Please note, I’ll update this post further once other events/dates/details have been released for 2022

With the schools back, the next thing to look forward to are Halloween events, autumn family days out and October Half Term.

We are always huge fans of Halloween events, so thought we’d share some of our favourites in and around the East Midlands, from pumpkin patches to family-friendly days out.

After a bit of a search for some local pumpkin-tastic events, suitable for younger kids who may not appreciate a blood-thirsty scare-fest, I discovered some amazing places to check out for some seasonal fun for all the family this October.

I do know there are probably many more amazing events, so you’re more than welcome to let me know any I need to check out! These are just ones we have visited ourselves, so are more than happy to recommend 🙂

Cattows Farm Pumpkin Picking, Leicestershire

Pumpkin picking at Cattows Farm has become a tradition for us, as it is always one of the first places to open its seasonal fun, and knows how to get us into the autumn vibe! It also seems to be getting bigger and better every year. In 2021, they launched the Halloween Farm which was fantastic and we’ve already booked for 2022.

It’s open for pumpkin picking from 1st til the 31st October, from 9am, 7 days a week, boasting one of Leicestershire’s largest pumpkin patches with over 100,000 pumpkins.

With stunning countryside views, a beautiful newly-decorated tearoom (with seasonal menus and decorations), as well as a whole host of family-friendly activities at weekends, it really is an amazing place to visit.

I always find the staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, and visiting outside of Peak times such as weekdays or mornings can often mean you have the place to yourself.

Due to queues the past few years, they’ve now added prebooking for slots, a Halloween Fantasy Land, crazy maze and more… Find out more here.

Keep an eye on their Facebook page for all their latest events this month as well as my full review from our last visit there! My review of Halloween Farm is also now live!

West Lodge Farm Park

From October 15th-30th October, West Lodge Farm Park is running a whole host of Halloween fun including special activities over half term.

The farm has some amazing facilities and activities for all ages throughout the year, including barrel rides, an outdoor adventure play area of dreams, and animal petting, as well as plenty of beautiful forests to explore!

However for Halloween, they’re adding in an extra bundle of spooky fun, including a Pumpkin Patch Experience with pumpkin carving, where kids can pick their own pumpkin from the field, and the team will carve out their design on the pumpkin – adding in something different to your pumpkin picking experience!

What’s more, you can also pay a little extra to jump on their family-friendly Spooky Tractor Ride, visit Daisy the Witch’s house, and try your hand at some wand making!

We’re also excited to join in the friendly ghost story in the barn!

I’m sure this will be booked up quickly as always, and pre-booking is essential, so I’d recommend booking your slots well in advance online.

Click here to book or find out more

Check out our review of the 2019 event here.

Bluebell Dairy

We are very excited to hear that the Bluebell Dairy Pumpkin Festival is coming back this year – we had a fantastic time last year, even in the pouring rain!

You can enjoy all kinds of pumpkin fun at Bluebell Dairy including a free pumpkin for every child, Halloween trails, fun with bugs, fancy dress competitions, animal activities, pig apple bobbling, Pumpkin Pursuit and even their very own Halloween ice cream!

Tickets will go on sale in September, so click here to see their latest ticket updates.

Check out our review of Bluebell Dairy here!

Manor Farm Park and Woodlands

From the 17th to 30th October, you can enjoy a fantastic Ghoul School at Manor Farm Park and Woodlands!

Young thrill-seekers will love the Spooky Maize Maze, with frights and sprites around every corner, along with Ghoul School, a new twenty-minute audio extravaganza, teaching kids how to become perfect little monsters! 

Kids can also enjoy having their faces painted with a creepy design and the Halloween family fun doesn’t end there, with a free pumpkin for every paying child to take home and carve – plus you could be in with a chance of winning a free one-day family pass.

We visit each year and always have a fantastic time, so will definitely be heading back again – check out our review here!

To find out more about the Manor Farm Park Halloween event, click here.

Sundown Adventureland (TBC for 2022)

From 16th to 31st October 2021, the fantastic theme park for under 10s, Sundown Adventureland, has a Halloween Event for all the family.

The fun starts with a brand new step by step Lucky Black Cat Puzzle Trail  to complete.

Enjoy the park (Exploring all of the rides and attractions on the way) and find the eight hidden Black Cats and tick them off your Missing Witch’s Black Cat Puzzle List. They are fiendishly hidden throughout the park, so you’ll need your best exploring shoes, a keen eye and your big brave pants on to complete it.

We PROMISE you don’t need to worry about the little ones as it’s only ever spooky and NEVER scary. (Tbh we’re not that brave either )

The park will be decorated with lots of spooky loveliness throughout and there’ll be loads for the kids to see and do.

When you have found them all and completed the puzzle, head over to the Pumpkin Patch Cafe to trick or treat a member of the Sundown Team and get yourself a sweet treat as a reward.

It’ll be a fun family Spooktacular Sundown day out with adventure and fun for all ages, throughout the day.

Find out more and book your tickets here

Gulliver’s Theme Parks Rotherham & Milton Keynes

Join the Fright Fiesta at all the Gulliver’s Valley theme parks this October.

From 8th to 30th October 2022, you can enjoy all the frights and fun at the Gulliver’s Valley theme park.

Fright Fiesta involves of fabulous family activities, frights and theme park fun. Come together and celebrate the spookiest season of the year at Gulliver’s.

