Halloween falls on Saturday 31 October in 2026, with family activities, pumpkin picking, horror films, historic tours, scare attractions and parties taking place across Bristol throughout October.
For family-friendly Halloween events, consider Wake The Tiger, Bristol Zoo Project or Spooky Week at The Red Lodge Museum. For bigger scares and evening entertainment, Bristol’s programme includes FEAR Scream Park, underground horror films, ghost walks and Halloween club nights.
Some events begin in September and continue into November, but the widest choice falls during the October school holiday and Halloween weekend.
Event information was checked on 12 October 2026. Dates, prices, programmes, admission rules and ticket availability may change, so check directly with the organiser before booking or travelling.
Which Bristol Halloween event is right for you?
For gentler family fun, consider Hallo-wheelie Bin Season, The Beast of Mossy Bottom or Spooky Week at The Red Lodge Museum.
For hands-on half-term activities, look at the family workshops at Arnos Vale Cemetery or the children’s cookery camp at Cooking It!
For pumpkin picking near Bristol, compare Avon Valley Pumpkin Patch, Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm and Farrington’s Farm. Remember that entrance tickets do not always include a pumpkin.
For older children and teenagers, FEARless offers a reduced-scare alternative to the main evening event. It still contains live performers and frightening scenes, so check the organiser’s suitability information before booking.
For more intense Halloween entertainment, FEAR Scream Park and Horror in the Caves are among the main choices in this guide.
For an evening without a club night, consider a ghost walk, an October tour at Arnos Vale Cemetery, a film screening or the culinary murder mystery at Cooking It!
Family Halloween events in Bristol
Hallo-wheelie Bin Season at Wake The Tiger
Hallo-wheelie Bin Season runs at Wake The Tiger from 30 September to 1 November 2026.
The experience introduces the Binshees, fictional Halloween spirits that haunt wheelie bins and turn their contents into strange creatures. Seasonal installations are included with general admission and are designed to be playful and unusual rather than focused on intense scares.
There is also an all-ages art competition inviting visitors to design their own Binshee. Advance booking is recommended for weekends and school-holiday dates.
The Beast of Mossy Bottom at Bristol Zoo Project
The Beast of Mossy Bottom begins at Bristol Zoo Project on 1 October 2026.
The Shaun the Sheep-themed trail asks visitors to investigate evidence, solve clues and track down a mysterious creature in Bear Wood.
Additional Beast Corner activities are listed from 24 October to 1 November, when families can learn about animal tracks, fur and camera traps.
The organiser’s current event page does not give a final date for the main trail. Check that it is running on your intended visit date before buying admission tickets.
Spooky Week at The Red Lodge Museum
Spooky Week is listed at The Red Lodge Museum on:
- Saturday 24 October
- Sunday 25 October
- Thursday 29 October
- Friday 30 October
- Saturday 31 October
- Sunday 1 November
The event is scheduled to run from 11am to 4pm and is promoted particularly for families with children aged six to nine.
Activities are expected to include finding miniature spooky doors, listening to stories, writing poems, making decorations, trying historical costumes and having face or body painting.
Tickets were listed at £5 per person, with children under four admitted free. Activities are included with admission. Walk-in places may be available if there is space, but booking ahead is recommended for busy dates.
October half-term Halloween activities
Family workshops at Arnos Vale Cemetery
Arnos Vale Cemetery’s October half-term programme runs from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026.
The published programme includes:
- Fire lighting on Monday 26 October
- Creepy-creature crafts on Monday 26 October
- Mushroom carving on Wednesday 28 October
- A Room on the Broom-inspired story session on Thursday 29 October
- Fairy-door making on Thursday 29 October
- A Funnybones-inspired story session on Friday 30 October
A self-guided nocturnal mammal hunt was also listed at £3.
Times, prices and suitable ages vary between sessions. Check the individual activity page before booking, particularly where an activity involves tools, fire or outdoor conditions.
Halloween Half-Term Cookery Camp at Cooking It!
Halloween Half-Term Cookery Camp for Children is scheduled at Cooking It! on Gloucester Road from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026.
Sessions are listed from 9.30am to 2.30pm and are designed for children aged 7 to 14. Children prepare and eat their own lunch before completing a Halloween-themed baking project to take home.
Sessions from Monday to Thursday were listed at £65 per child, while the Friday session was listed at £70. Menus, prices and remaining places may differ between sessions.
Parents and carers should tell the organiser about allergies or dietary requirements and establish whether these can be accommodated before booking.
Pumpkin picking near Bristol
Pumpkin-patch admission does not always include a pumpkin. Check what the ticket covers, as pumpkins, carving kits, games, rides, food and other activities may be charged separately.
Outdoor fields can also become muddy after rain. Review the organiser’s access information if anyone in your group uses a wheelchair, mobility aid or pushchair.
