While Halloween in Bristol is a bit more pared down than usual this year, there are still a handful of spooky shenanigans happening in order to entertain your little monsters! Here’s a round-up of October half term and Halloween events in Bristol.
*As with all events during these uncertain times, there is no guarantee that these events will go ahead. COVID-safety measures will apply – check the individual websites beforehand to avoid disappointment. Please let me know if you hear of any more Halloween events and I’ll add them to the list.
Half term and Halloween events in Bristol – Pumpkin patches
Spooky Fun at Avon Valley Wildlife and Adventure Park (24-31 October)
Grab hold of your broomsticks and take a ride on the ‘Skeleton Express’ railway, ‘Madame Pumpkins Tractor Tour’ or the Zombie Safari at Avon Valley Wildlife and Adventure Park. Entertainers and park mascots will be roaming the park with their usual high jinx and there will be a self-led ‘Find your Monster’ trail. The pets corner team will also have some furry friends for you to meet throughout the day and Merlin the Owl with his Flying Academy will be out for you to meet.
Pumpkin Patch at Avon Valley(3-4, 10-11,17-18, 24-31 October and 1 November)
P-p-p-pick out a pumpkin to turn into your very own spooky jack-o-lantern from the patch at Avon Valley. This year the event has been made COVID Safe – book an entrance time slot with free car parking on site. There’ll also be fairground rides (charged separately), Pumpkin Paintball, Pumpkin Slingshot and lots more!
Tickets: £3pp, children under 2 are FREE. Please note tickets to the Pumpkin Patch do not give you access to Avon Valley Park, these can be purchased separately.
Image courtesy of Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park
Pumpkin picking at Farringtons, Farrington Gurney (3-31 October)
Over 40,000 pumpkin seeds of have been planted for Farrington’s annual pumpkin festival – choose from an array of different varieties including the popular white ghost pumpkins. A real favourite among local families, booking essential.
Half term Halloween Trails in Bristol
Treasure Island Story Walk (24 October-1 November)
Bristol is where Long John Silver ran a pub called The Spyglass, where Squire Trelawney discovered and fitted out the Hispaniola ship, and where young Jim Hawkins stepped off the coach from Devon to set sail for Captain Flint’s buried treasure.
Hear tales full of buccaneers, hidden spy holes, dark secrets, dirty deeds and lashings of doubloons at midday and 2pm on Bristol docks with a swashbuckling pirate, Ted the fact checking parrot and the worst pirate jokes you’ll ever hear.
Halloween trail at Clifton Observatory (24 October-1 November)
The Bristol giants Ghyston, Goram and Avona have hidden a number of clues around Clifton Observatory to solve the Halloween Quiz and they need your help! Delve deep into the giant’s cave, explore the heights of the observatory tower, complete a spooky scavenger hunt and win a Halloween treat!
The Halloween Trail will be running from 10am – 5pm and is open to all children between the age of 4 – 1. Tickets can be purchased here. £2.50 per child.
From my window Halloween Trail – BS13 (24 Oct – 1 Nov)
Pick up a trail sheet for 50p from Zion Bristol (Tues-Fri 9am-3pm) to take part in the Manor Woods Pumpkin trail during half term. If you are doing the trail on 31 October, Zion will be open between 3 – 5pm for you to collect a treat!
Hot chocolate and adult drinks will be available to buy from the bar.
Brave Bold Drama performance & Halloween Trail, Page Park(30-31 October)
Brave Bold Drama will be giving a very daft outdoor Halloween-themed family performance of their show Stick Ends in the sensory garden by Bean Tree Cafe in Page Park, Kingswood. Tickets to the shows include a Halloween-themed trail around the garden – complete all the challenges to bag yourself a prize from the cafe.
Numbers are strictly limited to 20 per show/trail slot to keep everyone safe and are £6 per person (plus booking fee). Book in advance here.
Shows/trails happening on 30 and 31 Oct at 4pm/4.30pm/5pm/5.30pm/6pm
Halloween displays in Bristol – (17 Oct – 1 Nov)
Since Halloween won’t be the ‘normal’ trick or treat experience this year, this city-wide trail allows Halloween-lovers an alternative super scary way to celebrate. Head out on your very own devilish adventure and seek out spooktacular home-made Halloween displays around Bristol with this handy map.
Bradley Stoke Wizards and Witches Scarecrow Trail (24-31 October)
Complete Bradley Stoke Town Council’s fearsome Wizards and Witches Scarecrow Trail for a chance to enter the prize draw and win £50. Trail maps (£1) will be available from the Town Council Offices and Activity Centres from 28 September and prizes are available for the best and funniest scarecrows – vote for your favourite!
All proceeds from this event will go towards the Mayors’ Charities which include: Great Western Air Ambulance Charity and Next Link Domestic Abuse Services.
Click the following links to download the event poster and entry form:
Autumn family trail at The Holburne Museum, Bath (from 24 October)
Have fun exploring Sydney Gardens and the beautiful grounds of The Holburne museum. Follow the map to enjoy self-led creative activities and surprises (clay included) in this FREE Autumn family trail.
Halloween in Bristol – Events
October half term at Brunel’s SS Great Britain
Waddle on over to Brunel’s great ship to help Stanley and his penguin chums (visiting from the Falkland Islands, where the ship lay abandoned until 1970) seek out their eggs! Search the ship and dockyard to help reunite the penguins with their precious chicks. The trail is included in the cost of admission, remember to pre-book your visit in advance.
