What's on this weekend 9th - 11th October
Spooky season is here and so many great Halloween events are kicking off this weekend! However, if Halloween isn't your thing, there are other events taking places across the county! Take a look at a selection below and remember to visit our What's On pages, or our October to December Events Guide to plan your activities.
Halloween events
Halloween Knitted Pumpkin Workshop
9th October
Barton Grange Garden Centre
Let your creative side flow and create some beautiful keepsakes this Halloween with the Knitted Pumpkin Workshop at Barton Grange Garden Centre. You will be guided through the entire process, no knitting experience required, to create a beautiful merino wool pumpkin out of your choice of three colours; pumpkin, rust or cream. The ideal way to spend a lunch time this Friday afternoon
Hauntings, Hangings and Horrid Happenings Tour
9th October
Lancaster
True crime fan? Then the Lancaster Walks, Talks and Tours Hauntings, Hangings and Horrid Happenings Tour is a must for you. This Halloween blue badge guide Greggory White has a number of spooky tours ready to talk you through some of the spookier goings on in the city. You will be guided through the city from Lancaster Castle to Dalton Square, where you will discover plights that are said to still impact the city streets, pubs and houses. At Dalton Square you can then heard into The Borough pub for a warming pot of parched peas and a drink
The Great Pumpkin Adventure
10th October - 1st November
Windmill Animal Farm, Burscough
This Halloween, pumpkin picking is getting a big Windmill Animal Farm makeover. Say goodbye to muddy fields and messy wellies because The Great Pumpkin Picking Adventure is a no mud, no mess pumpkin experience. And the best bit? It’s so much more than pumpkin picking!
Stop by to enjoy the amazing farm activities, meet all your favourite farm animals, explore indoor attractions, enjoy outdoor adventures, hop aboard the farm train and enjoy the Heebie Jeebie Shows, featuring live characters.
The Trick or Treat Trail
10th – 31st October
Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green
Do you dare to explore the woods around Ribby hall Holiday Village this Halloween? A frighteningly fun time awaits as you venture through the spooky woodland to be greeted by spooky surprises at every turn. Meet the characters, collect sweet treats and stamp your Halloween passport to get your Halloween toy at the end!
Pumpkin Sunday
11th October
West Lancashire Light Railway, Hesketh Bank
Combine pumpkins with fun heritage steam train adventures at West Lancashire Light Railway. For one day only this heritage train line invites people of all ages to enjoy 2 steam engines, lovely hot food and drink including pumpkin soup and a model railway on its pumpkin special day! Followed by a Halloween special "Spooky Trains" on the day itself. Suitable for all ages these aren’t to be missed.
Historic Graffiti and Superstitious Beliefs Tour
11th October
Hoghton Tower, Chorley
Let Hoghton Tower transport you back over four hundred years, to a time when King James I, and the people of that time, held firm beliefs about and against witches and witchcraft! Your guide will give you an insight into the king’s fascination with witchcraft and describe the various forms of historic graffiti recently discovered at Hoghton Tower. You will see the symbols, marks and taper burns, that the family and servants used to protect themselves and their precious possessions, against natural and supernatural forces.
General Events
Lancaster Music Festival
8th - 11th October
Lancaster
Featuring more than 500 performances across four days, Lancaster Music Festival is a must for many of the city's residents and visitors' calendars! New venues for this year include the recently refurbished Lancaster Castle Keep and Chapel, plus Westfield War Memorial Village, other venues such as Dalton Square, the Storey Gardens and the Town Hall will join the line up as bands and performers from around the world come together in the historic city.
World Fireworks Championships
10th October
Blackpool
Once again Blackpool's skies will pop with colour as the World Fireworks Championships take place. This Saturday night is the final of the three heats and will see Haupt Feuerwerke produce a spectacular display for Germany! Synchronised to music, with plenty of food and drink to pick up nearby and the illuminations to see too, it’s a great night out for the whole family!
The Music of Coldplay by Candlelight
10th October
Blackburn Cathedral
Love Coldplay? Then you simply must head along to Blackburn Cathedral this weekend and hear the Music of Coldplay, featuring a spectacular cast of world-class vocalists and an epic live band. Prepare for ‘Paradise’, as you experience Coldplay’s biggest hits, like never before!
St Annes Artisan Market
10th October
St Anne's Square, Lytham St Annes.
Each month brings together a fantastic range of artisan traders, local producers, handcrafted goods, and one-of-a-kind creations, all in one lively and welcoming space.
The market is more than just a shopping trip, it's a monthly destination where people can meet, browse, discover something unique, and support the talented makers and small businesses that give our community its character. From handmade crafts and homeware to gifts, food, drink, and seasonal treats, there's something special for everyone, every single month.
Fungi and Foraging Walk
11th October
Hunters Hill Countryside Park, Parbold
This time of year, is ripe for fungi growing in our wooded areas, fungi that is ideal for foraging and making into delicious meals, if you know what you are looking for! Thankfully West Lancashire Borough Rangers have you covered. The fungi and foraging walk at Hunters Hill is set to be a rewarding experience that combines the thrill of discovery with the tranquillity of nature. Led by an expert in the field, you will learn to identify edible fungi fruits and plants, and how to forage responsibly, respect nature, and enjoy the magical world of wild food.
Ongoing Events
Horrockses Fashions: Everyday Glamour & the Art of British Ready-to-Wear
The Harris Museum
Until 31st January 2027
Marking the 80th anniversary of Horrockses Fashions, this major exhibition celebrates one of Preston's most remarkable fashion success stories. Drawing on the largest museum collection of Horrockses garments in the UK, the exhibition explores how the Lancashire-based company transformed British ready-to-wear fashion by combining couture-inspired design with high-quality printed cottons. Featuring more than 60 dresses alongside original fabric swatches, design books, photography and archive material, the exhibition showcases a brand worn by everyone from mill workers to members of the Royal Family, including Queen Elizabeth II. There a number of workshops taking place surrounding the exhibition throughout its run, which can be found on The Harris Museum listing.
Blackpool Illuminations
Blackpool
Until 3rd January 2027
Following an incredible evening of entertainment from pop favourites Five at this year’s Illuminations Switch‑On, the lights are now dazzling throughout the autumn winter season! Catch what is known as the greats free light display on earth as new and past favourites shine brightly along six miles of Blackpool's incredible coastline every evening.