School Holidays in Manchester

Looking for things to do during the October half-term holidays – then you’re in the right place. There are loads of fun activities, from sporty holiday camps to family-friendly Halloween-themed events to keep all ages entertained. And with many of them free or low-cost, they won’t break the bank.

In Manchester, we are also running a free holiday club programme for children on free school meals. All of the sessions must be booked via our partner site Manchester Active. For information on what’s available near you, and how to book click here.

A bright blue sky with some cloud cover and the tops of three leafy tree branches. — Image credit: Pexels/ Murat Halici

Top Picks

A group of children sit on the ground and watch on as a child has a go at the long jump.

Manchester Active Free School Holiday Activity

Manchester Active and Manchester City Council are offering hundreds of FREE activity places for children eligible for benefit-related free school meals.

18 October 2024 - 28 October 2024

A close up of an Tawny Owl's face with piercing orange eyes.

Wise Owl Show

Brooklands Library, Wythenshawe

26 October 2024

2:30pm - 4:00pm

A young girl smiling playing in the Experiment gallery

40 things to see, do and discover

Science and Industry Museum, City Centre Castlefield

9 September 2024 - 9 September 2025

12:00pm - 5:00pm

Child in a crocodile costume doing a craft activity with a woman and other children

Half Term Family Fun Special with Manchester Libraries

Manchester Central Library, City Centre

26 October 2024

2:00pm - 4:00pm

Playful Protest Space

People’s History Museum, City Centre

19 July 2024 - 30 December 2024

10:00am - 5:00pm

Two young people stand in a swimming pool. They are wearing goggles on their heads.

Free Swimming in Manchester

Did you know that young people, living in Manchester, can swim for free during the school holidays?

21 October 2024 - 27 October 2024

A close up of a wolf's head and shoulders.

Wild

The Manchester Museum, City Centre

5 June 2024 - 1 June 2025

Little Suffragettes Trail

People’s History Museum, City Centre

1 February 2024 - 30 December 2024

10:00am - 5:00pm

£2.50 Just drop in!

Two children holding their bingo cards as they play banner bingo.

Banner Bingo 2024

People’s History Museum, City Centre

1 February 2024 - 30 December 2024

10:00am - 5:00pm

A person cycles a bike across the city

Simply Cycling Sessions

Cycling sessions with different types of bike to try

4 January 2022 - 1 July 2025

A red and purple patchwork banner. The text reads Mansfield Labour Party Women's Section

2024 Banner Exhibition

People’s History Museum, City Centre

2 February 2024 - 30 December 2024

10:00am - 5:00pm

Runners racing a local 5K around a lake on a dirt path on a early summer evening.

Junior Park Run At Alexandra Park

Great for fitness and lots of fun, the Junior Park Run is suitable for ages 4-14 years.

Alexandra Park, Whalley Range Moss Side

19 February 2023 - 7 September 2025

9:00am - 10:15am

Runners racing a local 5K around a lake on a dirt path on a early summer evening.

Junior Park Run At Platt Fields Park

Great for fitness and lots of fun, the Junior Park Run is suitable for ages 4-14 years.

Platt Fields Park, Fallowfield

8 January 2023 - 7 September 2025

9:00am - 10:15am

A pair of red boxing gloves

Levenshulme Amateur Boxing Club

There's a variety of weekly sessions for budding boxers happening at Cringle Park.

Cringle Park, Levenshulme

3 January 2022 - 1 September 2025

6:00pm - 7:30pm

A bee flies from one flower to another.

Bee Sanctuary Movement

Highfield Country Park, Levenshulme

1 January 2023 - 3 August 2025

9:00am - 6:00pm

A bust of Emmeline Pankhurst on display at the Pankhurst Centre in Manchester.

At Home with the Pankhurst Family

The Pankhurst Centre, Ardwick

3 January 2023 - 31 August 2025

11:00am - 4:00pm

Runners racing a local 5K around a lake on a dirt path on a early summer evening.

Middleton Harriers Fitness Sessions

Boggart Hole Clough, Harpurhey

5 January 2024 - 4 July 2025

6:00pm - 7:45pm

A young child walks across a grass field with a kite.

Welly Walk at The Whitworth

Get muddy and discover art and nature in the Whitworth Park. Pick up your free guide when you visit.

Whitworth Park, Ardwick Rusholme Moss Side

15 January 2023 - 6 July 2025

9:00am - 5:00pm

A group of young people enjoying a Thai boxing class

Thai Boxing Session

WRYOA (Whiz Youth Project), Whalley Range

2 April 2024 - 31 March 2025

6:15pm - 8:45pm

A boy holds a basketball as if he is about to try and get a hoop.

