Our guide on what to do over October half term starting this weekend!
- PIGS MIGHT FLY, Oxford Playhouse Mon 24 – Thu 27 October based on the book by Michael Morpurgo, Golden Toad Theatre presents a new farmyard musical following the adventures of Pintsize, the youngest and most daring piglet on Mudpuddle Farm who resolves to learn how to fly. Featuring catchy songs, puppetry and slapstick humour to bring the farmyard to life! For those age 3-11. https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/pigs-might-fly
2) Halloween Trail at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock runs from 21-31 October. The immersive, illuminated trail has some sensationally spooky new installations this year. Pass beneath the demon gate, to find phantoms and fiery flame cylinders. Walk into the haunted graveyard with creaking coffins. Glimpse the neon cobwebs, spiders and ghouls, a headless horseman, fire performers and witches. Plus ghoulish refreshments. https://www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/halloween.html
3) Creation’s Theatre’s School of Creativity 5-day Workshops for ages 6-12. 24 -28 October. Wolvercote Primary School. The opportunity to create a play and to perform to family and friends. https://creationtheatre.co.uk/school-of-creativity/
4) IF Oxford, the Science and Ideas Festival is jam packed with things to do. Start with BLAST! A full day of family activities in space on Monday October 24 – at the Blackbird Leys Astronomy, Space and Technology zone, where children can build a rocket, hold a meteorite and find out how to make space craft go REALLY FAST – 17,000 mph. Meet 21st century explorers, try tech challenges, computer games, puzzle solving for mini-engineers, computer coding, LED decorations for the Oxford Christmas Light Festival and ‘string-puppet robot’ characters dancing. https://if-oxford.com/event/blast-2/
5) Comedy Club 4 Kids at 2pm, Beacon Wantage, Wednesday 26 October, 6+. Just like a normal comedy club, but without the rude bits. Join stand-ups Rachel and Ruby, Andrew O’Neill and Alexander Bennett for giggles and silliness. http://www.beaconwantage.co.uk/events/comedy-club-4-kids/
6) Celebrate Opera, Oxford Playhouse, Sunday October 23, an exciting and family-friendly romp through the world’s favourite opera classics to help Oxford Opera fund-raise for this incredible local organisation who work extensively with schools in Oxfordshire. Shows at 3pm and 7pm to appeal to youngsters and adults alike. https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/celebrate-opera
7) Family Days pumpkin trail Saturday October 29. Science Oxford Centre, Headington. Tickets to Family Days include 2 hours in the Exploration Zone and access to the woodland and outdoor Water Lab all day. Or join their half term clubs with coding, bats, inventions and Halloween outfits and slime all for the making from 25-29 October. https://scienceoxford.com/events/half-term-family-days/
8) The Naughty Fox, North Wall. Saturday October 22 for 0-5’s at 10am, 11.15am and 1.15pm. Snuggle up in a magical den with Honk, Splash and TaWit TaWoo – as they teach The Naughty Fox that it’s better to share. A world of puppetry, music, light projection and bubbly energy with Toucan Theatre. Plus Stay and Play 12pm – 2pm with craft activities, reading corners and dressing up! https://www.thenorthwall.com/whats-on/the-naughty-fox/
9) Discovering Vaccines, Wednesday 26 October 1pm-4pm, History of Science Museum, Free! Meet an Oxford Covid scientist who helped develop the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid Vaccine, now given to more than 2 billion people around the globe. The free special event will be an in-person opportunity to understand the Oxford Vaccine Group’s experiences of the pandemic when they were asked to ‘save the world’ by developing a vaccine in record time. http://www.hsm.ox.ac.uk
10) Mischief and Mystery in Moominvalley, Thursday October 27, The Mill, Banbury. Ages 3-7. 11.30am and 2pm. Discover the world of the Moomins where anything is possible. Join this unforgettable journey to Moominvalley where everyone is welcome, nature thrives, and adventures are plentiful. https://www.themillartscentre.co.uk/shows/mischief-mystery-in-moominvalley/
