October events in Rotherham

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council sent this bulletin at 06-10-2025 02:14 PM BST

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What's on this October

This October we are running lots of fun events across Rotherham. You can find the full list of the events here.

Children’s Capital of Culture events

Grit and Graft on Saturday 12 October at midday to 5pm and midday to 7pm at the Empire Theatre, Ship Hill, S60 1PY, and The Hope Centre, Grove Road, Rotherham, S60 2ER. No Bounds Festival presents a series of exciting music and dance performances and workshops created by Rotherham artists Mark Fell and Rian Treanor in partnership with local schools, youth groups and young people. Enjoy a showcase day of highly accessible and socially engaged contemporary art that celebrates diversity and pushes boundaries of perception. Find out more here.
Festival of Performing Arts presented by Rotherham Minster on Tuesday 21 October to Monday 27 October at Rotherham Minster, Church Street, S60 1PD. Unleash your creativity and celebrate Rotherham’s talented young people! Enjoy performances by students from Rotherham’s schools and colleges, and take part in free, family-friendly creative workshops

Children's Capital of Culture presents:

Plug In & Play: Side Quests on Monday 27 October to Thursday 30 October from 11am to 3pm at various venues including Clifton Park Museum, Boston Castle and Catcliffe Glass Cone. Come and try out unique games designed by Rotherham’s young minds. Inspired by video games, these free family activities will pop up in beloved places and spaces across the borough in October half-term

Plug In & Play: Final Level Finale on Friday 31 October from 10am to 4pm at Rotherham Town Centre. Game on this October half-term! Step into an immersive world of videogame adventures, right here in Rotherham. Enjoy one epic day of electronic quests and challenges in the town centre

Plug In & Play returns at Half-term

Power up your half-term with Plug In & Play! A collaboration between the National Videogame Museum and Children’s Capital of Culture, the second Plug In & Play Festival will take place during October half-term.

This year it will be four-day series of side quests and fringe events, building up to a mega one-day games trail finale starting in All Saints' Square on Friday 31 October.

Inspired by video games, Plug In & Play encourages children and families to play interactive, immersive and engaging games.

Find out more here.

Plug In & Play Side Quest activities

The Plug In & Play Side Quest activities will be taking place in October at different venues in the run-up to the Plug In & Play Games Trail finale on Friday 31 October. These activities are aimed at children aged under eleven and their families, and they include:

Story Design Workshop by Lauren O’Donoghue on Monday 27 October at 10:30am to 3:30pm. This workshop is an introduction to how to use Twine, an open-source tool for telling interactive, nonlinear stories. Open to 16 to 18 year olds at Clifton Park Museum
Chiptune Music Workshop by Harley Likes Music on Tuesday 28 October at 1:30pm to 4pm. In this workshop, you’ll get hands-on with Little Sound DJ (LSDj), a piece of software made for the Game Boy that lets you sequence and control its internal sound chip. You don’t need to know music theory – just bring your curiosity! Open to 16 to 18 year olds at Clifton Park Museum
National Videogame Museum Challenges on Wednesday 29 October there will be two unique challenges run by the National Videogame Museum at Clifton Park Museum and Catcliffe Glass Cone
Plug In & Play on Thursday 30 October. Come try out unique games designed by Rotherham’s young minds. Hosted by the National Video Game Museum and welcoming all challengers at Boston Castle

Moving drama 'Fishlake' visits the Rotherham Civic Theatre

Join us for a show filled with drama, heartbreak, humour and music when 'Fishlake' visits on Tuesday 28 October, 7:30pm at the Rotherham Civic Theatre.

In one night, 90% of the quiet Yorkshire village of Fishlake was submerged beneath floodwater. Families fled. Crops rotted. Livelihoods crumbled. This drama is written by Fishlake resident Jeremy Fletcher, who, along with his family, was forced to leave his home during the floods, Fishlake is a deeply personal and powerful theatrical experience. Created from the real stories of those who lived through the disaster, the production blends verbatim storytelling with music, movement and drama, capturing both the devastation and the unbreakable spirit of the community.

More than a play, Fishlake is a shared experience, performed by professional actors alongside a community choir. It’s a story told by those who truly understand the impact of the floods. It is an urgent, authentic reflection on survival, loss and community.

Moving, unforgettable and deeply human, Fishlake is a testament to the power of community in the face of disaster.

Find out more here.

SELF: Autumn Celebration and Exhibition Refresh at Clifton Park Museum

Photo credit: Sam McQueen

Don't miss the SELF: Autumn Celebration and Exhibition Refresh at Clifton Park Museum on Saturday 11 October from 10am to 3pm.

Celebrate the next chapter of SELF with an exciting relaunch!

Explore the refreshed Self-Discovery Room, featuring new personal objects contributed by local communities. A specially commissioned artwork for Pride will also be unveiled.

Join acclaimed writer and artist Rob Young for a creative workshop suitable for all the family, creating clay birds of paradise inspired by the themes of the exhibition.

Find out more here.

Top events for families

There are lots of events taking place around Rotherham, here are some more upcoming highlights:

Board Game Night for adults and children aged over 13 (accompanied by an adult) on Thursday 9, 16, 23 and 30 October at 4:30pm to 6:30pm at Riverside Library & Neighbourhood Hub. Find out more here.
Poetry Open Mic on Wednesday 22 October at 7pm at Grimm & Co. Free entry. Find out more here.
Building Connections with Rob Young: Pride at Clifton Park Museum on Saturday 25 October at 10am to midday and 1pm to 3pm. Find out more here.
October Half Term Junior Activity Club at Rother Valley Country Park. Find out more here.
October Half Term Halloween Broom Making Activity on Friday 31 October, two session times available 10am and 11am at Rother Valley Country Park. Ten free places for children on each session which are essential to be pre-booked. Find out more here.