18 spooky things to do with the kids in Bristol this October half-term and Halloween

The spooky season is upon us. It is time for the pumpkins and monsters to slowly creep into shops and our front windows and doors.

Halloween originates from the Celtic festival of Samhain, where they believed that the boundaries between the living and dead worlds are blurred on the night between the October 31 and November 1.

Bristol is bursting with different Halloween events taking place across the whole city and catering for different ages.

Here are 18 Bristol-based Halloween events to show off your spooky attire:

FEAR Avon Valley Scream Park

Running until October 31, the award-winning event aimed at ages 16 and over is back at Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park. The FEAR Scream Park includes five scare mazes, a fire show, thrilling funfair rides, street entertainment, and new to this year, the Fright FEAST. Tickets start at £37.50 and can be brought here: https://bookings.fearscreampark.co.uk/book

Bedminster’s Haunted Halloween Trail

Bedminster’s Haunted Halloween Trail starts from October 20. Participants can have a chance of winning £100 by collecting 20 stickers from the locations market in their Haunted Halloween Map.

Woeful Wounds

Woeful Wounds at SS Great Britain runs from the 21st to the 29th of October and is included with general admission. Teaming up with Specialist Make-up Design students from SGS College, the make-up artists will create cuts and blisters that the galley crew would have suffered during their time working in the kitchen at sea on visitors aged 4-18.

The Ardagh Halloween Party

The Ardagh Halloween Party is free and takes place on the 28th of October from 4pm to 8pm. It promises Spooky food, Drinks and games, performances from Invisible Circus, Fancy Dress Parade and prizes.

Spooky Paper Lanterns

Spooky Paper Lanterns - Creative Workshop for Kids at L’etoile Studio Art Space takes place on the 26th of October from 3pm to 5pm and is aimed at ages 6 to 10. A storytelling/play activity to introduce the theme of the activity – the spooky season! – will precede the making of the lantern to create a playful and welcoming atmosphere. Tickets cost £12 and can be bought here: https://www.eventbrite.it/e/spooky-paper-lanterns-creative-workshop-for-kids-tickets-739314899767?aff=oddtdtcreator

Halloween Silent Disco

Halloween Silent Disco at Redcatch Park takes place on the 29th of October at two sessions 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm. The event promises a licensed bar, snacks, ice cream, face paints, tattoos, Halloween songs and games, and various music channels to pick from. Headphone tickets cost £6.50 and no headphones/attendee £3. Tickets can be bought here: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/46461

Raver Tots Halloween Party at Motion

Raver Tots Halloween Party at Motion, Bristol takes place on the 29th of October from 4pm. There will be a huge effects show throughout the event with dancers, performers, cold pyro, bubbles, festival-sized confetti blasts, multi-coloured lasers and lighting, parachute games, giant balloons, a licensed bar and face painting. Babies 18 months and under go free, tickets for under 12s cost £14 and 12 and over cost £16. Tickets can be bought here: https://www.fatsoma.com/raver-tots-outdoor-festival-reading-2020/twxezwer/raver-tots-halloween-party-bristol

Halloween Disco at the Park Centre, Kingswood

Halloween Disco at the Park Centre on 29th October from 2pm to 4pm. There will be a DJ, Prizes, Refreshments and Party Games. Tickets for £3 per child can be bought at The Park Centre, High Street, Kingswood.

Creep & Crawl At Fear Hall - Halloween For All

Creep & Crawl At Fear Hall - Halloween For All is an inclusive event at Fear Hall on Keynsham High Street on the 28th of October from 6pm to 8pm, run by Butterflies Haven, an all-inclusive group that supports families living with autism. There will be a fancy dress competition, apple bobbing, sweet grabbing, sensory stimulation, cake, games and activities. Tickets cost £5 for under 18s, £3 for adults and £14 for a family of four (2 adults and 2 children) and can be booked by messaging Butterflies Haven or email them at [email protected]

Over 5s Spooky Spectacular Party

Over 5s Spooky Spectacular Party takes place on the 27th of October from 5pm to 6.30pm at Be Weird Be Wild Be Wonderful Playhub, 129, 133 Bath Rd, Longwell Green, Bristol BS30 9DD. A themed party, with dancing, competitions and spooktacular activities targeted at ages 5 to 8. Tickets cost £10 and can be found here: https://www.beweirdbewildbewonderful.com/event-details/over-5s-spooky-spectacular-party

