Your Family Guide to Halloween, October Half Term and Autumn in Bristol 2024

Autumn is beautiful in Bristol! We have spooky Halloween and autumnal events, crunchy autumn walks, pumpkin picking, and lots on for October half-term! October half-term dates in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North Somerset are Saturday 26 October – Sunday 3 November. This guide has been put together to help 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 Pumpkin Extravaganza. Day and Night Pumpkin Picking 28 Sep – 31 Oct
• Farrington’s Pumpkin Picking Festival 5 – 31 Oct
• Bath Pumpkin Patch 28 Sep – 27 Oct. Free to enter
• Picking Patch PYO Pumpkins and Halloween Maze 5 – 31 Oct
• Over Farm, Gloucester Day time or Pumpkins After Dark select dates. 5 – 31 Oct
• Puxton Park From 5 Oct. Free to visit, entry to Puxton Park not required.
• Poplars Farm Halloween Pumpkin Picking 25 – 31 Oct
• Noahs Ark Zoo Farm Shop Pumpkin Patch/Display Oct. Entry to Zoo not required.
• Palette and Pasture Pick Your Own Pumpkins Frome. Various dates from 5 Oct – 1 Nov
• Cotswold Farm Park Day and Night PYO. 4 – 31 Oct
• Cattle Country 12 – 31 Oct. Entry included with Farm Park Tickets. It does not look like you can visit separately from the Farm Park.
• Thurloxton Farm, Taunton Open 19-31 Oct
• Primrose Vale, Gloucester Various dates from 5 – 26 Oct
• Triggols Farm, Clevedon Check for updates
• St. Aldams Farm Nursery Expected early Oct. Check website for updates. Free, booking not required.

