Get ready for superheroes, backstage tours and artists workshops - all with a family flavour

Fancy listening to a concert dressed up as your favourite superhero or seeing the inner workings of some of the UK's leading theatre and dance companies? Thousands of family-themed events and activites are being held this October as part of the Get Creative Family Arts Festival.

Making your own abstract artwork in Birmingham; playing with stop-frame animation in Leicester; and the chance to create a song as a family with music experts Soundcastle are also part of the month-long festival, which has now switched on its listings and events planner.

Dance City, Family Arts Festival 2014

From classic children’s stories to fine art; encompassing theatre, dance, sculpture, painting, music and the festival claims 'almost every other art form known to man', all the events have been designed especially with families in mind.

Nottingham Family Music Day, 2014

An early cultural experience for children in whatever form...opens the door to a life-long experience
Michael Morpurgo, Festival Patron

Festival Patron and former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo said the festival was a perfect introduction to culture for young people.

"An early cultural experience for children in whatever form - opera, ballet, music or art is a wonderful thing because it opens the door to a life-long experience, a life-long enjoyment," Morpugo said.

"I encourage families to make a day of it together - or a week - exploring the exciting events that are happening all around the UK this half-term."

Event listings are now live on the Get Creative Family Arts Festival website where families can search for events in their area by genre, age range and interest, with new events being uploaded daily. As in previous years, many of the events are free.

This year's festival runs from 9th October to 1st November to coincide with many schools' half term breaks.

Pubbetry Project from Strangeface Theatre in Faversham

· Royal National Scottish Orchestra’s Magic and Monsters - Join Owen and Olly on a mythical musical adventure this halloween, with witches, wizards and kelpies on the loose. But never fear, they’ve got a trick up their sleeve with some spellbinding singing from the legendary RSNO Junior Chorus.

· Arnolfini in Bristol - Giant drawing inspired by The Big Draw, family boat tours and artists workshops with Rose Robbins in which you can design your own football kit and mascot.

· Royal Albert Hall - The UK premiere of Ratatouille in Concert. Pixar’s animated comedy of Remy's adventure is brought to life as composer Michael Giacchino's Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated score is performed alongside the film by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.

· Dance Umbrella 16 Singers - Aimed at parents with babies aged 0-18 months, it captures the attention of tiny spectators using breath, rhythms and song.

· Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Superheroes - Put on your superhero cape and mask for a superpowered afternoon of superheroic themes from Batman, Spiderman and the Incredibles.

· The Mac – Belfast - Gulliver and his family come across a world ruled by horses with interactive sessions for families and a range of activities each day.

· Sunderland Empire – Autism friendly backstage tours. Explore behind the scenes of the Edwardian theatre which includes dressing room, the stage and see the set and costumes up close.

· Wales Millenium Centre - Following a nationwide search to all corners of Wales, a choir of more than a hundred and twenty young performers perform Les Miserable, one of the world's most famous musicals, in Welsh.

· Birmingham Royal Ballet – Take a peek behind the scenes of the Ballet which includes: Make-up demonstrations from professional ballerinas, craft activities and a chance to watch a stage reset.

Family Arts Festival event in Arnolfini, Bristol in 2014

Highlights this year include behind-the-scenes secrets from Birmingham Royal Ballet; artists workshops at the Arnolfini in Bristol and autism-friendly backstage tours at the Sunderland Empire.

Drawing in Rochdale Pioneers Museum, 2014

Launched in 2013, the Family Arts Festival is part of a wider scheme, the Family Arts Campaign, which aims to support organisations up and down the country to provide high quality family friendly events and encouraging family participation in the arts. Since it started the festival has included 9,000 family arts events by more than 1,000 organisations.

It is an initiative of Association of British Orchestras, UK Theatre, Society of London Theatre, Independent Theatre Council, Dance UK, Contemporary Visual Arts Network, The Audience Agency and Family and Childcare Trust with funding from Arts Council England and Arts Council Wales.