Family Fright Fest at Almondsbury Creative

Family Fright Fest at Almondsbury Creative takes place on the 26th of October. Fright Fest promises to offer more than just a family Halloween party. With its very own not-so-scary scare maze, frightfully fun photo booth, trick-or-treat hunt, family UV rave and face painting, this spooktacular event is fun for all the family and not to be missed. Tickets cost £12 for children and £3 for adults and can be bought at: https://almondsburycreative.com/tc-events/family-fright-fest-2023/

Painting Party

Painting Party: Halloween-themed on the 26th of October from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Prior Shop, Cabot Circus. The evening includes a couple of classic party games (think Pictionary, Pass the Parcel etc.) and turns them into mini team tournaments. You will usually paint on party plates - the expectation is to have fun, not to make your best artwork, and the plates can easily be recycled afterwards while the memories of a fun night live on. It’s an easy way to make new friends or spend time with existing ones and you are welcome to bring your own booze. All painting materials and unlimited tea/squash will be provided. Tickets are donation-based and can be bought at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/painting-party-halloween-themed-tickets-730363566087?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1

Halloween Family Fun Day at the Pickle Factory

Halloween Family Fun Day at the Pickle Factory on the 21st October from 2.40pm to 6.30pm. Enjoy a variety of thrilling games like pumpkin carving, costume making and games, take part in the costume competition and feast on delicious treats from the food stall, children for free adults for an affordable price, including pumpkin soup, hot dogs, and spooky-themed pizzas. Tickets cost £4 for children and include a pumpkin and £3 for adults and can be booked here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/halloween-family-fun-day-tickets-738440694997?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Treasure Island Story Walk

Treasure Island Story Walk is available for bookings over the half term. Full of pirates and buccaneers; hidden spy holes; dark secrets, dirty deeds and lashings of doubloons. Hear the story where it all began: Bristol docks. Laced with terrible pirate jokes and Ted, the fact-checking parrot, to make sure your pirate gets the story straight. Private tours can be booked by contacting [email protected]

Haunted and Hidden Walking Tour

Haunted and Hidden Walking tour runs every Friday from 8pm from Bristol Cathedral, College Green. The route of the tour takes in some of Bristol’s darker and creepier historical locations along with film and TV locations and your host who has a wealth of local knowledge, delivers historical facts alongside TV and film trivia with a good dose of humour. Tickets cost £7 per adult, £5 for Concessions and £4 for children can be booked by emailing [email protected] or calling +44 (0) 776 6258407.

Howl-oween at Bristol Zoo Project

Howl-oween at Bristol Zoo Project from the 21st of October to the 5th of November is included with the general admission ticket. Explore the site in all its ‘gory’ and learn about animal bones, skulls and x-rays. Enter the witch’s camp, if you dare, and get stuck into creepy craft-making (for ages 2-10 years) and spooky storytelling (for ages 2-8 years). At the end of the trail, there’s a little ‘trick or treat’ surprise!

Sea Monsters

Sea Monsters are Invading Bristol Aquarium from the 20th to the 31st of October. Bristol Aquarium takes on an eerie and mystical atmosphere on the eve of Thursday 26th October from 6pm and the last entry is at 8 pm with doors closing at 9pm. This evening event will allow you to see the Aquarium in a whole different light, and be on the watch for the mythical monsters that have escaped the team… you may be asked to help them hunt the monsters down! Tickets available at: https://online1.venpos.net/ConsumerSite/ShowPage?LID=309&PID=b2064d05-7ef9-4f60-95fb-9657810fe1d6&LNG=en#PRP

Spooky Playground

Spooky Playground at 58th Bristol Scout Group on the 21st of October from 3pm to 7pm. The event promises Spooky party games, a haunted trail, face painting, trick-or-treat stations, a best costume prize giveaway, food and ghastly punches for sale, prize giveaways and free sweets and treats. Tickets cost £5 per child, £1 per adult and £20 for 4 children and 2 adults and can be brought at: https://www.fatsoma.com/e/vjijmgpi/spooky-playground “