Halloween Days Out

• Over Farm’s Spookyard Halloween Festival 26 Oct – 3 Nov Spooky shows, maize maze, fancy dress competition, corn cannons, and the usual farm park activities they have: adventure play area, jumping pillows, tractor trailer rides, quad train ride and mini golf. Pre-book tickets.
• Avon Valley
  • FEARless Scream Park! Enjoy epic fire shows, spooky street performers, fairground rides and side stalls. FEARless is for under 16 year olds or those who want a less scary experience to FEAR which is the main attraction but not suitable for children. 26 & 31 Oct.
  • Pumpkin Extravaganza: Avon Valley’s pumpkin picking is a big event 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 archery, air rifle, axe throwing, archery active and tobogganing sessions between 9 Oct – 3 Nov
• Halloween displays in Bristol and South Glos Facebook page are collating a map of the best decorated halloween homes! Take a hot chocolate in a flask and visit some. This is a great free halloween activity and could be a lovely family tradition! Link to the Facebook group Here
• Wookey Hole Home of Halloween 5 Oct – 3 Nov. Cave tours, giant pumpkin trail, 4D cinema, ghost pirates circus show, museum, soft play, mini golf, fancy dress competition and meet the Wookey witch!
• Bristol Zoo Project Howl-Oween: Myths and Legends 25 Oct – 3 Nov. Follow the Myths and Legends trail around the zoo to discover fun animal myths and your animal personality. Biofacts experience where you can touch animal skulls and other artefacts. 50% off for kids in costume – claim via website
• American Museum & Gardens American Halloween 26 Oct – 3 Nov. “Join us throughout October half term for a classic American Halloween atmosphere and exciting outdoor and indoor trails, with fun activities every day. Visit on Halloween day itself for trick or treating and costume parades in our beautiful autumnal gardens.” Free entry on 5 Oct as part of Bath Kids Lit Fest with storytelling and creative activities.
• Noahs Ark Zoo Farm Pumpkinfest 1 Oct – 3 Nov. Pumpkin display/for purchase at the farm shop. (Not a traditional pumpkin patch within a field) Usually other themed activities/photo ops within!
• Slimbridge Halloween Light Trail 11 Oct – 3 Nov. Discover the Marsh Witch and her potions, pumpkins, shipwrecks, scarecrows, bats, broomsticks, and more. Pre-book ⭐ SEN Sessions
• Old Down Country Park Haunted Half Term 26 Oct – 3 Nov. Halloween Child Entry £1 entry offer with each full paying adult. Halloween activities include pumpkin carving, halloween bingo, slime making, cupcake decorating, and play bus!
• Longleat The Great British Autumn 26 Oct – 3 Nov. Celebrate all things autumnal at Longleat. Seasonal festivities including live performances, a haybale slide, pumpkins, scarecrow trail, animal encounters, crafts and more. Plus all the usual safari, animals and activities!
• Sudeley Castle Medieval Monster Trail 25 Oct – 3 Nov. Encounter Medieval Monsters as you follow the trail around the castle grounds. Dress up and take part in a Medieval Monsters Ball. Fancy Dress Competition. Family friendly tours 22 Oct – 3 Nov.
• Primrose Vale, Gloucester Halloween Farm Trail 23 Oct – 3 Nov. Pre-book (Also see PYO)
• SS Great Britain October Half Term 26 Oct – 3 Nov. Woeful Wounds: get special effects make-up wounds, Haunted Ship with ghostly apparitions of crew and passengers, Victorian Ghost Stories for familities, and Terrifying Turnip Trail.
• Bowood House and Gardens Pumpkin Trail 23 Oct – 3 Nov find pumpkins around the grounds and unscramble the letters to discover the word and claim your prize. Creepy Critters Workshop with ZooLab UK 29 Oct – 2 Nov Meet real live animals such as snakes, giant snails, tarantulas and more.
• Bristol Aquarium Deep and Deadly half term event 24 Oct – 3 Nov. Learn about the different ways that animals can be deadly. Follow a deadliest creatures trail. There will also be some spooky evenings in October. Join their paranormal investigators for Freaky Family Tours on 29 Oct – pre-booking required.
• Berkeley Castle Dragons & Wizards 27 – 30 Oct. Meet a giant dragon and baby dragons, wizard school and mythical activities.
• The Helicopter Museum Halloween Family Fun Day 27 Oct. Giant bubble shows, face painting, costumed characters, climb into helicopters and try on a pilots helmet!
• Cheddar Gorge & Caves Halloween at Cheddar 26 Oct – 3 Nov. ‘Spooktacular’ skeleton trail and Halloween themed party.
• Hestercombe Gardens Halloween Spook-tacular 26 Oct – 3 Nov. Haunted House Trail, Potion Making on 29 & 30 Oct, Halloween Crafts 28 Oct – 1 Nov, Spot Hester the Bat 28 Oct – 1 Nov.
• Haynes Motor Museum October Half Term trail at the Museum 26 Oct – 3 Nov.
• The Grand Pier Halloween themed, meet the Wicked Witch of Weston and take a Broomstick Flying Lesson 26 Oct – 3 Nov

