Events that cost nothing to turn up to across the North West. Library sessions, park activities, museum trails and town centre days. Some venues still charge for parking.
A free exhibition at Lowry built round picture books like Elmer and Dear Zoo, with play areas for under 7s. It closes on 1 November, so half term is the last chance. Free, but book a timed slot.
Six miles of lights along the prom from the big switch-on night to early January. Drive it, walk it, or catch a heritage tram through the middle of it, which is the version kids remember.
Luke Jerram's seven-metre glowing moon hangs in the cathedral for the whole of October, with children's workshops and pyjama parties on the programme. Entry is by donation, suggested £5 an adult or £12 a family, and daytime visits need no booking. Sunday opening is only 12 to 2.
A free, low-key Halloween-season job for 5 to 12s: pick up a sheet at the welcome desk and make a skeleton mask inspired by a mysterious painting in Gallery One. Runs through half term and all of November.
Free drop-in storytelling for 2 to 5s at Bolton libraries, running through school holidays. Bolton Central is Wednesdays and Fridays at 11am; Farnworth, Horwich, Westhoughton and others have their own weekly slot.
A free weekly after-school Lego club at Boothstown Library, Tuesdays in term time from 3.30pm to 4.30pm, for primary school children. Under 8s need an adult with them. No booking needed.
Two free regulars at Bolton Central Library: Baby Time with songs every Tuesday from 10.30am to 11.30am, and Saturday Storytime at 2pm. No booking needed for either.
Stay and Discover at Keswick Museum, a story with Becky and Digby followed by a creative session for under 5s. Free, one booking per family, every term time Wednesday.
A free half hour of stories for under 5s at Stockroom, the new library in Merseyway. Every Wednesday at 11am. It is free but they ask you to book so they know numbers.
Little Wanderers at Wordsworth Grasmere, free songs, stories and play for under 5s inspired by Dove Cottage. Term time Thursday mornings, just turn up.
Free Rhyme and Chat Time at Bury Library on Thursdays in term time, 11.30am to 12.30pm, aimed at early speech and language. No booking. Use the ramp opposite the Job Centre and staff will let you in.
Bookstart Bear Club at Rochdale Central Library on Fridays in term time, 9.45am to 10.30am, for toddlers up to pre-school. Free, but book a ticket per child. Children collect stamps in a Bookstart passport.
A folklore-flavoured Halloween adventure played on one phone through the free Stranger Folk app round the grounds of Wray Castle, with no plastic fangs in sight. Designed for ages 7 to 12, and playable in 20 minutes or spread over a day. Parking is £7 for two hours unless you are a National Trust member.
Liverpool's free light art trail along the waterfront, running right through October half term. Not fireworks, but a better fit for children who find bangs too much. Nightly times were not published when we checked, so look before you set off.
A free Halloween trail round Chester city centre, 24 October to 1 November. Spot ten or more candy clues in local businesses, note their colour and design, and enter to win a £50 Chester Gift Card.
Rochdale Town Hall runs free family Halloween activities every day of half term, 26 October to 1 November, 10am to 4pm. No booking. The exact activities are still to be announced on its social channels.
Free family films in the Bolton Central Library lecture theatre at 2pm on the second Saturday of the month, moving to the Friday in half term. Coming up: 30 October, 14 November, 12 December. Titles are not published.
Starts at 10am to 12pm. Times, prices and tickets are on the organiser's own page.
The second night of Salford's free weekend, and the one with a proper bonfire, plus a funfair and a single display. Gates open at 4pm on a Sunday, so it can be an early one before school on Monday.
The first of Rochdale Council's three free school-night bonfires, with a reduced-noise display set to music at 7.30pm and a funfair from 6pm. There are no toilets on site, which is the practical point that matters with small children.
Songs and stories for children under 5 and parents/carers.
Relaxed and informal Stay and Play at Wigan Library.
Join us at our weekly bounce and rhyme event.
Free council bonfire with a reduced-noise display set to music, so it is kinder on small ears and on the dog left at home. No parking and no toilets on site: walk there, and go before you leave the house.
