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More on KentOnline
LEEDS CASTLE, MAIDSTONE
Listen to spooky tales by wacky witches and wizards this half term between Monday, October 23 and Sunday, October 29 – but look out, as they often get themselves in a monster muddle. Young visitors can see the silly sorcerers making mistakes, note them on their trail card and be rewarded with a chocolatey prize. A spooky quest is also available in the Woodland Walk (there is a small extra charge). There will be a fancy dress competition at 2pm each day, a Monster Mash Ball’ and spooky games. For more details go to leeds-castle.com
BETTESHANGER COUNTRY PARK, DEAL
Spooky film nights, pumpkin carving, woodland adventures and witches and wizards are all on offer at the park near Deal throughout October half term.
There will be a self-led Halloween Trail from Saturday, October 21 to Sunday, October 29, between 10am and 4pm where you can discover 10 mystical sites, and creatures and puzzles around the park. A trail sheet costs £1.50 – and if you crack the puzzle code, there’s a prize at the end. Birds of prey will be on site between 10am and 4pm on Sunday, October 22, with displays at noon and 3pm, and pumpkin carving daily between Monday, October 23 to Sunday, October 29 between 11am and 3pm, at £5, to include pumpkin and carving kit. There will be a Really Wild Wooders Forest School Holiday Club for four to 11-year-olds from Tuesday, October 24 and Thursday, October 26 between 9am and 3pm daily at a cost of £25 a day.
Woodland Witches and Wizards runs from Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29 between 10am and 1.30pm, for four to 11-year-olds when there will be friendly forest spirits, broomstick making and toasting sticky marshmallows on an open fire, at £12.50 per child and £5 per adult. To book go to betteshanger-park.co.uk/halloween
OPEN AIR CINEMA AT BETTESHANGER
Betteshanger brings classic Halloween family favourite Hocus Pocus to the open air screen on Saturday, October 28. Join Winnie (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy) and Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) for the comedy horror of three villainous witch sisters resurrectd after three centuries by Max, a Halloween-hating teenager. Doors open at 6pm, with the film at 7pm. Pack a comfy chair, warm blanket and hamper or head for the local food stalls. Tickets are £7.50 early bird and £10 general admission. Book via betteshanger-park.co.uk/halloween
On Saturday, October 28, there is a showing recommended for ages nine and over of Hocus Pocus. To book call 0370 333 1183 or visit english-heritage.org.uk/dovercastle
Step in to the Historic Dockyard's Enchanted Garden this half term, for a week of magic, myths and captivating fun. The grounds of the Commissioners House will be transformed in to an Enchanted Garden from Saturday, October 21 to Sunday, October 29 with pumpkin carving, storytelling sessions and plenty of hands-on fun. Also included in your annual ticket, there's the chance to explore the dockyard, including three warships and 10 museum galleries. For more details visit thedockyard.co.uk
LULLINGSTONE CASTLE, NEAR EYNSFORD
Carve a pumpkin with a face to frighten or amuse at the castle during half term on Sunday, October 29. For special events, admission is £10 and children under 15 are free. For details call 01322 862114 or go to lullingstonecastle.co.uk
KENT LIFE, MAIDSTONE
There’s a spooky time in store from Saturday, October 21 to Tuesday, October 31, with pumpkin carving, trick or treating, creepy critter and fancy dress competitions. The Halloween Spooktacular runs daily, with fancy dress and pumpkin carving, while on Wednesday, October 25, there will be Kent Life After Dark, where visitors can see spooky sights, the Ugly Bugs Ball and the chance to take a ride on the land train and hear a ghostly tale or two. For details of all events go to kentlife.org.uk
DREAMLAND, MARGATE
The park is open throughout half term, between 11am and 5pm, with after dark Screamland events for adults. There are all the usual rides, Octopus’s Garden and the roller room. For details visit dreamland.co.uk
Half term fun at the Faversham site runs from Monday, October 23 to Thursday, October 26. On the Monday, keep the kids entertained with Brogdale’s Beastie Day when young visitors can hunt for insects in the orchards and then get crafty. On the Thursday, learn about the effect the weather has on the orchards, ride the tractor trailer, and make a human sundial on Wild Weather Day. There will also be walks in the orchards. For details visit brogdalecollections.org or call 01795 536250.
