Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
What's On in Cumbria
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Golden Star Hunt
3rd February-13th March 2026
Venue: Brockhole on Windermere
Address: Windermere, LA23 1FF
Website: https://www.brockhole.co.uk/whats-on/golden-star-hunt/#main
Discover the Magic Every Morning! Welcome to the Golden Star Hunt at Brockhole on Windermere! Nestled in the beautiful grounds of Brockhole and the charming White House, this morning adventure is perfect...
Apple Tasting Weekends
8th September-12th October 2025
Venue: Acorn Bank
Address: Temple Sowerby, near Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 1SP
11am to 3pm every Saturday and Sunday. Taste the rainbow of flavours from Acorn Bank's orchard. The 175 varieties of apple growing under the care of Acorn Bank’s Garden team start to ripen at the end...
Mini Trek Windermere
8th September-12th October 2025
Venue: Zip World
Address: Windermere, Westmorland and Furness, LA23 1LJ
Website: https://www.zipworld.co.uk/adventures/mini-trek-windermere
A treetop high-ropes course for the adventurous. Zips, floating platforms, rope bridges… there’ll be plenty for them to get stuck into whilst surrounded by nature. Get them up, out and moving on this...
Mischief in Miniature
8th September-12th October 2025
Venue: Hill Top
Address: Near Sawrey, Cumbria, LA22 0LF
10am to 4pm daily. The Tale of Two Bad Mice comes to life at Hill Top, with little needle-felted mice in various mischievous scenes around the property for you to try and spot. 'Mischief in Miniature'...
Pumpkin Picking
1st-31st October 2025
Venue: Greystoke Castle
Address: Greystoke, Penrith, CA11 0TG
Every Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 4pm. In addition to last year, the £10 entrance fee which includes a pumpkin, now also includes entrance to our Little Knights & Princesses play area. We also have the...
Apple Day
4th October 2025
Venue: Ford Park
Address: Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 7JP
Website: https://www.ford-park.org.uk/event-details-registration/apple-day-3
11am to 4pm. We're looking forward to welcoming you all to Ford Park for Apple Day - our fabulous FREE community event celebrating all things apple! As always, there will be lots to see and do, including...
Carlisle Farmers' Market 2025
4th October 2025
Venue: Carlisle Cathedral
Address: The Abbey, Carlisle, CA3 8TZ
Website: https://carlislecathedral.org.uk/farmers-market/
9am to 2pm. Join us on the first Saturday every month (except January) for Carlisle Farmers’ Market. In the historic grounds of the Cathedral, you’ll find everything from homemade goodies to artisan...
Family Bushcraft
4th-5th October 2025
Venue: Windermere and Footprint
Address: Footprint, St Catherine's, Patterdale Road, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 1NH
Two days of fun and memorable experiences. Learn effective fire lighting and bushcraft skills, build and sleep in your own shelter, greenwood carving skills, campfire cooking (food included), nature walk...
Evening Bat Walk
10th-11th October 2025
Venue: Aira Force
Address: near Watermillock, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0JS
7.30 to 9pm. Head out for family-friendly bat and wildlife spotting adventures after dark with our Ranger team at Aira Force. New for 2025. Join us at dusk and as things get dark, the time of day when...
Grange Goshawks Wildlife Watch Group
12th October 2025
Venue: Brown Robin Nature Reserve
Address: Grange over Sands, Cumbria, LA11 6EG
Website: https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2025-10-05-grange-goshawks-wildlife-watch-group
10am to 12pm. Grange Wildlife Watch Group meets on the first Sunday of the month, for children up to 12 years old. This month we are meeting at Brown Robin Nature Reserve to look through the fantastic...
The Beacon School of Magic
18th-19th October 2025
Venue: The Beacon Museum
Address: West Strand, Whitehaven, CA28 7LY
Website: https://thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk/whats-on/the-beacon-school-of-witchcraft-wizardry/
10am, 12pm & 2pm. Young witches and wizards are invited to join the Beacon School of Magic for a spellbinding mix of experiments, crafts and creature encounters. Make your own potions, craft a wand, and...
Twilight Tales in Dove Cottage
21st-23rd October 2025
Venue: Dove Cottage
Address: Grasmere, LA22 9SH
Website: https://wordsworth.org.uk/event-directory/
Are you ready for a spooky Halloween? Join us for hot chocolate, gingerbread, and Halloween crafts in our cosy Learning Space. Children will have fun dressing up in Georgian costumes while learning about...
Twilight Bat Walks
24th October 2025
Venue: Borrowdale and Derwent Water
Address: near Keswick
6 to 7.30pm. Taking place just after it gets dark, the time of day when Borrowdale's bats are coming out to fly and feed. Enjoy a fun family-friendly introduction to bats before setting off on a guided...
