20 half term and Halloween ideas for days out with the kids across spooky Devon.
Bring your own broom!
It’s amazing how quickly the October Half Term holidays creep up on you. It’s a perfect time to leave the classroom behind and have some Spooktacular half term Halloween family fun – Devon style. Devon’s Top Attractions have got a whole host of exciting half term events and activities lined up for all those happy Halloweenies that want to have some monstrous or mysterious half term days out.
Halloween Evenings of Mini Horrors at Babbacombe Model Village is when this popular attraction takes on a spooky twist. You can explore the Halloween scenes around the gardens with a trail hunt of themed characters by day, whilst by night the full spooky Halloween fun begins. Find your way through the outdoor Halloween maze, all newly redesigned for 2019, to see what you encounter. Experience the ‘spookilluminations’, sounds, fire and lighting effects all adding to the spine-chilling atmosphere. Enter the 4D theatre to go on a 3D journey through an eerie haunted house complete with bone-rattling and spine-tingling special effects.
Follow the Half term Halloween Bat Trail through the garden and grounds at National Trust Castle Drogo where you can hunt out the clues to claim a prize. There’s another spooky Halloween Hunt on at Bygones in Torquay, so head there too, if you dare.
Creep over to Crealy for their SpookFest! Prepare yourself to experience some all new attractions for their biggest ever Halloween event yet, with a spell cast over the theme park for the half term holiday. The Witches of the Wilderness have scared away the treehouse trolls and unearthed some new attractions for families to enjoy. There’s the haunting Halloween Glow Show, Jester’s 3D Fun Maze and the creepy Creaky Hotel re-opening its haunted doors. Don’t forget there’s a free pumpkin for every child who visits over half term.
Peep, Peep! Everyone’s favourite little blue engine is coming to visit South Devon Railway from the 19th – 21st October where you can enjoy the ever-popular ‘Day Out with Thomas’ event. Join Thomas and his friends and the Fat Controller for this fun packed family day out. To lower the curtain on the season South Devon Railway also have a half price weekend on 2nd– 3rd November.
Ghostly greetings awaits you at Morwellham Quay where you can ride the spooky mine train, have a go at making some creepy crafts, meet the witch in her den and do some trick or treating throughout the Victorian village. There’s more spooky underground fun at Kents Cavern, where you can take part in a ghost joke trail, spooky dig, underground pumpkin hunt, make your own bat and guess the weight of the pumpkin.
Head for the Big Sheep in North Devon for some fang-tastic fun with their popular Halloween Festival. Enjoy the fun by day activities filled with fun and laughter. Explore the haunted house and take a tour of the spooky farm on the haunted hayride. Try your hand at the witches flying school and if you are really brave, have a go on the arachnophobia ride and take a trip on the ghost train. Plus, enjoy the daily Halloween magic show, arrive in fancy dress and you could win a prize.
Help River Dart Country Park break the world record for the longest line of carved pumpkins with unlimited pumpkin carving throughout half term plus a whole host of other half term ‘dare devil’ activities. Check out the popular Bounce at the Park day there on 24th October, a fun-filled day of bounce sessions with a range of exciting inflatables to choose from.
You can enjoy Apple Day in Clovelly Village on the 23rd October. There will be lots of lovely apple day crafts and activities including a Harvest Hunt, apple bobbing, apple stamping and corn dolly making. You can even bring along a bag of your own apples and have them pressed to taste the juice.
Head for World of Country Life this half term for lots of Halloween fun. Follow the Halloween activity trail, solve the clues and win a prize and do a bit of pumpkin carving too. Watch the NEW Defrosted Show – World of Country Life’s unique take on the Disney Classic. Appy Angus and his friends will be staging their own hilarious version of this famous show, see if you can recognise some of your favourite characters.
Canonteign Falls is getting spooky on Friday 25th October. Join them for an afternoon of spooky fun with Pocket Watch Theatre. Make potions and spells in the barn, enjoy an afternoon of interactive theatre followed by a walk around the lake at dusk.
Head to Gruffts at Pennywell Farm, It’s the ‘Goat-to’ event this October half term. Meet all the fabulous breeds of goats, test their skills on the agility course, join in the goat treasure trail and take your own Pennywell goat for a walk. There are goat kids to bottle feed and cuddle all week as well as all the favourite Pennywell half hourly activities and not forgetting to cuddle one of the world-famous adorable miniature pigs.
There’s some hocus pocus family fun going on at the Milky Way Adventure Park this half term where you can enrol in their special school for witches and wizards. Your little horrors will love the wand making, spell writing, broomstick riding and potion making. Ride on the spooky swamp dodgems and enjoy the themed shows. All designed to be fun rather than scary!
Get yourself a scary special effect scar and enjoy the pumpkin carving at Becky Falls. Take a wonderful Autumn woodland walk and enjoy their ‘Animal Encounters of the Scary Kind’ entertainment show where you can meet and touch the snakes and lizards.
Have a scream at Halloween at the Donkey Sanctuary this half term and try the ‘Donkey Trick or Treat’ trail, put your pumpkin carving skills to the test and explore the scenic trails where you come face to face with hundreds of adorable donkeys.
There’s more fear-inspiring family fun at Woodlands Family Theme Park. Marty’s Monster Manor is back and you can experience spookier surprises around every corner. Meet Ezmeralda the wicked witch, hunt your way around the Empire of the Sea Dragon and find your trick or treat token. Ride the life size tractors at the Woodlands ghost farm and hear the spine-tingling ghosts whizzing past as you drive around.
There’s lots of Autumn Half Term and Halloween Fun at Pecorama. Do you dare to ride the Beer Frights Light Railway? Cackle with laughter at the entertainment shows with jugglers and magicians and let your little terrors have a monstrous time trying the fearsome food menu in the Garden Room Restaurant.
Chris Murray, Chairman of Devon Association of Tourist Attractions said, “Devon is going to be a frightfully good place to be this October Half Term. Devon’s Top Attractions continue to offer some of the best seasonally themed family entertainment in the country. They continue to provide top visitor experiences with high quality standards. We look forward to seeing everyone have a great time this half term.”
Let’s not forget it’s nearly Bonfire Night too! Some attractions will be offering spectacular bonfire and fireworks displays. So whatever type of Half Term and Halloween fun you are looking for, check out the website to find out where all this frightful hair-raising fun is taking place! www.devonstopattractions.co.uk
