Out of this World
Sheffield’s Festival of Sci-fi, Magic and Halloween!
Out of this World 2025
Sunday 26 October
10:30am - 5:30pm
Celebrating its tenth year, Out of this World is a FREE family event celebrating all things otherworldly!
Taking place across Sheffield City Centre, the event is for anyone who enjoys sci-fi, comic books, gaming, magic, illusion, Halloween and all things spooky.
Every year, it attracts thousands of adults and children (many in costume), who come to see and enjoy this weird, wonderful and wacky event.
The event is spilt into zones across Sheffield Winter Garden, Tudor Square, the Town Hall, Millennium Square, the Peace Gardens, Barker's Pool and along Surrey Street.
With stalls, street entertainment, magic shows, activities and fairground rides, there'll be lots to see and do, so don your favourite fancy dress and come join in the fun.
Sci-Fi, Comic and Gaming Zone
Winter Garden, Tudor Square, Town Hall and the Peace Gardens
The ever-popular sci-fi, comic book, gaming and fantasy areas are home to comic book artists, costumers, trade stalls and displays.
You’ll encounter your favourite heroes and villains including Darth Vader, Stormtroopers, Ghostbusters. Keep your eyes open for a few superheroes too.
A popular zone to find, or photobomb, your movie and comic book favourites, get hold of the latest character and comicon and gaming must haves.
Enter the Retro Gaming room to see if you can help Pacman outrun those pesky ghosts. Share a dance with your favourite children’s film and animation costume characters at their meet and greets.
Visit Scales and Tails in the Town Hall for a chance to get cozy with their lizards, or if your brave enough there is a chance to hold one of the snakes.
Can you spot the Invisible Man? It is possible if you can catch him with his coat on. Strike your best pose with human-sized Star Wars and Barbie boxes. With Starwars’ Droids, Ghostbusters and Pokemon displays – there’s plenty for everyone to see and do!
Magic and Illusion Zone
Millennium Square, Town Hall and Peace Gardens
A programme of mystifying illusion and magic - some of the UK’s best magicians and illusionists can be found in this zone. Magic that will astound you - from sleight of hand to the weird and wonderful!
Step right up and witness the jaw-dropping spectacle of Dangerous Steve’s Sideshow! Be amazed as fearless performers perform fantastic feats of fire and balance. Roll up for the Rolla Bolla, giant Unicycle and mesmerising displays of fire-fans and fire juggling!
Watch in awe daredevil Ramona tackles the Ladder of Swords, where one wrong step could mean disaster!
The World’s smallest performer dazzle at the ever-popular Professor Jon’s Flea Circus returns with new fleas to perform amazing feats for your delight. It's a charming, fun-filled show for the whole family, full of wonder and laughter.
Watch closely at the Tent of Mystery as everyday objects transform before your eyes and expect the unexpected in a performance filled with comedy, surprises and where reality bends and mystery reigns supreme!
Rachel the Enchantress invites all budding young spellcasters to enter her den of magic for a fun, imaginative and creative session. Young witches and wizards will learn magic spells, design and make a wand, turn their grownups into frogs and even make them disappear.
Or try the sci-fi themed workshops to amaze and delight your friends. Led by an experienced magician, this workshop will show you how to make objects defy gravity and even disappear with the invisibility apparatus. Tickets are free but must be picked up from the steward in front of the Town Hall to ensure your place.
Halloween Zone
Town Hall Square, Town Hall, Peace Gardens, Pinstone St and Surrey St
Little Monsters will be running loose again this year, so get your Halloween fancy dress on and enjoy some spooky attractions!
Gastro Goblins, Gladwyn and Bulbus, are haplessly questing to find new ingredients, auditioning members of the public for their latest stew. They bring their topsy-turvy perception of our world into magical life. How would you like to be served…rare, medium or well done?
Watch out for the Humber Monster, who legend has it, lives in the murky depths of the Humber estuary but is thought to wander off course to the Sheffield rivers now and then. He prowls about creeping mysteriously to the accompanying classical music provided by his ‘minder’s’ wind up music box. He only eats the smallest and most succulent children!
Hopefully Out Of This Worlders “ain’t afraid of no ghosts” – but don’t worry if you are a little fearful as the Ghostbusters will be round and about keeping a watchful eye on the event and an ear to their PKE Meter to keep the spirits at bay.
Talented Sheffield kids from local dance groups Funky Dance Fever and Razzmataz will also give you shivers with their dance tricks, it will definitely be a treat.
Visit The Werewolf trapped in his Pumpkin Patch Lair as he plays his tricks in the Peace Gardens but beware of getting too close, he’s trying to persuade you to set him free to cause chaos around the event.
If that isn’t scary enough for you, you can always go retro on the classic Ghost Train on Fargate.
Barney Baloney will delight youngsters and adults alike with his tongue in cheek compering and on-theme soundtrack to the event. This year he will be joined by the UK’s very own Plumber Drummer, bringing his zany instruments to provide an out of this world soundtrack to the event.
With plenty of trade stalls and caterers around the event it may also be the perfect time to pick up your last-minute Halloween must haves, grab a bite to eat or make a start on the festive shopping.
