Halloween has always been one of my favourite times of the year. Our little boy is obsessed with all things Halloween. So much so he gets just as excited about it as he does about Santa coming. This Halloween for some reason he will be back at school. However half term for us is from the 23rd-30th October so I fully intend to fit in as much Halloween fun as we can.
Where to start though and what to do? There is so much on in the East midlands, so much so I can’t possibly write about every event. So I am going to have to be picky and pick out the best of the best, although that still means that there is 46 to choose from!. If there is anything you feel I’ve missed out please say so. I have missed a few things out as I have tried to make this list as family friendly as possible.
Please follow links in the title of each event for further information including price and opening times etc.
What’s on and where – Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire
National space centre Spooky Space – Leicestershire – Saturday 14th – Sunday 29th October
This Halloween Half Term Holidays the Spooky Science team have taken over and we have all gone slightly batty! Join us every day to discover The School of Science Magic, make your very own slime to take home and drop in for a session that will have you spinning
Wheelgate Park Lil’ park of horrors – Nottinghamshire – Saturday 14th October – Sunday 5th November
Robin Hoods, Wheelgate Lil’ Park of Horrors, Mansfield, Nottingham offers a family friendly fangtastic blend at Halloween… with unique family not so scary halloween attractions, Farmer Phil at our sister park Twinlakes has grown over 20,000 FREE pumpkins all free for you to carve or paint. Win magnificent prizes plus wicked workshops including magical wand making and broomstick flying masterclass, meet and greet Millie our friendly Monster! and Grizelda our naughty Witch !! creepy competitions, craft workshops and trick & treat, children’s fancy-dress is optional but we love it when they do! Plus more.
Easton Walled gardens Children’s half term fun – Lincolnshire – Wednesday 18th – Sunday 29th October
Our very popular Pumpkin Rolling will be happening again this half term. we welcome children of all ages to roll pumpkins down the grass terraces, the furthest roller wins! When you are worn out from pumpkin rolling, kicking balls or hula hooping on the lawns and collecting letters on the wren trail, cool off by planting your own bulb to take home. The tearoom will be open serving warming food and cake, or, if the weather is fine, bring your own picnic.
New this year, we are hosting 3 children’s mini chocolate workshops! Designed specifically for children, this halloween-themed mini workshop will have children hand rolling their own truffles, piping caramels and dipping chunks of honeycomb before making up boxes to package up their handmade goodies to take away.
Plus Halloween story walks – Thursday 26th October, 1pm & 2.30pm. Join Tom the Tale Teller for a spooky Halloween story walk around the gardens.Tom’s stories come alive with his endless enthusiasm and wonderful talent for telling tales. Tickets for the story walks will be £5 (+ normal garden admission fee) for children aged 4 – 16years. Friends of Easton Walled Gardens pay £3 per ticket. Booking is highly recommended!
Burghley House Spooky tours – Lincolnshire – Wednesday 18th – Tuesday 31st October
The tours are designed to be scary but fun. Although not recommended for children under 11, we leave it up to parents to decide as you know your children best!
The tour takes place in the evening with low level lighting across uneven surfaces, steps and in the open air in all weathers. You will be on your feet for up to 50 minutes so please wear suitable clothing and footwear.
Butlins Skegness Halloween at Half term – Lincolnshire – Friday 20th – Monday 30th October
We’ve got activities and shows to keep everyone happy, and splash your autumn blues away at subtropical Splash Waterworld. We love Halloween, so we make it spooky and fun, with pumpkin carving, fancy dress and fireworks to light up the sky. Don’t forget your broomstick.
White post farm Halloween festival – Nottinghamshire – From Saturday 21st October
The Halloween Festival begins on Saturday 21st October 2017 and is set to be our best one ever! Every day will feature loads of awesome activities and haunted happenings. The walk-through Haunted House, special Halloween Crafts and Workshops, Interactive Creepy Crawlie Show and loads more. Lots more info to come soon!