Showcase your fancy dress costume in the spine-tingling street parade or delve deep into the theme park and discover the spooktacular rides. Experience a Gulliver’s Halloween event that’s all about families, joy and celebration.

Check out the review here from when we visited Gulliver’s Valley.

Find out more and book your tickets here.

Warwick Castle

Warwick Castle has a whole host of activities this October from the 1st til 31st in their Haunted Castle event, with spooky tales, scary fun and daytime-themed attractions for all the family.

This October, experience the castle this Halloween and venture through The Haunted Hollows, meet the Witches of Warwick, and explore the castle grounds spooky décor, pumpkins and more! 

For even spookier events, you can check out The Haunted Castle and Castle After Dark.

For more information and to book tickets, click here.

National Forest Adventure Farm

The awesome National Forest Adventure Farm has announced it will be returning this half term with the Halloween Spooktacular on 15th, 16th and 22nd-30th October.

Their Halloween Spook-tacular event has all the fun of the farm plus a day packed with hair-raising Halloween activities! Pick a pumpkin (1 per child), Magical Maze Quest with spells, potions and broomstick flying, Marvellous Magic Shows, Circus Skills Workshops & Frightening Face Paint!

Check out our full review of the 2020 event here

For tickets and further information keep an eye on their website here or check out our review here.

Hatton Adventure World

From the 22nd – 30th October you can enjoy the Pumpkin Spooktacular at Hatton Adventure World, with free pumpkins to pick, a Halloween Marquee and full activities schedule on the lineup.

With last year’s event involving pumpkin picking, carving, a Halloween show, fancy dress and more, as well as a funfair and bouncy castles, this looks like one that’s not to be missed!

To book and for more information, click here.

To find out more about Hatton Adventure World, click here.

Windmill Farm Park

Windmill Farm Park is a huge favourite of ours and really is a hidden gem when it comes to events.

From 15th – 30th October, you can enjoy their Halloween Spooktacular including pumpkin patch, crafts, treasure hunt, build a scarecrow and more.

Find out more here or check out our review of Windmill Farm Park here

Mini Meadows Farm

Mini Meadows are hosting their Halloween Experience from the 15th-30th October 2022.

Step inside their haunted house for a spooky trail and treasure hunt. Wander through the mysterious maze, witchy woods and discover the dragon’s lair (if you dare!).

The pumpkin patch will also be ripe for picking. Your little ones can choose their own and create a Jack-o’-lantern in our pumpkin-carving station.

Book your standard entry* farm tickets and add your Halloween options:
• Haunted House entry for £5 per person
• £5 per pumpkin

*Includes access to the farm, animals, indoor and outdoor play areas and the sandpit

This event is designed with little ones in mind, so lots of spooky fun without any scary.

Find out more or book tickets here

Check out our review of Mini Meadows farm here

Alton Towers

Alton Towers is famed for its annual Scarefest, and this year they promise another year of family Halloween fun from 7-9th October and 14th – 31st October.

With Halloween shows, a scare maze and late night opening for the rides, there really is something for all the family. For younger kids, they have plenty of options including a CBeebies Land Monster Ball, Freaky Fun Zone and more – click here to check them out.

For more information and tickets click here.

For our full review of CBeebies Land, click here

Twycross Zoo (TBC 2022)

Twycross Zoo is hosting Boo at the Zoo from the 23rd October until 31st October 2021.

Enjoy witches shows, finders keepers toys, as well as Ghosts of Madagascar and a Trick or Treat Trai, plus morel!

For more information or to book tickets, click here

For our full review of Twycross Zoo, click here

Drayton Manor / Thomas Land (details TBC)

This year, Drayton Manor is bringing back their Halloween event – full details TBC, but click here for updates.

We’ve always enjoyed our visits to Thomas Land, taking advantage of their Parent & Toddler tickets, however now Lily is at school, I think this is the excuse we need to head there during half term!

For the latest updates, you can register here

Check out our review of Drayton Manor Thomas Land here

Wicksteed Park

The annual Mini Monsters Ball is taking place at Wicksteed Park on 29th October.

Find out more here

National Trust Midlands

We’re huge fans of visiting National Trust properties and enjoyed the Stoneywell October Half Term nature trails in autumn 2019, so look forward to checking out some of the other properties this year.

National Trust properties are a great way to enjoy autumn and explore nature, and across the East Midlands you can find everything from pumpkin crafts through to autumn discovery walks.

Find out more about autumn events with National Trust in the Midlands here

Check out our review of Calke Abbey here.

Twin Lakes Theme Park (TBC for 2022)

Twin Lakes always run a fantastic Family Scream Park event for all the family – and it is back starting from October 2nd 2021!

They are always great at organising Halloween and in the past we’ve enjoyed pumpkin picking, carving, meeting Marty the Witch, a Halloween hunt with prizes, wand making, story time and more.

For full details, check out the website here, or check out our review from 2019 here.

Need more inspiration?

Check out our ideas for unique family-friendly staycations in the UK

Check out our review of Halloween Farm 2021

Check out our recent collaboration with ideas for activities to do with the grandparents

Check out our 20 ways to make family walks more interesting

Looking for ideas at home this winter? Check out this blog post we collaborated with Age UK on Autumn and Winter hobbies to enjoy at home!

We also collaborated on an article about Fun Activities to entertain your grandchildren for Halloween – find out more here.

Check out our review of Splash Landings at Alton Towers