Join our Guided Walk Leaders for a fascinating tour of Brockholes.
Baby Bubbles and Rhymes is a free interactive children's event aimed at children aged 0-5 years with the use of musical instruments and play activities such as parachute play and ball pool.
Runs on 6 dates. Times, prices and tickets are on the organiser's own page.
Free drop in for stories, songs and rhyme.
Perfect for 0, 4’s explore songs, rhymes, stories and sensory play in our Bounce and Rhyme sessions.
At baby clinic, families can discuss any health issues and have their child weighed and measured.
The last of Rochdale Council's three free nights, on Cronkeyshaw Common, with the bonfire at 7pm and a reduced-noise display set to music at 7.30pm. No onsite parking and no toilets, so treat it as a walk-in, walk-out evening.
Running from 23rd September-18th November at Oldham Library, Play, Learn and Grow is an 8-week coaching program designed to empower parents with children aged 18 months, 5 years in Rochdale & Oldham…
Join our playful sessions and meet new friends, explore the library spaces, learn new rhymes and songs and enjoy some sensory play in our Bounce and Rhyme Sessions.
Come and join the fun at Limehurst Library’s Lego Club.
Come and join the fun at Northmoor Library’s Lego Club.
Come and join the fun at Limehurst Library for our monthly craft activity.
Our church toddler group runs every Thursday during school term time.
Three nights of free light art around the city, with interactive pieces children can ride on and play with, and BSL-guided tours. Fireworks were not in the published programme when we checked, so come for the lights, not the bangs.
Tiddlers at the Dock Museum in Barrow, a free hands on group for toddlers from 18 months on the first Thursday of the month. No need to book, just turn up.
Children's Sewing Club - Exploring sewing through simple projects - all resources and guidance provided This group is FREE.
For children 5 years and up, free session, no need to book.
This is a FREE drop-in session with no booking required.
Runs on 17 dates. Times, prices and tickets are on the organiser's own page.
Parents, carers and children under 5 are invited to join us for a free play session (term-time only) Oldham Libraries
Little Reads is a fun, interactive workshop using songs and stories to explore children’s picture books.
The Cottage Museum in Lancaster lit by candlelight for Light Up Lancaster. Free, no booking, 5pm to 8pm on 6 November, and suitable for all ages.
Starts at 9am. Times, prices and tickets are on the organiser's own page.
Join us for our free craft activity sessions.
Children's Lego Club - Encouraging children to use their imaginations to create, using Lego.
Runs on 6 dates. Times, prices and tickets are on the organiser's own page.
This is a FREE drop-in session with no booking required.
More than 210 stalls across the city centre, with the big wheel and a helter-skelter in Albert Square, Skate MCR's covered rink in Cathedral Gardens and a new site at Lincoln Square. Saturday evenings are shoulder to shoulder, which is a lot with a pushchair.
Join our playful sessions and meet new friends, explore the library spaces, learn new rhymes and songs and enjoy some sensory play in our Bounce and Rhyme Sessions.
Join us at our weekly bounce and rhyme event.
Runs on 17 dates. Times, prices and tickets are on the organiser's own page.
Manchester's free council fireworks are back for the first time since 2019, with a reduced-noise, low-impact show at 5pm for young children and SEND families, then a lantern parade and the main display at 8pm. Go early if you have a toddler and be home for bath time.
The Fallowfield one of the council's three free displays, with the same two-show format: quieter and earlier at 5pm, loud at 8pm with a lantern parade in between. Wilmslow Road will be busy, so the bus beats the car.
One of three free council displays returning to Manchester parks this year. The 5pm show is deliberately quieter for little ones and children with SEND; the full-volume display follows at 8pm after a lantern parade. The park is huge, so agree a meeting point before it gets dark.
A free family book day at the Floral Pavilion on Saturday 7 November, with author talks, comic-making and face painting. Frank Cottrell-Boyce appears. Entry is free but some activities need booking in advance.
Lego Club 10:00pm - 1:00pm Free weekly drop in sessions, no booking required.
Free Lego and Duplo drop in session in the main library- no need to book.