Wollaton Hall Black cat trail – Nottinghamshire – Saturday 21st October – Sunday 5th November
Help find our Black Cat Indi! She has gone wandering around the Formal Gardens, can you help us find her photos and discover the Halloween word? Find all 6 hidden letters to claim your reward! Trails are available from the Yard Shop 10:00am – 4:00pm daily. £1 per trail
Chatsworth House Halloween hoot -Derbyshire – Saturday 21st October – Sunday 5th November
Frighteningly good fun around every corner… join us if you dare. Bring your little monsters to Chatsworth during the half-term holiday to enjoy Halloween horrors. Included with admission to the house, garden and/or farmyard and playground. More details will be available soon
Rufford Abbey Halloween fun – Nottinghamshire – Saturday 21st October – Sunday 5th November
Spooky Halloween Terror Trail. Come and explore the haunted hideaways, creepy woods and our hidden terrors. Open from 10.30pm – 4pm. £1 each and you will receive a prize… if you survive! Plus on the 28th October – Hocus Pocus (PG certificate) – (Free to attend – Normal Parking Charges Apply). Fun filled Halloween event suitable for all the family. We will be showing the classic 90’s film Hocus Pocus – featuring talking cats, big teeth and Thackery Binx. Those who have seen it will know what they’re in for; if you haven’t then I’m not sure we can be friends…
Of course we want everyone to join in the fun and dress up spooky – witches, wizards, ghouls and ghosties are all welcome. Dress up spooky but warm! Make sure you arrive early as there is limited space. Hot Food and Drinks will be available along with the opportunity to have a scary face painted!
Bolsover castle Tricks and Tonics – Derbyshire- Saturday 21st – Friday 27th October
Thrilling tricks and tasty treats await at creepy Bolsover Castle this half term.
Back by popular demand. Join the potion master and weave your magic as you make your very own potion to take home – just remember….don’t eat the bottle! Discover some amazing – and simple – tricks with elastic bands that will amaze and astound your friends and family. Show off your spooktacular costumes and frighten our fearless staff – will you win the fancy dress competition.
Rand Farm Halloween half term – Lincolnshire – Saturday 21st – Sunday 29th October
Visit us this Halloween Half Term for lots of fantastic family fun! With a FREE pumpkin for every paying child. Enjoy a Tractor and Trailer ride to the pumpkin patch. Choose your very own pumpkin to take home. Watch daily Halloween Magic Shows. Have a blast in our NEW sweet factory themed Indoor Air Cannon Shooting Arena. Meet the animals in our NEW animal barn. Take on your family in Farmyard Crazy Golf and so much more.
Belton House Hallowe’en Happenings – Lincolnshire – Saturday 21st – Sunday 29th October
Spook-takular trail – Sat. 21 – Sun. 29 October, 9.30am – 4.30pm.
Pick up a spook-takular trail and discover the hidden features of Belton, as we challenge your perspectives of this special place. £2 per trail, normal admission applies. They also have a family house tour on the 26th October. Designed for families with children aged 5 years and over in mind. Spaces are limited, so pre-booking is required.To reserve your space, please email learningatbelton@nationaltrust.org.uk.
Read more about Belton house here – Belton house day out review
Pink Pig farm Pumpkin festival – Lincolnshire – Saturday 21st – Monday 30th October
Expect oodles of outdoor and indoor all day fun, including tractor rides, a giant inflatable obstacle course, water wars, and mud kitchens to name just a few. We are putting on a Pumpkin Festival like never before! Upgrade your entrance ticket to include access to our Pumpkin Festival, where you will head over to our pumpkin patch and be greeted by hundreds of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes! Pick out your perfect pumpkin, wheel it back to our carving barn, get creative carving, and then take it home to display your artwork! Our Pumpkin Festival will also include chocolate apple decorating, an appearance from Windle the Witch herself in her coven, and so much more! It’s going to be spooktacular!
Gullivers Kingdom Trick and treat week Matlock bath – Derbyshire – Saturday 21st – Sunday 29th October (not 100% confirmed dates)
Join the official Swizzels Trick and Treat Trail only at Gulliver’s Theme Parks. At each stop along the trail we’ll have spooky tricks and plenty of Swizzels treats! Look out for different themes as you face some frightfully fun activities at Warrington, Milton Keynes and Matlock Bath.
