From crafts to markets and holiday clubs… there is so much on in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Here is what’s on at Leeds galleries and museums this October half-term…
Abbey House Museum
Little Shoppers
Every Fri, 10am-4pm
A fun drop in session for under 5’s in the Victorian Streets with a range of play shops, fake food and a trail or craft every week.
October Half Term
· Haunted Halloween Crafts, 29 Oct, 10am-4pm
Get ready for Halloween with a day of creepy crafts in the eerie decorated streets of Victorian Leeds.
· Spooky Silly Science, 30 Oct 10am-12pm & 2-4pm
A day of spooky science with petrifying potions, bugs, goo and bubble snakes. No scientific knowledge is necessary, only curiosity.
· Happy Halloween, 31 Oct 10am-4pm
Spooky fun with Halloween themed crafts and trails.
· Monster Mash Up, 1 Nov 10am-4pm
Make a variety of monsters from paper, pom-poms and plasticine.
Discovery Centre
Behind the Scenes Tour
Every Thurs, 11am & 2pm
One of the best ways to access and see the Leeds Museums & Galleries collections is to hop onto a free store tour! From toucans and telephones to meteorites and masks, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Beastly Beasts & Spooky Tour
30 Oct 10am-12pm and 1-3pm
Bring your battery powered candles for the Halloween spook-fest. Discover the weird and wonderful world of the museum monsters hidden behind closed doors! This is a free event but must be booked in advance by calling 0113 378 2100.
Kirkstall Abbey
Muddy Monkeys
Every Tues, 10-11am
A friendly free session for under 5s and their carers. Each week there’s a range of crafts, toys, books and instruments and if the weather’s nice then there’s games outside too.
Kirkstall Abbey Markets
26-27 Oct, 12-3pm
Come along to Kirkstall Abbey where you can try and buy some of the best produce Yorkshire has to offer. All products are locally sourced and are produced and supplied by award winning people with a passion for food. You will also find Jewellery, fashion and collectables on offer too.
October Half Term
· Mini Owls, 29 Oct, 10-11am
The Tuesday under 5’s session gets a feathery make over for half term.
· Not So Scary Scarecrow Trail, 29 Oct-3 Nov 10am-3pm
A hunt around the abbey featuring some not so scary Halloween scarecrows!
Leeds Art Gallery
Big Draw Campaign
26 Oct, 11am-4pm
Big Draw family fun using cartoon drawing skills and collage to make pictures that say something inspired by the New Contemporaries exhibition.
Slow Making in Artspace
29-31 Oct, 11-4pm
During the half term holiday’s artist Lou Samray will be leading family friendly activities in Artspace to keep your creative juices flowing!
Leeds City Museum
Tiny Tigers
Every Friday, 10-11.45am
Free craft activities every Friday for under 5s and their carers.
Rory’s Tiger Club
Every Saturday, 11am-12.15pm
Head down on Saturday mornings for different free craft activities.
Under The Sea
26 Oct-1 Nov
Have a whale of a time this half term with underwater-themed family crafts. Create a mini whale, junk jellyfish and other sea life creatures to take home. Make a splash on the free museum Whale Trail too!
· Whale Weekend, 26 Oct, 11am-1pm
Come and celebrate the return of the Pilot Whale skeleton. After decades in store, Leeds City Museum are putting this awesome animal back on display. There’s family crafts, hands-on activities and whale talks on offer too.
· Whale Tales, 29 Oct, 10.30am & 2.30pm
Find out more about the Leeds Pilot Whale at informal public talks with Rebecca Machin, Curator of Natural Science. Meet under the whale.
· Tiny Tigers Under 5s Club, 1 Nov, 10-11.45am
Meet under the whale skeleton for a special Whale-themed craft activity.
Sensory Room for Families with Additional needs
31 Oct, 10.30-11.30am
A pop up sensory room with dark dens and tactile toys, for a calmer moment on your museum trip during the holidays
Leeds Industrial Museum
Mystery Matinees
Daily during school holidays, 2pm
Every Wednesday & Saturday catch a family flick in the art deco surroundings of the 1920s Palace Picture House. There’s family friendly scary movies every afternoon during the October Halloween half term holidays! Family tickets are priced at £9.
Half Term Holidays
29-31 Oct, 12.30-3pm
Discover the real stories of Halloween with 21st century witches from the Leodis Pagan Circle. Family craft sessions will include the old favourite jack-o-lanterns and willow wand making. There’s also the chance to make your own luxury oat milk bath-bombs using herbs from the autumn harvest of the colour garden.
Lotherton
Weekend Crafts
Every Sat & Sun
Come rain or shine Lotherton has something for all the family. Take a break and get crafty during your visit with activities in both the hall and Wildlife World on Saturdays and Sundays. Themes change weekly so there’s always something new to get stuck into.
Spooky Scarecrow Trail
26 Oct-3 Nov
The Scarecrow trail is back with more haunts than ever before, including our spooky trail through the haunted woods! Visit the Scarecrow Skeletown and experience the scary side of the Wild West, but only if you dare! With creepy crafts and activities every day, there will be plenty to entertain your little terrors at Lotherton this Halloween!
Temple Newsam
Temple Newsam Tours
· Hidden Temple Newsam, Tues & Sat, 11am
Take a journey under the House and learn how the servants got around unseen. It involves some steep steps and uneven surfaces and is suitable for ages 7+.
· Discovery Tour, Thurs, 11am
A 45 minute tour of the house taking in the main highlights as chosen by Temple Newsam tour guides.
· Through the Ages for All Ages, Sat & Sun, 2.30pm
A tour for younger visitors with a chance to handle items from the Temple Newsam collection and hear stories of people who lived and worked on the estate.
October Half Term
· Beastly Creepy Crawlies, 26-3 Nov
Spiders, bed bugs, carpet beetles and moths all want to set up home in Temple Newsam house but they have other ideas! Find out how to spot them and what they do to stop them during a bug busting half term. Get crafty and make your own spooky spider or bed bug to take home.
· Halloween at Home Farm, 26 Oct-3 Nov, 10am-4pm
Home Farm will be dressed up in its spookiest finery throughout the half term holidays. Take part in Halloween themed crafts in the Joiner’s Shop from 10am-4pm each day.
· Meet The Artist: Kevin Blenkinsop, 30 Oct, 11.30-12.30pm
Kevin makes weird and wonderful creatures from found and recycled materials. He is back this half term to show off his brilliant beasts up close and personal.
· Pumpkin Carving, 30 Oct, 1-3pm
Bring your own pumpkin to carve in the Walled Garden (or collect the pumpkin you planted if you went to the planting activity earlier in the year!)
· Spooky Spooktacular, 31 Oct, 5-8pm
Scare yourselves silly with a visit to the darkened house and fiendish farm! Take a tour of the house complete with tales of spooky past residents who creep through the corridors at night. Try your hand at spooky crafts, collect some terrifying treats along the way and don’t forget to dress up for the occasion, the scarier the better!
Thwaite Watermill
October Half Term
Keep active during the half term holidays, grab a nature pack from reception and hit the eco trail along the canal.
· Crafty Tuesday, 29 Oct, 1-3pm
Get involved with creepy crafty fun and make your own ghoulish ghosty.
· Experimental Thursday, 31 Oct, 1-3pm
Design and make a dancing Halloween robot, ready for a jitterbug boogie at the Monster Mash this Halloween!
Orchard Explorers
30 Oct, 1-3pm
Head to the historic orchard for some apple related family fun! Taste the fruit from the trees that the old mill owner planted, make freshly pressed apple juice, and as it is almost Halloween enjoy making some spooky fruity art!
