It may seem like the kids have only just settled in at school after the summer holidays but October half term is nearly here.

See our list below to keep the kids entertained in and around Preston.

Friday 19 October

The Halloween Trail
Ribby Hall Village, Ribby Road, Wrea Green, PR4 2PR
Join the free Halloween Trail, on until Thursday 31 October. Solve the spooky clues hidden in the Woodland Trail. Pram and dog friendly.

Saturday 19 October

Halloween Jars Craft
Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston New Road, Preston, PR5 0AG
10am – 12pm and 1pm – 4pm
£3.50 per jar, car parking charges also apply.
Make spooky Halloween Jars on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. This is a drop in activity, no need to book. Suitable for children aged 5+.

Halloween Xplorer Challenge
Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston New Road, Preston, PR5 0AG
10am – 3pm
£3 per map pack, car parking charges also apply.
The Xplorer challenge will take place every day until Sunday 3 November. Explore Brockholes by finding the Halloween themed markers.

Sunday 20 October

Reptile Encounter
Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston New Road, Preston, PR5 0AG
12pm – 3pm
Free event but car parking charges apply. North West Reptile Club are inviting you to come along to their Reptile Encounter.

October Half Term Creepy Tours & Halloween Crafts
Hoghton Tower, Preston, PR5 0SH
11am, 12pm, 1pm
The Creepy Tours will consist of a shortened tour around Hoghton Tower and both the children and parents will be told of the strange and spooky stories of Hoghton Tower’s ghostly past.
The Creepy Tour is not suitable for children under 5. On until to Thursday 24 October.

Monday 21 October

Pumpkin Carving at Huntleys
Huntley Gate Farm, Whalley Road, PR5 0UN
10am
Daily event until Wednesday 27 October. Buy your pumpkin and carving kit from the food hall, take it around to the marquee and carve your design.

Halloween Half Term
Samlesbury Hall, Preston New Rd, Samlesbury, Preston, PR5 0UP
21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 and 31 October
Free tickets. Learn how to make your own spells (good or bad!) and take part in the putrid picture treasure hunt around the Hall.

Half Term “Not So Scary” Halloween Fun
Guy’s Thatched Hamlet, Canalside, St. Michael’s Rd, Preston, PR3 0RS
11am
Half term howls with excitement at this spook-tacular party on every day until Saturday 26 October. Halloween Cupcake Decorating is £2, or create your own Spider Pizza to take home and cook for £3. The Pumpkin Cabin will be open with pumpkins on sale to carve from only 50p.

Tuesday 22 October

Wild Families: Muddy Monsters
Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston New Road, Preston, PR5 0AG
2pm
£5 each and £18 per family (two adults and two children), and car charges apply.
Take your little monsters for an afternoon of muddy monster fun in the woods this half term.

Mini Zoo and Animal Story Time
Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Market Square, Preston, PR1 2PP
2pm
£2.50 for children, suitable for 4-8 years
Gemma from Little Zoo to You in Preston is taking some very special friends along from her mini rescue zoo. There will be a reading of Oi Frog! then you’ll get the chance to meet some of the animals in this wonderful book.

Wednesday 23 October

Halloween Arts and Crafts
Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Market Square, Preston, PR1 2PP
1.30pm – 4.15pm
Take part in free Halloween arts and crafts run by volunteers from UCLan Students’ Union. This is a drop-in, free of charge session but children must be accompanied by an adult.

Halloween at the Harris: Hocus Pocus
Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Market Square, Preston, PR1 2PP
4.30pm – 7pm
£5.50
An evening of mischief and magic as witches big and small attend the Harris for a spellbinding all-age film screening starting at 5.30pm. Have a go at Halloween crafts, try on some witch-tastic 17th century-style outfits and try your luck with apple bobbing. Dressing up in your own costumes is not essential but very warmly encouraged.

Read more: Slow down and relax as the Harris launches new wellbeing gallery and workshops

Thursday 24 October

Forest School Family Fun
Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston New Road, Preston, PR5 0AG
2pm
£5 each and £18 per family (two adults and two children), and car charges apply.
A highly trained team will help you and your family to explore and play in the woodlands, take part in environmental activities and have fun together in nature. Snacks and refreshments are included.

Pumpkin Carving
Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston New Road, Preston, PR5 0AG
10am – 4pm
£3 per pumpkin + £1 for carving (under 2s go free)
Pumpkin carving is back at Brockholes – pick your pumpkin, get carving and enter the competition! On until Saturday 26 October.

Saturday 26 October

Spooky Halloween Trains
Ribble Steam Railway, Chain Caul Road, Preston, PR2 2PD
10am
£8 per adult, £5 per child aged 3 to 16, free for under 3s
The Spooky Trains are returning. Take part in the Annual Pumpkin Trail, with free face painting and unlimited Train Rides included in the ticket price. Also on Sunday 27 October.

Witchcraft & Wizardry Farm Trail
Old Holly Farm, Cabus Nook Lane, Cabus, PR3 1AA
10.30am
£12
Calling all magical beings, join in with three consecutive 20 minute workshops including Wand Etiquette and Duelling, Pungent Potions and Enchanted Herbs and Plants. Each child receives an official certificate and wand upon completion. The experience will last around an hour with the chance for photographs with your professor at the end.
Slots must be booked by calling 01524 791200, option 2.

Halloween Craft at Sharoe Green
Sharoe Green Library, 8 Sharoe Green Lane, Preston, PR2 8ED
10am
Free, no need to book. Drop in and enjoy making a Halloween card and a black cat lantern or do some spooky colouring. Fancy dress optional!

Read more: See what’s on in Preston

What are your plans for half term? We’ve tried our best to include a variety of events but it’s inevitable that we may miss some. Let us know if we’ve missed off your event by adding it to the comments below so that parents have even more choices!