Yes, the cold, darker nights may be setting in, but it doesn’t mean that the fun stops. October is a fabulous month in our beautiful county. Not just because there is spooky fun to be had at Halloween, but because there are so many fun, inspiring, and creative events going on. To help you have an action-packed month, we have put together a list of eight of the best things to do in Yorkshire. We start with one that is out of this world!

Get scared witless at York Maze’s Hallowscream

As soon as you enter, you’re greeted (or rather, ambushed) by actors ready to scare the bejeebus out of you as you make your way around the park. All in good fun, of course — but the 150 scare actors are incredible, from their eerie makeup to their perfectly timed interactions. They really make the experience as chilling as it is entertaining. No expense has been spared this year, with five terrifying scare mazes, each with a different theme to test your courage.

Hallowscream at York Maze kicks off nights of spine-tingling Halloween fun this October, and last year saw the launch of a brand-new VIP bar — Lucifer’s Lounge. Find out more via the website here. Hallowscream runs on selected nights until November.York Maze hosted its first Hallowscream event in 2009, and it has grown massively since then. Now featuring five themed scare houses, stage shows, a food court, bars, and fairground rides, Hallowscream has won multiple awards, including Yorkshire’s Best Tourism Event, as well as Best Scream Park and Best Stage Performances in the UK at the annual ScareCON awards.

Light Up Your World at the Helios Exhibition in Goole 

The Sun has been hitting the headlines recently due to the solar eclipse. I’m sure many of us were rushing out to buy special glasses, using a kitchen colander, or making pinhole projectors, just to safely get a glimpse of this wonderful spectacle.

Well, if you want to experience the beauty and power of the Sun without damaging your eyesight, you must visit the Helios exhibition in Goole this October. The exhibition is taking place at Market Hall and is part of the Goole 200 programme celebrating the town’s bicentenary. 

This incredibly impressive artwork is by Luke Jerram, who has created an internally lit spherical sculpture of the sun. ‘Helios’ comes from ancient Greek mythology, and is the god who personifies the Sun. Each day, he drove a four-horse chariot across the sky, giving the Earth its seasons and hours. 

It is seven metres in diameter, representing an approximate scale of 1:200 million. Over 400,000 incredibly detailed photos of the Sun were used to create the sculpture. These were all taken between May 2018 and June 2024. If this stunning spectacle wasn’t enough, a meditative, uplifting, and inspiring atmosphere is complemented by surround sound composed by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson.

The exhibition is a calm, soothing, and hypnotic experience, helping you appreciate the sun’s majesty, size, and its importance to making life possible on our planet. It runs from 25th September till the 5th October. Discover the official website for more information.

Release Your Inner Bookworm at the Ilkley Literature Festival

Next on our list of best things to do in Yorkshire is something that will get your creative juices flowing. The Ilkley Literature Festival has been showcasing wonderful writers of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry for over 50 years. Every year, over 14,000 visitors and 100 writers come together to explore and discuss their love of books and new ideas.

It is the longest-running literature festival in the north (second oldest in the UK). The festival is run by Word Up North, a Yorkshire arts charity and literature development agency. Their mission is to promote stories, voices, and writers in northern England. The writers come from a wide range of literary backgrounds such as science, sport, politics, food and drink, international affairs, and popular culture. 

Highlights of the talks and events taking place at this year’s festival include: 

• Judy Murray: Game, Set and Murder
• Page Turners Classic Fiction Club: Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights
• Gyles Brandreth and Finola Burrell: The 7 Secrets of the Hundred-Year Life
• Kersten Hall and Ralf Dahm: The Discovery of DNA
• Peter Ormerod: David Bowie – Life, Death and God
• David Lascelles: Out of Colditz
• Duncan Hamilton: The Man Who Walked Out of the Sun
• Samira Ahmed: A Hard Day’s Night 
• Pam Ayres: Doggedly Onward – A Life in Poems
• Anthea Lawson: How Not to Save the World
• Christina Hardyment: Novel Crime Scenes
• Jeremy Hunt: Can We Be Rich Again?

The festival takes place across the town at venues including All Saints Church, The Ilkley Tap, Ilkley Playhouse, and Ilkley Grammar School. It runs from 2nd October till the 18th October. So, head on down to Ilkley and get inspired and creative this October.

Full details about the programme, tickets, and times can be found on the official website. 

Have a Hauntingly Good Time at Whitby Goth Festival 

If you are looking for more unusual things to do in North Yorkshire in October, then the Whitby Goth Weekend is a must! The town is the perfect setting for a celebration of all things Gothic, as it is known for its spooky reputation with its connection with Bram Stoker’s Dracula. 

Taking place from October 30th to November 1st, the festival has been running since 1994, when founder Jo Hampshire organised a gathering of 40 pen pals at the Elsinore pub in Whitby, providing a meeting place for them to share their love of goth music, aesthetic, and culture. It has since grown into something darkly wonderful and is loved by people every year, both from the UK and internationally.

