Your Family Guide to Halloween, October Half Term and Autumn in Bristol 2023

Autumn is the most beautiful season in Bristol! We have so many fun Halloween events, festive autumn activities, as well as events for October half-term! October half-term in Bristol this year is 21 – 29 October. I hope this list helps you decide what activities and events to enjoy with your family in Bristol this autumn.

Jump to:

• Pumpkin Picking
• Halloween Days Out
• Halloween Activities
• Halloween Parties
• Autumnal Walks
• Indoor Autumn Events
• Outdoor Autumn Events
• Theatre
• Free and Cheap Days Out
• New Openings

Pumpkin Picking

• Avon Valley Park – Day or Night Pumpkin Picking 30 Sep – 29 Oct. Pre-book
• Farrington’s Pumpkin Picking Festival 6-29 Oct. Pre-book
• Over Farm, Gloucester Day time or Pumpkins After Dark select dates. 30 Sep – 31 Oct. Pre-book
• Bath Pumpkin Patch 30 Sep, 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 20-29 Oct. Book free tickets
• Cotswold Farm Park Multiple Oct dates. Pre-book
• Puxton Park From 7 Oct weekends and daily during Oct half term. Free booking not required.
• Poplars Farm 21 – 29 Oct. Pre-book
• Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm Pumpkin patch corner part of entry to the zoo farm.
• Cattle Country 7 – 31 Oct. Included within Farm Park Tickets. It does not appear you can visit separate from the Farm Park.
• Palette and Pasture, Frome Various dates from 7 – 29 Oct. Pre-book
• Primrose Vale, Gloucester Various dates from 7 Oct. Pre-book from 18 Sep
• Triggols Farm, Clevedon Various dates from 7 Oct. Free
• St. Aldams Farm Nursery Expected early Oct. Check website for updates. Free booking not required.
• Thurloxton Farm, Taunton Open 14-15 and 20-30 Oct. Pre-book