Each trick performed earns you a swizzels surprise, we have all your family favourites such as drumsticks and rainbow drops. We have lots of awesome activities and attractions to make this trail a real treat. Don’t miss out on a trip to Leonard’s Scare School or prepare for a Wicked Costume Party on park. Get your picture taken at each stage as you transform into some seriously scary characters, from a wicked witch to Pumpkin Peat. Make sure you send Gully Mouse your spooky snaps. Start preparing your costume and book your tickets today for the official Swizzels Trick and Treat Trail. It’s a wicked week of festivities that you don’t want to miss!
Midland Railway Butterly Wizard and Spooks trains – Derbyshire – Saturday 21st – Sunday 29th October
Halloween at the Midland Railway – Butterley is a very ‘spooktacular’ affair. Wizards & Spooks trains operate throughout the nine day period of the Derbyshire schools’ autumn half term holiday. Trains every day from 11am – see the Calendar for more details. Magical Entertainment, Wizard Competition and much more.
Doddinghton Hall Pick your own Pumpkins – Lincolnshire – Saturday 21st – Monday 30th October
Join us in our pumpkin patch to choose a pumpkin for autumnal carving decorations or to make some delicious seasonal recipes using local ingredients (recipe ideas will be available from our Farm Shop). Follow the signs to the pumpkin patch and bring wellies! 10am – 3.30pm
Free entry, pay for what you pick.
Read more about Doddington Hall here – Doddington Hall review
Crich Tramway Village Starlight Spectacular – Derbyshire – Monday 23rd – Saturday 28th October
The week when Crich Tramway Village is illuminated and the trams run into the early evening up to Saturday 28th October. The official Light Switch On will be carried out by a special guest (to be announced soon). Plenty of family fun throughout the week including activities, crafts and appearances by look-a-like characters on various days and a Super Heroes Day.
Read more about Crich Tramway here – Crich Tramway village day out review
Tattershall Farm Halloween events – Lincolnshire – Monday 23rd – Sunday 29th October
23rd – Halloween Holiday Spooky Animal Encounter. Come along and meet some of the more unusual exotic animals. Spiders, insects, snakes and lizards will be among the host of animals waiting to meet you at our Farm Park.
24th, 25th & 27th – Spooky story telling with Rhubarb Theatre. It’s a windy day for a ride on a witches broom, so hold onto your hat and don’t drop your cat, and let’s hope you have enough room. An interactive story session based around this spooktacular family favourite. Kirsty from Rhubarb Theatre will be coming to our Farm Park to entertain us. The interactive story telling session will take place in our Events Room inside our Indoor Activity Centre. The story telling session is included within the usual £5.50 entry (under 2’s free). Come along and join the fun… fancy dress is welcomed and encouraged. As this is an interactive story telling space will be limited and free tickets will be issued on a first come first served basis.
27th – 29th – Haunted Halloween Spooky Walk. The spooky woodland walk returns… and promises ot be our scariest yet! This evening event was scarily popular last year so this year we’re spreading the fun over 3 nights so no-one misses out! Tickets will be limited, and will go on sale online and on our website 1st October. Dare to be there
Tattershall castle Hallowe’en half term – Lincolnshire – Monday 23rd – Saturday 28th October
Will you dare to explore our spooky Castle this Hallowe’en? Take our frightfully fun Hallowe’en trail and enjoy being creative with our craft activities. (Additional charges for trails and crafts). Plus on Sunday 29th the Castle has a Hallowee’en Spooktacular – Join us to celebrate Hallowe’en with a family trail, children’s crafts, face painting and more frighteningly good fun. Young spooky characters get in free! (Additional charges for crafts and trails)
Lincoln Castle Gruesome and Spooky Prison – Lincolnshire – Monday 23rd – Sunday 29th October
Step inside the Victorian Prison during half term and you will be sure to meet some unsavoury characters from Victorian England. Hear ghastly tales and meet some vile people.
Event 11am – 4.00pm. Castle Attractions 10am – 4pm. Admission – Includes admission to the event, Medieval Wall Walk, Victorian Prison and Magna Carta. Admission also includes a free return visit within 6 months.