Storytale festival (24-28 October)
Bristol Storytale Festival is a children’s book festival founded by Bristol residents, Ellie Freeman and author Kate Frost. A bitesize edition of the festival will be running online this year, celebrating the wonderful world of kid’s books with lots of fun and creative activities for all ages. From storytelling and craft activities for tots, to writing workshops and inspiring discussions for teens, you can watch it all in your PJs as often as you want!
Spooktacular Halloween at Puxton Park (24-31 October)
Seasonal Squash Display at Tyntesfield (25 October-15 November)
Treat your eyes to one of the prettiest autumnal scenes in Bristol, Tyntesfield’s annual seasonal squash display. Marvel at their pumpkins, gourds and squash in the beautiful orangery, before zipping round the grounds to marvel at the changing trees and play in the natural wood playground. Pre-booking essential.
The Grand Halloween, Weston-super-Mare (24 October-1 November)
The pier in Weston will be adorned with ghoulish decorations this Halloween…Dress your little pumpkins in their most terrifying costumes and enjoy a day of unlimited rides, tricks and treats. They’ll have some Halloween treats available in the shops, bar and restaurants, plus some extra spooktacular activities for younger guests.
Pumpkin Fest at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm (24 October-1 November)
Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm’s Pumpkin Fest features a Pumpkin Mystery trail (available to download online in advance) with the chance to win a family ticket for four as well as an adoption. Some of the zoo’s attractions are closed until further notice to support social distancing and current government guidance.
Spooktacular Halloween fun with Henry VIII & Past Times Living History, Berkeley Castle (25-28 October)
Enjoy some ghastly goings-on at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire. Meet King Henry VIII and his two beheaded wives who’ll regale you with tales of how they lost their heads, watch out for Grim the Executioner prowling the castle with tales of gore and take part in the Gruesome Game Show! Make sure your little horrors are on their best behaviour or Wee Jobbie the Gaoler will be looking out for new residents in the dungeon and discover the latest Tudor cures for your pesky persistent plagues, but beware, be she a healer or be she a witch!
Drive In Cinema at Bristol Filton Airfield (27-31 October)
Get into the Halloween spirit by watching a spooky family-friendly monster-esque movie from the comfort of your car! During the course of the week Bristol Filton Airfield will screen Monsters Inc (27 Oct, 2pm), Hotel Transylvania (28 Oct, 2pm), Coraline (30 Oct, 2pm) and The Nightmare before Christmas (31 Oct, 2pm). Contact free and social distancing-friendly.
The Harry Potter Potion Class, Shire Way Social Club, Bristol (31 October)
Dinky Drivers Halloween event, Coalpit Heath (31 October 1.20-2.30pm & 3.30-4.40pm)
Dinky Drivers offer a fleet of vintage pedal cars and ride-ons, together with other road/race related items for hire. This year, they’ll be holding a Halloween special and tickets are on sale now via www.dinkydrivers.co.uk
Old Down Spook Fest (26 Sept-31 October)
A spine-chilling week jam-packed with ghoulish activities at Old Down Country Park! Take part in pumpkin carving (£4), a scavenger hunt (£2.50), pumpkin bowling and a Halloween dressing-up competition on 31st October, with a prize for the best costume.
For pumpkin carving, book a time slot at the ticket office. Entry tickets can be bought upon arrival at the park or online.
Halloween at Wookey Hole (24 October – 1 November)
What better time of year to visit the Witch of Wookey than Halloween!? See the witch mixing potions in her Halloween Grotto, take a ride on the brand-new Ghost Train, check out the creepy, crazy mirrors and the cave light show and plenty of eerie adventure around every corner!
Spooktober half-term family fun trail @ American Museum and Gardens (24 October-1 November)
Dare you wander round the Winding Way on a spooky A to Zee Halloween trail? Brave souls will be discover a whole alphabet of scariness. £3 per child includes prize. Normal admission applies.
Zombie Archery at Moving Mountains, Kelston
As the light fades on Kelston Roundhill the Zombies take over! Are you brave enough to fight them off armed only with a bow and arrow? Can you save the good people of Kelston village from the impending zombie attack?! After bow and arrow tuition from expert instructors, you’re ready to take on the Zombie targets!
Sessions start at 6pm and 7.45pm and cost £15 per person, or £45 for a family of 4. Due to Covid regulations they will be allowing no more than 2 groups of up to 4, or one group of up to 6, per session.
Autumn walks
Get the kids outside to burn off some Half Term energy by making the most of this colourful season. I’ve put together a list of some of the best autumn walks in and around the city.
Half Term Halloween sessions for kids
Launchpad live Halloween art special on Zoom (1pm, 31 October)
Join Launchpad live on Zoom on 31 October at 1pm for a 1 hour special Halloween art session suitable for school-aged children (£5). They’ll be teaching you how to make some spooky silhouette paintings, 3D bats and large painted eyeballs, plus getting you involved in some fun games!
Be sure to have plenty of paper, A4 black sugarpaper or card, a pencil, black wax crayon or a black oil pastel to create your silhouettes, water colour paints or ready mixed paints (including red, yellow, orange, blue and green) water pot, brushes, a black sharpie or black felt pen and a black biro, table covering, a small plate and a cup to draw around for your large eyeball!
Pop Up Play Village Bath, Wick Village Hall (30 October)
Pop Up Play Village Bath are bringing their role play village and Outdoor Explorers sessions to Wick! Kids can explore different areas such as the café, construction site and veterinary centre, complete with dressing up and props needed for your little one’s imagination to take them anywhere they can imagine.
Pre-booking is essential.
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Day trips from Bristol: family days out within 1 hour’s drive of the city
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