Halloween Days Out

• Over Farm’s Spookyard Halloween Festival Oct 28 – Nov 5 Spooky shows, scavenger hunt, maize maze, corn cannons, flying school, fancy dress competition, street food, and the usual farm park activities they have: great new adventure play area, bouncy pillows, mini golf, tractor trailer rides, quad train ride
• Avon Valley FEARless Scream Park! Enjoy epic fire shows, spooky street performers, fairground rides and side stalls. FEARless is for 11-15 year olds or those who want a less scary experience to FEAR which is the main attraction but not suitable for children. 21 & 28 Oct. Their pumpkin picking is also epic with fantastic decorations, a small fairground, spooky shows, characters walking around, games, food and a bar so you could easily spend a couple of hours here!
• Mendip Activity Centre Halloween Themed Toboganning and Zombie Themed Target Sports! 6-29 Oct
• Halloween displays in Bristol and South Glos Facebook page are collating a map of the best decorated halloween homes! Take a hot chocolate and visit some. This is a great free halloween activity! Link to the Facebook group Here
• Wookey Hole Home of Halloween 21 – 29 October half Term in Bristol. Cave tours, giant pumpkin trail, 4D cinema, spooky circus show, museum, soft play, mini golf, fancy dress competition and meet the Wookey witch!
• Bristol Zoo Project Howl-Oween Trail 21 Oct – 5 Nov Learn about animal bones, skulls and x-rays. Enter the witch’s campsite, if you dare, listen to their spooky stories and get stuck into creepy craft making. Listen to talks about the bears and wolves, plus all the usual animal fun! There is also AutumnFest 4 Sep – 30 Nov including a Nature Spotter Autumn Trail.
• Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm Pumpkinfest 9 Oct – 5 Nov “Pumpkinfest will be filled with family fun including a pumpkin patch, a myth-busting trail, and oodles of seasonal photo opportunities. You can even pick a pumpkin to take home from the farmshop!” Bird of prey displays at 12.30pm daily.
• American Museum & Gardens American Halloween Trick or Treat 21-29 October half term in Bristol. “Join us throughout October half term for a cool, spooky day out at the museum with a classic American Trick or Treat atmosphere. There will be lots of family activities, a scavenger hunt in the autumnal gardens and a fun potion trail around the manor house.” Brick America Lego Exhibition on throughout autumn. Free entry on Sun 8 Oct as part of Bath Kids Lit Fest and on Weds 25 Oct as part of Bath Museum Week.
• Slimbridge Interactive Eek! Week Trail Sat 21 Oct – Sun 5 Nov “A fantastic, fun wildlife learning eek!sperience for all the family. Put your spookometer to the test with our interactive activities. Will you dare to put your hand in a snake box, grab a photo op with a bat or get up close and personal with a toad? A weirdly wild day out for the whole family.”
• Longleat The Great British Autumn 21-29 Oct. They are celebrating all things autumnal at Longleat. Have a go at pumpkin carving, see owl displays, and become a mini-tractor driver. Head outside to find the giant pumpkins and solve the riddle for a sweet treat. Plus all the usual safari, animals and activities!
• Sudeley Castle Halloweek at Sudeley 28 Oct – 5 Nov. “A spook-tacular week of magic, mischief, and ghoulish shenanigans at the Castle. Come and join in the fun as the temperature falls, the days get shorter, and the magic of Halloween fills the air. Discover how science, history and nature all have their part to play in the mysterious and oh-so-secretive world of magic.” Silly science workshops 31 Oct – 3 Nov. Dig and Delve magical themed nature-based crafts 1&2 Nov.
• Primrose Vale, Gloucester Halloween Farm Trail 25 Oct – 5 Nov. Pre-book from 18 Sep (Also see PYO)
• SS Great Britain Woeful Wounds 21-29 Oct. “Experience the magic of special effect make-up and receive your very own Woeful Wound. Make-up artists will create cuts and blisters that the galley crew would have suffered during their time working in the kitchen at sea on visitors aged 4-18”
• Bowood House and Gardens Witchcraft & Magic Pumpkin Trail 21-31 Oct “Join Witch Ramona and black cat Luna on a hunt to break the spell that the ghosts and ghouls have cast over the Bowood Estate. Find all the things needed to complete the Ramona’s magic rhyme as you work your way around the pumpkin trail this Autumn half-term.”
• Bristol Aquarium Sea Monsters 20-31 Oct “Join us for a spooktacular underwater adventure. Dive deep into the aquatic abyss and dare to discover a host of spine-tingling, creepy creatures that await beneath the waves. Watch our spooky squid dissection, and get involved making paper plate jellyfish!”
• Berkeley Castle Ghoul School “Interactive, self-led audio extravaganza that will teach your young thrill seekers all they need to know to become perfect little monsters.” 22 Oct – 5 Nov
• The Helicopter Museum Halloween Family Fun Day 15 Oct. Giant bubble shows, face painting, costumed characters, climb into helicopters and try on a pilots helmet!
• Cheddar Gorge & Caves The Ghost of Cheddar Man Trail Sat 21 – Sun 29 October half term in Bristol. “It’s time to party with the Ghost of Cheddar Man this Halloween. To celebrate the discovery of Cheddar Man here in Gough’s Cave, 120 years ago, we are hosting a special trail and themed festivities!”
• Old Down Country Park Half Term Spooky Spectacular. For the whole of October, one child enters for £1 with every full paying adult. Halloween Events include Pumpkin Picking & Carving (add-on tickets required), Trick or Treat Trail, and Halloween Afternoon Tea!

Halloween Activities

• Willsbridge Mill Biscuit Decorating 11 Oct 11am – 1 pm £2 on the day
• Little City Bristol Pop-up role play sessions Halloween Specials! Mon 16 Longwell Green, Thurs 19 Clevedon, Mon 23 Westbury-on-Trym, Tues 31 Little Stoke
• Arnos Vale Cemetery 18/19 Oct screenings of The Addams Family, Coco and Hotel Transylvania! See Autumn Events for more activities here.
• Be Weird Be Wild Be Wonderful Decorate a pumpkin 21 Oct
• Potion Making Class at Emerson’s Green Village Hall 23 Oct or at The Manor Hall Coalpit Heath 29 Oct
• Halloween Craft Day at Emerson’s Green Village Hall 26 Oct Sold Out
• Almondsbury Creative Party Peeps Zombie Nerf War 26 Oct
• Nature Makers Big Pumpkin Play Days at Westbury Wildlife Park 26 Oct and Coalpit Heath 27 Oct
• Lush Cribbs Causeway Halloween Making Kit Workshop Fri 27 Oct. A day filled with spooky bath bomb making fun!
• At Play In The Woods Pumpkin Carving Forest School Sessions 28 – 29 Oct
• Be Weird Be Wild Be Wonderful Pumpkin Painting 29 Oct
• For Halloween activities in Chew Valley take a look at the In Chew Valley Halloween Guide!