What’s Happening at the Whitby Goth Festival 2026?

Everyone is welcome, and there are so many highlights of the weekend, including: 

• The Bizarre Bazaar Alternative Market – Featuring over 100 stalls across three venues – Whitby Brunswick Centre, Whitby Leisure Centre, and The Spa Pavilion. You will discover a brilliant range of unique, handcrafted items from local and international traders. These items include dark arts, Gothic jewellery, Victorian-inspired clothing, and steampunk accessories.
• Live Performances and Music – Lots of incredible bands and DJs take to the stage over the weekend! This year’s acts include Aesthetic Perfection (Austria/US industrial Pop), FLEISCH (UK industrial metal), and Famous Monsters (The UK no.1 Misfits tribute band). There are also fun events like a horror quiz and bingo with ghastly prizes to be won. For full listings, check out the official website here. 
• Mini Moshers Craft Club – Bringing your favourite little demons? Well, the mini moshers craft club at the Royal Hotel will keep them more than entertained. There are children’s crafts, competitions to be won, music, and the chance to meet lots of other mini alternative kids. 
• Wonderful Array of Alternative, Mysterious Costumes – One of the highlights of the Whitby Goth Weekend is just walking through town and seeing all the unique and creative costumes. The outfits are inspired by styles such as cybergoth, steampunk, Victorian era and romanticism, turning the streets into a catwalk of the wild, weird, macabre, and wonderful. 

Obviously, while you are in Whitby, you can check out many classic attractions such as 199 Steps, Whitby Abbey, the Dracula Experience, and Church of St Mary. 

Celebrate Local Produce at the Yorkshire Dales Cheese Festival

Next on our list of best things to do in Yorkshire in October is a celebration of all the wonderful producers and food and drink businesses in the Yorkshire Dales. Cheese, of course, is very much the centre of attention.  

The festival is spread across the beautiful national park, and local businesses will be hosting an exciting variety of events to mark the occasion. These events include workshops, tastings, guided walks with cheesemakers, pop-ups, and farm-style events where you can meet the producers. The festival gives people a unique experience to see the expertise, hard work, and passion that goes into making our favourite local foods. 

Examples of the Events in the 2026 Edition

• Taste of the Dales at Lowfields Farm, Carnforth – Perfect for anyone who loves authentic farm experiences and fresh local produce. The farm shop is filled with big flavours and scrumptious dairy products, all produced right here on the farm. These include cheese, fresh eggs, raw milk, kefir, and various styles of yoghurts. It is the perfect place to stock up on delicious foods and experience authentic tastes of the dales. October 9th – October 18th. 
• Lacey’s Cheese Making Courses, Reeth – Never mind just eating cheese, now you can make it! Get involved in all aspects of cheesemaking, including adding rennet, cutting the curd, milling, cheddaring the curd, salting, potting up, and waxing cheese. You will also learn how to cut and grade cheese. October 9th – October 18th.
• Curlew Dairy Cheese Festival Sampling Day, Carperby – One for the foodies! You will spend the day exploring the craftsmanship, passion, and flavours behind Curlew Dairy’s mouthwatering cheeses. You’ll have the chance to sample their full range of cheeses, and if you have a favourite, you can purchase it. The expert team are there to guide you, telling you the story of each cheese, tasting notes, and pairing suggestions. You can also experience live cheesemaking in action. October 16th. 

This is just a taster of the events taking place at the Yorkshire Dales Cheese Festival. For full listings and ticket information, visit the website here. 

Drink and be Merry at the Steel City Beer and Cider Festival

We love a good pint at The Yorkshireman, so it would be rude not to include a beer festival on our list of best things to do in Yorkshire. The Steel City Beer and Cider Festival is due to be held at the incredibly atmospheric Kelham Island Museum from 21st to 24th October. This one is special as it is celebrating its 50th year!

The event is organised by CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Sheffield and District. They want to share their passion and love for beer and cider by showcasing some of the best drinks our country has to offer, and we certainly aren’t complaining.

You will find over 200 cask ales from local and nationwide brewers. There are around 30 ciders and perries ranging from dry to sweet, flavoured and traditional. They are produced using all-natural ingredients. You will also find around 80 KeyKeg beers. 

If the mouthwatering beers and ciders aren’t enough, then there are plenty of street food vendors, live entertainment, and traditional pub games to keep you entertained. 

So, head on down to the Steel City this October and eat, drink, and be merry. For further information, visit the Sheffield CAMRA website. 

Get Your Groove on at the Leyburn Jazz Festival 2026

The highly popular Leyburn Jazz Festival is back for its sixth year, bringing live jazz to the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. It takes place from October 15th – 18th and brings you an exceptional programme of the country’s most talented musicians.  