Avon Valley Pumpkin Patch
Avon Valley Pumpkin Patch is scheduled to open from 10am to 5pm on:
- 3 and 4 October
- 10 and 11 October
- 17 and 18 October
- 24 to 31 October
Visitors can choose pumpkins from the field, follow the Big Boo Trail, explore seasonal displays and visit the market and shop areas.
Pumpkins are not included in the standard entrance price. Rides, games and some other activities also cost extra.
Evening Pumpkin Patch Nights are listed on:
- 9 and 10 October
- 16 and 17 October
- 23 to 31 October
The organiser advises visitors to expect outdoor farmland and possible muddy conditions. Its current access information states that the pumpkin field is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
Pumpkinfest at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm
Pumpkinfest runs at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm from 19 September to 1 November 2026.
The zoo programme includes an animal-themed trail, seasonal displays and family activities alongside the usual animal attractions.
The pumpkin area beside the farm shop is free to enter without a zoo ticket and is advertised as offering more than 30 varieties of pumpkins and gourds. Pumpkins are purchased separately.
Admission is required to enter the zoo itself. The organiser describes the farm-shop pumpkin area as accessible to wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Dogs may visit the farm-shop area but are not permitted inside the zoo, subject to the attraction’s current assistance-dog policy.
Farrington’s Pumpkin Picking Festival
Farrington’s Pumpkin Picking Festival, near Farrington Gurney, is scheduled on:
- 10 and 11 October
- 17 and 18 October
- 23 to 31 October
Tickets were listed at £3.95 per person plus a booking fee. Children under two, on-duty carers and dogs do not require a paid ticket under the published admission rules.
Admission includes access to the pumpkin patch, themed displays, Witch’s Wood, the carving area and on-site parking. It does not include a pumpkin.
Carving kits, marshmallows, fairground rides and games cost extra. Advance booking is required under the current arrangements, and tickets are not normally sold at the entrance.
Halloween scare attractions
FEAR at Avon Valley Scream Park
FEAR at Avon Valley Scream Park is scheduled on 12 nights between 9 and 31 October 2026:
- 9 and 10 October
- 16 to 18 October
- 23 to 25 October
- 28 to 31 October
The event advertises five main scare attractions alongside street theatre, live performances, fire and laser shows, food, drinks and fairground entertainment. Optional immersive experiences may require separate tickets or additional payment.
FEAR is an intense scare event rather than a family Halloween trail. Attractions may use darkness, loud noises, confined spaces, disturbing imagery, theatrical effects and close interaction with performers.
Check the organiser’s current age rules, content information, access details and visitor guidance before buying tickets.
FEARless
FEARless is a reduced-scare alternative to the main FEAR Scream Park experience. It is scheduled for 24, 29, 30 and 31 October 2026.
The organiser recommends the experience for visitors aged 11 to 16. It includes adapted scare attractions, live performers and entertainment, with optional rides and food outlets at the venue.
Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by someone aged 18 or over under the published entry rules. Rides, stalls, food and drinks are not included with the main ticket.
FEARless still contains frightening scenes and live performers. Parents and carers should use the organiser’s current content guidance when deciding whether it is appropriate for someone in their care.
Ghost tours and Bristol’s darker history
Arnos Vale Cemetery tours
Arnos Vale Cemetery is advertising two darker history tours during October.
Murder, Mystery and Mayhem explores historical stories involving murder, rioting, adultery and other unusual episodes connected with the cemetery.
Morbid Curiosity covers historical accounts of drownings, hangings, accidents, disease and other causes of death.
Both tours are listed between 9 and 31 October 2026. Available dates, times, prices and remaining spaces can be checked through the Arnos Vale events calendar.
These tours deal with death and other potentially upsetting subjects. Check the organiser’s content and age guidance before bringing younger visitors.
Haunted and Hidden Bristol
Haunted and Hidden Bristol combines ghost stories, historical accounts, notable buildings and local filming locations.
Public walks are normally advertised as leaving Bristol Cathedral on College Green at 8pm on Friday evenings. Private walks may be available on other nights by arrangement.
The operator describes the walk as suitable for all ages, but individual reactions to darker stories can vary. Confirm the date, price, duration and route directly with the operator before attending.
Halloween films in unusual Bristol venues
Bristol Film Festival at Arnos Vale
Bristol Film Festival’s Halloween Season begins at the Anglican Chapel in Arnos Vale Cemetery on 14 and 15 October 2026.
The published programme includes:
- The Addams Family on 14 October at 5.30pm
- Little Shop of Horrors on 14 October at 7.45pm
- The Wicker Man (2006) on 14 October at 10pm
- The Witches on 15 October at 5.30pm
- The Innocents on 15 October at 7.30pm
- Donnie Darko on 15 October at 9.45pm
The programme ranges from family comedy and dark fantasy to psychological horror. Check the official film classification, content information, running time and admission rules before booking.
Horror in the Caves
Horror in the Caves runs inside Redcliffe Caves from 22 to 25 October 2026.
The 2026 programme marks the tenth anniversary of the underground screening series and includes classic and contemporary horror, folk horror, cult films and previous festival favourites.