Halloween Parties

• Diddi Dance Halloween Parties running in 7 locations across Bristol between 9-21 Oct
• Johnny G’s Halloween Disco at Broadlands Academy BS31 Sat 21 Oct
• CNA Events Spooky Playground BS5 Sat 21 Oct
• LullaBaby East Bristol Halloween Spooktacular Parties Mon 23 Oct
• Emerson’s Green Village Hall Spooky Inflatable Funday 25 Oct
• Zion Bristol Wednesday Adams Halloween SPOOKTACULAR Dance Party! 25 Oct (Ages 4-8)
• Almondsbury Creative Party Peeps Family Fright Fest 26 Oct
• A and R Animal Adventures Halloween Parties 26, 27, 30 & 31 Oct
• Lyde Green Spooktacular Halloween Disco 26 Oct Sold Out Waiting List
• Ocean Adventurers, Cheddar Soft Play Halloween Parties 27 & 28th Oct
• Be Weird Be Wild Be Wonderful Over 5’s Spooky Spectacular Party 27 Oct
• Emersons Green Village Hall Party Peeps Halloween Disco 28 Oct Sold Out
• Be Weird Be Wild Be Wonderful Halloween Party 28 Oct Sold Out
• Butterflies Haven Halloween Party 28 Oct
• The Park Centre Kingswood Halloween Disco 29 Oct
• Raver Tots Halloween Party at Motion 29 Oct
• The Play Shed Halloween Disco and Soft Play 29 Oct
• Redcatch Community Garden Silent Disco 29 Oct
• Imagination Fascination Costume Party 31 Oct
• More parties likely TBC closer to Halloween – check my October highlights on Instagram for more

Autumnal Walks

• Westonbirt Arboretum Walking amongst the autumn colours at Westonbirt is the ultimate autumnal walk. The maples are stunning and remind me of New England. There is a Gruffalo trail and Autumn Family Trail mid Sep – 30 Nov. Pre-booking required 30 Sep – 12 Nov as this is peak season! Tickets are usually released a week at a time.
• Claim your free national trust pass currently valid between 18 Sep – 20 Oct. If there are more available for half term week I will update here and share on my Instagram stories!
• Tyntesfield National Trust See their iconic pumpkin display in the orangery! Halloween Trail 21-29 Oct – Help catch the mysterious beast who’s been stealing pumpkins!
• Dyrham Park National Trust Half-term spider trail 19 Oct – 1 Nov. There will be clues and facts about our favourite eight-legged friends to tie in with the half-term holiday and halloween.
• Newark Park National Trust Wild Art, Sculpture and Storytelling 21 Oct – 5 Nov
• Prior Park National Trust Autumn Half-Term Trail 21-29 October half term in Bristol. During half term follow the autumnal adventure trail around the garden. From spooky to nature related, there’s something to find at every location. Participating in Bath Museums Week so check for any free entry days.
• Stourhead National Trust Autumn Storytime 3, 10 & 17 Oct. Forest school sessions 21 & 28 Oct booking advised.
• Leigh Woods
• Ashton Court
• Blaise Castle
• Oldbury Court Estate/Snuff Mills

