Derbyshire events to enjoy with the kids during half-term

There is a whole host of activities and events across Derby/Derbyshire for the whole family to enjoy this October half term.

With the summer holidays just finishing, the next half term is right around the corner. From Friday, October 25 until Monday, November 4 Derby’s children will be off again - and you'll probably be wondering how to keep them occupied. So what can you do in and around Derbyshire to entertain the whole family?

From craft stalls and create your own decorations to spooky trails around Derbyshire, there will be a lot on this October half term. Whether you are based in the city or out in Matlock there are events across the county for the whole family, with ranging dates to fill up your children's week off.

So we have put together a list of all the biggest events taking place during half-term in and around the county. This list is not to be confused with the Halloween events list we have out, however, some of the same events will be included.

Derby Making festival

Where : Derby Museum

When : Saturday October 26

Price : £5 for adults

Produced and hosted by Derby Museums, the festival will be a family-friendly showcase of different makers and artists from varied different disciplines to show off their crafts. The Assemble event is back on Saturday, October 26 2024, with all children under 16 entering free and adults paying £5.

The event will run from 11am-4pm and will feature over 50 makers on site displaying everything from ceramics, embroidery, laser-cutting, weaving, jewellery making, metalwork, robotics, and automata. With workshops hosted throughout the day. You can find out more information by visiting the website here .

Derby Museums drop-in workshops

Where : Derby Museum

When : Tuesday 29 October, Thursday 31 October and Saturday, November 2

Price : Free

Derby Museum is hosting a range of different events for every few days of the upcoming half term with the making festival kicking off the first day, followed by Autumn crafts, Dracula-needs completing, Printed objects, Family tours of Displaced: From the Nile to the Derwent as well as Make and create your own Shabti.

All of these sessions are free to attend with a suggested donation of £3, however, times do vary, therefore please visit Derby Museums website for more information. https://derbymuseums.org/whats-on/

Half-term Halloween fun at Chatsworth Farmyard

Where : Chatsworth House, Bakewell, DE45 1PP

When: Saturday 26 October- Sunday November 3 2024

Price: Adult from £29, Child from £8 for the house and garden

There are a range of activities at Chatsworth house over the half term including, animal feeding and milking demonstrations, pumpkin patch picking (October 26 - October 31 only), Carve and decorate your pumpkin to take home (October 26 - October 31 only), Halloween themed face painting and Spooky Halloween themed crafts.

Chatsworth House are also offering a mysterious journey on their spooky tractor and trailer. They have also stated that there will be an additional charge for the Pumpkin picking as well as the tractor and trailer ride.

Halloween fun at Crich Tramway Village

Where: The National Tramway Museum Crich Tramway Village, near Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5DP

When: Monday October 28 - Friday November 1

Price: For tickets and more information please visit their website, here.

The Halloween show will be running everyday from Monday to Friday, at 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm. The tram village will also be hosting a story time with Maria, as well as face painting and Halloween crafts on Monday and Tuesday. There will also be a Halloween Trail woodland walk on Thursday October 31.

Bluebells Farm Park’s Halloween pumpkin picking

Where : Bluebells Farm Park, Locko Rd, Derby, DE21 7AR

When: October 18-25 for the Torch Lit Pumpkin picking and October 19-31 for the Witchcraft and Wizardry school.

Price : £14.50 for adults without a pumpkin, £14.95 for children including a pumpkin and children under age 2 enter for free.

The farm will be hosting two different events this year with the lantern lit Pumpkin picking kicking off at the start of October and the Bluebells school of Witchcraft and Wizardry starting at the latter part of the month until the big day on October 31.

Head to the Bluebells farm park website for more information, click here.

Hallowtide Half term activities at Hardwick Hall

Where: Hardwick Hall

When: Saturday October 19 to Sunday November 3

Price: £6.00 for adults, Child tickets for £3.00 with further family discounts

Hardwick Hall is hosting a Elizabethan themed Halloween event with lots of activities for the whole family. The event will run from Saturday 19 October into early November with lots of Halloween themed games such as apple hooking, a Halloween themed trail or the self led activities in the East Stables. There will also be witches hoopla and a broomstick bare foot walk as well as more to be announced.

October Half Term at the heights

Where: Heights of Abraham, Matlock

When: Saturday October 19 until Thursday October 31

Price: Price and ticket options can be found here

This October half term there will be lots of activities for the whole family in the Matlock based attraction, including cable car rides as usual, exhibitions and woodland & sculpture tours as well as a whole host of Halloween themed activities. Some of the spooky entertainment includes meeting Belinda Broomsticks in the Masson Pavilion with fortune telling available, a Tommy-knockers treasure hunt and as well as the Heights of Abraham scarecrows.

Halloween at Peak Village

Where: Peak Village, Chatsworth Road, Rowsley.

When: Sunday October 27

Price: Free

Peak Village is putting on a whole host of events and Halloween activities for the October Half term. With themed craft events and spooky activities including create your own decorations, a special dress up area with a Halloween photo booth and much more available on the day. The event will be running from 11am-4pm.