Keeping the whole family entertained during half term can be a challenge, but there are plenty of activities and events to enjoy across Scotland and Northern England this October. From family-friendly fun to spooky experiences to send a chill down your spine, there's something to get everyone into the spirit of the season.
North East England
Spookydorei at The Alnwick Garden
Thursday 1st October - Sunday 1st November
18 miles / 28 min drive from Riverside Holiday Park
The clans of Lilidorei are hard at work decorating to embrace the spirit of the season, donning their fabulous costumes and preparing plenty of riddles for little adventurers to enjoy. With a Spooky and Not So Spooky side of the village, there's something for everyone, whether you fancy taking on a quest, trying a spot of trick or treating, or voting for your favourite scarecrow in the Spooky Scarecrow Contest.
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Spookydorei at The Alnwick Garden
Halloween Spooktacular at Whitehouse Farm Centre
Saturday 10th - Saturday 31st October
38 miles / 51 min drive from Riverside Holiday Park
Promising a wicked family day out full of hair-raising Halloween fun, Whitehouse Farm Centre is the place to be this October. Offering a mix of indoor and outdoor fun, including pumpkin carving, interactive shows, a walkway of terror, fancy dress competitions and much more, you'll have a day packed with frightful family fun.
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Halloween Spooktacular at Whitehouse Farm Centre
Brocksbushes Pumpkin Patch
Saturday 3rd - Saturday 31st October
19 miles / 33 min drive from Heather View Holiday Park
With over 90,000 pumpkins of various shapes, sizes and colours available, Brocksbushes Pumpkin Patch is the place to be for the ultimate autumnal day out. Grab your wellies, head into the field and choose the perfect pumpkin to bring home before enjoying everything else on offer at the farm, from delicious marshmallow toasting to funfair rides and Halloween games!
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Brocksbushes Pumpkin Patch
Adventure Valley's Halloween Half Term
24 miles / 42 min drive from Heather View Holiday Park
Offering more giggles than ghouls, Adventure Valley’s special Halloween event is guaranteed to be packed with frightful fun this October. Explore the park as you take on the Halloween trail, meeting plenty of happy characters along the way and tackling themed activities to bring a smile to all. With animal encounters, a go kart track, family-friendly rides, 3 indoor play areas and much more, there’s endless fun to be had!
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Halloween at Adventure Valley
Halloween Disco at Derwent Manor
Friday 30th October
12 miles / 23 min drive from Heather View Holiday Park
Ready for a scarily good time to celebrate the spookiest season of all? Costumes, treats and fun await you at Derwent Manor, where you'll have the perfect opportunity to embrace the eeriness of Halloween. With games, a costume competition and plenty of treats on offer, it's sure to be a night to remember for ghouls big and small.
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Derwent Manor's Halloween Disco
Family Stargazing at Raby Castle
Thursday 29th October
16 miles / 29 min drive from Heather View Holiday Park
For a truly unique experience, head over to High Force Waterfall for an unforgettable evening under the stars. Settle in for an interactive, professionally hosted stargazing session designed especially for young explorers ages 5-15. Throughout the session, you'll have the chance to spot constellations, planets, shooting stars and deep-sky objects, while listening to seasonal stories from local mythology and science that truly bring the cosmos to life.
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Stargazing at High Force Waterfall
Halloween at Raby Estate
Saturday 3rd October - Sunday 1st October
21 miles / 33 min drive from Heather View Holiday Park
With plenty of seasonal fun on offer, the Raby Estate is the place to be for all your Halloween haunts and autumn adventures. Whether you Trick or Trail through the Haunted Forest, paint your own pumpkin or brave the Plotters' Forest after dark, there's something to give everyone a ghoulishly great time this October.
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Raby Estate
Spooky Half Term at Hall Hill Farm
Saturday 17th October - Sunday 1st November
11 miles / 20 min drive from Heather View Holiday Park
Will you be brave enough to embark on a spooky day out at Hall Hill Farm this Halloween? With so much to explore, including Giant Scarecrows, a Haunted Sheep Race, a Mini Monster Maze, a Trick or Treat Treasure Hunt and much more, there's something for everyone to get into the spirit of spooky season.