Halloween & Half-Term Activities

• Make a Witch’s Hat Candle Holder Flourish Glenavon 12 Oct. Age 12+
• Make a Ceramic Pumpkin Candle Holder Flourish Glenavon 13 Oct. Age 16+
• Halloween Bathbomb Workshop Weston Museum WSM 19 Oct
• Make Spooky Magnets & A Creepy Keyring Flourish Glenavon 22 Oct. Ages 5-12
• Theatre Session The Egg 22 Oct. Age 2-6
• LUSH Cribbs Causeway Halloween Workshops 25 Oct
• Little Tots Halloween Special Emersons Green Village Hall 25 Oct
• Halloween Costume Parade Party & Fundraiser Horfield Common 26 Oct
• Matt Grindley Magique Spooktacular Emerson Green Village Hall 26 Oct
• Halloween Metalworking Create a creepy pumpkin or spooky spider with WTF Workshops 26 & 30 Oct. Age 8-16
• Pumpkin Painting The Curious Play Cafe 26 Oct
• Pumpkin Painting Be Weird Be Wild Be Wonderful 27 Oct
• Make Your Own Monster Flourish Glenavon 27 Oct. Ages 5-12
• Pumpkin, Forage & Fun Redcatch Community Garden 29 Oct
• SCIENCE for Kids Zion Bristol 29 Oct
• John Wesley’s New Room Oct Half Term Fun: Superheroes family workshop 29 Oct
• Dinosaur Soap Workshop Weston Museum WSM 29 Oct
• Halloween Crafts Lyde Green Community Centre 30 Oct
• George’s Spooktacular Science Workshop Redcatch Community Garden 30 Oct
• ABRACADABRA – The School of Magic Interactive Family Theatre Show Zion Bristol 30 Oct
• Dino Dig Sessions Weston Museum WSM 30 Oct
• Halloween event Wonderland Chew Valley 30 & 31 Oct
• Halloween Potion Making The Manor Hall at Coalpit Heath 31 Oct
• Halloween Doughnut Decoration Lyde Green Community Centre 31 Oct
• Harry Potter Halloween Extraganza Almondsbury Creative 31 Oct
• Spooktacular Halloween Stay and Play with Fortywinks, Bedminster Down 31 Oct
• Dino Day Weston Museum WSM 1 Nov
• Lucas Jet Spooky Circus Show & Workshop Redcatch Community Garden 2 Nov
• Autumn Family Craft Sessions Winterbourne Medieval Barn 2 Nov
• JoJo Sparkles Halloween Fun Show Duck & Willow 2 Nov
• Dinosaur Sand Art Workshop Weston Museum WSM 2 Nov
• Wolfridge Alpaca October Half-Term Kids’ Craft Workshops multiple dates
• Children’s Scrapstore Crafts Various Dates
• Whitehall Garden Centre Whitchurch has Pumpkin Carving. Lacock has Children’s Halloween Miniature Garden Making, Spooky Walk and Pumpkin Carving.

Halloween Parties

• Party Peeps Halloween Family Parties Chasers Nightclub 25 Oct, Filton Community Centre 28 Oct, Grand Pier, WSM 31 Oct
• The Curious Play Cafe Halloween Party 26 Oct
• Magical Moon Halloween Party with Wednesday & Weird Barbie Kingswood Community Association 26 Oct
• Witches & Wizards Family Fun Party Drama with Hannah Rose. Pavey House, Clifton 26 Oct. Ages 2-6
• Be Weird Be Wild Be Wonderful Halloween Party for under 5s 27 Oct
• Halloween Disco The Park Centre Kingswood 27 Oct tickets from reception
• Puxton Park Spookacular Supper 30 Oct 6-8pm party with buffet, entertainment, disco and soft play
• Halloween Disco and Soft Play The Play Shed 30 Oct
• Spooktacular Family Dance Party Bristol Beacon 31 Oct
• Wednesday Adams Halloween SPOOKTACULAR Dance Party Zion Bristol 31 Oct (Ages 4-8 but all welcome)
• Halloween Disco Lyde Green Community Centre 31 Oct
• Halloween Silent Disco Redcatch Community Garden 31 Oct
• Costume Halloween Party Imagination Fascination 31 Oct
• Halloween Party with Bubble House Bristol/Soft Play Heaven, Imperial Sports Ground 31 Oct
• Spooky Inflatable Funday Emersons Green Village Hall 1 Nov
• Happy Halloween Disco Emersons Green Village Hall 2 Nov
• More parties likely TBC closer to Halloween – check my October highlights on Instagram for more

Autumnal Walks

• Westonbirt Arboretum Westonbirt has beautiful autumn colours, new play areas and a Gruffalo sculpture trail. Trees for the Future free family event 28 Oct – 1 Nov. Read more about Westonbirt Pre-booking strongly advised 1 Oct – 17 Nov as this is peak season!
• Tyntesfield National Trust See their iconic Autumn Harvest Display in the orangery 26 Oct – 15 Nov! Halloween Trail 26 Oct – 3 Nov – Help Gertrude the witch complete her spell by undertaking activities to figure out the ingredients she needs.
• Dyrham Park National Trust Half-term bat trail 26 Oct – 3 Nov. There will be clues and facts about our favourite upside-down friends to tie in with the half-term holiday and Halloween.
• Prior Park National Trust October Half-Term Spider Trail 26 Oct – 3 Nov. There will be clues and facts about our favourite eight-legged friends. Complete the trail and get a prize at the end!
• Stourhead National Trust Autumn Spell Trail 5 Oct – 10 Nov. Potion Making 26 Oct & 2 Nov
• Leigh Woods
• Ashton Court
• Blaise Castle
• Oldbury Court Estate/Snuff Mills

