October’s cultural calendar stretches from Black History Month events, River of Light and the Liverpool Irish Festival to live music, theatre and a few well-timed scares. Whether you’re planning a family afternoon, looking for an unusual night out or heading beyond the city centre, here are 12 events to explore across Liverpool and the city region this month.
1. Black History Month with Writing on the Wall (Throughout October)
Writing on the Wall’s Black History Month programme invites audiences to engage with Black history, creativity and community action. Events announced so far include Professor Stephen Small on Black Liverpool, an evening with writer Dean Atta and walking tours exploring Liverpool’s connections to slavery, the events of 1919 and activism in L8. Check the programme for further announcements.
2. The Picture of Dorian Gray, Shakespeare North Playhouse (7–10 October)
Oscar Wilde’s story of beauty, temptation and a terrible bargain comes to Shakespeare North Playhouse. This new adaptation brings Wilde’s wit and dark imagination to the stage as Dorian discovers the cost of staying young forever.
3. Silent Film Soundtracks, Future Yard (8 October)
For a night that mixes cinema and live music, head to Future Yard in Birkenhead. Moolakii Club pairs films with original electronic scores performed live by Stealing Sheep, Traindeer and LoopFader. Each artist responds to the images in real time, making this a one-off way to experience the films.
4. She’s Electric: My Strange But True Story, Capstone Theatre (9 October)
Vanessa spent a decade working as a woman electrician in the UK film industry. In She’s Electric at the Capstone Theatre, she takes audiences behind the scenes of movie sets with a funny, personal account of the work and the people she encountered along the way. The event listing includes content warnings for sexual threat, drug use and mild swearing.
5. Ghosted!, The Studio Beyond (15 October)
Four strangers join a ghost tour, each looking for answers of their own. Set at The Studio Beyond on Wood Street, Ghosted! uses its supernatural premise to explore the past, the future and whether the things haunting us are always ghosts.
6. Liverpool Irish Festival (15–25 October)
The Liverpool Irish Festival returns with music, theatre, literature, heritage walks and family events. This year’s theme, I Am Here, explores arrival, belonging and being seen. Highlights include performances from Kíla and Téada, a free author day at Central Library, and Family Day at the Museum of Liverpool. Satellite events run beyond the main festival dates.
7. Mean Girls, Liverpool Empire Theatre (19–31 October)
The Plastics arrive at Liverpool Empire Theatre in the stage musical of Mean Girls. When Cady Heron starts at North Shore High, she finds that fitting in comes with its own rules. Expect familiar characters, sharp humour and plenty of songs.
8. River of Light (23 October–1 November)
Liverpool city centre will light up after dark as River of Light returns with a free trail of 13 artworks. This year’s theme is Together, with installations exploring how light can bring people closer. Follow the trail at your own pace for an autumn evening out; the festival continues into the first weekend of November.
9. The Haunting of Blaine Manor, The Atkinson (24 October)
Head to The Atkinson in Southport for a classic ghost story. Set in 1953, the play follows a parapsychologist invited to investigate a supposedly haunted manor. A séance and an approaching storm soon turn his visit into something far more unsettling. There are afternoon and evening performances; the production is listed for ages 10 and over.
10. Bluecoat Family Weekend — 24–25 October
Looking for a free half-term outing? Bluecoat Family Weekend offers drop-in activities for all ages, inspired by the stories, people and moments in the arts centre’s archive. Activities run from 1–4pm on both days.
For more ideas throughout October, explore Uncover Liverpool’s What’s On listings.