Rockingham castle Halloween fun – Lincolnshire – Tuesday 24th – Thursday 26th October
The witches of Rockingham are gathering to celebrate Halloween for the first time in centuries! Come and take part in the spooky pumpkin activities they have been planning. A fun day out for all the family. Activities include: Quiz & Crossword in the Castle, Pumpkin Trail in the Formal Gardens, Biscuit Decorating, Pumpkin Rolling down the Castle Battlements. Fancy Dress Encouraged! Opening Times: 11am – 4pm daily (last entry 3:30pm)
Halloween at Hartsholme – Lincolnshire – Tuesday 24th – Tuesday 31st October
There will be pumpkin carving at Hartsholme – Meet at 1pm on Tuesday 24th October in the Visitor Centre. All children must be accompanied by an adult. This activity is aimed at children aged 4 to 13 years. From the 25th you can take part in a Halloween trail. From 12-3pm and only for the brave, be prepared to be scared out of your skin on Hartsholme’s creepy Halloween Trail, which will lead you, if you make it, to a deliciously ghoulish treat. Then on Tuesday 26th Oct there will be mask making in the visitor centre.
Museum of Lincolnshire life Ghost hunter kit bags – Lincolnshire – Thursday 26th – Saturday 28th October
Get yourself ready for next week’s Halloween fun with your very own ghost and spook hunting kit! Make a handy backpack, a lantern and various charms to zap any ghosts, vampires or ghouls that you find! £2.00 (free admission to museum)
Read more about the Museum of Lincolnshire life here – Museum of Lincolnshire life day out review
Whisby nature reserve Duckling Halloween disco – Lincolnshire – Friday 27th October
Join us for our spooky duckling disco for ghastly ghouls and ghosts! Fancy dress welcome. £3.50 per child including snacks and squash. Suitable for under 5s.
Read more about the Whisby Nature reserve, near Lincoln here – Whisby nature reserve day out review
Newark Castle Halloween Hullabaloo and Eerie Explorers – Lincolnshire – Friday 27th October
17.00 – 20.30 – all ages
The Collection museum Museums at night Ghosts – Lincolnshire – Friday 27th October
Museums at night: GHOSTS! A spooky family event day with a ghostly theme. Free event to attend with crafts (some crafts may incur a charge).
Village church Farm Halloween – Lincolnshire – Saturday 28th October
Halloween at the village of the damned. Lots of Goulish goings on.
Matlock Farm Park Hulkbuster – Derbyshire – Saturday 28th October
This 7ft tall robot is coming to Matlock Farm Park! Appearances throughout the day.
Peak Cavern Halloween special – Derbyshire – Saturday 28th October
Suitable for all ages, our Halloween Special is a scary treat for everyone! On Saturday 28th October we are running two tours starting at 6pm and 7.15pm. Our resident witch will take you into the cave to meet her coven and other ghosts and ghouls of the Castleton underworld.
Cromford mills Family fun weekend – Derbyshire – Saturday 28th – Sunday 29th October
10am-4pm. FREE ENTRY (small charge for some activities). Join us for a weekend of all things spooky. From witches and wizards to dragons and curses, dust off your broomstick and join in the fun!Dragons, Geckos and Other Fantastic Creatures – Meet an unusual collection of animals from Bearded Dragons and Leopard Geckos to snakes including a Royal Python and a Bosc Monitor, Chincillas, a Giant Sulcata Tortoise, White Tree Frogs, an African Pygmy Hedgehog, and more! There will also be the opportunity to handle some of the animals in these interactive sessions. Traditional Games, Spooky Trail, Fancy Dress, Spooky Snacks, Lantern Making Workshop and more.
