You’d be a ghoul to miss out on some Halloween fun this October so here’s our spook-tacular guide to the best events and activities for families and grown-ups across the South, South West and South Wales.
South
Halloween Fun, Corfe Castle – Dare you attempt the All Hallows Quest, find the missing pumpkins or bring your teddy along to rescue a knight from the clutches of evil King John? Children’s Halloween activities are included in the general admission price from 20-28 October.
Ghostly Whispers, Russell Cotes Museum, Bournemouth– Take an audio tour full of Gothic tales and ghostly sightings and then have a drink at Annie’s Unearthly Apothecary to steady your nerves. 27 October. Age advisory 12+.
Halloween Half Term Spooktacular, Cholderton Charlie Farm – Two weeks of spooky activities for kids including the Witches Walk Through, pumpkin carving, Ghoulish scavenger hunts, quizzes, arts and crafts and costume parade. 20 October – 4 November
Bristol/Somerset
Fear, Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park – A pop-up Halloween theme park with four scary mazes to navigate, street theatre, kill zone zombie, fire show, fairground rides, bars and food. Selected dates from October 19, age advisory is 12A.
Scary claws and spooky tours, Bristol Aquarium – Explore the darker depths of the aquarium with tours where you can touch real lobster claws, feed piranhas and discover the dangers that lurk behind watery creatures defence techniques. From October 20.
Almondsbury Garden Centre Pumpkin Hunt – Little helpers are needed to find 20 pumpkins which have escaped the pumpkin patch. Sweet treats for all those taking part. October 20 to 5 November.
Spooky Stage Sets, The Holbourne Museum Bath – In this free workshop children can create their own spooky stage set complete with skeletons and ghouls. Afterwards, their mini-set can be taken home to stage their own haunted tales. For children over 5 accompanied by an adult, October 30 & 31 with two sessions a day. Halloween costumes optional.
South Wales
Halloween at Cardiff Castle – Head to the castle for a variety of spine-chilling events including ghost tours, creepy crawlies, underground cinema and ghostly knights. Various dates in October and November.
Zombie Survival Paintballing Night – Zombies have infested South Wales, armed with a torch and a paintball gun it is up to you to stop them. Head to Taskforce Paintball in Cowbridge 27, 28 and 31 October and age advisory is 16+.
Halloween Spooktacular Party, Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl – Children and adults are encouraged to dress up for what promises to be an afternoon of mayhem with games, disco and competitions plus a bar for grown-ups. 31 October.
Devon
Halloween at Crealy Adventure Park – are you brave enough for the Scarecrow Scaremaze, the Creaky Hotel or Treehouse Trolls? There are also shows, fancy dress competitions, fireworks and pumpkin carving as well as all the usual rides to enjoy. From 22 to 31 October.
A night-time RAMM-ble – Explore the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter at night with a special focus on the darker objects in the collection. Make a lantern and join the parade through the shadowy corridors. 27 October.
Dinosaur World Halloween Horrors, Torquay – Help save the dinosaurs from wicked witches and ghouls which have invaded the park on a Halloween Horror hunt. Or take a torchlight tour of the exhibition complete with ghost story. 20-28 October.
Cornwall
Halloweden – Join the search for magical monsters and mythical beasts at the Eden Centre, make a talisman or food for the creatures and, for one day only, attend the Little Monster’s Ball. 20 October – 4 November (Little Monster’s Ball 27 October).
Ghost Ships, Falmouth Maritime Museum – An aerial spook-tacular by vertical dance company Yskynna. Three performances day from during half term.
Halloween Masked Ball, Helston – One of the largest Halloween parties in Europe, theme park Los Flambardos hosts this dance and rave with surreal sideshows, strange events and outlandish costumes. Oct 27.
Whatever spine-tingly, goose bump inducing activities you get up to the staff at Acorn wish you a Happy Halloween.