11) Meet Arbor at Harcourt Arboretum. Sunday 30 October Part Man. Part Tree. 18 feet tall. Follow Arbor as he strides around the Arboretum, telling the story of a tree pushed from his home and his fight to preserve his future. A visually stunning show with lots of lovable puppets created by award-winning puppetry and theatre company, Smoking Apples. https://www.obga.ox.ac.uk/home
12) Xplorer – A Halloween themed family friendly orienteering challenge suitable for all ages across South Oxfordshire and the Vale! Using a simple map, find a number of markers located around the park. 10am-midday and families can turn up on the day, Monday 24 October: Long Furlong Play Park, Abingdon, OX14 1XP or Wheatley Playing Fields (North), OX33 1QL. Tuesday 25 October: Faringdon Folly Sports Park, SN7 7AQ or Watlington Recreation Ground, OX49 5BZ and Wednesday 26 October: Berinsfield Recreation Ground, OX10 7NX. book here
13) Oxford University Museum of Natural History ‘Life, as we know it ‘. Ten new displays include the weird and wonderful creatures that make up the animal kingdom from a gigantic Japanese Spider Crab to meteorites as old as the solar system. https://www.oumnh.ox.ac.uk
14) Beauty and the Beast, 2:30pm & 7:30pm, Wednesday October 26, The Mill, Banbury. Join Ballet Theatre UK with one of the most enchanting love stories of all time set to a stunning classical score with new choreography by Artistic Director, Christopher Moore.https://www.themillartscentre.co.uk/shows/beauty-the-beast/
15) YouMove October 24-25 for families offering low-cost or free fun activities from multi-sport mornings in Wheatley (24 October) and Watlington (25 October) to indoor sports party in Thame (24 October) and family walks at Harcourt Arboretum with stories, activities and fun facts along the way. www.southoxon.gov.uk/youmove and www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/youmove
16) On Friday October 28 A Robot racing extravaganza, Iffley Road Sports Centre, 1-3pm, when yellow quadruped ‘robodogs’ will follow a steeple-chase course on the iconic track where Roger Bannister first broke the four-minute mile. See the SPOT robo-dogs in action, have the chance to manipulate a robot arm and make a ‘scribblebot’ – a robot that draws. https://if-oxford.com/event/robot-racing-extravaganza/
17) Jina and the Stem Sisters at Oxford Playhouse on October 29, as part of IF Oxford budding scientist Jina is empowered by some of history’s super-STEM women on her adventure home. https://if-oxford.com/event/jina-and-the-stem-sisters/
18) YouthLab: Musical Theatre Masterclass 24 October – 28 October, North Wall For ages 12-17 Join theatre-makers, Jen Fletcher and Harry Blake to develop new parts of a brand new musical: Mermaids – a warm-hearted comedy about a drama group in a remote Cornish Fishing Village. A feel-good show about teenage obsession, local politics, and our need for glitter in a world full of grey. The week will culminate in a sharing to family and friends in the theatre. https://www.thenorthwall.com/whats-on/youthlab-musical-theatre-masterclass/
19) Harcourt Arboretum – Monday October 24 – a day all about insects. Learn about the Oxford Natural History Museum’s insect collections or try out the ‘To Bee or not to Bee’ activity. The entertaining WhatNot Theatre are back with a brand new show, ‘The Wonderful World of Insects’.
20) Join Arboretum staff at Harcourt Arboretum on Tuesday 25 or Wednesday 26 October for an autumnal ramble full of stories, challenges and mindful moments. On Friday October 28, Join Hawkwalk with their team of falcons, hawks and owls for an educational and entertaining show.
21) Join Bhangra Dance at Cornerstone in Didcot for free on Saturday 22 October at 11am and 1pm for energetic and vibrant Bhangra performances by Jugnu Bhangra Group. There’s also a Bhangra Dance Class for children of all abilities in school years 4-9, at 3pm For more information go to www.cornerstone-arts.org