M13 FREE Basketball sessions

Ardwick Sports Hall, Ardwick

17 April 2024 - 26 March 2025

4:30pm - 6:00pm

Free Book your space!

A photograph of the Exchanges exhibition installation space, showing a wide angle view of the gallery with its wooden floors and white walls - with illuminated inset display cabinets.

Exchanges at The Whitworth

The Whitworth, City Centre

21 November 2023 - 24 November 2024

10:00am - 5:00pm

A middle aged woman with light brown hair and a ponytail is looking at a panel exhibition on a white wall. The exhibition consists of big white panels with text and smaller, red and green stars with additional bits of text on them.

Discover & Celebrate 150 Years of History

Manchester Jewish Museum, Cheetham Hill

6 May 2024 - 31 December 2024

10:00am - 10:00am

£0.00 to £10.00

Visitors to the Injecting Hope exhibition at Science and Industry Museum

Injecting Hope: The race for a COVID-19 vaccine

Science and Industry Museum, City Centre Castlefield

19 July 2024 - 17 November 2024

10:00am - 5:00pm

Trees by a lake in Alexandra Park

Secret Mission

Alexandra Park, Whalley Range Moss Side

14 February 2023 - 16 February 2025

10:00am - 4:00pm

A person wearing black trainers in an athletics stadium

Parkrun at Philips Park

Philips Park, Clayton

16 March 2024 - 26 December 2026

9:00am - 10:15am

Runners racing a local 5K around a lake on a dirt path on a early summer evening.

Athletics Club at Wythenshawe Park

Wythenshawe Park, Wythenshawe

6 February 2024 - 30 October 2025

6:00pm - 7:00pm

Free. Booking is required.

rear view of several runners legs

Athletics Training Sessions

Wythenshawe Park, Wythenshawe

4 January 2023 - 29 October 2025

7:00pm - 9:00pm

A white, layered and extravagent Pierre Cardin dress on a mannequin.

Unpicking Couture

Manchester Art Gallery, City Centre

1 February 2024 - 31 December 2024

10:00am - 5:00pm

A group of young people in Halloween fancy dress playing party games.

Halloween Party

Z-arts, Hulme

27 October 2024

1:00pm - 3:00pm

A man wearing a yellow jacket and cap planting near a metal fence.

Bulb Planting with the Park Ranger and the Orchard Project

Cheetham Park, Cheetham Hill

23 October 2024

1:00pm - 2:30pm

People watch a light show

Manchester Science Festival 2024

Science and Industry Museum, City Centre Castlefield

18 October 2024 - 27 October 2024

10:00am - 5:00pm

Three children dressed in fancy dress. One is a fairy, one is a witch and a smaller child is dressed as Frankenstein.

Mini Monster Mash

Victoria Baths, Ardwick

26 October 2024

11:00am - 2:00pm

A painting by the artist John William Godward depicting three people on a balcony.

Friends, Family and Other Animals

Manchester Art Gallery, City Centre

13 June 2023 - 30 March 2025

A room in an art gallery.

Rethinking the Grand Tour

Manchester Art Gallery, City Centre

24 November 2022 - 31 December 2025

10:00am - 5:00pm

A still life painting featuring a tea cup and saucer, a vase of pink flowers, a milk jog, some scissors and thread and a sugar put with lid.

Room to Breathe

Manchester Art Gallery, City Centre

2 April 2022 - 6 April 2025

12:00pm - 5:00pm

Two figures dressed up as aliens with gold helmets and masks on , orange antenas and gold, orange and red bodysuits. They are waving at the camera.

Halloween in the City

26 October 2024 - 27 October 2024

9:00am - 5:00pm

Free Happening right across the city centre!

A man wearing a red t-shirt looking puzzled with both hands under his chin. A blue sign in the background with yellow lettering reads Wacky Woody.

Magic Show with Wacky Woody

Heaton Park, Blackley

25 October 2024

12:25pm - 3:00pm

A group of people walk on a pathway in a park.

Halloween Crafts with the Earlybird Project

Heaton Park, Blackley

24 October 2024

12:00pm - 3:00pm

The front of Heaton Hall with a spooky sky above, full of bats, a ghost and a witch on a broomstick.

Heaton Halloween: Spooky Fun on the Farm and Haunted History Trail

Heaton Park, Blackley

19 October 2024 - 31 October 2024

11:00am - 3:00pm

£0.00 to £2.00

The front of Heaton Hall on a bright day. There is a big white cloud in the sky.

Heaton Hall-Oween Storytelling

Heaton Park, Blackley

23 October 2024

12:00pm - 3:30pm

A tarantula in a person's hand.

