Page Last Updated October 19, 2025

As the evenings grow darker and the school term takes a break, you might notice Bournemouth and the coastal villages adopting a spooky appearance leading up to Halloween. Here is just a selection of what’s happening.

Frightful family fun:

Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf

From 26 October to 1 November 2025, embark on a thrilling journey back in time and live the life of a smuggler! With 18 holes of action-packed adventure, navigate past treacherous rocks, eerie church ruins, and cascading waterfalls, all while uncovering the secrets of Bournemouth's smuggling past!

Don’t miss out on the Halloween thrills—grab your mates, solve the puzzles, and get into the spooky spirit with us!

Fancy dress encouraged - the more wicked the outfit, the better!

Russell-Cotes at half term

Join them during October half term for some spooktacular Halloween fun!

Spooktacular Family Fun at Pier Amusements

Pier Amusements at Bournemouth Pier are ready to welcome you for some Spooktacular family fun. Meet costumed staff, an inflatable dragon, ghost and witch as they pay a flying visit to their favourite seaside haunt! With a treat bag for all those visiting in costume 31 October, 12noon-8pm, challenge friends with ground breaking video games, or practice your moves on the arcade dance machines!

Halloween at the Picking Patch

Pick your own Pumpkin ahead of halloween to carve at home and try not to get lost in the Halloween Maze at the Picking Patch in Fordingbridge. Booking is required for the Halloween Maze.

Happy Halloween at Paultons Park

Enjoy spooktacular late night openings at Paultons Park this half-term Halloween week for the friendliest and most frightful Halloween event.

Halloween and half term at Monkey World

Go bananas this halloween at Monkey World, where you are always guaranteed to find something fun for your little monkeys to do!

Visit Highcliffe Castle

Witches & Wizards October Half Term

Indoor Crafts – Make your own rocking Witch or TP Wizard to fly home with you. (included in Castle Admission)
Activities – Design your own potion and add it to our Castle cauldron (included in Castle Admission).
50% Families Day – Enjoy 50% off family admission on 29 October

Getting arty at Stour Valley

Keep an eye on Stour Valley Kingfisher Barn Facebook page, to find out about their children’s events for half-term including fabulously ghoulish art!

Enjoy workshops by Artfulantics at the Stour Valley Local Nature Reserve and Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre. Take a look and book your spot now as spaces are limited.

Half-Term Activities

As well as all this spookiness, there's also plenty of reasons to head out for some half term fun.

With a whopping five Dorset outdoor activities, there's an adrenaline-filled treetop experience for all thrill-seekers of all ages at Go Ape Moors Valley. See the forest in a whole new light this autumn with the return of Go Ape’s Sundown Adventures. Become a creature of the night and challenge yourself to one of their Sundown Adventures!

Help to inspire the next generation of skiers and snowboarders, get your winter gloves and hats out and head down to Snowtrax.

RockReef has a huge range of indoor adventure activities with different challenges available to suit all the family. Climb the clip 'n climb climbing walls, take on the HighLine aerial obstacle course or explore the tunnels in the pier cave!

The Tank Museum will be celebrating 'Women in Warfare'. Experience the biggest day out in history with 100 years of history, 300 tanks, kids activities, and more at Dorset’s largest indoor attraction.

Centre VR (virtual reality) boasts the UK’s largest and most diverse range of VR adventures and escape rooms. Fun for all the family this half term!

October Half Term & Halloween Events