Autumn half term activities in Herefordshire
If you’re looking for ideas to help you and your family stay active and entertained during the autumn half term, there's lots of different activities and events taking place across Herefordshire.
Don't forget to also check our what's on calendar for even more ideas and inspiration, especially for adults!
Berrington Hall – Potion making
Tuesday 31 October, 11am to 3pm
With herbs from the garden, and a little bit of magic, children can create their very own witches potion to take home with them. Take part in the ‘Witch’s kitchen’ trail, to learn more about the supposedly mystical properties of some of the herbs grown in the gardens, and find all the missing ingredients for the witch’s potion. The activity is free, normal admission charges apply.
Bike Right
Monday 30 October to Thursday 2 November
A host of different cycling activities during half term, at the new cycle track in Hereford. Children can learn to ride or improve their cycle skills. Different sessions each day from Monday 30 October to Thursday 2 November, at the cycle track, Halo Hereford Leisure centre. Booking is required.
Black and White House Museum – Spooky tales
Tuesday 31 October to Thursday 2 November, 11am - 12 noon; 1.30pm - 3.30pm
Spooky Tales at the Black and white house museum. Family fun, and a frightfully good time. Children go free but must be accompanied by a paying adult. Entry is on a first come basis.
Brockhampton Half Term Fun - Monstrous mushrooms trail
Saturday 28 October to Sunday 5 November, 10am to 5pm.
There’s something strange, in the neighbourhood - causing some of the fungi around the Brockhampton estate to grow enormous! Welcome to the Monstrous mushrooms trail. Explore the orchards along this trail and see if you can spot any giant fungi, finding out more about some of the fascinating species. Running every day during half term, the Trail sheets cost £3 and include a colouring sheet, coloured pencils and prize!
Ceramics Festival Hereford
Friday 3 to Sunday 5 November, from 10am to 6pm
Discover the beauty and creativity of ceramics! This free festival offers the opportunities to learn from the best through interactive workshops for all, a makers market and exciting outdoor Raku firing. The festival takes place between Maylord Orchards in Hereford and CUP Studio on the Foley Trading Estate. The two sites will be linked by an art trail that can be enjoyed by all the family. Book your free events by e-mailing ceramicfesthfd.co.uk
Croft Castle – Rotten apples trail
Every day from Saturday 28 October to Sunday 5 November, 9am to 5pm
The orchard at Croft Castle is full of apples, ripe for picking, however, there’s something not quite right with some of the fruit! Follow the fun family trail and discover the really rotten apples lurking around Croft Castle. Learn more about the creatures that visit the orchard and how apples (even the rotten ones!) can help look after local wildlife. Trail packs cost £3 and include a colouring sheet, coloured pencils, and a prize.
CUP Ceramics - Halloween event (age 5+)
Monday 30 October, 10.30am to 12pm
A kids session for ages 5+ to design, create and decorate pottery creations, perhaps a Halloween mask or lantern. Fee includes materials, glaze and kiln firing. £15 tickets.
Ewyas Harold Bonfire night
Saturday 4 November, gates open at 6pm
Grange Court, Leominster - Kids pumpkin and craft day
Tuesday 31 October, 11am to 3pm
A day of fun for children at Grange Court in Leominster. With pumpkin carving, colouring, toffee apples, card making and lots more. Booking is essential. £2 per child.
Halloweenfest
30 October to 3 November - Bromyard, Ledbury, Leominster, Kington and Ross
Halloween Book Hunt
"The Children’s Bookshelf” and lovely volunteers have been hiding books all around Herefordshire, for a half term Halloween book hunt. Each book is hidden somewhere such as in a shop window, a local park, by a post box or hidden in a bus shelter - anywhere where local children will hopefully find them. When children find a book, they can hold onto it or when they have read the book they can put it back for someone else to find!
Herefordshire Libraries - Spooky Storytime
From Spooky Storytime, Villains and their Lairs to making a Halloween picture book. Check out what's on at Herefordshire Libraries this half term. Also join in with the crocus planting activity in all libraries across Herefordshire too this half term! Grab a pot and head to the counter to collect your free bulb (children must be supervised by an appropriate adult).
No tricks, just treats on this fabulous, free Halloween trail. Use the LoyalFree app to guide you and your little ones to collect treats from 10 locations around Hereford City Centre. Don’t forget to take a Halloween basket or bucket to collect your goodies!
Holme Lacy Village Hall Halloween Kids Party
Tuesday 31 October, 5.30pm to 7pm
Family friendly Halloween party, with lots of free fun activities, and a prize for the best fancy dress. All children must be accompanied by an adult. To book, e-mail: holmelacytreasurer@gmail.com
Horrorford Halloween
Saturday 28 October, from 11am in Hereford High Town and The Old Market
This is Hereford's spookiest spectacle. Family thrills and frightfully fun activities. With music, performances, activities and a wicked Zombie Crawl parade at 2pm, you won’t want to miss it! Kids can get crafty in the free workshops or explore the Halloween Garden. There's free face painting and a fancy dress competition.
HOPE Centre - Halloween party
Friday 27 October, 4pm
Halloween party with Dazzles disco and glitter tattoos. Hotdogs and spooky treats available from the cafe. All the Spooky Fun at the HOPE Centre. £3 per child. Booking is essential. Ideally suitable for children aged 2-8.
Kington Annual Bonfire and Fireworks
Saturday 28 October, 6pm to 8pm
A fantastic show for all the family, held at The Recreation Ground in Kington, and organised by the local firefighters. The cost is £5 for adults and £2 for children.
