SOMETHING SPOOKY

halloween cupcakes halloween events near me

Fright Night at The Shurlock Inn is always so frightfully fun. Join this October half term on 30 Oct for Halloween themed movies for £10pp which includes a box of popcorn. Hotel Transylvania is on at 6.30pm with face painting available, followed by The Rocky Horror Picture Show at 8.30pm. Why not make it a night and join for dinner too. Hm, hm, you’ll get 20% off!

Beale Park promises thrills, chills and conservation at their Halloween event this year between 25 Oct – 30 Oct. Arachnophobes look away. It will be a spine-tingling Halloween celebration like no other with a combination of eerie encounters, family-friendly activities, and a focus on wildlife conservation.

Wellington Country Park’s Hallo-Welly-Ween things to do october half term berkshire

Wellington Country Park’s Hallo-Welly-Ween is back with a week of ghoulish fun – pumpkin patch, ghost train, Not So Spooky show and more (26 Oct – 3 Nov). There’s Grotty Greta and The Naughty Magic Shoes Show, plus Flick’s Birthday Dance Party Show. New for this year is the Mini Hallo-Welly-Ween (23 – 25 Oct), perfect for little ghouls up to 4 years old. Enjoy crafts, interactive story time, song and dance, shows, and train rides.

Venture into The Night Forest at Braywick Nature Centre between 28 – 30 Oct for an enchanting after-dark experience like no other. Expect pumpkin carving, fireside storytelling, and a spooky trail to explore. Just remember your torch! Suitable for 4 – 11.

I mean the clue is in the name. It’s a brilliant venue for frights anyway, but at Halloween, Hellfire Caves go all out, decking it to the nines with macabre props, lighting, creepy music, and characters. This year there is The Toymaker’s Tunnels of Torment event for 16+ (it’s as lovely as it sounds) with each turn in the tunnel bringing you face-to-face with your deepest fears. Catch it from 25 Oct – 2 Nov, 6.30pm-11.15pm. See you on the other side, sister. Events for families also on.

Why make a mess at home? Head to Cobbs Farm Hungerford, pick your own pumpkin, then go carve crazy. There’s unlimited coffee for adults (essential), free play in the barn, plus each child gets a gingerbread man and free-flowing squash. Lots of other food options available for purchase. £15 per child, £5 per adult. 28 – 30 Oct.

Lush in Reading is running Halloween Workshops every day during half term (12-27 Oct) with a spooky session in bath bomb making, followed by mask decorating. Kiddies get a goodie bag at the end too. Tickets £10.

Brick or Treat at Legoland Windsor (now – 3 Nov) is an oldie but goldie. Don’t miss the fangtastic Haunted House Monster Party, the frightfully fun 4D movie, ‘The Great Monster Chase!’, Monster Rocker’s fang-tastic Pumpkin Trail, plus all of the rides in the LEGO MYTHICA: World of Mythical Creatures, live shows and attractions. BOO-k now.

Scones with a smattering of slime? Sure thing. The Halloween Afternoon Tea at the Royal Berkshire is gory enough to make even us grown ups squeal thanks to a menu including ‘finger’ sandwiches, plus white chocolate eyes and spider tarts. Book yours between 26 Oct – 3 Nov. £42 per adult, kids go free.

Over at Cantley Hall, pinky fingers are out for their Halloween Afternoon Tea and Spooky Trail available from 28 Oct – 1 Nov . Feast your eyes and belly on their themed fancy spread in their 17th century converted barn before heading on a frightfully fun Halloween trail.

What better place to encounter creepy crawlies in the flesh? For spooky season, The Living Rainforest will have a special event called Poisons and Potions of the Rainforest (25 Oct – 3 Nov) with bug walks and talks, Halloween crafts, and activity packs to keep the nippers busy.

Bucketloads of fun to be had at Dobbies Garden Centre in Twyford. Little Scare-lings (19 – 27 Oct) – a pumpkin-filled afternoon will see activities and games before the kids choose their own pumpkin from the miniature patch to take home and carve. They’ll throw in some spooky afternoon tea with your ticket and parents can grab a bite too.

A Pumpkin Festival pitches up at Holme Grange Craft Village in Wokingham on 26 Oct with crafts, shops and lots of food. Oh, and some very mischievous villains milling about.

Hogshaw School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Hogshaw Farm & Wildlife Park

Get your wands ready before flying over to Hogwarts (or actually Hogshaw Farm) for an unmissable Halloween event. During half term, enrol the kids in the Hogshaw School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for a week of spook-tacular Halloween fun, including giant pumpkin picking and decorating, rare creatures, birds of prey and bags of outdoor space to test out new spells. Can adults sign up too please? Tickets are £14.45 and includes all the spells and whistles. Book here. 26 Oct – 1 Nov.