Confirmed screenings include The Descent, shown inside the caves on 22 October. The film is classified 18.
Redcliffe Caves has uneven ground and cooler underground conditions. Review the festival’s venue and access information before booking and wear footwear suitable for the conditions. The underground setting may not suit visitors who find enclosed spaces difficult.
Halloween screenings at Averys Wine Cellars
Bristol Film Festival is also holding Halloween screenings at Averys Wine Merchants.
Manhunter is scheduled for Thursday 15 October, while Young Frankenstein will be shown on Wednesday 28 October. The Young Frankenstein screening is listed to begin at 7pm, with doors opening at 6.45pm.
The Young Frankenstein event includes a sparkling-wine reception followed by four wines selected to accompany the film. The organiser restricts the event to people aged 18 or over because alcohol is included.
Optional food and introductory wine-tasting additions cost extra. A £1.50 booking fee was listed per order when this guide was checked.
Halloween food and social events
Death by the Chef’s Table
Death by the Chef’s Table: A Halloween Culinary Murder Mystery takes place at Cooking It!, 37 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, on Saturday 31 October 2026.
Guests work in pairs to prepare a three-course autumn dinner while examining clues and trying to solve a fictional murder.
The main booking information lists the event from 5.30pm to 8pm at £180 per pair, not per person. The organiser states that people aged over 14 may attend.
The organiser’s page contains two different sets of timings within the same listing. Confirm the arrival time and expected finish directly with Cooking It! before attending. Guests should also discuss allergies, dietary requirements and supervision arrangements with the organiser before booking.
Halloween parties and nightlife in Bristol
Bristol has club nights, live music and themed parties planned for Saturday 31 October 2026.
Halloween listings can change quickly. Check that the booking page clearly states 2026, as older event pages can continue to appear in search results.
Blowout Halloween All Dayer at Exchange
Blowout Halloween All Dayer takes place at Exchange on Saturday 31 October 2026.
Doors are listed to open at 1pm, with the event beginning at around 1.15pm. Advance tickets were listed at £15.
The published entry rules state that the event is for people aged 14 or over. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by someone aged 21 or over on a one-to-one basis.
The venue describes its ground-floor event space, bar and accessible toilet as having level access. The basement is reached by a narrow staircase and is not wheelchair accessible. Contact the venue directly if you need to confirm access arrangements for a particular part of the event.
Halloween Havoc at Yummiz
Halloween Havoc takes place at Yummiz on Saturday 31 October 2026, with published timings of 6pm until midnight.
The event is restricted to people aged 16 or over. Online tickets were listed at £6 before the booking charge, while admission on the door was listed at £10.
The organiser states that valid identification is required. Check the latest admission conditions before attending.
Window Kid at The Trinity Centre
Window Kid at The Trinity Centre takes place on Saturday 31 October 2026, starting at 10pm.
The club night focuses on dubstep and bassline and is restricted to people aged 18 or over. Tickets were listed at £20 before the booking charge.
Halloween day trips from Bristol
The following events are outside Bristol but may suit visitors looking for a longer family day out.
Halloween at Wookey Hole
The Home of Halloween at Wookey Hole Caves, near Wells, runs on selected weekends from 3 October, followed by daily activities from 24 October to 1 November 2026.
The published programme includes cave projections, a pumpkin trail, appearances by the Witch of Wookey Hole, the Monster’s Ball circus show and Halloween-themed adventure golf.
The organiser is also running a social-media promotion linked to visiting in fancy dress. Read the current promotion terms on the Wookey Hole website if you wish to take part.
Buggies cannot be taken through the caves because of steps and uneven surfaces. The projections and circus show use lighting and sound effects. Contact the attraction before booking if anyone in your group has access or sensory requirements.
Halloween at The Grand Pier
Halloween at The Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare runs from 24 October to 1 November 2026.
The published programme includes Halloween decorations, rides, free face painting and the Witches Grotto.
Halloween wristbands include entry for one child and one adult to meet the Wicked Witch of Weston under the current offer. Separate ticketed events are not included with the wristband or standard entry and may have different age restrictions or admission conditions.
Planning your Halloween visit
Timed films, workshops, tours, pumpkin-picking sessions and scare attractions may sell out before Halloween weekend.
Before booking, check:
- The event date, year and session time
- Current ticket availability
- Recommended ages and fixed age restrictions
- Adult-supervision requirements
- Film classifications and content information
- Whether the price is per person, pair or family
- Whether pumpkins, rides, food or activities cost extra
- Final admission times
- Accessibility and sensory information
- Parking and public transport arrangements
- Cancellation, transfer and refund conditions
- Whether outdoor activities continue in poor weather
Use the WEST Journey Planner to check routes, live arrivals and public transport disruptions. Late-evening services may be less frequent, so check your return journey before booking a film, scare attraction or club night.
For events outside Bristol, check the distance between the venue and the nearest public transport stop. Allow additional journey time during the school holiday and Halloween weekend.