Indoor Autumn Events

• Bath Abbey is hosting Luke Gerram’s Gaia 18 Sep – 29 Oct and Playful Planet Children’s and Family Events
• Unicornfest Farewell Festival at Propyard. 23-24 Sep. See all the unicorns from the magical Unicornfest 2023 celebrations in one place!
• Bath Children’s Lit Fest Books and stories come alive this autumn in Bath! 29 Sep – 8 Oct
• Avon Valley Railway – Chocolate Sundays (See the steam locomotive from the old Fry’s chocolate factory in Keynsham and chocolate treat) 1, 8 & 15 Oct and Family Fun Weekend (steam train ride, birds of prey and autumnal trail) 28-29 Oct
• MShed Steam Train Ride Take a steam train ride on Bristol Harbour Railway from M Shed on 7/8, 21/22 & 28/29 Oct!
• Storytale Festival Storytelling events and activities for the children of Bristol! 20–23 October
• Aerospace Bristol Concorde20 Half Term Sat 21 – Sun 29 October half term in Bristol. Join Aerospace Bristol this October half term to mark the 20th anniversary of Concorde’s final flight. Family concorde tours, pilot training and other activites.
• John Wesley’s New Room Quill Pen Art Workshops 26/27 Oct
• Luxmuralis Force of Nature Light Show at Bristol Cathedral 30 Oct – Sat 4 Nov. Pre-book. This was spectacular last year!
• Flourish Adult & Child Autumnal Printing 28 Oct
• Flourish Adult & Child Make Your Own Bristol Balloon Print (6yrs+) 29 Oct
• Kingswood Heritage Museum Museum at Night 29 Oct
• Wolfridge Alpaca crafts multiple dates including needle felt hedgehog and pumpkins
• Whitehall Garden Centre Lacock Lots of craft and halloween activities. Pumpkin carving at Whitchurch.

Outdoor Autumn Events

• St Werburghs City Farm Farm Fair 23 Sep Local traders, music, storytelling, family fun, samba procession.
• We The Curious Festival for our Future 23 & 24 Sep. Free event celebrating collective action on climate change with a food theme. Family activities, film screenings, cooking demos, music and more. Please note this is in Millenium Square as We The Curious is currently closed.
• Glow Illuminated Fun in Two Mile Hill 23 Sep Children’s Art Workshops, Magical Lantern Garden, Music and Refreshments
• Graveyard Bat Walk Greenbank Cemetery 3 Oct
• Harvey’s Scarecrow Trail A great trail of homemade scarecrows to find across Chew Valley. This years theme is “Mother Nature’s Magic”. Money raised goes towards a charity for bereaved children. Purchase trail maps in Winford or Radstock, or download the app. Running 1-29 Oct
• Ashton Court Miniature Railway Services running Sun 1, 8, 22 & 29 Oct
• Stargazing at Failand Observatory “Experience an exciting tour of the night sky guided by friendly astronomers from the Bristol Astronomical Society. Observe the Moon, planets and fascinating deep space objects through their telescopes at their wonderful observatory. Attending this event requires prior booking. Tickets are made available via the Eventbrite website on the morning of the event, only if the forecast permits stargazing.” Potential dates 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 18, 19, 21 October 8-10pm so better for older children! When I was a leader at Brownies, I arranged for our group to go here for their Stargazer Badge and it was fantastic!
• Westbury Wildlife Park Autumn Mushroom Event 7 Oct
• University of Bristol Botanical Gardens Apple Day 8 Oct – Donate your apples and help make a proper Bristol cider!
• Winterbourne Medieval Barn Orchard Harvest Day 8 Oct
• Hartcliffe City Farm Harvest Festival 21 Oct
• West Country Water Park Halloween Night Glow Swim 27 Oct
• St Werburghs City Farm Apple Day at Boiling Wells 28 Oct
• Painswick Rococo Gardens The Great Scarecrow Hunt 28 Oct – 5 Nov
• Stories From The Stars Storytelling about the night sky from We The Curious at The Garden Theatre Windmill Hill City Farm 2, 9 and 16 Nov
• Perrygrove Railway “Halloween-Free October” Train rides and play areas. No halloween decorations if you want to avoid halloween!
• Arnos Vale Cemetery Half term events: Fire Lighting Workshop 23 Oct, Leaf Crown Making Workshop 23 Oct, In A Dark Dark Cellar Stomping Story 24 Oct, Coffin Decorating Activity 24 Oct, Grusome Tour For Teens and Tweens 24-26 Oct, Create a Miniature Gravestone 25 Oct, Creepy Kids Tour 25-26 Oct, The Broom Stomping Story 26 Oct, Creepy Creatures Craft Workshop 28 Oct. Some of these activities require pre-booking.