Halloween is swooping in over at Bucklebury Farm in Reading. Half term fun starts with pumpkin carving, Halloween afternoon tea, a disco, and a decorating class. Running 23 – 31 Oct.

Crockford Bridge Farm in Weybridge is having some right gourd old fun this half term (25 Oct – 1 Nov) with a whole festival dedicated to pumpkins. Because, why not? Expect a circus vibe type situation with Jugglers, Mime, Dancers, Hooper, Stilt walkers and an Aerialist, as well as fancy dress competitions and pumpkin carving. Oh, and there’s a scavenger hunt, vintage fairground games, pop-up food stalls, and a Cornival Obstacle Maze. Phewww. Well that will keep them busy for a while.

CRAFTY CREATIONS

Wokingham's Berkshire Flower School Children's Halloween Arrangement Afternoon

Wokingham’s Berkshire Flower School are throwing a Halloween Arrangement Afternoo n for all the budding florists out there. Create a beautiful display, including the carving and designing of your own pumpkin as a spook-tacular vase alternative. It’s on 30 Oct and costs £70 with refreshments provided throughout.

Darling Buds of Windsor are running two fabulous Halloween workshops this season for kids and tweens. Halloween Flower Arranging and Halloween Autumn Wreath Making all take place on 19 Oct, from £16 with light refreshments included.

For more crafty goodness, The Base at Greenham is doing Children’s Halloween T-Shirt Print ing on 27 Oct, as well as a workshop where they can make Pinch Pot Pumpkins (20 Oct) and enrol on the Half Term Arts Club (28 – 31 Oct). Dress for serious mess. You don’t want to miss the lantern making workshops on 28 Oct – 1 Nov in the run up to their annual illuminated lantern display.

Clay Halloween Heads at City Arts in Newbury

Lots going on at City Arts in Newbury this October half term. Halloween printing, glass fusing, ghostly words, and make Halloween heads in clay. For kids aged 8+.

Bored teens in tow? Enroll them into cookery school. Over at Honesty Cookery School catch Flavours from the Ottoman Empire (22 Oct), Sourdough Made Simple (24 Oct), and Plant Powered Comfort Food (31 Oct). Paul Hollywood who?

Let them eat cake! Catch extra cakey action over at Pipedreams in Windsor for their Children’s Halloween Cupcake Workshop on 30 Oct. It’s 45 mins of non-stop piping fun.

PICK A PUMPKIN

A super special day out at one of the most beautiful estates in Berkshire. This is not your basic PYO pumpkin patch, Wasing is going to town with a magical trail through the stunning woodland that will be wearing its best autumnal colours. Follow the trail, meet Wasing’s wildest residents, before picking up your wheelbarrow and heading to the pumpkin patch. Pumpkin picking is thirsty work so of course there’s snacks and hot and cold drinks too. Tickets £6.50. Under 2s Free. Book up pronto. On 18 – 31 Oct.

Turn your pumpkin experience into more than merely popping into ASDA. Join the fun over at Hallcourt Farm (12 – 29 Oct). It’s their second year growing pumpkins and they’re in for a bumper crop. There’s a woodland trail for the keen bean wilderness explorers out there, big bale play, and if you really fancy making a day of your Halloween preparations, pick up a pumpkin carving kit and stickers from the barn where you can also enjoy some refreshments as you create a masterpiece. Tickets are £5.30 and you can book here.

For the second year, Rookery Farms is opening up its field to the Joe Public between 4 – 31 Oct, run by the Berkshire Farm Girl. A large selection of pumpkins will be available to buy which you can also carve on site. Kids will have the opportunity to explore the big maize maze, as well as other farm machinery, enjoy big bale play, painting, PYO sweetcorn, and are encouraged to dress up in Halloween costumes. Tickets are £4 and wellies and wheelbarrows are advised. Grab a ticket here.

See the full guide to the best local pumpkin picking patches here.

LOW AND NO COST FUN

Get dressed up in your chilling best and follow the trail around Dinton Pastures Country Park. If you dare. The Halloween Pumpkin Hunt takes place 26 Oct – 3 Nov and takes around 45 mins to complete. £2.50pp with a prize at the end. There will also be a Pumpkin Fair on 27 Oct with pumpkin decorating, spooky and fun face painting, fairground rides, inflatables, crafts, pumpkin hunts and a bar (the most essential)! Suggested entry £1pp.

Witches, spooky tea light painting, and much more – there’s lots happening at Squires Garden Centre in Wokingham this half term (28 Oct – 1 Nov). Secure your space online now!

More purse-friendly fun at Shaw House. There’s a family activity day on 30 Oct including Halloween decoration making and a trail, a School of Enchantment on 31 Oct (new for 2024!) plus they’re showing Hotel Transylvania 2 on 29 Oct and there will be show Oldilocks and the Three Bears on 28 Oct for 3 – 7 year olds.

