Browse our simple list of events and activities for October that are either free or low cost (under £10). 

28 September to 9 October: 60+ Festival 

• Time: Various times
• Location: Across Portsmouth
• Cost: Varies with many activities free

The 60+ Festival returns to Portsmouth for 2026, with a whole host of events suitable for all abilities and interests.

Running from Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October, the event offers lots to do; From have-a-go sporting activities to guided walks, interactive workshops and plenty more besides. Anyone 60 years and older can take part. The festival provides an exciting opportunity to try something a bit different, learn a skill or meet new people. Most of the activities and events are free. Download a PDF of 60+ Festival brochure for full details.

30 September: Stretch and Relax with Kat Waters

• Time: 10am 
• Location: The Greenhouse, Victoria Park
• Cost: Free

Stretch and Relax is open to all Portsmouth residents and offers a calming opportunity to unwind, breathe deeply, and enjoy the peaceful setting of Victoria Park. It’s an introduction to movement, relaxation, and connecting with the natural surroundings of the park. All abilities are welcome.

This is a pay as you can afford class, cash donations only on the day. Take your own mat or towel.

Contact the independence and wellbeing team for more information on 023 9284 1762 or email IWT@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

1 to 3 October: Our Naval City Festival and Pride of Portsmouth trail

• Time: All day
• Location: Historic Dockyard
• Cost: Free

If you've been following the Pride of Portsmouth trail this summer, there's still time for one final roar-some day out.

All 45 lion sculptures have now been brought together at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, giving you the chance to see the entire pride in one place, completely free of charge.

Whether you've managed to find every lion or missed a few during the summer, this is your opportunity to see them all side by side before the trail comes to an end. The unicorn will also be joining the pride after its final stop at Southsea Library this weekend.

Free to visit until Saturday 3 October.

You can still use the Pride of Portsmouth app to find and collect the lions while you explore the Dockyard.

If you're visiting on Saturday 3 October, you'll also be able to enjoy the Our Naval City Festival, with free family activities, entertainment, stalls, food and drink throughout the day.

A great free family day out and a chance to celebrate the Pride of Portsmouth trail before it finishes. 

1, 8, 15 and 22 October: Roller Tots - Pitt Street's 5s and under sessions

• Time: 11am to 12.45pm
• Location: Pitt Street skatepark
• Cost: £5

£5 gets you access the park, use of the equipment (scooters, balance bikes etc.) and safety gear. Parents/Guardians/Spectators go free but under 5's only allowed to skate. Cafe on site. Visit the Pitt Street Skatepark website for more details and to book a space.

5, 12, 19 and 26 October: Wellbeing Walks

• Time: 10.30am
• Location: Victoria Park
• Cost: FREE

Find out about the history of Victoria Park and take in the new developments. This is a wonderful walk to look at the beautiful trees in the park and get your nature dose for the morning. This walk is slow paced and can be used as an introduction back to walking. There are lots of rest stops available. 

7, 14, 21, and 28 October: Mindful Art in the Park

• Time: 10am to 1pm
• Location: The Greenhouse, Victoria Park
• Cost: Free

Take a midweek pause and join Think Big Do Bigger CIC for Mindful Art in the Park - gentle, creative sessions held every Wednesday (term time) in the beautiful Greenhouse at Victoria Park. No experience needed - just come as you are.

8 and 24 October: Collage and zine making

• Time: 3pm to 5pm (October 8) and 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 2pm (24 October)
• Location: Portsmouth History Centre, Central library
• Cost: FREE

Make your own collage, have a go at printmaking and create a zine inspired by the stories of 50 local people with a learning disability whose stories can be found in the Portsmouth History Centre. All are welcome. Find out more and book online at www.thisnewground.com

10 October: Portsmouth Pride community festival

• Time: From 11.30am
• Location: Guildhall
• Cost: Free but you need to book at ticket

Portsmouth Pride heads to the Guildhall for its community festival - the biggest gathering of the city’s LGBTQ+ community in 2026. Expect rainbow colours, over 50 market stalls, workshops, and activities for all ages. Find out more about Portsmouth Pride community festival and book your free tickets.

11 October: Waterside market

• Time: 10am to 4pm
• Location: Port Solent marina
• Cost: Free

Port Solent’s Sunday Waterside Markets are a must-visit. The market offers a diverse range of products, from artisanal food to handmade crafts and gifts. With so much to choose from and a variety of food and drink vendors on the waterfront, it’s the perfect way to spend a relaxing Sunday.

17 October: Mental Health and Wellness event

• Time: 11am to 2pm
• Location: Foxes Forest, Hilsea Lines (follow the footpath at the end of Perronne Road into the woods)
• Cost: FREE

This event is a time to recharge, play and reset, immersed in nature. Go on a forest exploration walk, basket making and nature crafts, relax on a hammock under the trees and then gather around a campfire for hotdogs (first come, first serve basis). All ages welcome

25 October: Sunday Maker's Market

• Time: 11am and 3.30pm
• Location: Southsea Castle
• Cost: Free

Join Southsea Castle for its Sunday Makers Market, bringing together a brilliant mix of local designers, makers, and artists. Come and explore a selection handcrafted goods, unique gifts, and creative treasures. The Courtyard at Southsea Castle will be open all-day for brunch and Sunday roasts.

