From pick-your-own pumpkin patches to guided mushroom walks, savour the delights of autumn with our pick of the best family events and days out happening in and around Cambridge this month.
Harvest celebrations: See the seasonal decorations at Ely Cathedral
Giving thanks for autumn’s bounty, Ely Cathedral’s Harvest Weekend takes place on 10 and 11 October this year, drawing inspiration from the hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful.
Visit to see the cathedral festooned with seasonal decorations including floral arrangements and harvest displays, sample local honey and learn about the world of bees courtesy of Cambridge Bee Keeping Association, and take part in a variety of harvest-themed family activities.
Apple antics: Discover Cambridgeshire’s orchards and sample local apples
Of course, autumn means apples! Everyone’s favourite healthy snack and/or hot dessert ingredient, this humble fruit is celebrated up and down the country at this time of year.
In Cambridgeshire, you can sample and buy local apples, get cultivation tips, discover the region’s orchard heritage and enjoy a wealth of entertainment at events such as Cambridge University Botanic Garden’s Apple Day on 18 October, Great Fen Apple and Harvest Fair at Ramsey Rural Museum on 11 October, Apple Day at Burwash Manor on 10 October and Ely’s Autumn & Orchard Fayre held from 10 to 11 October.
Fungi fun times: Guided mushroom walks and art with the kids
As the weather turns cooler and damper, the forest floor comes alive with fungi. Unlock their mystery at the Wildlife BCN Peterborough Local Group Event, Fun with Fungus, at Southey Wood in Upton on 25 October – where you could spot the brilliant red fly agaric, vibrant purple amethyst deceiver or yellow brain during a guided walk with ecologist Sarah Lambert.
At Cambridge University Botanic Garden’s Fun with Fungi on 3 October, kids aged three plus will love learning fun facts and making fungi-inspired artwork.
Pumpkin picks: Visit a pumpkin patch and get carving
Probably the most recognised symbol of the season, it seems we just can’t get enough pumpkins at this time of year – whether it be the real thing, themed homewares or in spiced coffee form!
Pick yours at the Milton Maze Pumpkin Patch during October, at Skylark’s Week of Wickedness on 17-31 October and at Flag Fen Archaeology Park’s Halloween Fun event on 24-31 October. Pumpkin carving and a range of Halloween-themed family entertainment, from scarecrow trails to live shows, are also in store.
Seasonal spookiness: Halloween events in and around Cambridge
Several local attractions will get you in the spirit for spine-tingling fun. Climb aboard the woodland ghost train at Audley End Railway near Saffron Walden from 24 October to 1 November, where the tracks are lined with not-too-scary scenes. Once alighted, little ones will be greeted by fun characters, a hands-on potion-making experience, stage shows, steaming hot chocolates and much more!
Over at the National Trust’s Wimpole Estate, a Halloween at the House event will see the interiors transformed with cobwebs, floating candles and frightful feasts from 1 October to 1 November.
Finally, enjoy a spooky tractor ride, crafts, storytelling, bug hunting, face painting and more at Sacrewell Farm near Peterborough on 24-31 October.
Looking for more things to do this autumn? Check out our full guide to what’s on in Cambridge this month.