What's On: Halloween 2023

In all the years I’ve been reading Boom, I’ve always kept the current issue in a drawer to consult at weekends and during holidays to check what’s on. Missing the September issue whilst Heather and I took over from Jo has left me – and perhaps you – free-wheeling through our spare time, unsure if I’m missing something great!

So, in an attempt to rectify this, here’s a monstrous round-up of some spooktacular Halloween happenings in the area, including pumpkin picking and spine-tingling trails alongside events at the big attractions and farms. In true Boom style, I’ve also included a section on classes, crafts and parties you won’t see listed together anywhere else. Keep reading to the end for some other autumnal gems too.

Maybe see you there!

Steph

TRAILS

Carsington Water

Saturday 28th October to Sunday 5th November – 10am to 3pm

Collect a trail sheet from the Visitor Centre and hunt for Willow the Witch’s clues in the Halloween scenes on Stones Island. Win a chocolate (or non-dairy) prize. Small charge.

Elvaston Castle

Tuesday 31st October - 10:30am to 3:30pm

Complete the spooky trail to earn your certificate then head to the courtyards to visit the Pumpkin Parlour and carve your very own pumpkin to take home. Fancy dress encouraged. £2 per trail sheet.

Erewash Museum

Monday 24th to Friday 28th October - 11am to 3pm

Search the house for clues and make monster hand puppets. Free.

On Tuesday, there's a special 'The Ghosts of Dalby House' spooky adventure where you can win a prize. £2.50 per entrant.

Shipley Country Park

Sunday 29th October – 10:30am to 3:30pm

Follow the spooky clues on the (Un)natural Trail to learn about weird nature and receive a sweet treat prize. Fancy dress welcome. £2 per child.

CLASSES, PARTIES AND CRAFTS

Bright Eyes Halloween Bash

Monday 23rd and Wednesday 25th October - 11am to 1pm

Fancy dress, sweets and treats, disco and pop-a-pumpkin. £8.50 per child (includes a spooky picnic bag), £3.50 up to 6 months. Booking essential.

Conkers Family Halloween Party

Saturday 28th October – 6:30pm to 10pm

A thrilling experience with a ghost train ride to and from Dippy’s amphitheatre show, a ghost walk and Vertigo Adventures. Prizes for best dressed ghouls and ghosts. Food and drink available from the Explorers Rest Restaurant. Book here.

Déda Halloween Dinky Disco

Tuesday 31st October – 12pm to 4pm

A thrilling day full of laughter, creativity and spine-tingling adventures for all ages. Includes dance workshops, a pumpkin hunt, slime workshops, spooky story time, mask making and a rave room. £5 per adult/child. More info here.

Denby Creepy Crafts

Saturday 21st to Tuesday 31st October – 10am to 4pm

Themed craft sessions including paint a spooky plate, create a scary clay monster and craft a spider's web hoop. £7 per child. Book here.

Denby Spooky Tea

Friday 27th October to Tuesday 31st October – 5pm to 7pm (except Friday 4pm to 6pm)

Get into the spirit of Halloween with a fun and spooky-themed Afternoon Tea, including bottomless Witches' Brew for the grown-ups and a free spooky shortbread to take home for every child. Adult £15.95, under 12s £10.95. Book here.

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Halloween Family Bushcraft at Carsington Water

Tuesday 31st October – 10am to 12pm and 1:30pm to 3:30pm

An introduction to outdoor bushcraft skills with a spooky twist. Includes building a fire, putting up shelters and using simple tools. £10 per person. Book here.

Enjoy Halloween Party

Saturday 28th October - 3:30pm to 6:30pm

Dress up and enjoy soft play, climbing, messy play and music. £12 per person. Book here.

Shining Cliff Woods Family Fun Halloween and Campfire Meal

Tuesday 31st October – 3:30pm to 6:30pm

Family-friendly Halloween crafts, games and activities in the woods and a mouthwatering meal cooked at the campfire by a private chef, Paul Harrild. Adult £15, child (4-14yrs) £10, under 4s free. Menu and full details here.

Shining Cliff Woods Room on the Broom Woodland Adventure

Thursday 2nd November – 10:30am to 1:30pm

Wrap up warm for fun, games and adventures as you search the woodland for the witch’s lost things. Bring a packed lunch. Hot chocolate provided. £16.50 per child. Full details and tickets here.

Shining Cliff Woods Woodland Adventure

Friday 3rd November – 10am to 3pm

Dress for the weather and join in with den building, games and activities. Bring a packed lunch to eat at the campfire Hot chocolate provided. £26.50 per child. Over 5s only (drop-off session). Full details here.

Sparks Arts Moon Howlers Holiday Camp at The Grand Pavilion, Matlock Bath

Monday 30th October to Wednesday 1st November – 9:30am to 3:30pm daily

Children get the chance to learn new skills and boost creativity whilst making a movie! £165 per child. More details here.

Tiny Talk Halloween Specials

Saturday 28th October – 10:30 to 11am and 11:15 to 11:45am

Free baby sign language taster sessions at Belper Library. Book a free place here.

Twistin’ Tots and Twistin’ Tinies Halloween-Themed Classes

Monday 23rd to Friday 27th October – all classes

At Tots, there will be a fancy dress competition with a prize for the best Halloween outfit and all the children will receive a chocolate treat. Book here.

PUMPKIN PICKING

Mr Pumpkin

Sunday 1st to Tuesday 31st October – timed slots

Pumpkin picking alongside a pumpkin trail, children’s rides and a bouncy castle. Hot and cold food and drinks available. Adults £2.50. Children free. Book here.