Brockhole Halloween Experience 2025
25th-31st October 2025
Venue: Brockhole on Windermere
Address: Windermere, LA23 1FF
Website: https://www.brockhole.co.uk/whats-on/the-brockhole-halloween-experience-2025/#main
Cumbria's biggest and best Halloween event is back! This October half-term, step into the shadows at Brockhole and experience a full day of frightful fun for all ages. From storytelling around the Witch’s...
Halloween Family Festival
25th October-2nd November 2025
Venue: Muncaster Castle
Address: Ravenglass, CA18 1RQ
Website: https://www.muncaster.co.uk/halloweenfamilyfestival
Our Muncaster Halloween Family Festival continues to evolve, and after a fang-tastic 2024, Halloween 2025 returns with even more pumpkin-fuelled fun! This year's theme is WEREWOLVES... a howling good time...
Halloween Pumpkin Carving
25th-30th October 2026
Venue: Allan Bank and Grasmere
Address: Allan Bank, Grasmere, Ambleside, LA22 9QB
Have a go at carving a spooky pumpkin this half-term at Allan Bank. Unleash your creative skills on one of the pumpkins for Halloween. We’ll prepare the pumpkins ready for you get creative. All tools...
Children's Halloween Party
26th October 2025
Venue: Coniston Sports & Social Centre
Address: Shepherds Bridge Lane, Coniston, LA21 8AL
Come and join us between 2pm and 4pm for our Children’s Halloween party. You can find out more on their Facebook page; Coniston Sports & Social Centre.
Make + Create Sundays
26th October 2025
Venue: Tullie
Address: Castle Street, Carlisle, CA3 8TP
Website: https://tullie.org.uk/events/make-create-sundays/var/ri-3.l-L1/
Come along and get creative with us in our new monthly sessions. From now on, the fourth Sunday of the month is a Make + Create day. Enjoy our new City Hall Studio and try out some arty, crafty activities....
Litcraft: Family Half-Term Workshops
27th October 2025
Venue: Dove Cottage
Address: Grasmere, LA22 9SH
Website: https://wordsworth.org.uk/event-directory/
Join the Litcraft team at Wordsworth Grasmere for Minecraft family fun! These free half-term workshops are themed around The Boy Who Climbed into the Moon by David Almond, a surreal modern fairytale in...
October Half Term at Blackwell
27th October-2nd November 2025
Venue: Blackwell
Address: Bowness-on-Windermere, LA23 3JT
Website: https://lakelandarts.org.uk/events/october-half-term-at-blackwell/
Enjoy a creative day out with the family this October half term! Between Monday 27 October and Sunday 2 November, families can enjoy self-led arts & crafts inspired activities from 11am to 3.45pm each...
October half term at Windermere Jetty Museum
28th October-1st November 2025
Venue: Windermere Jetty Museum
Address: Rayrigg Road, Bowness on Windermere, LA23 1BN
Website: https://lakelandarts.org.uk/events/october-half-term-at-windermere-jetty-museum/
This October half term, join us at Windermere Jetty Museum for a week of creative, seasonal activities the whole family can enjoy. Explore the museum and grounds with our refreshed wildlife trail. Spot...
The Time Lab Make and Play
28th October 2025
Venue: Wordsworth Grasmere
Address: Grasmere, Cumbria, LA22 9SH
Website: https://wordsworth.org.uk/the-time-lab/
10.30am to 12.30pm. Join us this Autumn in crafting your very own magical memory book celebrating that which was, which is, and which will be, inspired by William’s own ‘Spots of Time’. Come along...
October half term fun at Abbot Hall
29th October-1st November 2025
Venue: Abbot Hall
Address: Kendal, LA9 5AL
Website: https://lakelandarts.org.uk/events/october-half-term-at-abbot-hall/
This October half term, we invite you to join us at Abbot Hall for some nature-inspired fun! Let your imagination run wild and make your very own zine inspired by the theme of transformation. Add your...
Lantern Making
30th October 2025
Venue: Carlisle Cathedral
Address: The Abbey, Carlisle, CA3 8TZ
Website: https://carlislecathedral.org.uk/whats-on/#calendar
2 to 3 pm. As part of Cumbria Tourism's Dark Skies Festival, please join us to make a beautiful lantern to light up those dark autumnal nights. Aimed at primary school aged children. £5 per child. All...
Halloween Festival
31st October 2025
Venue: The Helena Thompson Museum
Address: Park End Road, Workington CA14 4DE
Website: Halloween 2025 | Visit Workington | visitworkington
11am to 4.30pm. Get ready for a spook-tacular day of Halloween fun for the whole family! The Helena Thompson Museum is transforming into a haunted haven packed with crafts, pumpkin picking, face painting,...