Join us for some family fun at Wigan Library.
Come and join the fun at Failsworth Library’s Lego Club.
An opportunity for 16-24 year olds to plan, create, produce and organise events and activities
Starts at 5.30pm. Times, prices and tickets are on the organiser's own page.
Pop on your cosiest PJ’s, bring your teddy and enjoy some rhymes, signs and stories with @ElizaSays
Join us in one of our museum galleries to let your little one be as noisy as they like.
Dancing toys, festive characters and Santa himself parade through Liverpool ONE, made with Walk The Plank. It is free and early enough in November that the shops are still bearable afterwards. Get a spot on the route in good time if you want a small child on your shoulders at the front.
Tameside's Northern Lights Lantern Parade through Ashton town centre, with giant puppets and dancers. Collect lanterns made at the half term workshops from Ashton Old Baths from 3pm. The parade sets off at 5pm.
Two free Baby Week sessions at the Museum of Liverpool for babies 12 months and under: moving play on 17 November, messy taste-safe play on 18 November. Tickets go live four weeks before. Bring old clothes.
About 80 traders round the Town Hall square, selling local food, crafts and stocking fillers. Bring some cash for the food stalls and mug deposits. The cathedral's Christmas Tree Festival is a few steps away from 25 November and makes a warm second half to the trip.
Community groups and local artists parade through the city centre to start the festive season, with a hinted visit from Father Christmas. Free, and a 7pm start, so it works for primary-age children on a school night if you are local.
Join us as we explore the outdoors with nature spotting, foraging and bushcraft.
Come to our Little World full of Big Ideas!
Rochdale's Ignite Fire Festival and Christmas lights switch-on fills the Memorial Gardens opposite the Town Hall, 20 to 22 November, 5pm to 8pm each evening. Free, for all ages, just turn up.
Three nights of light art from local, national and international artists across Wigan town centre and Mesnes Park, made with Wigan Council and now in its sixth year. Free, 5pm to 9pm, and the organisers say they want to keep it free for families.
University of Liverpool scientists run hands-on stalls at World Museum on Saturday 21 November, 10am to 4pm. Free drop-in, with a treasure map to follow round the stalls. Good for all ages.
Penrith's Christmas lights switch on, with a lit up parade, performers, rides, crafts, face painting and Santa. Bring something that lights up for the 6pm switch on.
A community Christmas fair at West Kirby Grammar School on Saturday 21 November, 10am to 3pm. Free entry, though they ask for a food or toiletry item for the foodbank. Santa's Grotto is booked separately.
Christmas markets at Smithills Open Farm in Bolton on two November weekends, 11am to 4pm, all under cover. Market entry is free, Santa's grotto is pay on the door, and seeing the animals needs a farm ticket.
Chorley's lights switch on, with entertainment through the day and the Totally Locally Christmas Market in the town centre. The council says fuller details are coming.
Come and celebrate with the Youth Engagement Forum members for their 5th anniversary celebrations event!
Congleton's Christmas lights go on at 6pm on Friday 27 November, with free entertainment in the closed-off town centre from 4pm and a free Santa's grotto. The lantern parade gathers at 5.20pm on Mill Street.
Little Reads is a fun, interactive workshop using songs and stories to explore children’s picture books.
Join us on Fleetwood Beach to explore the strandline and pick up litter and plastic off the beach in a bid to help nature thrive!
Light Works in Workington, a community light festival with lantern style pieces made in local workshops, alongside the town's Christmas lights switch on at 4.30pm and a market.
The cobbled streets filled with brass bands, magicians, fire eaters, jugglers and stilt walkers across several stages, plus costume parades and stalls. Almost all the entertainment is free, the organisers fund it from stalls and mulled wine, so buy a cup and feel virtuous.
Come and join the fun at Limehurst Library for our monthly craft activity.
A festive session for 0 to 4s at Blackpool's museum of fun, with fake snow, Christmas sensory play and a hand-bell dance party. Free, but you must book, and tickets only open on 12 November.
Little Reads is a fun, interactive workshop using songs and stories to explore children’s picture books.
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