A Victorian Schoolroom Experience in the Gateway at Reading Museum

Had enough of them already? Just shove them back in school. A Victorian Schoolroom Experience in the Gateway at Reading Museum takes place 1 Nov where they will meet a Victorian schoolteacher and re-learn the ‘3Rs’. It’s a 45-minute experience for adults and children over 5. Other arts and crafts activities happening during October half term too.

GET OUTDOORS

All is merry and bright over at Welford Park for their Spectacle of Light Show spectacular taking place between Fri 18 Oct – Sun 10 Nov. This magical after-dark activity for all the family will leave you dazzled as you weave your way around the illuminated trail (hot choc in hand of course) through the majestic woodland and gardens under the stars. After you’ve worked up an appetite, grab a scrumptious bite to eat from the street food vendors by the house. Psst, keep your eyes peeled for Prue and Paul too. Book by 17 Oct for cheaper prices. Adults from £19.80, Child £10.80, Family of four £53.10. Under 3s go free.

It’s going to totally pop off at Renegade Brewery’s Halloween Fireworks Spectacular on 31 Oct. Doughnuts, beer, and one cracking sky display – what more do you want?

Get some fresh air at Basildon Park with the Half Term Outdoor Trail (25 Oct – 3 Nov), perfect for wilderness explorers of all ages. Pick up your £2 trail sheet from the visitor reception and go wild with games and activities along the way. At the end, you will even get a prize. A similar event is happening at Cliveden too.

Go batty for the The Bewitching Bat Half Term Trail at Woolley Firs Maidenhead between 28, 31 Oct & 1 Nov. Stretch your legs in the great outdoors and follow the Halloween-themed trail through the witchy woods and into the ‘bat cave’. It’s a self-guided circular route taking up to 90 minutes where you will learn about wildlife and collect knowledge, relics and ingredients along the way to make an enchanting concoction.

More from where that came from at the Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre on 29 & 30 Oct where there’s a Spooky Spectacular Halloween Trail. Similarly, Great Windsor Park have a Wildlife Halloween Mystery Family Trail on 29 – 31 Oct where you’ll become a wildlife detective and solve the wildlife “murder” mystery. £8.89 per child. Dress for mud! See the full list of October half term events here.

If strolling with bats wasn’t terrifying enough, give the ghosts a go. Between 30 Oct – 1 Nov, you will have the opportunity to Walk with Ghosts around the private grounds of Stubbings Nursery. Yep, you heard that right. Professor Fredericks, a Victorian para-psychologist (aka a ghost expert), will guide you on a journey with tales of ghosts and supernatural sightings. Afterwards, tuck into a light dinner at the café – included in the ticket price. It’s £24.95 for adults, and £20.95 for kids. The third walk of the night is strictly 15+.

Come on now, it’s not spooky season without a weird scarecrow knocking about. Join the Scarecrow Hunt in Binfield between 26 Oct – 3 Nov. The locals usually put on a cracking trail including Mr Potato Head, Ronaldo, and Minion themed crows. Definitely worth a mooch.

Mortimer Scarecrow Trail runs during half term too, with this years theme being Myths and Legends. Bring it on. See it 26 Oct -3 Nov.

STAGE AND SCREEN

Judith Kerr’s tea loving tiger is back in Reading, direct from the West End (hurrah). This family favourite is packed with plenty of magic, songs to sing along to, and all kinds of chaos. It’s Olivier Award nominated for a reason, people. Pull up a chair at The Corn Exchange Newbury to see The Tiger Who Came To Tea between 25 – 27 Oct.

Wrap up for cinema under stars at Cobbs Farm Hungerford. They’ll be showing the classic The Addams Family on 26 Oct. There’s hot food and drinks, and a fancy dress competition from 4pm with the film starting at 6pm. Love it. Time to channel your inner Wednesday.

At Norden Farm, there’s lots going on to keep the nippers entertained. WiFi Wars returns with a very spooky version of the live comedy game show where you all play along on 29 Oct. The Amazing Bubble Man also makes his comeback on 30 Oct with what’s regarded as the greatest bubble show on Earth. If you struggle with transforming your little monsters into, well, actual monsters, there’s Halloween Makeup Workshops on 31 Oct.

Another goldie for the older lot. A remote island setting, mysterious disappearances, and creepy dolls are just a few of the things you can expect to see in the adaptation of Berkshire author Rebecca Netley’s award-winning novel, The Whistling. Set to apparate in all its ghoulish glory at The Mill at Sonning theatre this autumn for a huge 7-week run, now – 16 Nov. Just don’t blame us if things go bump in the night. Psst, you can check out our chin-wag with Rebecca here.