Hardys Animal Farm Halloween weekend – Lincolnshire – Saturday 28th – Sunday 29th October
Halloween Spooktacular Down on the Farm! This Saturday & Sunday we’ll be running our Halloween Fun Days on the Farm with 50% off admission if you are in Halloween Fancy Dress, and a best carved pumpkin competition each day at 2:00pm. (Please bring your pumpkin ready carved!!!) Book online now
Lincoln sightseeing bus Halloween ghost bus tour – Lincolnshire – Saturday 28th – Sunday 29th October
Be spooked on Halloween weekend by exploring haunted Lincoln by open-top bus with a local ghost expert. One of the team from the popular Lincoln Ghost Walks will guide you around Lincoln on Tour Lincoln, the open-top city sightseeing bus, whilst telling spooky tales and stories of Lincoln’s haunted past. The ghost tours are suitable for all ages. Buy your tickets in advance online.
Conkers Halloween nights – Leicestershire – Saturday 28th – Tuesday 31st October
Doors open at 6.30pm and we finish by 10:30pm. All your worst nightmares are set to become reality this Halloween at Conkers Annual Ghostly encounter at the Waterside Centre. Are you prepared to come along and follow their footsteps into the haunted woods? With all the ghostly ghouls, witches and trolls…will you make it out alive? You can take a trip on the runaway train too. All are welcome to the “Ugly Bugs Disco”. There’s a fancy dress competition with creepy prizes for the winners (Ages 0-3, 4-6, 7-10, 10 +, Adults). Entertainment in our covered Amphitheatre with our Fantastic Halloween show at 7pm and 8pm
Twycross zoo Halloween – Leicestershire – Saturday 28th – Tuesday 31st October
Fancy dress discounted admission, Trick or Treat Trail, Pumpkin carving, Spooky Cinema – with short, spooky animations featuring your favourite characters from TV and films. Ghostly grub in our restaurant and café, Arts and crafts activities and more..
Read more about Twycross zoo here – Twycross zoo day out review
Gunby Hall Ghostly Hallowe’een – Lincolnshire – Saturday 28th October
Experience Gunby Hall as you never have before: cobwebs, darkened rooms and lots of ghostly guides. It will make you scream for more! Enjoy yummy seasonal treats in the tea-room. Discover plenty of autumnal colour in the gardens. This event is free, but normal admission charges apply. Families welcome. Small children might find it too scary. Dress up in your scariest outfit and see if you can frighten our ghosts! 11am – 5pm.
Lincolnshire Wolds Railway Halloween Special – Lincolnshire – Sunday 29th October
Halloween Special, Trick or Treat. Spooky entertainment on the ghost trains running 2.45-5.45pm. Be prepared to be scared!
Engine Shed Lincoln BFLF Lincoln Spooky Spectacular with Mark Archer (ALTERN8) – Lincolnshire – Sunday 29th October
Join Big Fish Little Fish for a Halloween Spooktacular family rave up aimed at parents with kids aged 0-8 years with rave legend Mark Archer of Altern8 bringing the tunes! It’s going to be a monster mash up on the dance floor! What kind of fun are we going to have? Licensed Bar
* DJ Mark Archer playing a banging set of dance music * Club lighting * Craft area with Halloween themed crafts * Play area with tents and tunnels * Giant colouring-in mural * Babies-only safe space with soft mats and ball-pool plus so much more
Great central railway Loughborough Halloween steam & scream – Leicestershire -Tuesday 31st October
TRAINS DEPART FROM LOUGHBOROUGH AT 5.40pm, 6.40pm, 7.40pm and 8.40pm. Meet the Beasts – scare yourself silly with a selection of snakes, spiders and creepy crawlies some of which can also be handled if you dare! Curious Characters Gru and Scarlett Overkill from Despicable Me will be travelling on the train ready to spook you! Keep an eye out for the scary, spooky characters lurking on the platform. Freaky face painting. Dress up in your ghoulish costumes and receive free sweets on board the train as we take you on an adventure that goes bump in the night! PRIZE FOR THE BEST DRESSED
Cogglesford Watermill Halloween Sleaford – Lincolnshire – Tuesday 31st October
Join in with ghostly fun and activities at the 18th century Cogglesford Watermill in Sleaford. The creaky old Cogglesford Watermill will be celebrating Halloween with spooky activities on Halloween evening. Explore the mill and folow the terrifying trails before settling down with some spooky stories. Fancy dress is welcome, the evening is suitable for all ages.