BEDGEBURY PINETUM, GOUDHURST
The park is open daily between 8am and 6pm, and the Gruffalo Trail is on offer for little ones with the Gruffalo sculpture and his child to spot. Details at forestry.gov.uk/bedgebury
Prepare to be spooked at Hever Castle & Gardens by meeting Viscous Vampire and his Goblin friend in the Creepy Crypt and hear terrifying tales of goblins, trolls, witches and vampires between Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 29. Follow the eerie Halloween trail and help ward off vampires. There will also be creepy costumes and fun for all the family. Details at hevercastle.co.uk
HOP FARM, PADDOCK WOOD
There’s a host of Halloween happenings from Saturday, October 21 to Sunday, October 29, between 10am and 4pm daily. The spook-tastic feast of fun - which young visitors can come in their finest fancy dress for - includes pumpkin carving, face painting, storytelling, a magic show and Magic Castle, zombie shoot-out and Monster Mash disco. And look out for some special treats on arrival. For details go to thehopfarm.co.uk
CANTERBURY TALES
Young visitors can learn how to scare grown-ups silly in the Tales’ Ghoul School, meet Professor Sprig and learn the cures for disgusting diseases and write spells. After all your lessons, there will be a graduation from Spook Academy. The fun runs on Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15, and daily throughout half term between noon and 4pm from Saturday, October 21 to Sunday, October 29. For details go here.
MAIDSTONE MUSEUM
Young creators can make a paper owl family, a clay leaf bowl, an autumn wreath and a mini scarecrow at daily workshops between Tuesday, October 24 and Friday, October 27, between 10.30am and 2pm. There will be three sessions a day, at a cost of £3. Suitable for ages four and over. Details at museum.maidstone.gov.uk
SCOTNEY CASTLE, LAMBERHURST
The castle’s resident cat Betsy stars in a Halloween trail to mark the 13th anniversary of the Great Storm when visitors can spot the cut-outs of her in the trees connected to the Storm, and find out its story. Wander the gardens and ruins to see giant pumpkins grown in the walled garden. The trail costs £1 and normal admission charges apply.
CHARTWELL, WESTERHAM
Find as many spooky things as you can to get a prize at the end as part of the Halloween Trail from Saturday, October 21 to Sunday, October 29, between 10am and 4pm. The trail is £1, with normal admission costs.
IGHTHAM MOTE NEAR BOROUGH GREEN
Giant spider webs will be appearing around the gardens – follow the trail daily between Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 29, between 10am to 5pm. A trail costs 50p, with normal admission. There will also be crafts from noon to 3.30pm, on Thursday, October 26. There is a suggested donation of 50p, normal admission costs apply.
There will be an Edwardian themed trail at the garden between Saturday, October 21 to Sunday, October 29, between 10am to 4pm daily. It costs £1 per trail, normal admission applies.
KNOLE, SEVENOAKS
Family fun and making lanterns are on offer at the Sevenoaks historic site for half term. Family Monday on Monday, October 23, between11am and 3pm will feature free arts and crafts with a leafy hedgehogs and leaf sun catchers theme. Suitable for ages five to 12. A paper lanterns family workshop will be held on Wednesday, October 25 and Thursday, October 26 at 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 3.30pm. For Museums at Night, on Saturday, October 28 from 6pm to 8.30pm, young visitors can don their spookiest costume and hop into the giant picture frame in the Orangery to snap a frightful photo to take home, or join a bat walk with a hot drink afterwards. Details at nationaltrust.org.uk/knole
For half term, Involve will be running pumpkin carving and slime making in Maidstone Mall. Each activity costs £2.50 for each activity, with materials provided. There will be a prize for the best pumpkin. Workshops run from Monday, October 23 to Saturday, October 28, between 1.30pm and 3pm daily. Suitable for ages five and over. To book call 01622 235833.
Head to the Canterbury theatre in your finest Halloween fancy dress and Potter gear for a Halloween special screening of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (PG) on Saturday, October 28. Tickets cost £3 with babies on laps £1. To book visit thegulbenkian.co.uk
Half term activities run from Saturday, October 21 to Sunday, October 29, with trails from 10.30am to 5pm and crafts from noon to 4pm. Follow the Halloween Garden Trail to discover bygone stories and traditions and head to the Old Coach House for creepy crafts from a hanging bat and spinning spiral snake to ghoulish ghost.
