October half term has a habit of creeping up on us. One minute you’re basking in a heat wave, the next you’re surrounded by pumpkins every time you enter a supermarket…
But for us it means one thing: OCTOBERFEST is back!
From Monday 26th to Friday 30th October 2026, we’ll be bringing five days of autumn adventures, Halloween fun, giant inflatables, games, crafts, outdoor play and plenty more to our three Stockport Holiday Clubs:
We’ll be making the most of everything autumn has to offer, throwing in plenty of spooky-but-not-scary Halloween fun and filling the week with the kind of activities that make children forget to ask what time they’re going home.
Here’s what we’ve got up our sleeves...
If you’ve joined us before, you’ll probably be familiar with our different Crews and may even have a child who knows exactly whether they’re a Blorange or a Grellow.
This October half term is a little different.
With just one week of Holiday Club and limited spaces available, we’re bringing everyone together into the Orange Crew.
But don't worry, that doesn't mean everyone will be expected to do the same thing all day.
Choice is a big part of how we do Holiday Club, and that isn't changing. Children will still have lots of opportunities to choose what they want to get involved in and break off into smaller groups with our Crew Leaders, Mates and Cadets.
Because while we love doing things together, we also know that children don't all enjoy the same things, at the same time, in the same way.
Our littlest Crew members, aged 3–4, will still have their own dedicated space and plenty of support from our Crew.
Holiday Club can be a busy place when you're small, so having somewhere familiar to return to gives younger children the option to pause, process and take things at their own pace.
Throughout the day, we keep a close eye on energy levels, confidence and concentration so that our smallest clubbers can join in when they're raring to go and take some quieter time when they need it.
Oh yes. There will be inflatables - weather permitting!!
If Summerstock taught us anything, it's that you really, REALLY like our inflatable days.
So we're bringing plenty of bounce into October too, with inflatables featuring throughout the week at all three of our Holiday Clubs.
Expect giant slides, obstacle courses, bouncy castles, challenges and we may even have a few spooky-themed inflatables making an appearance.
Whether they're bouncing, climbing, sliding, racing their friends or insisting they can definitely beat their previous obstacle-course time, there will be plenty of opportunities to burn off some half-term energy.
October is one of our favourite times to get outside.
There are leaves to jump in, conkers to collect, dens to build, bugs to hunt and an entire natural craft cupboard appearing on the ground around us.
We'll be wrapping up, pulling on the wellies and making the most of the fantastic outdoor spaces at each of our club venues.
Expect den building, nature hunts, outdoor games, muddy creations, team challenges and plenty of opportunities to run around in the fresh air.
We also love bringing a little autumn camp feel to OCTOBERFEST. There may be cosy outdoor gatherings, stories, hot chocolate and marshmallows along the way too.
We love Halloween and we'll be getting into the spirit throughout the week with plenty of Halloween-themed activities that are fun rather than frightening.
There'll be pumpkins, ghosts, bats, spiders, potions, monsters and all manner of seasonal silliness popping up around our clubs.
Children might find themselves heading off on a sweetie hunt, taking on Halloween games and challenges, creating something suitably spooky or getting involved in one of the Crew's latest slightly bonkers ideas.
Absolutely. Our craft areas will be getting a suitably spooky makeover.
We love seeing how differently children approach the same creative idea. Give ten children the ingredients for a monster and you'll probably end up with ten completely different creatures - and at least one with seventeen eyes.
We'll have loads of seasonal inspiration for children who fancy getting creative, from ghosts and garlands to bats, spiders, masks, pumpkins and decorations to take home.
Whether their creation ends up scary, silly, sparkly or completely unrecognisable, that's fine by us.
October practically demands something gloopy.
Slime, potions, foam, fizzing experiments, gunge and sensory play are all right at home at OCTOBERFEST, and we'll be embracing the mess.
Children can mix, squish, pour, experiment and investigate without you having to spend the next three days discovering slime attached to various surfaces around your house.
That's what Holiday Club is for.
Our science and messy-play activities are always popular because they give children the chance to experiment and find out what happens next - while, as far as they're concerned, they're simply making something brilliantly disgusting.
Not at all. Halloween gives us a brilliant theme to play with, but OCTOBERFEST is still Practically Family Holiday Club.
That means children can expect all the things they already love: football, sports, team games, creative activities, outdoor adventures, challenges, imaginative play, chill-out spaces, inflatables and plenty of opportunities to choose what they'd like to do.
Some children will want to throw themselves into every Halloween activity we offer. Others would rather spend their afternoon playing football.
Both sound like excellent half-term plans to us.
For 2026, OCTOBERFEST will run at all three of our Holiday Club venues:
We're open from Monday 26th October to Friday 30th October, giving families the flexibility to book the times that work for them – whether that’s a morning, short day, full day or all week.
We accept all types of payments including Childcare Vouchers & Tax Free Childcare.
Whether you need childcare while you're working, have plans for part of half term, or simply have a child who would much rather spend the day bouncing, building, creating and playing with their friends than accompanying you around the supermarket, we'd love to welcome them.
OCTOBERFEST is our chance to wrap up, get outside, embrace the mud, make something messy, bounce off some energy, enjoy all the silliness of Halloween and give children a half term that still feels like a proper holiday.
So dig out the wellies, prepare yourself for whatever Halloween creation comes home at the end of the day and come and join us.
OCTOBERFEST 2026 is going to be frighteningly good fun.
From Monday 26th to Friday 30th October 2026, we’ll be bringing five days of autumn adventures, Halloween fun, giant inflatables, games, crafts, outdoor play and plenty more to our three Stockport Holiday Clubs:
- Greenbank Preparatory School, Cheadle Hulme
- Cheadle Catholic Infant School, Cheadle Hulme
- Ladybrook Primary School, Bramhall
We’ll be making the most of everything autumn has to offer, throwing in plenty of spooky-but-not-scary Halloween fun and filling the week with the kind of activities that make children forget to ask what time they’re going home.