The festival is set in the beautiful Grade II listed St Matthew’s Church in Leyburn. You get to see some incredible acts, and some of the highlights from this year’s festival include: 

• Alexia Gardner Trio – The Grammy-nominated musician is ready to show you why she is one of the genre’s most talented artists. 
• Orchestra Mambo International – This 13-piece Latin group brings you a vibrant mix of mambo, cha cha cha, classic salsa, and Afro-Cuban jazz. 
• Ben Shankland Trio – Believe the hype! This fast-rising star was the winner of BBC Radio Scotland Young Jazz Musician of the Year along with two nominations for the Scottish Jazz Award. 
• Nicki Allan Quartet – You can’t miss this talented outfit headed by award-winning Jazz vocalist and pianist Nicki Allan. You will hear clear influences of some of the genre’s greats, especially Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Shirley Horn, and Diana Krall.
• The Roaring Twenties – Get on your dancing shoes as this 6-piece band is ready to transport you back to a time of gangsters, flappers, and hot jazz. 

There are so many more brilliant acts ready to entertain you. To check out the full festival listings and more information about tickets, visit their website here. 

Be Inspired at the Leeds International Festival of Ideas 

Our next addition to the best things to do in Yorkshire in October will both inspire and challenge you. The Leeds International Festival of Ideas (LIFI) is back for its fifth year. It is a fascinating event which platforms a diverse range of speakers from the arts, culture, politics, health, technology, and science. 

Festival Director Mictin Dickson describes it as:

‘The Leeds International Festival of Ideas is about opening up space for bold thinking, diverse voices, and the conversations that shape our future’ 

Highlights of the Talks and Speakers from this Year

• Is it time to switch off social media? – Looking at how social media has shaped modern life, our addiction to it, and the real psychological impact.
• What did the 90s really do to us? – During an era of Cool Britannia, Britpop, New Labour, and football’s coming home, the talk looks beyond nostalgia and explores the impact the decade had on our society. 
• We all belong here, don’t we? – This thought-provoking talk asks what it means to belong in Britain today. It explores questions of national identity, division, immigration, and community.
• Strength beyond the silence – An inspiring conversation with exceptional women who have challenged attitudes on disabilities, torn down barriers, and created their own path to success.
• Failure is an option – An uplifting and honest conversation on resilience, vulnerability, and using setbacks as a catalyst for positive change, whether in business, relationships, sport, or everyday life.

The event boasts a brilliant range of speakers, including: 

• Louis Theroux
• Chris Packham
• Tasha Ghouri
• Elizabeth Day
• Harriet Harman 
• Denise van Outen 
• Tim Minchin 
• Afua Hirsch 
• Dame Evelyn Glennie
• Roman Kemp 
• Dr Mya-Rose Craig

There are many, many more fascinating voices and thinkers. The festival takes place between 6th – 10th October at the Leeds Playhouse. For information about the talks, events, and tickets, explore the official website. 

Get Spooked at the Doncaster Fear Factory

As it is Halloween month, it would be remiss of us to include something frightful in our list of best things to do in Yorkshire. The award-winning Doncaster Fear Factory is back for its 7th year of spooktacliuar fun for all the family. The organisers promise this year’s edition will be ‘bigger, darker, and more intense than ever before’. 

Just some of the creepy events taking place at the Fear Factory include: 

• The Mortician – Hear the dark story of the sinister mortician Dr Pierre Dubois in this new live-action attraction. You’ll get a high-intensity experience that is interactive, relentless, and physical. 
• Shellton Motel – A story-led, highly tense maze that follows the tale of the ‘River Valley Murderer’. You will constantly feel watched, trapped, and the feeling that there is someone right behind you. A gripping experience perfect for all horror fans. 
• Quinlens & Co. – Step into the bakery where nothing is quite what it seems. You will discover its secret passageways, twisting sewers, and hidden tunnels. As you go deeper and deeper, you will discover forgotten secrets and frightful creatures that lurk beneath the bakery.
• Pumpkin Carving – Get into the Halloween spirit at the pumpkin carving station. You can carve your pumpkin however you like, whether a scary face or festive design. Tools and materials are all provided. 
• Spookfest – Ghouls just want to have fun! Get down to Spookfest for frightful tunes, interactive characters, great atmosphere, and lots of food and drink. 

So, get ready for a fang-tastic Halloween at the Doncaster Fear Factory, one of the best family days out in Yorkshire. For more details about events, tickets, times, and other important questions, visit their website. 

Looking for More of the Best Things to Do in Yorkshire? 

The beauty of our county is that there are just so many things to do, whatever time of year it is. Across Yorkshire, there are events covering food and drink, popular culture, sports, current affairs, hiking, the arts, and so much more. We keep our finger on the pulse of the best things to do in Yorkshire, so you can have incredible days out and holidays. 

To keep up to date on what’s going on, explore our travel and events section for our latest guides. 

Read More: 14 Autumn Walks That Will Make You Fall In Love With Yorkshire All Over Again