Things to Do in Liverpool in October – What’s On in Merseyside

Last updated: 23rd October 2026 – Events and activities for October 2026.

Looking for things to do in Liverpool in October? There’s plenty happening across Liverpool and Merseyside this month, especially with Halloween and the October half term holidays just around the corner.

Liverpool’s River of Light returns with some fantastic FREE installations around the city, Southport is hosting its Books Alive! Festival, and there are lots of family-friendly activities, theatre shows, Halloween events and days out to enjoy.

I’ve rounded up what’s on in Liverpool, St Helens, Southport, Sefton, Knowsley and the surrounding areas for the rest of October. You’ll find events listed by date below, including prices, times and age recommendations where available.

If you’re planning some autumn days out, you might also like our guides to pumpkin picking in Lancashire and pumpkin picking around Liverpool and Merseyside.

What’s On in Liverpool and Merseyside in October 2026?

Here’s what’s happening across Liverpool and the surrounding areas for the rest of October. There are plenty of free events alongside theatre performances, live music, family activities and Halloween celebrations. The listings are arranged by date to make planning your days out a little easier.

23rd October

• Liverpool River of Light Festival returns 5pm-9pm
• Mean Girls – Liverpool Empire Theatre. Tickets from £30.00. 7.30pm. Age 10+.
• Duran Duran 7.30pm Tickets start £90.35 – M&S Bank Arena
• Liverpool Irish festival: Teada 8pm – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (Music Room). Tickets £17.60 – £20.90.
• Sing the Musicals. 7.30pm – The Atkinson, Southport
• Halloween Special: The Body Smugglers Murder Mystery 8pm. Tickets £27 Age 12+ – The Atkinson, Southport
• Cunard Building Market 4pm-9pm. Around 35 traders selling food, gifts, art and handmade items in the Cunard Building, Liverpool.

24th October

• Liverpool River of Light Festival 5pm-9pm
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears 12pm & 6pm Tickets from £26.00 – St Helens Theatre Royal
• Mean Girls – Liverpool Empire Theatre. Tickets from £30.00. 2.30pm & 7.30pm. Age 10+.
• UK Drum Show 8.30am-6pm. Tickets start at £18.00 – M&S Bank Arena
• Myths & Legends at Half Term including Dragons and Dynamics, hands-on science experiments & demonstrations. Age 3+ Various timeslots – Eureka Science & Discovery Museum, Wallasey
• An Evening of Gospel with Liverpool Lighthouse Choirs 8pm Tickets: £17.60 – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
• The Haunting of Blaine Manor Age 10+ Times: 14:30 – 16:30 & 19:30 – 21:30. Tickets £24 Standard / £20 Concessions – The Atkinson, Southport
• Learn to Sew for Kids and Teens £10 10am – Penny Lane Fabrics
• Cunard Building Market 4pm-9pm. Around 35 traders selling food, gifts, art and handmade items in the Cunard Building, Liverpool.
• Halloween at Knowsley Safari Park including Crack the Creepy Code, Tricks, Treats & Wild Feats, Frightfully Fun Crafts in the Tipi and Spookiest Safari Style. Adult Tickets £22.00 – Children £19.50. Under 1’s FREE. Age 1-2 £2.50.
• SUPER Natural October Half Term 9.30am-4.30pm – WWT Martin Mere, Burscough. Entrance from £11.20.