Twinlakes Family scream Park – Leicestershire
There is SO much on you need to follow the link above. Twinlakes award winning UK’s No.1 Halloween day out for the whole family- Twinlakes Family Scream Park, Leicestershire offers a family friendly fangtastic blend at Halloween… with unique family not so scary halloween attractions, we have grown over 20,000 FREE pumpkins for kids to carve or paint. Win magnificent prizes plus wicked Halloween workshops including childrens magical wand making and Halloween broomstick flying masterclass, make your own spell classes, all part of our new halloween spooktacular show! Meet and greet Marty the friendly Monster! Plus so much more.
What’s on in the Surrounding Areas
Alton Towers Scarefest – Staffordshire – Friday 20th – Tuesday 31st October
With spooks, frights and thrills for everyone! On selected dates in October, the Theme Park becomes home to Halloween, remaining open until 9pm so you can enjoy your favourite rides in the dark plus loads of extra entertainment. For spooky young visitors, there are live shows and our famous freaky four to meet, whilst older families will enjoy our House of Monsters maze and Freak Show scare zone. For the bravest, dare you enter our terrifying scare mazes…
National forest adventure farm Halloween Spook-tacular – Staffordshire – Friday 20th – Sunday 29th October
FREE* Pumpkin from our Patch. Take the tractor and trailer ride to our Pumpkin patch and pick your own pumpkin to take home for free! (*Subject to availability. 1 pumpkin per child Member or paying child). Plus scare school broomstick training, haunted houses, Mummy maze hunt and more.
Tropical butterfly house near Sheffield, Halloween spooktacular! – South Yorkshire – Saturday 21st – Tuesday 31st October
Don’t miss the Tropical Butterfly House’s biggest and best event of the year! ♦ Visit the Witch’s Cottage and the Haunted House ♦ Brave the ghoulish tractor trailer ride through the Freaky Forest and come face to face with ghosts and monsters! ♦ Watch the bird and animal displays, featuring amazing birds of prey and parrots; hosted by witches! ♦ Carve a pumpkin and join in spooky crafts and activities, suitable for children of all ages ♦ Daily children’s fancy dress competition and unforgettable animal encounters with lemurs, meerkats, otters, birds of prey, snakes and creepy-crawlies throughout the day
Read more about the Tropical butterfly house here – Tropical butterfly house day out review
Sacrewell farm Autumnal activities – East Anglia – Saturday 21st – Sunday 29th October
Embrace the natural cycle of the seasons with some warming, bushcraft pursuits. If you’re feeling a little chilly, come and warm yourself by our campfire and toast a marshmallow* (or two) or build a den big enough for your family and friends to huddle inside. We will also be searching for creepy crawlies at this time of year in our bug hunting sessions.
Roam around our field and scout out the best pumpkin*. Once you’ve chosen yours, you can take it to our ‘Paint-a-Pumpkin’ workshop where our friendly staff will help you design your own work of (pumpkin) art.
Read more about Sacrewell Farm here – Sacrewell farm day out review
Nene Valley Thomas Half term – East Anglia, near Peterborough – Saturday 21st – Sunday 22nd October
Join Thomas on his Half Term Specials as he pulls the train through the tunnel to Yarwell and back, then enjoy a little nostalgia with a trip along the picturesque Nene Valley from the comfort of our carriages, pulled behind a Steam Locomotive.
Nene Valley The Wizard’s Express – East Anglia, near Peterborough – Saturday 28th – Sunday 29th October
Nene Valley Railway invites you to join Harry the Wizarding Train spotter and his friends on The Wizard’s Express. All aboard as the train awaits at Wansford, departing from platform 2 and a bit!!!! Visit the Wizards Waiting Room. Travel on our heated steam hauled, “Wizard’s Express” from Wansford to Peterborough via Wellwarts and return. Halloween Goody Bags, including glow stick for all Children over one year of age. Spooky goings-on aboard the train with Halloween/Wizards characters and a chance to meet Wilma the Witch and so much more.
I hope you find my blog round up helpful and that you have a spooktacular Halloween.
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