Friday 25 October

Xplorer – Avenham Park
Avenham and Miller Parks, PR1 8JT
10am
A family navigational challenge that is both fun and educational. Collect your map from the Pavilion on the day. Cost is £2, which includes one map, one answer sheet, a certificate, sticker and a wrist band.

Pumpkin Carving
Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston New Road, Preston, PR5 0AG
10am –12pm and 1pm – 4pm
Pumpkin Carving is back at Brockholes, one of most popular events of the year. £3, no booking required. Also on Saturday and Sunday.

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

Mad Science Comes to Hugo’s!
Hugo’s Ice Cream Parlour and Cafe, Lancaster Road, Forton, PR3 0BL
10am
Join the team from Mad Science for a fun filled Halloween themed hour of science. £10

Children’s Spooktacular Afternoon Tea
Cuerden View Cafe, Berkeley Dr, Bamber Bridge, Preston PR5 6BY
12pm – 3pm
Children’s Spooktacular Afternoon Teas being served this half term; booking required. Includes Goulish Goodies, Scary Sandwiches, Monster Munch, Frightful Fruits, Ghastly Gingerbread and a Vampire Vanilla Shake. £9.95 per child.

Halloween Crafts: Spooky Masks
Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Market Square, Preston, PR1 2PP
2pm
Get ready for Halloween with this hands-on mask making workshop. £2, booking is essential.

Halloween Dance Party
Kirkland and Catteral Memorial Hall, Preston, PR3 0HR
2pm
Halloween dancing, games and treats. £5 per child. Fancy dress optional.

Spooktacular Halloween Party
Hungry Horse, Lostock Lane, Preston, PR5 6BA
5pm
The Wacky BOO Crew are hosting a Spooktacular two hours of tricks, treats, games, dancing and fiendish food galore. £8 per child or £6.50 to unlimited play pass holders.

Ghost Tours at Hoghton Tower
Hoghton Tower, Preston, PR5 0SH
6pm
Silent torchbearers take you on the ghost tour through the darkened halls of the Tower, where you will encounter spectres from the past and you will be told about the ghostly happenings from across the centuries. Tours are on Friday and Saturday, and are not suitable for anyone under the age of 16. Tickets are priced at £32 per person, which includes a two-course meal.

Family Fridays
Grimsargh Club, 148 Preston Road, Grimsargh, PR2 5JQ
6pm
The last Friday of every month has entertainment/activities for the kids, seasonal fun and games, and food available.

Owd Nell’s Oktoberfest
Guy’s Thatched Hamlet, Canalside, St. Michael’s Rd, PR3 0RS
6pm
On on Saturday too, this event will feature authentic Bavarian food, drink and entertainment. Tickets are £25.

Harlequins Preston Friday Night Magic
Harlequins Preston, 52 Manchester Road, PR1 3YH
6.30pm
This is a Harlequins Preston Magic the Gathering Event.

South American Theme Evening
The Mill, St Catherine’s Park, Lostock Lane, PR5 5XU
7pm
Enjoy flavours from around the world with The Mill’s ever-popular themed cuisine evenings. It’s £32.50 per person for a three-course meal or platters, and booking is essential.

Fever’s Halloween Disco
Fever Dance Company, Mornington Road, PR2
7pm
Prizes for the best fancy dress, plus hot dogs and snacks available. Tickets are £3 per child, adults are free.

Diwali Party Preston
Baluga Preston, 11-14 Miller Arcade, PR1 2QY
9pm
Baluga do their bit for the community (and party). It’s £5 before 11pm, £8 after 11pm, and all proceeds will be donated to a nominated charity.

Katie O’Malley
Vinyl Tap Preston, 28-30 Adelphi Street, PR1 7BE
9pm
Katie O’Malley has played across the country at numerous shows and festivals, recently being featured on BBC Introducing Manchester. Free admission.

Saturday 26 October

Art of the City
St George’s Shopping Centre, Preston PR1
10am
The space now hosts two participatory exhibitions, Building our City and Our Big Moments. In week three they are also launching a third space which invites local artists to showcase their varied talents in a People’s Gallery. There is also a giant video screen that will play a varied programme of films on Preston, the arts, and cities of the future. On until Saturday 2 November.

Read more: Derelict group want to be at ‘the art of the city’

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

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.

Longridge Lego Club
Longridge Library, Berry Lane Longridge, PR3 3JA
10am
Free, fun session and create your own Lego masterpieces. For children aged 5+, no need to book.

Witchcraft and Wizardry Farm Trail
Old Holly Farm, Cabus Nook Lane, Cabus, PR3 1AA
10.30am
Calling all magical beings, join in with three consecutive 20 minute workshops including Wand Etiquette and Duelling, Pungent Potions and Enchanted Herbs and Plants. For £12 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.

