With no Covid restrictions this year, Halloween is returning in full force in Bristol with a number of different events your little ones can enjoy. Why not start the month off by heading to a pumpkin patch or heading to a spooky-themed screening?
If you're looking for something a bit special this year alongside the usual trick-or-treating trip, there's a chance to win £100 on a spooky trail in South Bristol and an exciting lanterns carnival in the city centre.
Here are some of the family-friendly events in and around Bristol this year. We also have a separate round-up of Halloween club nights and information about this year's Scream Park.
Read more: Where to pick your own pumpkins in and around Bristol
Pumpkin picking
A trip to a pumpkin patch is a great way to start off the Halloween season - and fortunately, Bristol has several spots where you and your family can choose the best pumpkin for your home. We've compiled a list of the places in and around Bristol offering pumpkin patch picking throughout October, including Avon Vallery Adventurer & Wildlife, Farrington's Farm and Noah's Arc Zoo. Click here to see the full list.
Bedminster BID Halloween Trail
Children can take part in a spooky twist on the classic trick-or-treat trail with Bedminster BID's Halloween Trail, launching on October 15. Keep your eyes peeled for little monsters lurking in Bedminster's shop windows, and collect a sticker from each one - take a snap of your completed map and you will be entered into a £100 prize giveaway. To get started, pick up a map from one of the participating stores (marked with spooky window stickers) from October 15, and get monster-hunting.
Bedminster. October 15.
Half-Term Halloween Trail at Wild Place Project
The Wild Place Project is offering Halloween-themed tours of the 50-acre site home to bears, wolves, giraffes and lemurs and native wildlife too. Children who come in fancy dress or bring a pumpkin with them on the day will receive 20 per cent off their ticket. Use the voucher code: WILD20 to get your discount.
The trail runs from October 21 until November 6, with child tickets priced at £12.68 and £15.40 per adult. Everyone who completes the Halloween trail will receive a sweet treat gift near the exit.
Wild Place Project, Blackhorse Hill, Bristol, BS10 7TP. October 21 - 30, 9.30am – 5pm. October 31 – November 6, open 9.30am – 4pm.
Bump in the Night Lanterns Carnival
You won't want to miss this sight - illuminated giant puppets will be parading through Bristol city centre, from Broadmead to King Street in Bristol's Bump In The Night spooktacular lantern carnival on Sunday, October 30. Organised by Lamp Lighter Arts and with support from Bristol City Centre BID, family-friendly craft workshops will bring the spooky puppets to life.
From ghost ships to giant spiders, the puppets will tell tales from Bristol's history at the parade, as well as costumes and Halloween headdresses. Choose your Halloween team by joining a lantern-making workshop here.
Bristol city centre. October 30.
Haunted Half-Term at Cheddar Gorge & Caves
This year's Halloween event will be a hunt for the ghoulish goats who roam the caves. The experience will include the hunt along with the other existing attractions including Dreamhunters at Cox’s Cave, Beyond the View, Jacob's Ladder, the Cliff-top Walk and the Museum of Prehistory.
There will also be spooky arts and crafts taking place throughout the day in the Gough's Cave exit room. Day tickets are £15.70 for children aged 5-15 and £20.95 for adults (16+).
Cheddar Gorge & Caves. October 21 -31.
Halloween Spooktacular at Wookey Hole
Who could resist getting into the spirit of Halloween at the Home of the Witch? This Halloween a coven of friendly witches will be taking over Wookey Hole for the week to offer a fun-filled day out for all the family.
Every child will go home with a treat from the Witches and many magical memories. The experience includes a visit to the undead circus, a broomstick riding class with Wookey Hole’s resident wizard, and a Halloween film in a 4D cinema, as well as all the other attractions of Wookey Hole. Tickets are £19.95 for adults and £16.45 for children.
Wookey Hole, BA5 1BA. October 22-30
Terrifying Turnip Trail at Brunel’s SS Great Britain
Reveal truths about ‘All Hallows Eve’ customs and traditions from Victorian times this October half term at SS Great Britain’s Terrifying Turnip Trail. There will be Gothic characters and horror monsters roaming the ship, based on descriptions from Victorian novels, as well as gruesome additions to the sights, sounds and smells of this historic ship.
Tickets are £19.50 for adults and £12.00 for children - allowing you to return an unlimited amount of times for the next 12 months at no extra cost.
Great Western Dockyard, Gas Ferry Road, Bristol BS1 6TY. October 22-30
Spooky films at the Bristol Film Festival
There are a number of Halloween-themed film nights in Bristol for those looking to mark the spooky season with an easy-going activity. Bristol Film Festival is offering a number of PG-friendly screenings including The Addams Family, Corpse Bride, Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Book Of Life.
The festival is known for screening ins some unusual settings, including Redcliffe Caves and Arnos Vale Cemetery, which only adds to the Halloween experience. Tickets are on sale at £9.50 for a child ticket and £15.50 per child.
Several locations. Throughout October and November 2022.
Bristol Haunted Walking Tours
With ten years of experience, the route of the tour takes those who dare into some of Bristol's darker and creepier historical locations along with film and TV locations. The tour delivers historical facts along with TV and film trivia with a good dose of humour.
It's an informative and exciting way to spend an evening for all of the family to learn about some of the spookiest spots across the city. The ticket prices are: Adult £7, Concessions £5, Children £4.
College Green. October 6, 14, 21, 28, 29.
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