South West Scotland
Pumpkin Picking at Walby Farm Park
Saturday 3rd - Saturday 31st October
24 miles / 35 min drive from Queensberry Bay Holiday Park
This popular seasonal event returns this year, bringing jam-packed days of fun. Head out into the patch to find the perfect pumpkin, sample the range of outdoor games and seasonal activities and enjoy a range of tasty treats in the cafe for a fantastic family day out you won’t forget! If you’re looking for something a little different, why not opt for Twilight Pumpkin Picking, where you can visit the pumpkin patch as the light begins to fade.
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Pumpkin Picking at Walby Farm Park
Halloween Happenings at Drumlanrig Castle
Saturday 10th - Saturday 31st October
33 miles / 57 min drive from Queensberry Bay Holiday Park
If you're looking for full-on Halloween fun this October, Drumlanrig Castle has plenty to keep little (and bigger) monsters busy for hours. With a special themed trail through the Gardens and Grounds, a pumpkin patch and seasonal games, it's perfect for a family day out this Halloween.
For an extra spooky experience, why not give the Drumlanrig After Dark event a try? Still designed with children in mind, the trail will take on an eerie atmosphere as night falls over the estate. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the creepy characters along the way!
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Pumpkin Patch at Drumlanrig Castle
Wee Film Club: Funny Bones
Saturday 31st October
18 miles / 32 min drive from Queensberry Bay Holiday Park
If you're seeking something for little ones to embrace seasonal fun, Wee Film Club is a great choice. Settle in, get cosy and enjoy the comical adventures of two skeletons and their skeletal dog in the TV adaptation of the popular book series. It's a wonderful way to give young children their first cinema experience with a Halloween twist.
Artie's Signing Kettle Halloween
Sunday 1st November
16 miles / 30 min drive from Queensberry Bay Holiday Park
Ready to don your creepy costume, bring your seasonal spirit and settle in for a Halloween show bursting with magic and merriment? Artie's Singing Kettle Halloween show gives families a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the season, with spooky mysteries, sing-alongs and plenty of fun for all.
Pumpkin Patch at Heads of Ayr Farm Park
Saturday 10th - Sunday 25th October
24 miles / 38 min drive from Viewfield Manor Holiday Park
Embrace cosy Autumn vibes all around with a trip to Heads of Ayr Farm's pumpkin patch. Wander the patch, choose your favourite pumpkin and enjoy everything else the farm has to offer. Whether you take a ride on the train, let little ones unleash their imaginations in the many play areas, and pay the resident farm animals a visit for a fabulous family day out filled with marvellous memories.
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Heads of Ayr Pumpkin Patch
Alloween at Robert Burns Birthplace Museum
Sunday 11th - Thursday 15th October
21 miles / 32 min drive from Viewfield Manor Holiday Park
If you're looking for somewhere everyone can embrace the spirit of the season, the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum is a great spot. Whether you fancy braving the Ghastly Gardens Trail, unleashing your creativity with some creepy Crafts or taking on the Golden Pumpkin Hunt, there's plenty for the whole family to have a fabulous day out.
South East Scotland
Halloween at Newhailes House
Saturday 31st October - Monday 2nd November
29 miles / 35 min drive from Thurston Manor Holiday Park
34 miles / 42 min drive from Pease Bay Holiday Park
42 miles / 55 min drive from Coldingham Bay Holiday Park
43 miles / 56 min drive from Scoutscroft Holiday Park
There's plenty to help you embrace the spirit of Halloween at Newhailes House this October, making it a fantastic place for a day out. Test your courage by taking on the Halloween Trail, following spooky clues, enjoying games along the way and meeting the ponies at the end of the day. For a slightly different experience, head to the Creepy Critters workshop, where you can get up close to snakes, giant snails, tarantulas and more in an interactive show.
For an especially spooky experience, the Newhailes After Dark event is perfect, giving you the chance to explore the eerie halls of the house before venturing deeper into the darkness as you're led into the haunted woods. This event is for ages 12+, making it ideal for families with older children who enjoy a fright.
