How did we get to October already? With Halloween and half-term falling at the end this month there’s no shortage of fun to be had. But let's not forget about those first few weeks too!

It’s harvest time and the humble apple is taking centre stage in a number of events in early October. On Saturday 12th October there’s free entry to the Apple Festival at Highfield Oval where amongst the music, games and stalls you can enjoy a tractor ride and taste their homegrown apple juice. The previous Saturday, 5th October, Oaklands College are holding their Apple Day. Tickets are only £5 for a family of up to 6 people, but you must book in advance for this one. On Sunday 6th October Highfield Park Visitor Centre in St Albans are holding their Apple Day (also free), as is Tewin Orchard in Welwyn. Later in the month there’s also a free Apple Day at Whipsnade Tree Cathedral on 20th October.

Once you’ve had your fill of apples, the weekend of 5th/6th October is also when the annual Fun Palaces event takes place across the country - free events placing the community at the heart of culture. The theme is “Everyone an Artist. Everyone a Scientist” and you can join in the fun at Luton Central Library on Saturday 5th October and with Trestle Theatre at St Albans Museum on Sunday 6th October.

To get you in the spooky Halloween mood, don’t miss Harpenden Musical Theatre Company’s production of The Addams Family in Harpenden Public Halls 8-12 October.

For fans of the Horrible Histories series they will be performing Terrible Tudors and Ancient Egyptians at Hertford Theatre 17th - 20th October.

And so we head into Halloween season. Once again some bordering counties have a different half-term week to Hertfordshire, but fortunately most venues are running their events over both weeks. You can find your fill of haunted trails, spooky arts & crafts, pumpkin carving and Halloween parties on our What’s On page - far too many to list here!

But if Halloween isn’t your thing, or you find you’ve had enough of ghosts and ghouls by day two of half-term don’t despair! There’s plenty of non-Halloween activities too. Celebrating 50 years since the Apollo Moon Landing, St Albans Cathedral has a number of Space-themed events including St Albans Space Voyage where the Cathedral will be bathed in interplanetary light and sound every evening 28th October - 1st November (tickets must be booked in advance); and a must for Dr Who fans: Doctor Who - A Voyage in Space and Time on 31st October, where you can journey through six decades of Doctor Who meeting Daleks and other special guests.  This half-term's free Family Discovery Morning on Thursday 31st October also takes on a Space theme.

St Albans Museum are getting involved too with a Planetarium on 30th & 31st October with two main shows: Stars & Constellations and Tour of the Solar System, which includes a relaxed show on 30th October, and for younger children there is a shorter show, Earth, Sun & Moon on 31st October.

Also at St Albans Museum during half-term week is the annual The Big Draw event, 28th - 30th October, where you can make sketches in the gallery and work with professional artist Laura Ellis to create a fantastic masterpiece from your sketches.

And here in Harpenden the Circus is coming to town from 30th October to 3rd November.  Don't forget to enter our competition to win tickets or take advantage of the special offer of 2 for the price of 1 tickets.

And although this is October Picks, don’t forget to check our What’s On page towards the end of the month for details of all the local firework events taking place in early November!