Free things to do in Northamptonshire this October Half Term

Keeping the kids entertained through the school holidays can be expensive and finding affordable activities can be time consuming. So I’ve the hard work and put together a list of free and low cost (under £5 pp) activities happening across Northamptonshire this October half term.

As you would expect, there is lots to do in Northamptonshire this October, with plenty of Halloween themed fun.

I’ve divided into 4 sections: Northampton, Daventry/ West Northants, North/East Northants and South Northants so you can go straight to the area you want.

If you missed my earlier posts:

7 Places to Pick Pumpkins in Northamptonshire 2026

Firework Displays in Northamptonshire 2026

What’s on in Northamptonshire this October Half Term

Northampton

Northampton Museum

Architectural Antics Trail Saturday 24th October – Sunday 1st November. £2 per Trail, there’s no need to book—just drop in during opening hours.

FREE EVENT The Hitchhiking Historian, Tuesday 27th 12-3pm. Join the Hitchhiking historian at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery as he travels back in time to the Victorian museum to explore the geological wonders of fossils, rocks and minerals. Handle real fossils, rocks and minerals, try on paleontologist costumes and enjoy some colouring and simple paper crafts to take away.

Pop in Wednesday 28th October 12-4pm. Drop in to enjoy some free architecture themed crafts, colouring and puzzle sheets, a museum gallery spotter trail (free), games to play and books to read. FREE EVENT

Pottery Pumpkin Patch Thursday 29th October 11am – 12.30pm and 2pm to 3.30pm. Cost: £2.50 per child. Get into the autumn spirit and make a cute clay pumpkin tealight holder or ornament. Take it away with you to dry and paint or varnish at home to decorate your home this autumn season. 20 places per workshop. Booking required. All participants must be accompanied by adult for whole of workshop. Suggested age  7+

Abington Park Museum

Trick or Treat – A Spooky Activity Trail. Saturday 24th October – Sunday 1st November £2 per trail. Enjoy a frightfully fun trail around Abington Park Museum and solve the spooky puzzles to win your Halloween prize.

Spooky Halloween Makes Tuesday 27th October. 12.30pm to 2pm and 2pm to 3.30pm Cost: £2.50 per child

FREE EVENT The Hitchhiking Historian Thursday 29th October 12-3pm. Join the Hitchhiking historian at Abington Park Museum as he travels back in time to discover the wonders of Ancient Egypt with the chance to handle real Ancient Egyptian artefacts, try on Ancient Egyptian costumes and enjoy some colouring and simple paper crafts to take away.

Pop in Wednesday 28th October 12-4pm. Drop in to enjoy some free autumn crafts, colouring and puzzle sheets, a museum gallery spotter trail (free), games to play and books to read. FREE EVENT

Northampton Central Library

Halloween Crafts:

Monday 26 October 10.30-11.30AM – SKELETON
Tuesday 27 October 2.30-3.30PM – HAND PUPPETS
Wednesday 28 October 11.00-12.00PM – HALLOWEEN POM-POMS
Thursday 29 October 2.30-3.30PM – JACK-O-LANTERNS
Friday 30 October 11.00-12.00PM – TRICK OR TREAT BAGS
Saturday 31 October 2.30-3.30PM – SPIDERS AND WEBS

Moulton Library

Kids crafts – free drop in Monday 26th October 11am-3pm

Family Board Games – free drop in Tuesday 27th October 10am-3pm

Construction Club – free drop in Wednesday 28th 11am-3pm

Colouring Station – free drop in Thursday 29th 10am-12pm

Abington Library

Spooky Party at Abington Library, Lindsay Avenue NN3 2LZ Friday October 30th 4-5.30pm £1 per child. Booking essential.

Doddridge Centre, St James

Halloween Disco Friday 30th October 1pm – 3pm £2.50/child. Put on your best spooky outfit and join us for an afternoon boogie.

The Doddridge Centre, 109 St James Road NN5 5LD

Wootton Parish Council

Wootton Library FREE events include: Pyjama Story Party on Tues 27th Oct 6-7.30pm and Halloween Crafts Tues 27th 11am-2pm. The Community Centre is also hosting a Halloween Disco on the 29th October. There are various time slots and tickets cost £4 per child (2+ years)

Far Cotton and Delapre Community Council

Domino Toppling Workshop Thursday 29th October a Far Cotton Rec Centre. The session is ‘drop-in’ anywhere between 13:00-15:00, and it is FREE! No tickets are required, just turn up! Last entry will be at 14:30.

Growing Together

Thursday 29th October 3.45-5pm Family Silent Disco Halloween Party (£3 per child, £1 accompanying adult) at Blackthorn Community Centre

Diwali Celebrations

Saturday 31st October Northampton Market Square 10-8pm. Stalls open 10am, entertainment starts at 12 and the parade is at 6pm.

Northampton Annual Fireworks Spectacular

Sunday 1st November at the Racecourse. Entertainment starts at 4pm, fireworks at 6pm. FREE entry

Daventry/West Northants

Daventry Town Council

Various FREE activities throughout the week, including Domino masterclass, Makes in the Museum and Golf Skills. All held at the museum, except Golf Skills at New St Park and Teen Clinic at The Arc Cinema

Sunday 31st – Daventry Fireworks Spooktacular at Parker E-ACT Academy from 6pm FREE ENTRY

Daventry Town Football Club

Daventry Town FC’s Kids Halloween Party on Friday, October 30, 2026 6-8pm. Free entry but spaces are limited so book your tickets in advance. Email Beth.clark@dtfc.co.uk for further information and secure your space.

The Reading Tree, Weedon Depot

FREE Halloween activities 24th October – 1st November 10am-4pm including Halloween arts and crafts and a spooky treasure hunt. Free parking on site.

North/East Northants

Northamptonshire Day

This year’s Northamptonshire Day celebrations take place on 25th October in Kettering. The main hub is the Market Place, other locations include Wicksteed Park and the Leisure Village. There will be a host of family activities, entertainment and heritage bus rides between venues.

L Magazine Creative Workshop

FREE Halloween workshop at Kettering Library October Monday 26th 10-11.30am. Suitable for ages 5+

Wellingborough Museum

Various FREE activities, including 26th-30th October Haunted Museum Trail, 27th October Spooky Storytelling and Crafts and Oct 28th CJ’s Birds and Haunted Railway

Rushden Lakes

29th and 30th October The Peculiar Pumpkin Patch £3.50 per child featuring spooky games and characters and the chance to pick your own mini pumpkin. On the Central Boulevard (Nr Clarks and Bill’s). FREE parking on site

North Northamptonshire Active Communities

Friday 30th October at 10am or 12pm Family Halloween Walk at Queensway Park. Email NNLeisure@Northants.gov.uk to book a place

Rushden Spooky Science

FREE Spooky Science sessions at Rushden Hall on Friday 30th October. Various sessions throughout the day, book now using the link above.

Youth Inspired – Clubs for Young People Northamptonshire

FREE Spooky Kids Party, Saturday 31st October 4-5pm (ages 8+) Priors Hall Community Centre, Corby

Willow Place, Corby

Willow Place Shopping Centre is hosting a Free pop up pumpkin patch on Saturday 31st October 11am-3pm

South Northants

The Canal Museum Stoke Bruerne

24th-31st October 10-4pm, Halloween Trail. Collect a Clue Sheet from the Museum and go on a Pumpkin Hunt along the canal to find letters that spell a spooky word! Return to the Museum with your answer to claim a prize! Costs £1.50, parking charges apply.

Brackley Leisure Centre

Brackley Leisure Centre is holding a Halloween Roller Disco on Friday 30th October 6-8pm £5 per child