Family Information | Half term activities

Half term activities

There are lots of free and low cost family-friendly activities taking place in Leicester over October half term.

Saturday 19 October

Archaeological Finds Day
Have you found any small archaeological objects? If so, let the local Finds Liaison Officer take a look and give you more information about your find.
- Drop-in between 10am and 2pm at Newarke Houses

Sunday 20 October

Archive Sundays
Come and explore highlights from the Council’s Photographic Archive, a chance to see historic Leicester in pictures. This event covers that following themes:
- Carnival, fixing a hole, Rugby and Thomas Cook at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery
- Construction of Middleton Street Bridge, GAS, IWA Rally, Masks and costumes at Abbey Pumping Station
- Concerts, Leicester Guildhall, Pubs, Radio at Leicester Guildhall
- Drop-in during opening hours

Monday 21 October

Babies learning together
- 1pm - 2.30pm at Beaumont Leys children young people and families centre
Craft like an Egyptian
Have fun creating Egyptian hieroglyphs and symbols on papyrus paper.
- Drop-in between 1pm and 4pm at Highfields Library
- Suitable for ages 7+
Festival of lights graffiti residency
Work with professional artists to spray your own graffiti artworks to take home using lettering, stencils, tags and much more.
- 10am - 2pm at Pedestrian
- Ages 8 to 16 years
Stay and Play
- 10am - 12noon at St Matthews children young people and families centre
- 1.15pm - 2.45pm at Thurnby Lodge children young people and families centre
- 1.30pm - 3pm at Woodbridge children young people and families centre

Tuesday 22 October

Campaign for learning - Family learning festival
Join Leicester Adult Education for a free, fun-filled day of inspiring you and your child’s curiosity. There will be lots to get involved with such as writing exciting stories and taking part in our hand decorating competition.
- Drop-in between 11am and 3pm at Belgrave Library
Craft like an Egyptian
Have fun creating Egyptian hieroglyphs and symbols on papyrus paper.
- Drop-in between 1pm and 4pm at Evington Library
- Suitable for ages 7+
Diwali crafts
Traditional and non-traditional Diwali crafts and stories
- Drop-in between 10am and 1pm at Belgrave Library
- Ages 0 to 12 years
Festival of lights graffiti residency
- 10am - 2pm at Pedestrian
- Ages 8 to 16 years
Halloween papercrafts
Make Halloween themed puppets, hats and baskets.
- Drop-in between 2pm and 3.30pm at Beaumont Leys Library
- Ages 5+
Railway Day
Enjoy a ride on Peter the Narrow-Gauge Railway this half-term. There is a small charge for train rides (50p per person), and children under 3 years can travel for free.
- 11.30 - 4pm at Abbey Pumping Station
Stay and Play
- 10am - 11.30am at Bewcastle children young people and families centre

Wednesday 23 October

African Ndebele Bead Bracelets
Have fun learning how to create traditional Ndebele bead bracelets.
- 10am to 12noon at Beaumont Leys Library
- 1.30pm to 4pm at Belgrave Library
- Booking required
- Ages 7+
Campaign for learning - Family learning festival
Join Leicester Adult Education for a free, fun-filled day of inspiring you and your child’s curiosity. There will be lots to get involved with such as writing exciting stories and taking part in our hand decorating competition.
- Drop-in between 10am and 2pm at Pork Pie Library
Festival of lights graffiti residency
- 10am - 2pm at Pedestrian
- Ages 8 to 16 years
Halloween papercrafts
Make Halloween themed puppets, hats and baskets.
- Drop-in between 2.30pm and 4pm at Aylestone Library
- Ages 5+
Horrible Halloween
Bella Donna the witch and her chariot powered by Venus Fly Traps will provide the entertainment and dancing. Fun and games from The Intellectual Zombies. Magical interactions with the Wish Witch and her broomstick. Ghoulish stilt walkers too.
- 11am to 3pm at Haymarket Shopping Centre
Lego Coding
Boost your coding skills with fun activities with our Lego coding kits.
- 1pm to 3pm at Central Library
- Ages 5+
Pop up play session by Young Champions
- 10am - 11.30am at Belgrave children, young people and families
Stay and Play
- 1pm - 2.30pm at Beaumont Leys children young people and families centre
- 1pm - 3pm at Saffron children young people and families centres centre
Witches and warlocks kids craft day
Come along and celebrate a magical day with us at Leicester's haunted Belgrave Hall and Gardens. Make a witch's cat hat, a flying wizard, and your own book of spells. Come dressed in your Halloween outfit and join in the magical trail.
- 11am – 3pm at Belgrave Hall
- Tickets: Child (under 16): Online booking £4, On the door (cash only) £5 Accompanying adult: Free

