Bedford half term is 26 to 30 October 2026. A Halloween circus, free Higgins workshops, Joseph at the Corn Exchange and a Blues home game, with prices.
October half term in Bedford Borough runs from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026. Some schools start earlier: Bedford School, Bedford Modern and Bedford Girls’ School all break up a week before and have two weeks off. The week itself has a Halloween circus on Longholme Way, four days of mostly free family workshops at The Higgins, a youth production of Joseph at the Corn Exchange and a Bedford Blues home game, then the Bedford 10k and half marathon on the Sunday after.
The quick answer
- Half term: Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 for schools on the council calendar.
- Russells International Circus is on Longholme Way from Friday 23 October to Sunday 1 November, from £16 a child.
- The Higgins runs family activities from Tuesday 27 to Friday 30 October; two days are free drop-ins.
Half term dates by school
Bedford Borough Council’s term dates page sets half term as Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026, with the autumn term ending on Friday 18 December. Academies can set their own dates. These schools publish something different:
- Bedford School: from Friday 16 October at 4.15pm to Monday 2 November, per the school’s term dates.
- Bedford Modern School and Bedford Girls’ School: two weeks from Monday 19 October, per BMS and BGS.
- Mark Rutherford School follows the council’s 26 to 30 October.
The full year, including Christmas and INSET days, is on our Bedford school term dates page.
What’s on in half term week
| When | What | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 23 Oct to Sun 1 Nov | Russells International Circus, "Big Halloween Circus" | Longholme Way, MK42 0BX | £16 to £26 |
| Sat 24 Oct, 7.30pm | Henning Wehn: Acid Wehn (comedy, adults) | Corn Exchange | £31.50 |
| Tue 27 Oct, 12pm to 3pm | The Good Life Garden autumn crafts | The Higgins | Free, drop in |
| Wed 28 Oct, 12pm to 3pm | Cosmic Latte explores flight | The Higgins | Free, drop in |
| Thu 29 Oct | Little Science Lab: Make Some Noise (5 to 12) | The Higgins | £6.05, book |
| Fri 30 Oct | Painting Music with Fiona Wilson (5 to 12) | The Higgins | £6.05, book |
| Sat 31 Oct, 2pm and 6.30pm | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (youth production) | Corn Exchange | From £16.88 |
| Sat 31 Oct, 3pm | Bedford Blues v Hartpury University | Goldington Road | Club tickets |
| Sun 1 Nov, 8.30am | Free family fun run, then the Bedford 10k and half marathon at 9am | Russell Park | Fun run free |
Russells International Circus on Longholme Way
The circus bills its Bedford run as the Bedford Big Halloween Circus, on Longholme Way (MK42 0BX), from Friday 23 October to Sunday 1 November. Shows are at 3pm and 7pm every day, with three exceptions: Friday 23 October is 7pm only, Sunday 25 October is 12 noon and 3pm, and Sunday 1 November is 12 noon only. The council’s park events calendar also lists the circus on Longholme Way.
Prices from the circus’s ticket page:
| Seat | Adult | Child or concession |
|---|---|---|
| VIP ringside | £26 | £20 |
| Deluxe grandstand | £24 | £18 |
| Grandstand | £22 | £16 |
Online tickets carry a £2 booking fee per ticket; the on-site box office, open 10am to 9pm on show days, charges none. Concessions cover under-16s, students with an NUS card, over-60s and carers. Pre-booked customers are asked to arrive 30 minutes early to keep their seats. The circus says it has no disabled toilets, and wheelchair spaces in the ringside are limited, so call 07752 218 805 first.
Family workshops at The Higgins
The Higgins Bedford, on Castle Lane, has a four-day half term programme in its family events listing and its October 2026 to March 2027 brochure:
- Tuesday 27 October: The Good Life Garden celebrates autumn, crafts and sensory play, 12pm to 3pm, free drop in, all ages.
- Wednesday 28 October: Cosmic Latte explores flight, hands-on science activities, 12pm to 3pm, free drop in, all ages.
- Thursday 29 October: Little Science Lab: Make Some Noise, for ages 5 to 12, at 11.15am, 12.45pm and 2.15pm. Children make their own humming instrument.
- Friday 30 October: Painting Music with artist Fiona Wilson, for ages 5 to 12, same three times.
The two booked workshops last an hour and cost £6.05. Booking is essential, and the museum says the code HIGGINS30 removes the transaction fee. Every child must be with an adult. Entry to the museum itself is free. It opens 11am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday and 2pm to 5pm on Sunday, and it is closed on Monday 26 October.
Two free displays open around half term: Minerals, Mysteries and Collectors from 13 October, and the Bedfordshire Natural History Society’s 80th anniversary display from 20 October.
Joseph at the Corn Exchange
An amateur youth production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat plays the Corn Exchange main auditorium on Saturday 31 October at 2pm and 6.30pm. General tickets are £24.75 and restricted view £16.88, fees included, plus a £3.85 online transaction fee per booking. Box office: 01234 718044.
For adults, Henning Wehn brings his show Acid Wehn to the Corn Exchange on Saturday 24 October at 7.30pm, £31.50.
Bedford Blues at home
The Blues play Hartpury University in the Championship at Goldington Road on Saturday 31 October, kick-off 3pm, according to the club’s fixture list. It is their only home game of the half term fortnight: they are away at Nottingham on Friday 16 October and at Blackheath on Saturday 7 November.
The 10k, the half marathon and a free fun run
Half term ends with the ATW Bedford 10k and Half Marathon on Sunday 1 November from Russell Park. The free family fun run starts at 8.30am and every child gets a medal; the races go at 9am. Our Bedford Half Marathon and 10k page has the course and entry prices. The route is on riverside paths, so there are no road closures.
Things that are not in half term
- Bonfire Night: Bedford has no council fireworks display, and the Bedford Blues display, the town’s big one, has not been announced for 2026. See our Bedford fireworks page.
- Holiday meal vouchers: the council says it can no longer give blanket school-holiday meal vouchers because the Household Support Fund has ended. It points families to the Holiday Activities and Food programme and to a food bank referral on 01234 718033.
Still to be confirmed
- The Blues fireworks date. The club announced its 2025 display on 23 October, so it may land during half term.
- Any council half term events programme: the council ran a Halloween-themed programme in 2024 but has published nothing for 2026 yet.
Driving in? Parking in Bedford lists the town centre car parks, and Bedford roadworks has what is on the roads that week.
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