New this year will be a Mummification Stitch Up on Sunday, October 29 between noon and 4pm. Hands on History will give hourly talks about the practice of mummification through the use of a ‘dummy mummy’ – including organ removal and preservation techniques employed by the ancient Egyptions. Running hourly from noon to 4pm. The Wicked Witch of the Wild Wood will be in the woodland from Monday, October 23 to Friday, October 27 at 2pm, 2.45pm and 3.30pm. Find the witch in the bell tent and visit the coven for cups of hot chocolate and a spooky tale around the fire with toasting marshmallows. There will also be (Not too) Spooky Storytelling and a fancy dress contest on Saturday, October 28 at 2pm, 2.45pm and 3.30pm – come dressed in your spooky finest. Activities are included in the standard grounds admission price. Details at penshurstplace.com/whats-on/events-and-activities.
Put your nerves to the test and prepare yourself for a host of spine-tingling surprises and bone chilling entertainment between Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 29. Venture through the creepy cobwebbed corridors of Haunted Heights and stray into the terror-tory of sin sisters, Hocus & Pocus... Thrill seekers are also invited to knock on the trap door and discover the spook-tacular surprise within. Scooby Doo will also be at the East Sussex attraction on Wednesday, October 25. For details visit drusillas.co.uk or call 01323 874100.
MILLBROOK GARDEN CENTRE, STAPLEHURST
Roll up, roll up, for half term at the garden centre in Staplehurst. One of the UK’s oldest circus families, Paulos Circus, makes a welcome return visit from Wednesday, October 25 and Sunday, October 29.
Performing since 1816, the Paulos family have been touring with their unique family entertainment. Paulos Circus brings clowns, acrobats, aerial skills, magic, wire walkers and jugglers among its acts, promising an unforgettable circus experience for all the family. There’s also Halloween fun at Millbrook on Saturday, October 28, with a family pumpkin carving session at 2pm, including a demonstration and the chance to take your carved pumpkin home. The session costs £5 per family. Th centre is in Staplehurst Road, Marden, TN12 9BT. Call 01622 832299.
DOVER CASTLE
Do you feel brave enough to take on Kent’s most haunted castle, which stars in a new book of ghoulish ghost stories? Young and old should be prepare to be scared this autumn half term for the Haunted Castle, running from Saturday, October 21 to Sunday, October 29, between 10am and 4pm each day. For more details visit english-heritage.org.uk or call 0370 333 1181.
There are Autumn Adventures on offer between Tuesday, October 24 and Thursday, October 26 when they can get hands-on with den building along the woodland walk, enjoy the fruits of harvest and discover the garden’s wildlife. For more details visit english-hertage.org.uk/walmercastle or call 01304 364288.
QUEX PARK, BIRCHINGTON
Half term fun runs from Tuesday, October 24 to Friday, October 27, between 11am and noon and 1.30pm and 3pm. As part of the Big Draw festival, young visitors can try drawing Victorian toys and spinning tops, and then see them come alive. For entry and more details, call 01843 842168 or email enquiries@quexmuseum.org
October half term fun runs from Friday, October 13 to Tuesday, October 31. with a Little Monster Hunt when 12 spooky little monsters, including Frankenstein, Dracula and The Mummy, will be on the loose. Visitors can take part in the trail for free by picking up a map from the concierge desk outside M&S on the lower mall - and there's a prize at the end.
There will be free family fun throughout October half term at the Gillingham shopping centre with the kmfm street team from Monday, October 23 to Sunday, October 29. From 11am to 3pm daily there will be free Halloween-themed events including face painting, arts and crafts and a colouring competition. Shoppers can turn up on the day as there is no pre-booking needed, though children must be supervised. Parking is free at Hempstead Valley. For details go to hempsteadvalley.com
ALFRESCO CINEMA, KINGS HILL
There will be a spooktacular cinema experience for families at the Kings Hill Sports Park as Alfresco Events stage Room on the Broom and Hocus Pocus on Sunday, October 29. Gates open at 3.30pm, and Room on the Broom will be shown at 5pm. There will be a halloween fancy dress contest before Hocus Pocus, which starts at 5.40pm. There will be music and food and refreshments to buy. For details and to book go to alfrescoevents.ticketsrv.co.uk
The Southfleet attraction has family-friendly spooks through the day. They include the Boo Bungalow, a fun and magical Halloween interactive experience, Haunted Wood Tours with a tractor trailer journey into the creepy woods, The Bone Yard, Monster Madness and pumpkin carving workshops. For more details go to spookycastle.co.uk/day-events