Indoor Autumn Events

• Bristol Cathedral
  • Bristol Cathedral is hosting Luke Gerram’s Gaia – a 7m earth artwork 15 Oct – 9 Nov. It is free to visit during usual Cathedral opening hours.
  • Create Your Own Hanging Garden with We The Curious 19 Oct Drop-in 10-12pm and 1.30-3.30pm
  • Crafty Cathedral Gaia Special 28, 29 & 31 Oct Drop-in 10–12pm & 1.30–3.30pm
• Bath Children’s Lit Fest Books and stories come alive this autumn in Bath! Lots of events and workshops with authors, illustrators and poets. There are events with Axel Scheffler, Harry Hill, Jacqueline Wilson, Andy Day and more! Take a look at the programme to book. 27 Sep – 6 Oct
• Avon Valley Railway
  • Chocolate Sundays 6, 13 & 20 Oct – See the steam locomotive from the old Fry’s chocolate factory in Keynsham and chocolate treat.
  • It’s a Hoot Weekend 26 – 27 Oct – Steam train ride, Gizmo the Magic Wizard, birds of prey and autumnal trail. Children who come in Halloween fancy dress travel free!
• Storytale Festival Storytelling events and activities for the children of Bristol at the Mshed! 26 Oct
• Aerospace Bristol
  • The Dome Club Planetarium 6 Oct
  • The Fashion of Flight 17 Oct – 17 Nov – Exhibition of eight decades of BA cabin crew uniform
• Luxmuralis Shine On Light Show at Bath Abbey 4 – 26 Oct Pre-book (Another light show will be coming to Bristol Cathedral in the winter)
• Shake Bristol The Mount Without. An illustration fair with Colourful Minds Art Club. Make a woven mandala for kids ages 5-12
• Kingswood Heritage Museum Museum at Night 27 Oct
• We The Curious Planetarium Nights Age 16+ 26 Sep – 24 Oct
• Holburne Museum The Festival of Light 25 Oct. Celebrating all things light and joyful to mark Diwali, this festival takes place throughout the museum and gardens. Colourful creative workshops, film, pop-up food stalls, performance and fire dancing!
• Roman Baths Autumn Trail: Solve the Medusa Mystery! 5 Sep – 1 Dec. Also October half-term activities at The Roman Baths and Victoria Art Gallery.

Outdoor Autumn Events

• MShed Steam Train Ride 21-22 Sep, 12-13 Oct & 26-27 Oct
• MShed Crane Visits 28 – 29 Sep
• Ashton Court Miniature Railway Services running Sundays 29 Sep and 6, 20 & 27 Oct
• Harvey’s Scarecrow Trail Homemade scarecrow trail to find across Chew Valley. This years theme is “Sporting Legends”. Money raised goes towards a charity for bereaved children. Purchase trail maps in Winford or Radstock, or download the app. Running 1-29 Oct
• Perrygrove Railway “Halloween-Free October” 1-31 Oct. Train rides and play areas. No halloween decorations if you want to avoid Halloween!
• Owl Prowl Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project 4 Oct
• Autumn Fayre and Apple Day Bath City Farm 5 Oct
• Orchard Harvest Day Winterbourne Medieval Barn 6 Oct
• North Somerset Bird of Prey Centre Open Day 6 Oct
• Hestercome Gardens Fungal Foray 12 – 20 Oct Join Michael Jordan for a fun and informative walk to identify mushrooms and toadstools.
• Autumn Fair Boiling Wells, St Werburghs City Farm 19 Oct
• Penny Brohn Twilight Balloon Glow Pill 20 Oct
• Fireworks at Sea Grand Pier, WSM 25 Oct
• Painswick Rococo Gardens The Great Scarecrow Hunt 26 Oct – 3 Nov
• Arnos Vale Cemetery Half term events: Stomping Story In a Dark Dark Cellar 28 Oct, Fire Lighting Workshop 28 Oct, Horrible healthcare – a tour for teens and tweens 28 Oct, Stomping Story The Broom 29 Oct, Knife Skills Bushcraft 29 Oct, Gruesome tour for teens and tweens 29 Oct, Magic Wand Making 31 Oct. Some of these activities require pre-booking.
• Kingswood Lantern Parade 3 Nov