Theatre

• Giffords Circus Stroud 21 Sep – 1 Oct
• Circus Extreme Durdham Downs 15 Sep – 8 Oct
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical at Bristol Hippodrome 20 Sep – 8 Oct (Age 7+)
• Apple ‘N’ Spice at The Egg 23 Sep (Age 3+)
• Play Time: The Squeak-easy Party at The Egg 29 Sep (Age 2-6)
• Fold My City at The Egg 30 Sep (Age 3+)
• A Damsel Not In Distress Panto at The Egg 30 Sep (Age 5+)
• Find Your Happy at The Egg 30 Sep (Age 3+)
• The King of Nothing at The Redgrave Theatre 30 Sep (Age 5+)
• Adventuremice! at The Egg 1 Oct (Age 5+)
• Saving Neverland at The Egg 1 Oct (Age 8+)
• Splash Test Dummies at The Redgrave Theatre 7 Oct (Age 5-12)
• Oh No, George! at The Redgrave Theatre 14/15 Oct (Age 3+)
• Pippi Longstocking at The Wardrobe Theatre 14 Oct (Age 4-9)
• Owl at Home at The Egg 7-15 Oct (Age 5-11)
• The Darker Side (Storytale Festival) at The Garden Theatre Windmill Hill City Farm 20 Oct
• Miniature Travelling Circus at The Egg 19-22 Oct (Age 3+)
• The Sooty Show at Playhouse WSM 24 Oct
• Baba Yaga at The Egg 24-26 Oct (Age 6+)
• Buy One Get One Free at Alma Tavern and Theatre 24 Oct (Suggested Age 8+)
• The Colour of Dinosaurs at Bristol Old Vic 20-28 Oct (Age 6+)
• Welsh National Opera – Play Opera Live! at Bristol Hippodrome 21 Oct (All ages)
• Morgan & West’s Massive Magic Show at Redgrave Theatre 22 Oct
• Ballet Theatre The Wizard of Oz at The Redgrave Theatre 23/24 Oct
• The Three Little Pigs at The Redgrave Theatre 25-27 Oct (Age 3-7)
• Owl at Home at Tobacco Factory Theatre 25-28 Oct (Age 5-11)
• Play Time: The Enchanted Forest at The Egg 27 Oct (Age 2-6)
• Bean Tree Cafe Farmer Spudkin’s Stolen Pumpkin Show & Trail 28-29 Oct (Age 4+)
• Snow (Snö) at The Egg 28-31 Oct (Age 4+)
• Disney on Ice Birmingham 1-5 Nov
• There’s A Tiger In The Garden at Tobacco Factory Theatre 4 Nov (Age 3-7)
• We Touch We Play, We Dance at The Egg 3-5 Nov (Age 1-3) and 4-5 Nov (Age 0-18 mo)
• The Nutcracker at Playhouse WSM 8 Nov
• Plastic Paradiso at The Egg 11/12 Nov (Age 4+)
• Stickman at The Redgrave 17-19 Nov
• Super Hot Hot Dog at The Egg 18 Nov (Age 6+)
• Disney on Ice Exeter 23-26 Nov

Free and Cheap Days Out

For more free and cheap days out ideas for Bristol summer activities see this post! Lots of lovely walks included.

New Openings

New openings in Bristol to check out!

• The Curious Play Cafe – New play cafe in Hanham opening 25 Sep!
• Wonderland Play Cafe – New play cafe opening in Chew Valley 16 Oct
• Goldfinch Create and Play – Art and play cafe in Westbury-on-Trym
• A and R Animal Adventures – New play cafe in Staple Hill
• The Cowshed at Cattle Country – New soft play with sessions on Fridays

Thank you for reading!

Thank you for your support! I would really appreciate any shares of this post if you find it helpful as it is a labour of love! Follow us on Instagram (most active here) or Facebook for upcoming events and more days out ideas. We will have a Christmas post coming soon! Any additional events I see I will add to my Instagram stories and highlights!

Disclaimer: This post was correct to the best of my knowledge when posted on 21/09/23. I cannot be held responsible if any of the above venues are sold out or events are cancelled.