Halloween is creeping in which means it’s time to get your freaky fix. Dracula should do it for your teens. See it at the Theatre Royal Windsor between 29 Oct – 2 Nov where the Victorian Gothic blends with the Contemporary in this fantastic adaptation.

Simon Reeve – To The Ends Of The Earth, The Hexagon Reading

If you’re looking for something to inspire your hard-to-please teens, Simon Reeve ‘s swashbuckling tales of his adventures around the globe should do it. In fact, he’s been to a whopping 130 countries to be exact. Join him as recalls stories, surprises, thrills, deeper thoughts and hearty laughs that encourage audiences to step out their comfort zone, take gentle risks, and embrace the wider world. His last tour was a sell-out. Just saying. At The Hexagon Reading, 24 Oct.

“Make me look fit on the poster” was all Amy Gledhill asked for in the run up to her brand new comedy show, all about self-confidence, romance and bin bags. And with that hair, we think she’s nailed it. See the newly crowned Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner 2024 take to the stage at South Street Reading on 26 October. A guaranteed crack for those 16+.

Tumble out of bed and stumble to the kitchen to book tickets to the smash-hit 9 to 5 The Musical, featuring original numbers from Dolly Parton’s Oscar, Tony and Grammy Award nominated score. This comedy follows the lives of office workers Violet, Judy and Doralee as they live out their wildest fantasy – giving their boss the boot! Tickets from £22. On at South Hill Park, 30 Oct – 2 Nov.

Also at South Hill Park, discover the world of the Moomins where anything is possible at the Mischief and Mystery in Moominvalley show on 3 Nov. Based on the much-loved novels by Tove Jansson, this heartwarming show is suitable for children aged 3 – 7. From £12.50.

SOMETHING NEW

LEGOLAND Windsor LEGO themed indoor adventure golf course

Bonkers for bricks? Well swing into the fun over at LEGOLAND Windsor with the world’s first ever LEGO themed indoor adventure golf course. You can tee off at four out-of-this-world themed 9-hole courses including pirates, space, LEGO city, and a medieval village. There’s a café – Tee Time – to grab refreshments after all that thirsty putting work. Tickets can be purchased online in advance from £10 per person and courses are suitable for 3+. Now that’s a hole new level of fierce competition!

If you’re looking for somewhere to unleash your mini beasts, the newly launched Oxygen Activeplay (formerly RedKangaroo) opened this month, complete with thirty-two trampolines, parkour-style stunt areas, a mega air-bag, trapeze, a Gladiator Run, and so much more. Let’s bounce.

Escape rooms are huuuge, so Escape Hunt in Reading should be an easy sell for your hard-to-please teens. Here there are five rooms, each with a different theme – Wild West, Blackbeard’s Treasure, The Last Vikings, Alice in Puzzleland and the Dr Who themed Worlds Collide. Locking up your teen for a few hours, testing the grey matter – sounds like a brilliant idea.

Hop on a Windsor Duck Tour bus and whizz around the historic streets of Windsor for a dunking in the river. Rain or shine, this is always a fun history lesson/sightseeing adventure.

LET OFF SOME STEAM

For a spooky adrenaline rush, take them over to Swinley Forest Bracknell or Black Park in Slough for a sundown session at Go Ape (18 Oct – 10 Nov), great for October Half Term. Starting at 5pm, this means swinging through the trees in the dark — for your daredevil teens. Wimps need not apply!

Too brrr for you? Clip N Climb Reading is fun activity centre for kids of all ages (and kidults too) to let off steam. You can read my review here, but the variety of challenges, competitive speed climb, and cool computer game styling is a no brainer for your monkeys.

A dead cert hit with adrenaline junkie teens, the annual Fright Night at Thorpe Park (4 Oct – 4 Nov). Expect thrilling rollercoaster rides in the dark, spooks, ghouls and plenty of scares in the infamously terrifying scare maze. Recommended for ages 13+. New for this year is the Deadbeat maze, plus you can ride the UK’s fastest and tallest new roller coaster, Hyperia, in the dark for the first time ever. Rather you than me.

Bray Lake Watersports Bray Berkshire willow tree lined lake paddle boarding sailing wind surfing and more

Water sports in October? Are we mad? Nope, the water temperature is pretty toasty at this time of the year and Bray Lake Watersports is running various courses designed for 8 – 14 year olds. Courses start on 21 Oct, 28 Oct, or 4 Nov. So if your kids fancy learning to sail, windsurf, paddleboard or kayak, then book them in. It’s a great place to learn, with a pro coaching team who have the patience of a saint.

The Little Gym in Windsor is running daily camps throughout half term for those aged 3-12. Morning only and full day options available.

Need more inspo? See our bumper guide to what’s on in October or ditch the kids all together with these adult Halloween events happening this month.

Having a nightmare? 65+ awesome things to do this October half term

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