The Creepy Crawly Show

Heaton Park, Blackley

22 October 2024

12:00pm - 3:00pm

A young boy enjoying a colouring activity.

Experitots in Injecting Hope: The race for a COVID-19 vaccine

Science and Industry Museum, City Centre Castlefield

11 October 2024 - 11 November 2024

10:00am - 11:30am

The people who work at Youth Elements standing infront of their headquarters with a sign above that reads 'Youth Elements'.

Action Van at Crumpsall Park

Crumpsall Park, Crumpsall

24 October 2024

11:00am - 2:00pm

An orange illustration of a pumpkin with a smiley face. There are black silhouettes of trees behind and a pink sky.

Halloween Crafts in Bradford Park

Bradford Park, Ancoats Beswick

23 October 2024

11:00am - 1:00pm

An orange illustration of a pumpkin with a smiley face. There are black silhouettes of trees behind and a pink sky.

Halloween Crafts in Brookdale Park

Brookdale Park, Miles Platting and Newton Heath

22 October 2024

11:00am - 1:00pm

An orange illustration of a pumpkin with a smiley face. There are black silhouettes of trees behind and a pink sky.

Halloween Crafts in Philips Park

Philips Park, Clayton

24 October 2024

11:00am - 1:00pm

An illustration of an orange pumpkin with a smiley face. There are silouettes of trees in the background.

Halloween Craft and Bird Feeder Making

Chorlton Water Park, Chorlton

22 October 2024

10:30am - 12:30pm

Two carved pumpkins are lit up at night.

Pumpkin Carving at Hollyhedge Park

Hollyhedge Park, Wythenshawe

23 October 2024

11:00am - 1:00pm

A group of glowing orange pumpkins with different facial expressions carved into them.

Pumpkin Carving at Ladybarn Park

Ladybarn Park, Burnage Withington

25 October 2024

11:00am - 2:00pm

Free Just drop in!

A child colouring in a carrot with an orange crayon on a colouring in sheet.

Halloween Themed Crafts

Boggart Hole Clough, Harpurhey

25 October 2024

10:00am - 1:00pm

A cauldron bubbling with steam on a table top as somebody stirs it. The cauldron is surrounded by candles.

Chetham’s Library: Magic Makers

Chetham's Library, City Centre

22 October 2024

2:00pm - 5:00pm

A grassy lawn surrounded by trees. The sun is shining and the sky is blue with a few clouds.

Community Sports Pitch Launch Event

Barrack Park, Hulme

23 October 2024

12:00pm - 2:00pm

Black and white paper bats on an orange background.

Halloween Half Term Crafts at Newton Heath Library

Newton Heath Library, Miles Platting and Newton Heath

22 October 2024

2:00pm - 3:00pm

Black and white paper bats on an orange background.

Halloween Half Term Crafts at Beswick Library

Beswick Library, Beswick

24 October 2024

2:00pm - 3:00pm

Black and white paper bats on an orange background.

Halloween Half Term Crafts at Miles Platting Community Library

Miles Platting Community Library, Miles Platting and Newton Heath

24 October 2024

2:00pm - 3:00pm

Black and white paper bats on an orange background.

Halloween Half Term Crafts at New Moston Community Library

New Moston Community Library, Moston

23 October 2024

2:00pm - 3:00pm

Black and white paper bats on an orange background.

Halloween Half Term Crafts at North City Library

North City Library, Harpurhey

22 October 2024

2:00pm - 3:00pm

Black and white paper bats on an orange background.

Halloween Half Term Crafts at Abraham Moss Library

Abraham Moss Library, Crumpsall

23 October 2024

2:00pm - 3:00pm

Two pumpkins with faces carved in them on an orange table cloth.

Halloween Arts and Crafts at Debdale Park

Debdale Park, Gorton

22 October 2024

11:00am - 2:30pm

A bunch of daffodils in bloom.

Bulb Planting with the Park Ranger and the Orchard Project

Cheetham Park, Cheetham Hill

23 October 2024

1:00pm - 2:30pm

Two young girls dressed in Halloween costume with face paints wearing headphones as if they are enjoying a silent disco.

Spooky Our Kids Social

Freight Island, Piccadilly Ward

26 October 2024 - 27 October 2024

10:00am - 12:00pm

£10.00 to £12.00

A small boy sticking illustrations to an interactive wall.

BBC CBeebies Bedtime Stories: Live at the Museum

Science and Industry Museum, City Centre Castlefield

21 October 2024 - 27 October 2024

11:00am - 3:00pm

A close up of two sets of hands painting a flag.

18-20 Grosvenor Steet

Free Plan your visit!

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Things to do for Young People in Manchester

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