From pumpkin carving and bushcraft to farming and creepy crawlies – there’s plenty of Half Term and Halloween fun happening near you this year
1. Week of Wickedness
Celebrate Halloween with Skylark’s annual spooktacular from 22 to 30 October. In addition to all the usual farmyard activities – including den building, pig racing, go-karting and exploring the farm’s legendary maze – there will be pumpkin picking and carving, phantom tractor rides, plus a spooky comedy and magic show to keep spirits high! Ghoulish garb is encouraged, with daily fancy dress competitions allowing you to unleash your spooky side.
2. Ghost Train
Take a trip on Audley End Miniature Railway’s Halloween Express for a ghostly tour of the woodland from 22 to 31 October. You’ll visit a coven of witches and their monster friends, hear a prophesy from Belinda the Fortune-Telling Witch and meet William the Woodland Wizard in the heart of the forest. Book tickets in advance – fang-tastic outfits are a must!
3. The Great BioQuest
Funded by The Genetics Society and the University of Cambridge, this free and interactive web-based trail explores local scientific history and offers a unique way to explore the city. There are three trails available – the worm, the fly and the frog – which will guide you through each animal’s developmental story, from its beginnings as a tiny cell to a full-grown adult. By answering riddles that will help you arrive at your next checkpoint, expect to hear favourite local tales and uncover facts you never knew before.
4. Holiday Bushcraft
Holiday Bushcraft at Wandlebury, from 24-28 October, provides the opportunity for children between five and 12 to unlock new skills and spend time in nature. Under the guidance of qualified teachers from Wild Thyme & Embers, your children will learn practical bushcraft and survival skills – from shelter building to fire-lighting techniques and wilderness cooking – with plenty of games and activities thrown in.
5. Denny Abbey and the Farmland Museum
A charming setting for a family day out. Explore the site’s 850-year-old heritage of farming communities and Fenland life through a series of interactive exhibitions and unique collections in the museum. From 27 to 30 October, there will also be seasonal activities such as pumpkin carving to try your hand at.
6. Halloween at Audley End
Audley End is shining a light on all things supernatural this half term, with various Halloween activities to keep your little monsters entertained. Explore the gardens by solving clues on a fun family quest and meet costumed performers with plenty of stories to tell. From 28 to 30 October, discover the grounds at dusk as ghost-hunting storytellers lead you on a walk through the shadows of the estate, sharing tales of spooky and strange goings-on.