28 October: We Are Portsmouth - A Community Arts Project

• Time: 6pm to 7pm
• Location: The Greenhouse, Victoria Park
• Cost: Free 

To celebrate 100 years of Portsmouth, Mindset Maintenance invite you to embrace your creativity in this uplifting session that allows you to connect with gratitude and joy for this city.

The sessions aim to create an individual postcard that captures a memory, a person, a place, or a hope for the future because your story matters. These individual postcards will be displayed publicly, creating a lasting, people-led portrait of Portsmouth in its centenary year.

There are 3 dates available; pick which one works for you. The session is repeated, so you only need to attend once. Book your FREE space.

More events and activities are added every day – so check back soon. 

See a selection of fantastic low cost or free events and activities for families all year-round.

Around the World in 20 Trees – take a tree walk in Victoria Park and enjoy the 46 different types of tree there. Download or print out a factsheet and discover the stories of 20 of the most outstanding trees in the park

Adventure playgrounds – Adventure awaits 6-13 year olds at our six free adventure playgrounds. Every playground has a huge climbing structure designed to test agility, balance and imagination. Kids can also enjoy: splash pools, sports, sand pits, arts and crafts, cookery, games areas, wood workshops and more.

Eastney Beam Engine Houses – Free admission to both engine houses on the last Sunday of every month from 10am to 4pm (apart from August and December), and the Gas Engine House every Wednesday from 10am to 12pm. Get up close to these marvels of Victorian engineering.

Family Saturdays at Aspex Gallery – Free creative workshops suitable for the whole family. Explore a different creative activity each week, such as painting, model making, print making, and inventing in relaxed sessions suitable for all ages, interests and abilities. Drop in and take part any time from 11am to 1pm every Saturday!

Free swimming for under 12s in Portsmouth.

Goodgym – Get fit and do good at the same time by joining a group of local residents who run, walk, or cycle to help out community projects and older people in Portsmouth. Find out how you can get involved

Home-Start Portsmouth – Run free ‘Stay and Play’ groups for children (aged 0-5) and their families in family hubs. There are 12 sessions a week and spaces can be booked online.

Parkruns – Free, fun, and friendly, weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or just watch – it’s up to you! There are three to choose from in Portsmouth.

• Parkrun Lakeside
• Parkrun Great Salterns
• Parkrun Southsea

Pompey Tots at Portsmouth Cathedral – A free, fun session for 0-4-year-olds every Wednesday at 2pm.

Portsmouth Libraries – Free events throughout the week for children and adults all year round and this October Half-Term, there’s a bumper program of free, drop-in activities for the youngsters. Local libraries are also welcoming spaces to go and read books, get online with free WiFi and stay warm.

Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery – Free entry, take a walk through Portsmouth’s heritage, discover the world of Sherlock Holmes, see fascinating works of art, trace the history of Portsmouth FC and more.

Portsmouth Natural History Museum – Free entry to Cumberland House where you can take a walk through the A-Z of Natural History, get up close with a huge dinosaur, and visit the wonderful Butterfly House. Open Tuesday to Sunday.

Royal Armouries, Fort Nelson – Free entry, but it’s £3 to park. There’s normally events on during the school holidays.

Find opening times and details of events and activities at all Portsmouth museums

Rambler’s Wellbeing Walks. Walking is free and can have a positive impact on physical and mental health. Join one of our volunteer-led walks in Portsmouth. They are a great way to meet people and improve wellbeing. There are some great incentives too, including a Wellbeing Walks water bottle, 15% Discount at Millets and more.

Ship-spotting is a great free activity to do throughout the year, with lots of different ferries, cruise ships and cargo ships sailing to and from Portsmouth International Port. Check out the arrivals and departures on the port website to see what is coming and going. You can also look at the cruise schedule and the Portico vessel planner to check what’s happening in the future.

Southsea Castle – This historical attraction is free of charge and is open between April and October each year. The courtyard is open year-round. Visitors can explore the keep, enjoy panoramic views to the Isle of Wight and Solent, and enjoy a bite to eat in The Courtyard.

The Parenting Network run a variety of free groups for families, including stay and play social groups for parents and their children.

Social activities and groups for adults – Are you looking to join a new activity, make friends and explore your area? The council runs a variety of social activities and groups for adults across the city. There’s something for everyone – including walking, reading, knitting, gardening cookery, and culture and faith groups. As well as taking part, there are also opportunities to volunteer and help run the sessions.

Community centres in Portsmouth. Your local community centre might surprise you. Find a range of activities from fitness to fine art.

Gardening clubs – Grow your own food and make friends with like-minded people in the fresh air:

• Milton Piece Community Allotment – off Locksway Road, Milton (opposite entrance to The Orchards)
  • Adult learning disabilities gardening group – Mondays 10am to 12pm
  • Community gardening club – Mondays 12:30pm to 2:30pm. Wednesdays 9:30am to 2:30pm
     
• Treadgolds – Bishop Street, Portsea
  • Community gardening club – Fridays 9.30am to 12pm
     
• Landport Grow Zone (Ethnic Growing Group) – Fyning Street, Landport
  • Community gardening club drop-in session – Mondays 12.30pm to 2:30pm

For more information about gardening clubs:

• email iwt@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
• phone 023 9284 1762
• phone 07984 154 466