring the trees in the medieval woodland, Stand Wood, looking for nature’s autumnal treasures – see how many different things you can find! You will finish off at the Stickyard making a nature inspired craft to take home with some of your woodland treasures. Make sure you dress for the weather with sturdy footwear or wellies.

Children’s Autumn Print Making

Tuesday 29 October | 10.30am to 12pm
£6.50 per child, £2.50 per adult
Click here for more information and to book
All children must be accompanied by an adult. Max 1 adult per child.

Try out monoprinting – a one-off technique that uses a flat plate and ink to transfer a unique design onto a sheet of paper. Use images provided or create your own design to produce a Autumn inspired print, while experimenting with collage that can be overlaid to produce fantastic colourful images.  

This workshop is led by printmaking specialist Diane Cooper, an experienced art teacher who provides workshops for all ages at Chatsworth and in her studio. 

Chatsworth Bonfire and fireworks

Friday 1st November and Saturday 2nd November
Adults £22, Children £15
Gates open at 6pm
Click here for more information and to book

Chatsworth’s annual bonfire and fireworks in the garden is back this year with a blazing bonfire and two spectacular firework displays, including an early display for little ones. You can also tuck into a selection of seasonal food, from hog roasts to churros and sweet treats. Round it off with a glass of mulled wine or cider – the ultimate winter warmers.

Gates open: 6.00pm
Lighting of the bonfire: 6.45pm
Children’s firework display: 7.45pm
Grand finale firework display: 8.30pm
Entertainment finishes: 9.15pm

For those wishing to make the evening even more memorable, there is the opportunity to add a delicious meal served in the Cavendish Restaurant to your bonfire and firework tickets (Adults: £55.00 | Children: £25.00). The Cavendish Restaurant will be open between 5pm and 7pm, advance bookings only.