Ledbury Halloween Ghost Walk
Tuesday 31 October at 7pm
Places are limited for this spooky walk, with advance bookings only. The Ghost Walk is not suitable for young children and all children must be accompanied by an adult. It’s £9 for adults and £4.50 for 10-15 year olds. For further information contact Ledbury Walks, email info@ledburywalks.com
Llangrove Leapfrogs Halloween Party Night
Saturday 28 October, 4.30pm to 6.30pm
Take a mystery hunt, have a go on the bouncy castle, and enjoy crafts, messy play and hot dogs. All families with children up to 11 years of age welcome.
Madley Environmental Centre - Friday Fright night
Friday 27 October, book a start time slot (6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm or 8.30pm)
A world of eerie enchantment awaits – are you brave enough to venture into the deep, dark woods? An evening of ghouls, ghosts and fun. Enjoy a free hot dog and drink to end your evening. Children and adults £9.50 each - tickets are limited and run out fast. Book through the website.
Madley Halloween Craft Fayre
Saturday 28 October, 11am to 3pm
Tricks and treats, games and glitter tattoos and a costume contest. There’s lots going on at the Madley Village Hall Halloween Craft Fayre. All proceeds will be split between Madley Primary School and The Little Princess Trust!
Maylord Orchards Halloween!
Saturday 28 October, 11am to 3.30pm
The Spooktacular event has a fantastic trick or treat mix of craft, live animals, and a disco! There are craft workshops and Halloween craft fair, along with food and drink stalls, entertainment, face painting and balloon modelling. The live animal show will fascinate with fact finding about spiders, snakes, scorpions, bearded dragons, geckos, chameleons and more!
Newbridge Farm Park Halloween Half Term
Monday 30 October to Friday 3 November, 10am to 4pm
Halloween activities, autumn treasure hunt and dress a scarecrow. Also enjoy the tractor rides and pony rides (2 November only), along with lots of indoor and outdoor play - slides, sandpits, zipwire, go karts, rope swings, soft play barn and more. Book through the website.
Pumpkin Pete's - Animal Experience and Halloween Party
27 and 30 October, Animal experience
31 October for the party - 11am to 12.45pm for 3-5 years; and 2pm to 3.40pm for 6-9 years
There's a fully ‘hands on’ experience with spiders, snakes, owls and some cute meerkats at the animal experience days. Then it's the Halloween party day hosted by Dazzles on 31 October, in the spooky shed, with spooky party games (age appropriate). There's prizes for best costume, dancer, glow sticks and spooky catering. With Halloween banquet tables and trick or treat party bags.
Ross Lions Fireworks Display - CANCELLED
Saturday 4 November, gates open at 6pm - CANCELLED
Spooky Goodrich Castle
Saturday 28 October to Sunday 5 November, 10am to 4pm
There’s a bewitchingly brilliant day out at Goodrich Castle this half-term. Take part in the Halloween Quest to discover magical potion ingredients. Solve the creepy clues to become a wonderfully wicked witch's apprentice! Gather round to listen to spooky stories, by the creepy castle. There’s also a frighteningly fun fancy dress competition every day. Entry to the event is included in the standard admission ticket price (£6.50 to £11).
Talk Community half-term fun
Friday 3 November, 10am to 2pm
Free family fun day, in partnership with Halo Leisure. A great chance for children and families to try out some fun, free activities at Hereford Leisure Centre. Pedal your way around the new cycle track, or have a go at eco-crafts, and much more. Enjoy a free hot drink and free parking (people must register at reception for parking).
The Art Studio, Ross-on-Wye
Monday 30 October to Friday 3 November
Creative themed workshops for children and families, from Little shop of horrors, Dragon lanterns to Fairy gardens. From £10 per session and family tickets available. Booking is required.
The Courtyard Theatre - Herefordshire’s Family Festival Fun Day
Wednesday 1 November, 10am onwards
There’s so much going on at this fairy taled themed family festival - from magical, fairy tale performances, an enchanted kingdom and Frozen medley – to biscuit decorating and face painting, boogie with baby and a family rave! Inclusive events for everyone to join in with, and fancy dress is encouraged.
The Weir Garden - Leaf rubbing workshop
Wednesday 1 November, 11am to 2pm
Waterworks Museum, Halloween Steam Day
Saturday 28 October, 11am to 4pm
Enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of a Victorian waterworks with all steam and other engines working. There's plenty for all the family too, and you can relax in our cafe or picnic in the grounds. Free admission for children under 16.
Wellington Garden Centre – Halloween pumpkin hunt
From Saturday 28 October to Sunday 5 November, 10am to 5pm (subject to availability)
There’s a spooky hunt at Wellington Garden centre this half-term, to find all of those petrifying pumpkins! It’s free to enter, and there’s a sweet treat to those who find all of the spooky, hidden pumpkins.
Wild Adventure Club – WildPlay, Queenswood
Wednesday 1 November, 10am to 3pm
A day in the woods! Building and lighting fires, cooking, learning bush craft skills, den building, hammock hanging and other nature-based activities. For ages 8 to 12 years, Wild Adventure Clubs are designed for unaccompanied children. Cost: £20-£25, bookings through Eventbrite.
Wonderful world of bats - Queenswood
Friday 27 October, 5.30pm to 8pm
Wild Play lead an evening of activities designed to intrigue, delight and inform - a great opportunity to teach your little ones about the importance of this special species. Some close-up examples of real bats too! Suitable for 8+ years. Cost: £8.50, bookings through Eventbrite.
Please note: This list has been compiled for information only and should not be taken as an endorsement of any of the activities or organisations listed.
This page was last updated on 26 October 2023