Pumpkin Corner – follow signs between Osmaston and Wyaston

Every weekend in October - 10am to 5pm

Pumpkins, coffee and cake! Dress for a field; gloves are recommended. Free entry, no booking required. Pumpkins cost £1-10 depending on size. More info here.

Pumpkin Plots in Egginton DE65 6GU

Every weekend in October – 11am to 3pm

Pick your own pumpkins and brave the electric chair! Refreshments available, cash and card accepted, dogs welcome on a lead. Free entry, no booking required. Pumpkins from £1. Find them here.

Truly Pumpkin and Potato Patch at Goldhurst Farm DE6 5JF

Every weekend in October, Monday 30th and Tuesday 31st - 10am to 4pm

Support British farming and local farmers with your visit. As well as pumpkins and potatoes, there's a play area, maize maze, vintage tractors and refreshments. You can win a prize for finding the golden pumpkin! Free entry, no booking required. More info here.

FARMS AND GARDENS

Bluebell Dairy Halloween Festival

14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd and 28th to 31st October

In addition to seeing the animals, try the witch’s potion class, trick or treat training show, scarecrow maize maze, spooky sheep race, ghoulish play barn and, of course, Halloween ice scream flavours. Check out the website for details on other events such as toddler pumpkin picking, sensory-friendly pumpkin picking and torch-lit pumpkin picking. Ticket prices and more info here.

Church Farm Room on the Broom Halloween Trail

Saturday 28th to Tuesday 31st October

As well as the trail, entry includes a pumpkin patch, TY dragon gift and farm entry. £15 per pumpkin picker, £6 per spectator. Book online here.

Matlock Farm Halloween Festival Fun

Saturday 21st to Tuesday 31st October

All the usual animal experiences plus a spooky trail, live characters, a pumpkin patch, Witch Wendolyn’s craft workshops and visits from the Headless Horseman at dusk. Adult £15.95, child £13.95, under 2s free. Book here.

National Forest Adventure Farm Spooktacular

15th, 21st, 22nd October and 28th October to 3rd November

Pumpkin picking, spooky shows, funfair rides and all the usual farm fun. More information and tickets here.

Thornbridge Hall and Gardens

Saturday 21st October to Sunday 5th November – 10am to 4pm

Explore the grounds, do the Halloween trail, try the freaky food in fancy dress. Pumpkin carving workshops and pumpkin patch visits (28th and 29th) at an extra charge. Save 20% by booking in advance. Adults £7, children £3 (3-16yrs). Book here.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS AND THEME PARKS

Crich Tramway Village Autumn Fun

Monday 30th October to Friday 3rd November

As well tram rides, a playground, crafts, puppet shows and story tellers, enjoy a free ghostly family theatre show of Dickens’ Ghost Stories with Notice this Notice Theatre company. Adult £22, child £14 (4-15yrs) but you get 12 months free return. More information here.

Cromford Mills Shine A Light

Thursday 26th and Friday 27th October – 6pm to 9pm

See their all-new show, displayed every 20 mins. Variety of food options including BBQ, pies, crepes and Arkwright’s Café. Adults £10, children (under 12) £6. Book here.

Gulliver’s Kingdom Fright Fiesta

Saturday 7th October to Friday 3rd November

Festival-style Halloween bursting with colour, costumes and music. Come in fancy dress. There’s a creepy cave, a haunted house and Gilly’s Halloween Show. Book at least 2 days in advance to save money. Tickets from £15 here.

Heights of Abraham ‘Frights’ of Abraham

Thursday 26th to Tuesday 31st October

Join Belinda Broomsticks - witch and monster hunter - on an immersive story-telling quest in the Halloween grotto in the Rutland. Plus all the usual attractions. Online advance tickets for adults £24.50, children £17, under 5s free. The twenty-minute Halloween grotto experience costs £4.50 on top of entrance fee for children aged 3-10 and gets them a gift. Book here.

Maze 52 Spooktacular Event

21st, 22nd and 27th to 31st October - 6pm to 9pm

A maze with a difference! Enjoy a fairy light trail around the maze, spooktacular illuminations and sounds, trick or treating plus a play area and food and drinks. £8.50 per person in advance. Book here.

Midland Railway Wizards and Spooks

Thursday 26th to Tuesday 31st October - 11am, 11:50am, 12:40pm, 2:00pm, 2:50pm and 3:45pm

A spooktacular affair with something for all ages! Join the Wizard and Witch Hunt competition. After live storytelling at Butterley Station, ride the train to Spooky Swanwick Junction and visit the museum. Book here.

OTHER AUTUMNAL EVENTS

Apple Day at Belper Community Hall

Sunday 15th October – 10:30am to 2pm

Celebrating English apples with talks, tasting, juice and cider, games and crafts. Refreshments available including a variety of apple bakes. Free entry.

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Bird Feeder Making at Carsington Water

Friday 3rd November – 10am to 3pm

Family bird feeder making. Drop in event – no booking necessary. £1.50 per feeder.

Matlock Bath Illuminations

Every Saturday and Sunday night until Sunday 29th October

Illuminated rowing boats on the river; fairground atmosphere on the banks. Fireworks at 9pm every Saturday and on the final night (Sun 29th). Adults £7.50 fireworks nights, £6.50 other. Under 16s free. Book here.

All information was correct at the time of publishing to the best of our knowledge. This article has been carefully researched for the benefit of our readers but we cannot guarantee the quality or suitability of these events.