25th October

• Liverpool River of Light Festival 5pm-9pm FREE event.
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears 12pm & 6pm Tickets from £26.00 – St Helens Theatre Royal
• Family Feastival – Box Park Liverpool. FREE Arts & Crafts 12pm-4pm.
• UK Drum Show 8.30am-6pm. Tickets start at £18.00 – M&S Bank Arena
• Steve Backshall’s Deadly Live 2pm. Tickets start at £25.85 – M&S Bank Arena
• Liverpool Basketball v’s Newcastle Eagles 4pm. FREE event – M&S Bank Arena
• Liverpool FV v’s Brighton (Premier League) – Anfield Stadium
• Room on the Broom and Dog 2.30pm Tickets £16.50 – £33.00 – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
• Phil Wang 8pm. Tickets £29.70 – £47.30. Age 14+ – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
• LFC Women v’s London City Lionesses – Brewdog Stadium, St Helens 5.30pm
• Myths & Legends at Half Term including Dragons and Dynamics, hands-on science experiments & demonstrations. Age 3+ Various timeslots – Eureka Science & Discovery Museum, Wallasey
• Cunard Building Market 4pm-9pm. Around 35 traders selling food, gifts, art and handmade items in the Cunard Building, Liverpool.
• Halloween at Knowsley Safari Park including Crack the Creepy Code, Tricks, Treats & Wild Feats, Frightfully Fun Crafts in the Tipi and Spookiest Safari Style. Adult Tickets £22.00 – Children £19.50. Under 1’s FREE. Age 1-2 £2.50.
• SUPER Natural October Half Term 9.30am-4.30pm – WWT Martin Mere, Burscough. Entrance from £11.20.

26th October

• Goldilocks and the Three Bears 1pm Tickets from £26.00 – St Helens Theatre Royal
• Mean Girls – Liverpool Empire Theatre. Tickets from £30.00. 7.30pm. Age 10+.
• Liverpool River of Light Festival 5pm-9pm
• Myths & Legends at Half Term including Dragons and Dynamics, hands-on science experiments & demonstrations. Age 3+ Various timeslots – Eureka Science & Discovery Museum, Wallasey
• Children’s Writing Workshop – 2.30pm-4.30pm – Bootle Library
• Lego & Board Games – Formby Library (All afternoon)
• Board Games 2pm-4pm – Netherton Library
• Genevieve Aspinall: Author Reading and Story Activities. Age 4+. 10.30am FREE event – The Atkinson, Southport
• John Kirk: We’re going on a Musical Story Hunt Times: 1pm & 2.30pm FREE event – The Atkinson, Southport
• Cunard Building Market 4pm-9pm. Around 35 traders selling food, gifts, art and handmade items in the Cunard Building, Liverpool.
• Halloween at Knowsley Safari Park including Crack the Creepy Code, Tricks, Treats & Wild Feats, Frightfully Fun Crafts in the Tipi and Spookiest Safari Style. Adult Tickets £22.00 – Children £19.50. Under 1’s FREE. Age 1-2 £2.50.
• SUPER Natural October Half Term 9.30am-4.30pm – WWT Martin Mere, Burscough. Entrance from £11.20.
• Haunted Trick or Treat House – Kirkby Town Centre – FREE. No booking needed.

27th October

• Goldilocks and the Three Bears 12pm & 6pm Tickets from £26.00 – St Helens Theatre Royal
• Liverpool River of Light Festival 5pm-9pm
• Mean Girls – Liverpool Empire Theatre. Tickets from £30.00. 7.30pm. Age 10+.
• Halloween Craft 10.30am-12.00pm – Formby Library
• Halloween Craft 2.30pm-3.30pm – Netherton Library
• Lego & Board Games – Formby Library (All afternoon)
• Myths & Legends at Half Term including Dragons and Dynamics, hands-on science experiments & demonstrations. Age 3+ Various timeslots – Eureka Science & Discovery Museum, Wallasey
• Sir Charlie Stinky Socks 2pm & 4pm – Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool
• Southport Library – Susan Brownrigg (Southport Librarian!): Author Talk and Activities – 10:30-11:30
• Southport Library – Jude Lennon: Storytelling and Author discussion – 13:00-14:00 / 14:30-15:30
• Cunard Building Market 4pm-9pm. Around 35 traders selling food, gifts, art and handmade items in the Cunard Building, Liverpool.
• Halloween at Knowsley Safari Park including Crack the Creepy Code, Tricks, Treats & Wild Feats, Frightfully Fun Crafts in the Tipi and Spookiest Safari Style. Adult Tickets £22.00 – Children £19.50. Under 1’s FREE. Age 1-2 £2.50.
• SUPER Natural October Half Term 9.30am-4.30pm – WWT Martin Mere, Burscough. Entrance from £11.20.
• Haunted Trick or Treat House – Kirkby Town Centre – FREE. No booking needed.
• How to Write Horror – Haydock Library – FREE event 2pm.

