Kent's half term is 26 to 30 October; Invicta, Valley Park, SST and Cornwallis are off from 19 October. Twelve things on in Maidstone, with dates and times.
October half term in Maidstone is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 for most schools, but four big secondaries start a week earlier: Invicta Grammar, Valley Park, SST Maidstone and Cornwallis Academy are off for two weeks from Monday 19 October. That matters for planning, because some of the best things on only run in Kent’s week. Below are the dates, then twelve things happening in and around the town across both weeks, each taken from the organiser’s own listing.
The quick answer
- Kent’s half term: Monday 26 to Friday 30 October. Most schools, including Maidstone Grammar, MGGS and Oakwood Park, take this week.
- Two weeks off at four schools: Invicta, Valley Park, SST and Cornwallis are off 19 to 30 October. St Simon Stock pupils go back on Wednesday 4 November.
- The big family days out: Leeds Castle’s Horrible Histories Halloween runs 17 October to 1 November; Kent Life’s Halloween Spooktacular runs 24 October to 1 November.
The full school-by-school list, with training days, is on our Maidstone term dates page.
Twelve things on, in date order
| When | What | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Oct to 1 Nov | Horrible Histories Halloween | Leeds Castle | With admission |
| Sun 18 Oct | Maidstone Half Marathon | Mote Park | Entry fee (runners) |
| Wed 21 Oct, 2pm | Museum Culture Club | Maidstone Museum | See listing |
| Thu 22 Oct, 7pm | Paranormal Activity in Kent, talk with Neil Nixon | Maidstone Museum | Ticketed |
| Fri 23 Oct, 8pm to 11pm | Ghost hunting | Maidstone Museum | Ticketed |
| Sat 24 Oct, 10am to 1pm | Stitch a Story: handmade bookmarks | Maidstone Museum | Ticketed |
| 24 Oct to 1 Nov | Halloween Spooktacular, trick or treating daily | Kent Life, Sandling | Admission |
| Mon 26 Oct, 10.30am to 12.30pm | The Gruffalo family workshop | Maidstone Museum | Free |
| Wed 28 Oct, 10.30am to 12.15pm | African drumming session | Maidstone Museum | Free |
| 28 to 31 Oct, 7.30pm | Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (relaxed show Fri 30 Oct, 2pm) | Hazlitt Theatre | Ticketed |
| Fri 30 Oct, 8pm to 11pm | Ghost hunting | Maidstone Museum | Ticketed |
| Sat 31 Oct, 5pm to 7pm | Spooky Fun and Halloween Giggles kids' party | Maidstone Museum | Ticketed |
Leeds Castle: Horrible Histories Halloween
From 17 October to 1 November, the grounds become a “ghost getter’s trail” with live performers and stops on Eleanor of Castile, Joan of Navarre (accused of witchcraft and held at the castle) and Catherine of Aragon. It is included with a normal admission ticket; the trail booklet costs a little extra and comes with a gold coin prize. The castle calls it “intriguing rather than frightening” (Leeds Castle). From 1 October the grounds are open 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 3pm (opening times). An adult ticket is £34.50 online and lasts a year, which also covers the Christmas trail: see our Leeds Castle Christmas page.
Kent Life: Halloween Spooktacular
Kent Life at Sandling runs its Halloween event from 24 October to 1 November, so it covers Kent’s half term week but not the first week of the longer break. The farm lists pumpkin carving and painting, a “creepy corner”, farm rides, a fancy dress competition every day, and trick or treating around its spooky house “every day throughout the half term period” (Kent Life). Tickets are sold through its website.
Maidstone Museum
Maidstone Museum has the busiest programme in town across the fortnight, all listed on its events page. For younger children, the two free sessions are the Gruffalo family workshop on Monday 26 October and African drumming on Wednesday 28 October, both mid-morning. The Spooky Fun and Halloween Giggles party on Saturday 31 October (5pm to 7pm) is ticketed. For older children and adults there are two late-night ghost hunts (Friday 23 and Friday 30 October, 8pm to 11pm; the first is a newly added date) and a talk on paranormal Kent on Thursday 22 October. On the evening of Saturday 31 October the museum also holds The Spellbound Soiree, a fairies, monsters and fantasy ball from 8pm to midnight.
Hazlitt Theatre
The Hazlitt’s box office lists a production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang from Wednesday 28 to Saturday 31 October at 7.30pm, with a relaxed performance at 2pm on Friday 30 October (listed by Parkwood Theatres, which runs the Hazlitt). Book through the Hazlitt Theatre website.
The half marathon weekend
The Maidstone Half Marathon starts from Mote Park at 9.30am on Sunday 18 October, the first weekend of the longer break. Expect busy roads around the park that morning; our Maidstone Half Marathon page has the details, and roadworks and travel lists closures.
Still to come
Bonfire weekend follows straight after half term: the borough’s displays are on 6, 7 and 8 November, listed on our fireworks and Bonfire Night page. If you are heading into town, see parking in Maidstone.
Sources
- Kent County Council, School term dates
- Leeds Castle, Horrible Histories Halloween and opening times
- Kent Life, Halloween Spooktacular
- Maidstone Museum, Events
- Parkwood Theatres, Hazlitt Theatre listings (box office, read 25 September 2026)
- School calendars as listed on our term dates page
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