Holker Winter Market
31st October-1st November 2025
Venue: Holker Hall
Address: Cark-in-Cartmel, Nr Grange-over-Sands, LA11 7PL
Website: https://www.holker.co.uk/whats_on/holker-winter-market/
Join us once again for the perfect start to the festive season as we welcome a wonderful variety of craftspeople, gifts and street food vendors to the grounds of Holker Hall & Gardens. Widely regarded...
Carlisle Fireshow
1st November 2025
Venue: Bitts Park
Address: Dacre Road, Carlisle, CA3 8UZ
Website: https://www.discovercarlisle.co.uk/events/carlisle-fireshow/
The theme for 2025 will celebrate Cumberland's maritime history and heritage. The sparkling event will start at 6.30pm and will be the 36th Fireshow event to be held. It is the biggest event in the region...
Fireworks Extravaganza
1st November 2025
Venue: Windermere RUFC
Address: Dawes Meadow, Longlands Road, Bowness-on-Windermere
Windermere RUFC’s Firework Extravaganza will take place from 5.30pm. There’ll be live music, a fire performer, fireworks to music all finished off with live music. It’s a ticket only event and you...
Taste Cumbria in Carlisle
1st-2nd November 2025
Venue: Carlisle Cathedral
Address: The Abbey, Carlisle, CA3 8TZ
Website: https://tastecumbria.co.uk/taste-cumbria-carlisle/
Taste Cumbria comes to Carlisle Cathedral this November. There will be a Taste Cumbria market in the heart of Carlisle to coincide with the city's fabulous Fireshow weekend. Eat, drink and shop, and watch...
Swanfire Night
2nd November 2025
Venue: The Swan Hotel & Spa
Address: Newby Bridge, LA12 8NB
Website: https://www.swanhotel.com/whats-on-at-the-swan/bonfire-night/
We’re bringing Bonfire Night back to The Swan with a (literal) bang this year! From 5pm – 8pm enjoy a fully-stocked bar, delicious barbeque, pizza van, full firework display and, of course, a brilliant...
Swanfire Night
2nd November 2025
Website: https://www.swanhotel.com/whats-on-at-the-swan/bonfire-night/
We’re bringing Bonfire Night back to The Swan with a (literal) bang this year! From 5 to 8pm enjoy a fully stocked bar, delicious barbeque, pizza van, full firework display and, of course, a brilliant...
Bonfire Night Fireworks Display
5th November 2025
Website: https://englishlakes.co.uk/events/bonfire-night-at-low-wood-bay-resort-spa/
Join us at Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa on Wednesday 5th November 2025 when will be hosting our annual fireworks display to mark Bonfire night. There will be several options from which to choose and experience...
Quirky Christmas at the Fratrry
8th-9th November 2025
Venue: Carlisle Cathedral
Address: The Abbey, Carlisle, CA3 8TZ
Website: https://carlislecathedral.org.uk/whats-on/#calendar
10am to 4pm. Organised by Quirky Eclectica, the annual Christmas Craft Fair returns to Carlisle Cathedral. A focus on local producers and creators from Cumbria, selling a range of artisanal, handmade,...
Christmas Glass Workshop
9th November 2025
Venue: The Beacon Museum
Address: West Strand, Whitehaven, CA28 7LY
Website: https://thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk/whats-on/glass-work-for-kids-christmas/
2pm. Make two Christmas decorations in this glass fusing class with Roxanne Denny of RD Glass. Have fun trying something new and enjoy being creative, with hands on help and the freedom to create your...
Ambleside Community Christmas Lights & Fireworks
15th November 2025
Venue: Ambleside
Website: https://www.amblesidechristmaslights.com/
Activities take place across the day and include: two Father Christmas Cruises. One in the morning and one in the afternoon, community stalls and live music in the Market Cross shopping area, our famous...
Santa's Secret Grotto at ho-ho-honister
15th November-23rd December 2025
Venue: Honister Slate Mine
Address: Honister Pass, Borrowdale, Keswick, CA12 5XN
Website: https://honister.com/product/santas-grotto/
Where Christmas magic meets mountain adventure. Join us on a journey to discover Santa’s Secret Grotto hidden deep inside a Lake District mountain – an exclusive underground wonderland where only a...
Carlisle Christmas Lights Switch-On
16th November 2025
Venue: Carlisle City Centre
Website: https://www.discovercarlisle.co.uk/events/carlisle-christmas-lights-switch-on/
This year Carlisle’s Christmas Lights Switch-On event will be held between 3pm and 5.30pm and the switch-on will take place at 5pm. The sparkling spectacular will be held outside the Old Town Hall, in...
Cockermouth Christmas Lights Switch
23rd November 2025
Venue: Cockermouth Main Street
Address: Main Street, Cockermouth, CA13 9LU
Website: https://cockermouth.org/events/cockermouth-christmas-lights-switch-on-day/
Come and join between 1 and 6pm for lots of family fun and the big switch-on.