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Creepy Critters Workshop
Pumpkins After Dark at the Royal Highland Centre
Friday 9th - Saturday 31st October
42 miles / 53 min drive from Thurston Manor Holiday Park
46 miles / 60 min drive from Pease Bay Holiday Park
Perfect for families, friends and lovers of Halloween, this new tradition sees thousands of hand-carved pumpkins on display for you to admire, alongside demonstrations, live music, seasonal treats and plenty of fun for all ages.
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Pumpkins After Dark
Balgone Pumpkins
Saturday 10th - Saturday 31st October
14 miles / 24 min drive from Thurston Manor Holiday Park
19 miles / 30 min drive from Pease Bay Holiday Park
27 miles / 43 min drive from Coldingham Bay Holiday Park
28 miles / 43 min drive from Scoutscroft Holiday Park
Step into a sea of pumpkins and capture your perfect Autumn moments with a trip to Balgone Estate this October. The patch has plenty of pumpkins to choose from, as well as lots of picturesque spots for the ultimate autumnal photoshoot. After picking your perfect pumpkin, brave the spooky walk around Balgone Lakes for the Haunted Trail.
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Pumpkin Picking at Balgone
Halloween Spooktacular Fun Day
Saturday 25th October
16 miles / 25 min drive from Scoutscroft Holiday Park
17 miles / 27 min drive from Coldingham Bay Holiday Park
24 miles / 33 min drive from Pease Bay Holiday Park
29 miles / 39 min drive from Thurston Manor Holiday Park
Head to Paxton House this Halloween for tons of spooky good fun to celebrate the season. Enjoy themed music, arts and crafts, wand making, autumnal pond dipping, a Halloween trail and much more for a family day out you'll never forget. There are also prizes for best dressed, so be sure to show off your most creative costume.
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Halloween at Paxton House
Central Scotland
Samhain at the Scottish Crannog Centre
Saturday 31st October
26 miles / 46 min drive from Erigmore Holiday Park
If you're looking for something a little different to celebrate the season this October, the Scottish Crannog Centre is a wonderful spot to be. With musicians, performers and more, you'll experience a fire festival like no other, celebrating the ancient traditions that take us from the light to the darkness. There is also a costume competition, including a category especially for dogs, so the whole family can join in for plenty of fun.
Spooky Stained Glass Workshop
Saturday 18th October
13 miles / 21 min drive from Erigmore Holiday Park
25 miles / 48 min drive from Ballintuim Holiday Park
Enjoy a creative twist on the Halloween spirit with a trip to Perth Art Gallery, where you can design your own stained-glass decorations in a hands-on crafting session. Whether you design something spooky to suit the season, or something reflecting the colours of Autumn, this is a fantastic activity the whole family are sure to enjoy.
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Spooky Stained Glass Workshop
The Enchanted Forest
Thursday 8th October - Sunday 8th November
16 miles / 25 min drive from Erigmore Holiday Park
18 miles / 38 min drive from Ballintuim Holiday Park
No October trip to Perthshire is complete without a visit to the Enchanted Forest. Nestled within the trees of Faskally Wood, you'll wander into a magical world full of light, colour and mesmerising displays. Celebrating their 25th anniversary, this year's theme invited visitors to step into a secret extra hour, where they'll discover a playful and dreamlike world where minutes drift, clocks misbehave and the rules of reality begin to unravel. If you're looking for something extra special to enjoy this Autumn, this is the perfect activity.
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Enchanted Forest
Spooktacular Haunted Halloween at Auchingarrich Wildlife Park
Wednesday 7th October - Sunday 1st November
43 miles / 55 min drive from Erigmore Holiday Park
For a spooky day out, head over to Auchingarrich Wildlife Park where you can hop aboard the tractor taxi and brave the haunted forest. Be sure to keep your wits about you, as there may be zombies, ghosts and ghouls hiding around the corners, waiting to jump out and give you a fright. If they do pop out, make sure to give your best and loudest scream to scare them off.
