🎉 Here are the festivals and special days coming up soon! Each one has a countdown and some fun crafts you can make to get ready. Ask a grown-up to help with scissors and glue. ✂️
🎃 Halloween
📅 Saturday 31 October
Dress up in a spooky (or silly!) costume, carve a pumpkin lantern and go on a pumpkin hunt.
✂️ Crafts to try:
🎆 Bonfire Night
📅 Thursday 5 November
“Remember, remember the fifth of November!” A night of bonfires and fireworks across the UK. Always watch fireworks from a safe distance with a grown-up.
✂️ Crafts to try:
- Make a firework from a cardboard roll and tissue paper (Hope Education)
- Top ten Bonfire Night crafts (Twinkl)
🪔 Diwali
📅 Sunday 8 November
The Festival of Lights! Families light little clay lamps called diyas, make colourful rangoli patterns, share sweets and enjoy fireworks. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day.
✂️ Crafts to try:
- Paper diya garlands, lanterns, rangoli and more (Gathered)
- Learn about rangoli and make your own (NurtureStore)
🐻 BBC Children in Need
📅 Friday 20 November
Pudsey Bear’s big day! People all over the UK wear spots, do fun challenges and raise money to help children.
✂️ Crafts to try:
- Make a Pudsey Bear hug card (BBC Children in Need)
🙏 Guru Nanak’s Birthday (Gurpurab)
📅 Tuesday 24 November
Sikhs celebrate the birthday of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru, who taught that everyone is equal. Gurdwaras share free meals (called langar) with anyone who visits.
✂️ Idea: help a grown-up cook a meal and share it with family or neighbours, just like langar.
🕎 Hanukkah
📅 Friday 4 – Saturday 12 December
The Jewish Festival of Lights lasts eight nights. Families light one more candle on the menorah each night, play the dreidel spinning game and eat yummy fried foods.
✂️ Crafts to try:
- Clothes-peg menorah and paper dreidel (Hope Education)
- 8 Hanukkah crafts for kids (PTA Our Children)
🎄 Christmas
📅 Friday 25 December
Trees, twinkly lights, presents and a big dinner! Get ready by making your own decorations.
✂️ Crafts to try:
🥳 New Year’s Eve
📅 Thursday 31 December
Say goodbye to 2026 and count down to 2027! 10… 9… 8…
✂️ Crafts to try:
Craft links go to other websites. Festival dates for 2026; some festivals follow the moon, so dates can change a little each year.