Chesterfield is set to have a spooktacular half term with lots of activities for families to enjoy.
Chesterfield Borough Council is organising activities in its parks, the town centre and its leisure centres during the October half term – with a spooky theme to celebrate Halloween.
There are lots of free and low-cost options to ensure that every family can spend time together during the school break.
Councillor Amanda Serjeant, deputy leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “We know how much families look forward to half term, but we also know it can be an expensive time. As part of our commitment to putting our communities first we have lots of options of free or low-cost things to do. This is about ensuring all in our community can make great use of our venues, spend time together and make memories in Chesterfield Borough.”
Chesterfield Market
Chesterfield Markets will be hosting a fang-tastic free day out with activities and entertainment on Saturday 31 October from 10.30am to 2.30pm.
There will be free Halloween face painting, arts and crafts, a pumpkin trail around the market and market hall and spooky stilt walkers to take a picture with.
Sparky Ink Studio will be running an animation workshop where visitors can make their own spooky mini film using handmade skeletons and pumpkins.
The event complements the main Saturday market with activities being hosted in gazebos between Boots and McDonalds.
Chesterfield Parks
In parks there will be activity days, and Puffin Billy will be running in Queen’s Park with a special Halloween spook-tacular too.
Subject to weather, Puffin Billy will be running every day from 24 October to 1 November except for Monday. Train rides cost £2.50 with under threes riding for free with a parent or guardian. The train will start running at 10.30am with the last ride at 4pm.
On Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October, Puffin Billy will have a Halloween makeover for a spooktacular special where riders will be given a treat and fancy dress is encouraged. Rides will cost the same as a normal day, but the train will run from 10.30am with the last ride at 5.30pm.
Two free activity days will be held during half term with one in Eastwood Park on Wednesday 28 October from 11am to 2pm and the second in Holmebrook Valley Country Park on Thursday 29 October from 11am to 2pm.
Both activity days will feature a Bug Hotel Workshop, where the community can create bug hotels which they can take home with them or they can choose to add them into part of larger bug hotels called Bugingham Palace and Worminster Palace which will be created in each park later this year.
To take part in the Bug Hotel workshop participants will need to bring a cardboard box or plastic milk bottle but all other materials will be provided.
There will also be a Halloween themed orienteering challenge and a craft workshop on each day.
Queen’s Park Sports Centre and the Healthy Living Centre
There will be a selection of sporty activities at both leisure centres.
Queen’s Park Sports Centre will host gymnastics taster sessions on Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 October from 9am to 12pm and 12.30pm to 3.30pm. The sessions are designed for ages 5 to 14 years old and cost £12.50 per session.
Both Queen’s Park Sports Centre and the Healthy Living Centre will be hosting splash sessions with toys, floats and sinkers. Queen’s Park Sports Centre will be on Tuesday 27 October from 1.30pm to 2.30pm. There will be sessions on Thursday 29 October from 1.15pm to 2.30pm and Saturday 31 October from 2.15pm to 3.30pm.
Queen’s Park Sports Centre will also host a new playtime session in the small pool for parents and children up to the age of five every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.30am to 12 noon. These sessions will start during half term and will then continue weekly.
To find out more about activities at the leisure centres and book visit: https://www.chesterfield.gov.uk/sport-and-leisure/activities/childrens-activities/childrens-holiday-activities/
