What's on in the Lake District: October 2026

October brings falling leaves, cosy jumpers and pumpkin spice lattes, along with some fantastic events happening in the Lake District, including lots of great spooky events for the October Half-Term and Halloween.

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The Last of the Agricultural Shows

wasdale head show

Celebrating Cumbrian agriculture, there are a couple more agricultural shows lined up for October:

Wasdale Head Show

Buttermere Shepherd Meet

Halloween Family Festival at Muncaster Castle

muncaster halloween

The Halloween Family Festival includes live entertainment in the garden, spooky trails, parades, weapons hall, haunted castle, a costume competition, and a torchlight march.

Scarecaster

scarecaster

Scarecaster at Muncaster Castle is strictly for those aged 16 and over, as is essentially a Halloween trail where monsters, ghosts, and zombies pop out to scare you. There will also be live music, food, and a fully stocked bar.

Keswick Ghost Walks

keswick ghost walks

Hear actual ghost stories as you walk the cobbled streets of Keswick after dark. Whilst the Keswick Ghost Walk is available throughout the year, we suggest adding it to your list for the spooky season in October. The walk starts and ends at Moot Hall and takes approximately an hour and a half and is mainly suitable for adults, but mature children over the age of 10 are welcome. There are two walks taking place on Halloween itself in 2026 with one starting at 5.30pm and the second starting at 7.30pm

Previous Events

Octoberfest Langdale Valley

sticklebarn tavern

Octoberfest Langdale Valley features local breweries and support local charities at the same time. There is beer, live music and food vendors available.

Pumpkin Picking at Walby Farm Park

pumpking picking walby farm park

Walby Farm Park offers a pumpkin patch each year where you can grab a wheelbarrow and go on a hunt to find your perfect pumpkin. You can also meet farm animals and there are a variety of fun indoor and outdoor activities with the October half-term offering additional activities for kids. The café will even be serving spooky treats!

Brockhole Halloween Experience

brockhole visitor centre

This October half-term, Brockhole is putting on a Halloween experience with storytelling around the Witch’s Cauldron to live owl encounters, science shows, and a Halloween magic performance. There will also be a haunted house, which is recommended for children over the age of 12, as well as the change to meet reptiles up close and explore the 'Forest of Fear'.

Ghost Tales at Carlisle Castle

carlisle castle

For 16 and overs only, visitors can explore Carlisle Castle in the dark this Halloween. Storytellers will guide you on a journey through the past, with tales of ghosts, supernatural sightings and horrors from history.

Halloween Half-Term at the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway

ravenglass and eskdale railway

La'al Ratty is putting on some spooky half-term activities for kids with stations and cafés transformed for Halloween.

October Half-Term at Windermere Jetty Museum

windermere jetty museum

The Windermere Jetty Museum is putting on a series of creative October half-term events for kids and their families, including an Autumn and Winter Wildlife Trail, a Monster Making craft, and Spooky Storytelling in the Boathouse. All activities are included in the price of admission.

October Half-Term at Abbot Hall

abbott hall art gallery

Abbot Hall will be host to some nature-inspired events over the October half-term, including: Transformation Zines, Interactive Soundscape Session, Art Trail, and Collective Sketchbook. Some of the activities require admission to the gallery, however, many of them take place in the Coffee Bar and are free to attend.

October Half-Term at Blackwell - The Arts & Crafts House

blackwell arts and crafts house

In addtion to the tours mentioned above, Blackwell will be putting on some seasonal crafts for kids during half-term to fuel their imaginations. There will also be a spooky storytelling session. Activities are included in the cost of admission to the house.