Theatre

• Revel Puck Circus The Nose Dive Assembly BS2 26 Sep – 6 Oct
• Giffords Circus Stroud 19 – 29 Sep. All ages
• The Little Prince The Egg 26 Sep – 6 Oct. Age 7+
• Circus Vegas Durdham Downs 27 Sep – 20 Oct
• Life on Our Planet in Concert Bristol Beacon 2 Oct. Age 5+
• The Music of Harry Potter St George’s 4 Oct
• Little Red Riding Could The Wardrobe Theatre 5 – 6 Oct. Age 4+
• Dinosaur World Live! Theatre Royal Bath 10 – 13 Oct. Age 3+
• The Sticky Dance The Egg 11 – 13 Oct. Age 3-5
• Blue Man Group Bristol Beacon 16 – 20 Oct. Age 3+
• Dear Zoo Redgrave Theatre 18 – 20 Oct. Age 3+
• Birdboy The Egg 18 – 20 Oct. Age 8+
• The Midnight Mission Tobacco Factory 19 Oct. Age 7+
• Súper Chefs The Wardrobe Theatre 19 Oct. Ages 4-8
• Curious Creatures Family Concert Filwood Community Centre 19 Oct. All ages
• The Dreamer – Live Redgrave Theatre 20 – 21 Oct. Age 12+
• Ministry of Science Live The Playhouse WSM 20 Oct. Age 6+
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar The Playhouse WSM 23 Oct. All ages
• Rock The Tots Wardrobe Theatre 24 Oct. All Ages
• The Three Bears Tobacco Factory 26 – 29 Oct. Age 6 and under.
• Do Not Play This Piano The Egg 26-27 Oct. Age 6+
• MiniBeats St George’s 27 Oct. Concerts for under 5s and 4-8.
• Kid Carpet’s Super Mega Rockin’ Rock Show Wardrobe Theatre 27 – 31 Oct. Age 3-8 and their families
• Mr Sleepybum Redgrave Theatre 28 Oct. Age 3 – 8
• Kinder The Egg 28-29 Oct. Age 9+
• A Pandemonium of Poe American Museum & Gardens 28 Oct. Age 14+
• Adventures in Science Redgrave Theatre 29 Oct. Age 6+
• The Pumpkins St Werburgh’s City Farm 29 – 31 Oct. All ages
• Ultimate Dinosaurs with Ben Garrod Tobacco Factory 30 Oct – 2 Nov. Age 5+
• Little Murmur Bristol Old Vic 30 Oct – 2 Nov. Age 7+
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat The Playhouse WSM 30 Oct – 2 Nov
• Disney on Ice Road Trip Adventures Birmingham 30 Oct – 10 Nov. All ages
• Football Freddie The Egg 31 Oct. Age 3+
• The Smartest Giant in Town Redgrave Theatre 1 – 3 Nov. Age 2+
• Villians Unleashed Blakehay Theatre WSM 1 Nov
• Polar Bear and Penguin The Egg 2-5 Oct. Age 5+
• Sinister States American Museum & Gardens 3 Nov Age 14+
• Mary Poppins Bristol Hippodrome 4 – 30 Nov Age 7+

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!

• We The Curious (recently re-opened!)
• Chaos Inflatable Park Brislington
• Jumpin Fun Inflatable Park Eastgate Retail Park (near IKEA)
• Tots and Teapots new play cafe in Totterdown

Thank you for reading

Thank you for your support! I would appreciate any shares of this post if you find it helpful. Follow us on Instagram (most active here) or Facebook for upcoming events and more days out ideas. If you are planning ahead, see the Santa Grotto/Father Christmas Experience post! Christmas and Winter Guide post coming soon.

Disclaimer: This post was correct to the best of my knowledge when posted. I cannot be held responsible if any of the above venues are sold out or events are cancelled. Most events require pre-booking so please check if in doubt. If there is bad weather it might be worth checking on the event’s socials in case of cancellation.