Here’s what we’ve got up our sleeves...
Why is there only one Crew at OCTOBERFEST this year?
If you’ve joined us before, you’ll probably be familiar with our different Crews and may even have a child who knows exactly whether they’re a Blorange or a Grellow.
This October half term is a little different.
With just one week of Holiday Club and limited spaces available, we’re bringing everyone together into the Orange Crew.
But don't worry, that doesn't mean everyone will be expected to do the same thing all day.
Choice is a big part of how we do Holiday Club, and that isn't changing. Children will still have lots of opportunities to choose what they want to get involved in and break off into smaller groups with our Crew Leaders, Mates and Cadets.
Because while we love doing things together, we also know that children don't all enjoy the same things, at the same time, in the same way.
What about younger children at October half term Holiday Club?
Our littlest Crew members, aged 3–4, will still have their own dedicated space and plenty of support from our Crew.
Holiday Club can be a busy place when you're small, so having somewhere familiar to return to gives younger children the option to pause, process and take things at their own pace.
Throughout the day, we keep a close eye on energy levels, confidence and concentration so that our smallest clubbers can join in when they're raring to go and take some quieter time when they need it.
Will there be inflatables at OCTOBERFEST?
Oh yes. There will be inflatables - weather permitting!!
If Summerstock taught us anything, it's that you really, REALLY like our inflatable days.
So we're bringing plenty of bounce into October too, with inflatables featuring throughout the week at all three of our Holiday Clubs.
Expect giant slides, obstacle courses, bouncy castles, challenges and we may even have a few spooky-themed inflatables making an appearance.
Whether they're bouncing, climbing, sliding, racing their friends or insisting they can definitely beat their previous obstacle-course time, there will be plenty of opportunities to burn off some half-term energy.
What other activities will children do at OCTOBERFEST?
October is one of our favourite times to get outside.
There are leaves to jump in, conkers to collect, dens to build, bugs to hunt and an entire natural craft cupboard appearing on the ground around us.
We'll be wrapping up, pulling on the wellies and making the most of the fantastic outdoor spaces at each of our club venues.
Expect den building, nature hunts, outdoor games, muddy creations, team challenges and plenty of opportunities to run around in the fresh air.
We also love bringing a little autumn camp feel to OCTOBERFEST. There may be cosy outdoor gatherings, stories, hot chocolate and marshmallows along the way too.
What Halloween activities will there be at Holiday Club?
We love Halloween and we'll be getting into the spirit throughout the week with plenty of Halloween-themed activities that are fun rather than frightening.
There'll be pumpkins, ghosts, bats, spiders, potions, monsters and all manner of seasonal silliness popping up around our clubs.
Children might find themselves heading off on a sweetie hunt, taking on Halloween games and challenges, creating something suitably spooky or getting involved in one of the Crew's latest slightly bonkers ideas.
Will there be Halloween crafts at OCTOBERFEST?
Absolutely. Our craft areas will be getting a suitably spooky makeover.
We love seeing how differently children approach the same creative idea. Give ten children the ingredients for a monster and you'll probably end up with ten completely different creatures - and at least one with seventeen eyes.
We'll have loads of seasonal inspiration for children who fancy getting creative, from ghosts and garlands to bats, spiders, masks, pumpkins and decorations to take home.
Whether their creation ends up scary, silly, sparkly or completely unrecognisable, that's fine by us.
What about messy play and science activities?
October practically demands something gloopy.
Slime, potions, foam, fizzing experiments, gunge and sensory play are all right at home at OCTOBERFEST, and we'll be embracing the mess.
Children can mix, squish, pour, experiment and investigate without you having to spend the next three days discovering slime attached to various surfaces around your house.
That's what Holiday Club is for.
Our science and messy-play activities are always popular because they give children the chance to experiment and find out what happens next - while, as far as they're concerned, they're simply making something brilliantly disgusting.
Is OCTOBERFEST all Halloween activities?
Not at all. Halloween gives us a brilliant theme to play with, but OCTOBERFEST is still Practically Family Holiday Club.
That means children can expect all the things they already love: football, sports, team games, creative activities, outdoor adventures, challenges, imaginative play, chill-out spaces, inflatables and plenty of opportunities to choose what they'd like to do.
Some children will want to throw themselves into every Halloween activity we offer. Others would rather spend their afternoon playing football.
Both sound like excellent half-term plans to us.
Where is OCTOBERFEST Holiday Club running in Stockport?
For 2026, OCTOBERFEST will run at all three of our Holiday Club venues:
- Greenbank Preparatory School – Cheadle Hulme
- Cheadle Catholic Infant School – Cheadle Hulme
- Ladybrook Primary School – Bramhall
We're open from Monday 26th October to Friday 30th October, giving families the flexibility to book the times that work for them – whether that’s a morning, short day, full day or all week.
We accept all types of payments including Childcare Vouchers & Tax Free Childcare.
Whether you need childcare while you're working, have plans for part of half term, or simply have a child who would much rather spend the day bouncing, building, creating and playing with their friends than accompanying you around the supermarket, we'd love to welcome them.
Ready for a fa-boo-lous half term?
OCTOBERFEST is our chance to wrap up, get outside, embrace the mud, make something messy, bounce off some energy, enjoy all the silliness of Halloween and give children a half term that still feels like a proper holiday.
So dig out the wellies, prepare yourself for whatever Halloween creation comes home at the end of the day and come and join us.
OCTOBERFEST 2026 is going to be frighteningly good fun.
Practically Family
07939 942334 (during Holiday Club weeks only)