Children’s Craft Club
Friends of Fulwood Library, 294 Garstang Road, Fulwood, PR2 9RX
10.30am
Fun with paper, glue, glitter, paint and more. £1 charge per child in order to contribute to materials.

Mental Health Drop In
Talking Therapies Centre, 30A Liverpool Road, PR1 0DQ
11am
Pop in for a friendly chat.

Waterstones, Bea Book Signing
Waterstones Preston, 3-5 Fishergate, PR1 3LJ
11am
Meet the author and illustator of The People’s Book Prize runner up The Angry Giant and their new addition, The Bea.

Drive-in Movies: Goosebumps 2 Haunted Halloween
Hoghton Tower, PR5 0SH
1pm
£20 per car (admission covers one car and its occupants)

After Dark Walk
Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston New Rd, Preston PR5 0AG
5.15pm
Learn about the wildlife that comes out at night. Includes a hot drink, biscuits and parking costs. Meet at 5.15pm at the parking machines on the main car park, ready for a 5.30pm departure, return around 7.30pm.

Wicked Witch’s Trick or Treat Quest
Ribby Hall Village, Ribby Road, Wrea Green, PR4 2PR
5.45pm and 7pm
Join the Quest and help to defeat the Wicked Witch once and for all on this interactive event. £6 per child

Halloween Cosplay Party
Belong Preston, Unit 12 St Georges Shopping Centre, PR1 2TU
6pm
A night of costumes, socialising, cosplay competition and horror games. Entry is £7 for a ticket when bought in advance, or £10 on the door.

Welcome to Preston – exhibition launch night
The Larder, 50 Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 1DD
7pm
Local photographer and writer, Lisa Brown, opens her Welcome to Preston exhibition, which features 16 photographs of modern-day Preston. Drinks, food, and music from Mark Whiteside.

Read more: ‘Welcome to Preston’ photography exhibition coming to The Larder

QUEER October Masquerade Ball
Blitz Preston, Church Row, PR1 3BX Preston
10pm
A special event for the LGBT community.

Island Jamboree – Masquerade Massacre
Rift Bar Preston, 1 Main Sprit Weind, Preston, PR1 3XB
10pm
Soca, dancehall and reggae are coming to Preston with a spooky twist for Halloween.

Read more: Island Jamboree’s ‘Masquerade Massacre’ brings a spooky Caribbean vibe to Preston

Bollynights Preston – Diwali Party
Ballers Sports Bar Preston, 158-159 Friargate, Preston PR1 2EJ
11pm
Experience the true Bollywood revel by indulging yourself in some great beats. Tickets on the door are £3 for students before midnight, £4 for students after, and £5 for non-students.

Sunday 27 October

Halloween fancy dress junior parkrun
Avenham and Miller Parks, PR1 8JT Preston
8.30am
Annual fancy dress Halloween parkrun.

Farmers’ Market and Crafts
Cuerden Valley Park, The Visitor Centre, Berkeley Drive, Bamber Bridge, PR5 6BY
10am
Buy local from lovely stalls loaded with tasty artisan foods, Halloween treats and locally crafted items all in the beautiful country park setting.

Community Dog Walk
The Sherwood, Sherwood Way, Preston, PR2 9GA
10.30am
Dogs and their humans can join this walk organised by The Sherwood pub.

Free tours with the Ghost of Goodwife Agnes
Samlesbury Hall, Preston, PR5 0UP
11am and 2pm
Free guided tours with the Ghost of Goodwife Agnes, whose love of sharing tales, intrigue and gossip from the Hall in Tudor times is far stronger than her desire to depart the earth. Donations are welcome.

Witches and Wizards School of Excellence
Wyresdale Park in Preston, Snow Hill Lane, Scorton, Preston, PR3 1BA
1pm until 5pm – book your slot.
Interactive Children’s Halloween Theatre Show and Event. 1.5 hour fully immersive theatre event for all of the family. Students will take part in: School Enrolment, Making Potions and Mastering Spells. £12.50 per child,
£5.50 per adult.

AJ Hartley Book Signing
Waterstones Preston, 3-5 Fishergate, PR1 3LJ
12pm
Preston-born author AJ Hartley will be signing copies of his new book Written Stone Lane, the sequel to Cold Bath Street.

Read more: Cold Bath Street sequel to be released on Hallowe’en

Diwali – Chopda Pujan – 2019
Friends of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Preston, Ribble Bank Street, PR1 8AH
5.30pm
Join BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Preston, on the prosperous day of Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Light. The special ritual of Chopda Pujan will take place between 5.45pm and 6.30pm.

Are you going to any exciting events this weekend? Let us know in the comments below.