Abbamania

Europe’s leading ABBA tribute, Abbamania continue to entertain audiences with their outstanding vocals and musical performance live on stage. A sensational two hour show featuring record-breaking and timeless hits including Waterloo and Dancing Queen.

Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Harlow, CM20 1LS, Saturday, October 20, 7.30pm. Details: 01279 431945 playhouseharlow.com

Secret Musical Band

The Secret Musical Band will be playing songs from their musical and a few classic hits.

The Coppermill Pub, 205 Coppermill Lane, Walthamstow, E17 7HF, Saturday, October 20, 8.30pm. Details: 020 8520 3709 coppermillpub.co.uk

The Elves and the Shoemaker

A brand-new Puppet Musical. A retelling of the classical fairytale, featuring an original score of songs. Written and directed by Marc Day with original music by Chris Burgess.

Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT, Saturday, October 20, 10.30am and 12pm. Details: 01708 443333 queens-theatre.co.uk

Little Baby Bum Live

Join Mia, Jacus, Twinkle and their Nursery Rhyme friends at the world premiere of a brand new live show. An online and digital TV sensation, Little Baby Bum is the world’s largest educational YouTube channel with over 21 million subscribers.

Chelmsford City Theatres, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG, Sunday, October 21, to Monday, October 22, various times. Details: 01245 606505 chelmsford.gov.uk

Halloween at the Magic Cavern

For a few days only each October chains rattle as a ghostly hand unlocks a section of the theatre and starts the Halloween celebrations big style. Families and friends gather in the dimly lit, creaky and kooky magic theatre to tell ghost stories. Your storyteller and host is magician Richard Leigh. It’s the usual ‘Magic Cavern’ show but with extra traditional Halloween party games played, all with a magical twist including apple bobbing without getting wet.

The Barons Court Theatre, 28A Comeragh Road, W14 9HR, Sunday, October 21, to Sunday, October 28, 2pm and 4.15pm. Details: 020 8932 4747

Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms

Spanning six centuries, highlights from the British Library’s outstanding collection of Anglo-Saxon manuscripts will be presented alongside a large number of exceptional loans at this major exhibition. The Codex Amiatinus, one of three giant single-volume Bibles made at the monastery at Wearmouth-Jarrow in the early eighth century, will be returning to England for the first time in more than 1300 years. A number of major objects from the Staffordshire Hoard will be displayed. Bringing together the four principal manuscripts of Old English poetry for the first time, the British Library’s unique manuscript of Beowulf will be displayed alongside the Vercelli Book, the Exeter Book, and the Junius Manuscript. The exhibition will also include Domesday Book, which records unparalleled evidence of the English landscape and the Anglo-Saxons’ sophisticated tax-collection system.

The British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB, Friday, October 19, to Tuesday, February 19. Details: 01937 546546 bl.uk

A Pirate’s Life For Me

This is the V&A Museum of Childhood’s first major exhibition to focus on fictional pirates and their influence in popular culture. Developed in collaboration with children, the exhibition’s immersive and playful set design takes its young visitors into an imaginary swashbuckling world of adventure and exploration where they will travel from a moody coastal inn to a tropical treasure island in search of sparkling riches. At its heart a large-scale pirate ship inspires learning through active play. On display key loans and objects from the V&A’s collections, including toys, games, books, illustrations and comics, spanning over 300 years, chart the reimagination of pirates in popular culture from Victorian Britain to the present day. Highlights include the first painting of Captain Pugwash, an original illustrated costume design for Captain Hook for the first production of Peter Pan in 1904, Lego’s iconic Black Seas Barracuda ship and real 18th century Spanish doubloons.

V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9PA, Saturday, October 20, to Monday, April 22. Details: vam.ac.uk

The Baby Show

The UK's biggest pregnancy and parenting event of the year, with over 200 baby retailers all under one roof, returns to London. It's a fantastic shopping event and will give nervous parents the chance to speak to experts either one-to-one or hear from them live on stage as they tackle topics such as birth choices, breastfeeding, sleep, post-partum fitness and weaning.

Olympia London, Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX, Friday, October 19, to Sunday, October 21. Details: thebabyshow.co.uk/Olympia

The OM Yoga Show

This is the largest yoga gathering of its kind in Europe. Free open classes throughout the weekend are suitable for all levels of experience, meaning that you find a style of yoga to suit you even if you don’t know your downward-facing dog from your crow pose. Leading teachers from around the world are available to provide advice and guidance. In addition, the showcase of over 250 exhibitors are on hand to offer a shopping experience like no other.

Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY, Friday, October 19, to Sunday, October 21. Details: 020 8365 2121 alexandrapalace.com

London Literature Festival

Now in its twelfth year, Southbank Centre’s London Literature Festival brings together today’s leading writers, thinkers and cultural observers to explore the burning issues of our times. This year you are invited on a journey across centuries and borders to celebrate the power of literature to reflect on the world in which we live. Your journey will take in everything from a celebration of Homer’s Odyssey to an examination of contemporary America in the lead-up to the midterm elections. At the heart of the festival is a celebration of Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, marking its first-ever translation into English by a woman, Emily Wilson. This timeless classic is explored through live readings, talks and workshops with writers from Mary Beard to Madeline Miller.

Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, Lambeth, SE1 8XX, Thursday, October 18, to Sunday, October 28. Details: 020 7960 4200 southbankcentre.co.uk

Mischief and Mayhem

Visit the farms for some mischief and mayhem this Halloween. During this two week event, visitors can enjoy a range of fun and frightening activities. Little ones can get creative in the farm’s very own pumpkin patch where they can carve and decorate an array of pumpkins before joining the family for a walk along the eerie trick or treat trails. Those brave enough can also visit the haunted house if they dare!

Lee Valley Park Farms, Stubbins Hall Lane, Waltham Abbey, EN9 2EF, Saturday, October 20, to Sunday, November 4, 10am to 5pm. Details: lvfarms.co.uk