28th October

• Liverpool River of Light Festival 5pm-9pm
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears 12pm & 6pm Tickets from £26.00 – St Helens Theatre Royal
• Mean Girls – Liverpool Empire Theatre. Tickets from £30.00. 2.30pm & 7.30pm. Age 10+.
• Sir Charlie Stinky Socks 11am & 2pm – Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool
• Myths & Legends at Half Term including Dragons and Dynamics, hands-on science experiments & demonstrations. Age 3+ Various timeslots – Eureka Science & Discovery Museum, Wallasey
• Liverpool FC v’s Chelsea (EFL Fourth Round)
• Halloween Crafts 2pm – Maghull Library
• Lego Board Games. All Afternoon – Formby Library
• Cyber Security Escape Room – Crosby Library 9.30am or 10.45am. Booking essential.
• Southport Library – Cinderella’s Bibiddi-Bobbidi Books Alive! Workshops – 11:00-11:30 / 12:00-12:30 / 14:30-15:00
• Southport Library – Wonder Library Stories Brought to Life – 13:00-13:45 / 14:00-14:45
• Freezin Theatre Show. Times: 13:00 – 14:55 & 16:30 – 18:25. Tickets: £18 adults / £16 concessions and children – The Atkinson, Southport
• Cunard Building Market 4pm-9pm. Around 35 traders selling food, gifts, art and handmade items in the Cunard Building, Liverpool.
• Halloween at Knowsley Safari Park including Crack the Creepy Code, Tricks, Treats & Wild Feats, Frightfully Fun Crafts in the Tipi and Spookiest Safari Style. Adult Tickets £22.00 – Children £19.50. Under 1’s FREE. Age 1-2 £2.50.
• SUPER Natural October Half Term 9.30am-4.30pm – WWT Martin Mere, Burscough. Entrance from £11.20.
• Haunted Trick or Treat House – Kirkby Town Centre – FREE. No booking needed.

29th October

• Liverpool River of Light Festival 5pm-9pm
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears 12pm & 6pm Tickets from £26.00 – St Helens Theatre Royal
• Mean Girls – Liverpool Empire Theatre. Tickets from £30.00. 7.30pm. Age 10+.
• Sir Charlie Stinky Socks 11am & 2pm – Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool
• Myths & Legends at Half Term including Dragons and Dynamics, hands-on science experiments & demonstrations. Age 3+ Various timeslots – Eureka Science & Discovery Museum, Wallasey
• Everton FC v’s Newcastle (EFL Fourth Round) – Hill Dickinson Stadium.
• Halloween Craft – Bootle Library. 11am-12pm.
• Children’s Writing Workshop 2.30pm-4.30pm- Netherton Library.
• Lego & Board Games – Formby Library. (All afternoon).
• Southport Library – Lydia Monks: Meet the Artist and Draw-Along (BSL Interpretated) – 10.00-10:45
• Southport Library – Salomey Doku: Meet the Artist and Draw Along (BSL Interpretated) – 11:15-12.00
• Southport Library – Natalie Denny: Meet the Author and Interactive Storytime – 12:30-13:15
• Southport Library – Metaphrog: Graphic Novel Workshop  (BSL Interpretated) – 14.00-14:45
• Southport Library – Dapo Adeola: Meet the Artist and Draw Along (BSL Interpretated) – 15.15-16.00
• Cunard Building Market 4pm-9pm. Around 35 traders selling food, gifts, art and handmade items in the Cunard Building, Liverpool.
• Halloween at Knowsley Safari Park including Crack the Creepy Code, Tricks, Treats & Wild Feats, Frightfully Fun Crafts in the Tipi and Spookiest Safari Style. Adult Tickets £22.00 – Children £19.50. Under 1’s FREE. Age 1-2 £2.50.
• SUPER Natural October Half Term 9.30am-4.30pm – WWT Martin Mere, Burscough. Entrance from £11.20.
• Haunted Trick or Treat House – Kirkby Town Centre – FREE. No booking needed.

