Rhyme times, toddler sessions, stay and play and everything else that genuinely works with a pre-schooler in and around Liverpool.
Fancy dress, a dance floor and party music a fortnight before the main event, with the usual park rides included. The warm-up for Ottersghoul later in the month.
The toddler-sized Halloween week: a ghost train, a craft workshop and a not-too-scary show with Jack and Sally, pitched at children still too small for the main event.
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.
Jack Skellington's Halloween Town takes over the park for half term: a 25-minute live show six times a day, a pumpkin parade twice daily, and the go-karts, soft play and adventure golf included. Marshmallow toasting, Trick or Treat Street and the VR ride cost extra.
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.
Forty-five days of rides, games, a light walk and the city's only covered ice rink, in front of the Three Graces. The covered rink means a wet December does not cancel your session. No parking on site, but the whole site is step-free.
A Christmas experience at Otterspool running on selected dates from 28 November through to Christmas Eve, including both November and December weekends plus 21 to 24 December. Popular weekend slots sell out early, so booking ahead is worth doing.
A full day of free festive entertainment round Liverpool ONE, hosted by Jay Hynd and Gemma Cutting, with prizes to win. The new 30 metre walk-through tree at Paradise Place is the photo everyone will be queuing for, so do that first.
Father Christmas and Buddy the Elf do stories and songs in the Town Hall, every child gets a turn to tell Santa their wishes and goes home with a gift. Sessions are capped at 20 children and run 45 minutes to an hour, which is the right length for the small ones. One adult goes in free with each child ticket.