Pumpkin Trail , Sherborne Castle & Gardens, Sherborrne, from now until 29 Oct

Dress up, follow the trail and solve clues to win a prize, in the beautiful grounds of the historic house built by Sir Walter Raleigh.

Zombie Outbreal Response Team, Mendip Activity Centre, Winscombe, until 31 Oct

Use arrows, air rifles and axes to keep the zombies at bay and then go tobogganing.

FEARless at Avon Valley Scream Park, Keynsham, from 13 – 31 Oct

The tamer version full-fat FEAR (one of the UK’s top scream parks), FEARless is aimed at 11–15 year olds, with four scary – but not too scary – attractions, as well as fire shows, spooky street performers, fairground rides and side stalls.

Miniature Travelling Circus, The egg, Bath, 19 – 22 Oct

One of the UK’s top puppet companies, The Little Angel Theatre, brings a tiny circus to Bath’s dedicated children’s theatre but are the acts – from performing mice to acrobatic fleas – ready to rock? Suitable 3 years +

After Dark – Nights to Die For, Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein, Bath, 20 – 31 Oct

Older teens (15+) can scare themselves witless in an intense, multi-sensory horror experience set over five floors of a 300-year old house dedicated to Mary Shelley and her iconic novel Frankenstein.

Spontaneous Potter Kidz, Komedia Bath, 21 Oct

Potterheads and muggles: apparate yourselves over to Bath for an improv show where you’ll help create a brand new Potter adventure.

American Halloween trick or treat, American Museum & Gardens, Claverton near Bath, 21 -29 Oct

Halloween stateside, with an interactive scavenger hunt around the gardens, a potion trail around the house, a chance to build something weird and wunnerful for the Hall of Fame and seasonal deli treats.

Halloween fun at the Fort, Nothe Fort, Weymouth, 21 – 29 Oct

All sorts of ghoulish goings on: a ghost tunnel, vampire photobooth, pumpkin golf, potion making, lollipop spiders, witches hat hoopla and scariest of all, Morris Dancing Witches.

The Lab, Hestercombe House, near Taunton, 21 – 29 Oct.

Follow the clues hidden around Hestercombe’s gorgeous gardens to discover what’s happened to missing supernatural investigators Dr Smith and Dr James. Free interactive bubble shows, bubble play zone and storytelling.

The Ghost of Cheddar Man, Cheddar Cave & Gorge, Cheddar, 21 – 29 Oct

Celebrate the discovery of Cheddar Man, Britain’s oldest complete skeleton (10,000 years old), found in Gough’s Cave 120 years ago, by tracking down his pals in incredible caves and joining the anniversary festivities.

Saxon Somerset, Museum of Somerset, Taunton, 21 – 27 Oct

Discover what life was like in Saxon times with re-enactors Draca Beordor, broach making and being an archaeologist in activities Inspired by the museum’s latest exhibit – a beautiful medieval broach found by a metal detectorist in Cheddar in 2020. Their exhibition of illustrations by Axel Scheffler (The Gruffalo and many more) is on until 28 Oct.

The Big Draw, The Assembly Rooms, Bath, 21 – 29 Oct & Hauser & Wirth, Bruton, 22 Oct

Take part in the world’s largest drawing festival! Help draw – not dance – a minuet the whole length of the Ball Room at The Assembly Rooms in Bath and join in a free creative workshop celebrating the festival theme ‘Drawing with Senses’ and inspired by the gallery’s GRUPPENAUSSTELLUNG,’ exhibition.

Wizard’s Forbidden Garden, Upton Country Park, Poole, 21 – 29 Oct

Collect hidden letters, crack the code and complete the spell to set Norman the squirrel free. Come in fancy dress; get your face painted.

Big Bug Hunt, Haynes Motor Museum, near Yeovil, 21 – 31 Oct

Creepy crawlies are threatening to gobble up the historic car collection – what’s the museum doing to stop them? Find out on the half term trail. Plus their amazing vehicle collection, interactive activities, play areas and café.

Arts and animals, Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury, 21 – 29 Oct

Somerset rural life museum, glastonbury, somerset

Arts and crafts inspired by the sun and shadows on 21, 22, 28 & 29 Oct. Meet the animals from Second Chance Petting Farm and play in their farm-themed activity area with crafts, games and dressing up on 24 –27 Oct.

Lulworth Castle, Lulworth, 22 – 26 Oct

Search for pumpkins and funny bones, play themed pitch’n’putt and traditional lawn games, make crafts, explore Lulworth Castle, climb the tower and visit Peacock Park woodland playground.

The Midnight Mission, Taunton Brewhouse, 24 Oct

Join Agents Kahlo and Dali to solve a mystery – spot clues, test your mettle and investigate historic evidence – in a haunted house in Switzerland. For 6+

Halloween fun at the Museum of East Dorset, Wimborne, 24 Oct

Create spooky spells and creepy crafts, follow a ghoulish garden trail, and enjoy spine-chilling stories.

Starchitects, at Lighthouse Poole, 24 Oct

Five kids dream of going to space in a dance-circus show with digital projections and lots of audience participation.

Baba Yaga, The egg, Bath, 24 – 26 Oct

A sister and brother are forced to flee their home in a contemporary fairytale adventure inspired by traditional Slavic stories.

Dinosaur Sleepover, Dorset Museum, Dorchester, 25 Oct

The Jurassic Coast Trust’s experts lead dino-related activities before a film, hot choc and bed. Suitable for kids aged 6 – 12.

The Sooty Show at Lighthouse Poole, 25 Oct

Cripes! Sooty, Sweep and Soo are 75 years old this year – the longest running kids’ show in the world, they say. Come, celebrate and meet Sooty after the show.

Beowulf Puppet Show, Avalon Archaeology, Avalon Marshes Centre, 25 Oct

Beowulf struggles against the monster Grendel, with puppets, sets and props based on early Anglo-Saxon costume, art and artefacts and ‘scenes of graphic puppet violence and peril’. Ooh -er.

Nights at the Museums, Lyme Regis & Dorchester, 27 Oct

Torchlight tours, creepy crafts, spooky stories, freaky face painting, all washed down with hot chocolate at the Lyme Regis Museum. Visit three museums for the price of one after dark in Dorchester: meet friendly ghosts and ghouls at the Dorset Museum; explore the Shire Hall’s historic cells by torchlight; mannequins come alive in the Victorian barracks, the Keep Military Museum.

Milkshake Live! Lighthouse Poole, 28 Oct

Daisy & Ollie, Milo, Noddy, Pip and Posy, Paddington, and the rest of the gang – including two Milkshake presenters – are all singing and all dancing. From 3+

Break a ghoulish world record, Brewery Square, Dorchester, 28 Oct

Dress up as a ghost to be part of an attempt to break the record for the most people dressed as ghosts in one location – plus disco, spooky balloon modelling, stilt walkers, pumpkin carving competition, Trick or Treat, food and drink.

Snow (Snö), The egg, Bath, 28 – 31 Oct

Dockteatern Tittut Snow October Half Term

Swedish touring puppet theatre company Dockteatern Tittut’s poetic performance about animals and nature in the world of the Sami, the indigenous people of northernmost Scandinavia.

Morgan & West’s Massive Magic Show for Kids!, Taunton Brewhouse, 29 Oct

Conjuring capers, mysterious magic tricks, and larger than life laughs. From 5

PYO pumpkins, around Somerset & Dorset, from now until they run out

Make the kids put the legwork in at a local farms and pumpkin patch before they can start carving.

30+ things to do over October half term with your little monsters (and your big ones)

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