30th October

• Liverpool River of Light Festival 5pm-9pm
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears 12pm & 6pm Tickets from £26.00 – St Helens Theatre Royal
• Mean Girls – Liverpool Empire Theatre. Tickets from £30.00. 7.30pm. Age 10+.
• Sir Charlie Stinky Socks 11am & 2pm – Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool
• The Celebrity Traitors Final Watch Party 6.30pm-11pm. FREE entry – BoxPark Liverpool.
• Liverpool Basketball v’s Cheshire Phoenix 7.30pm. Tickets from £7.85- M&S Bank Arena
• Myths & Legends at Half Term including Dragons and Dynamics, hands-on science experiments & demonstrations. Age 3+ Various timeslots – Eureka Science & Discovery Museum, Wallasey
• Lego & Board Games – Formby Library (All afternoon).
• Southport Library – Kate Pankhurst: Meet the Author – Fantastically Great Women – 10.00-10:45
• Southport Library -Ruth Awolola: Interactive Poetry Workshop – 11:15-12.00
• Southport Library -Ashley Thorpe: Meet the Author – The Boy to Beat the Gods – 12:30-13:15
• Southport Library -Gabrielle Kent: Meet the Author – How Stories Begin  (BSL Interpretated) – 14.00-14:45
• Southport Library – Joseph Coehlo: Meet the Author & Playwright – Inspiring Poetry  (BSL Interpretated) – 15:15-16.00
• Fun for Little Ones: A Tribute to Ms Rachel 2pm Tickets £18 – The Atkinson, Southport
• Cunard Building Market 4pm-9pm. Around 35 traders selling food, gifts, art and handmade items in the Cunard Building, Liverpool.
• Halloween at Knowsley Safari Park including Crack the Creepy Code, Tricks, Treats & Wild Feats, Frightfully Fun Crafts in the Tipi and Spookiest Safari Style. Adult Tickets £22.00 – Children £19.50. Under 1’s FREE. Age 1-2 £2.50.
• SUPER Natural October Half Term 9.30am-4.30pm – WWT Martin Mere, Burscough. Entrance from £11.20.
• Haunted Trick or Treat House – Kirkby Town Centre – FREE. No booking needed.

31st October

• Liverpool River of Light Festival 5pm-9pm
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears 12pm & 6pm Tickets from £26.00 – St Helens Theatre Royal
• Mean Girls – Liverpool Empire Theatre. Tickets from £30.00. 2.30pm & 7.30pm. Age 10+.
• Sir Charlie Stinky Socks 11am & 2pm – Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool
• Kevin Bridges 7.30pm Age 14+ Tickets from £42.50 – M&S Bank Arena
• Myths & Legends at Half Term including Dragons and Dynamics, hands-on science experiments & demonstrations. Age 3+ Various timeslots – Eureka Science & Discovery Museum, Wallasey
• The Amy Winehouse Band 7.30pm. Tickets £32.45 – £47.30 – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
• Construction Club 10.30am FREE drop in event – The Atkinson, Southport
• Learn to Sew for Kids and Teens £10 10am – Penny Lane Fabrics
• Halloween at Knowsley Safari Park including Crack the Creepy Code, Tricks, Treats & Wild Feats, Frightfully Fun Crafts in the Tipi and Spookiest Safari Style. Adult Tickets £22.00 – Children £19.50. Under 1’s FREE. Age 1-2 £2.50.
• SUPER Natural October Half Term 9.30am-4.30pm – WWT Martin Mere, Burscough. Entrance from £11.20.
• Haunted Trick or Treat House – Kirkby Town Centre – FREE. No booking needed.
• Liverpool ONE Halloween Party – FREE event 11am-4pm. No booking needed. Family entertainment, face painting, zombie dance and drumming workshops, spooky characters and a fancy dress competition

More Things to Do in Liverpool and the North West

October is one of my favourite times for finding family days out, and there’s still plenty to squeeze in before the month ends.

If you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to autumn, our pumpkin-picking guides are packed with ideas for making the most of the season. It’s also a good time to start planning for Bonfire Night, with firework displays and family events coming up across the North West.

For more ideas throughout the year, have a look at our Seasonal Events in the North West guide, where you’ll find plenty of inspiration for family days out, school holidays and special events.

We’ll keep adding to our monthly guides as new events are announced, so do check back. And if you know of a brilliant local event we’ve missed, we’d love to hear about it!