Thursday 24 October

African Ndebele Bead Bracelets
Have fun learning how to create traditional Ndebele bead bracelets.
- 1.30pm - 4pm at Knighton Library
- Booking required
- Ages 7+
Crafting creators
- 10am - 11.30am at Beaumont Leys children young people and families centre
Explore the hidden gems
Follow the trail to find the specially selected Geology specimens around the museum, handle some of the collection, see our 3D printer in action as well as enjoy dinosaur colouring and activity sheets.
- Drop-in between 11am and 3pm at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery
Forest school - stay and play
- 10am - 12noon at New Parks children young people and families centre
Monstrous creations
Create your own Halloween monster or make a spooky mask.
- Drop-in between 1pm and 3pm at Westcotes Library
- Ages 5+
Spooktacular Fun Day!
Come along and have a spooky, magical day with us at Leicester's haunted hall. Make a spooky hat and a dancing skeleton and have a go at our ghost catching game. Come dressed in your Halloween outfit and join in the spooky trail around the Haunted Hall.
- 11am – 3pm at Leicester Guildhall
- Tickets: Child (under 16): Online booking £4, On the door (cash only) £5 Accompanying adult: Free
Stay and play
- 9.30am - 11am at Netherhall children young people and families centre
- 1pm - 3pm at Highfields children young people and families centre
- 1.30pm - 3pm at Belgrave children, young people and families

Friday 25 October

African Ndebele Bead Bracelets
Have fun learning how to create traditional Ndebele bead bracelets.
- 1.30pm - 4pm at St Barnabas Library
- Booking required
- Ages 7+
Diwali celebrations
Join the Mr Cleaver's Monsters team for an awesome Diwali shadow puppet-making workshop. Make characters from the Ramayana and try them out on our projector screen. Make clay divas and glow in the dark mandalas with the team from Kala Arts and see students from Nupur Arts with their dance performances.
- 11am to 3pm at Haymarket Shopping Centre
Investigation Stations
- Drop-in between 11am and 4pm at Leicester Guildhall
Stay and play
- 10am - 12noon at:
  - Eyres Monsell children, young people and family centre
  - Braunstone children, young people and family centre

Saturday 26 October

Bike Fest
Join Leicester City Council, Ride Leicester and British Cycling for the final Bike Fest of the year - a free event where you can experience the excitement of cycling on a traffic-free track at the Leicester Cycle Circuit.
- 1pm to 4pm at Leicester Cycle Circuit
Spooky glass fusion workshop
Glass Fusion Workshops for Halloween, for all the family or bring your friends!
- Six sessions to choose from between 10am to 4pm at Belgrave Hall
- Booking required - £12 each
- Ages 5+
Diwali Lights Celebration: Waterfall of Light
Join the Canal and River Trust, in partnership with Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre for a spectacular waterside Diwali celebration. This magical evening will feature an enchanting Waterfall of Lights, a stunning lights trail created by the local community, and an on-the-water lights paddle display. There will also be bell-boat paddling activities on the water and high ropes adventures for the thrill-seekers. Get involved in the excitement by helping us create our magical lights trail at our pre-event art workshops and let’s light up the night together.
- 5.30pm to 8pm at Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre
- Free event but bookable discounted activities available on the night.
Spooky scratch art and split pin Skeletons
- Drop-in between 1pm and 3pm at Fosse Library
- Children must be accompanied by an adult, due to the small parts.

Sunday 27 October

Film: Coraline
Watch this dark fantasy animation film (family friendly) in the atmospheric Great Hall.
- 12.30pm to 3pm at Leicester Guildhall
- Film starts at 1pm, tickets £6 each

Accessing activities

This summary is for information only and is correct at the time of publishing. View the webpage links or contact the individual providers directly to find out if the activities are suitable for your child or family needs. Children must be supervised by a parent / guardian at all times.

Activities are free to attend unless stated; however, fees may apply for additional activities or services available at the event.