Pumpkins
Picking your own pumpkins is great fun and means you can get what you want fresh from the farm.
Wear shoes suitable for mud and take a bag to put the pumpkins in. Don’t forget to use a boot liner or cardboard to protect your vehicle as the pumpkins are straight off a field.
Rogate Pumpkin Patch, Petersfield GU31 5EG
Picking Patch, Bickton Manor Farm, Fordingbridge SP6 2HA
No entry fee – just pay for what you pick. No need to book.
Pickwell Farm Shop, Grange Road, Burseldon, Southampton, SO31 8GD
Bourne Valley PYO, Andover
26 October – 31 October 2024
There will be plenty of treats at Marwell Zoo this October half-term. From Saturday 26 October to Thursday 31 October, Lowedolf, Marwell’s resident wizard will be teaching little ghouls, ghosts and witches how to fly a broomstick like a pro in their dedicated broomstick flying area.
October half-term – 26 October to 3 November 2024
During the day, visitors can enjoy a spooky Halloween themed trail around the countryside site in addition to the daily flying displays which will include a new Spooky Owl Show. There’s also a Tree Trail, a new Vulture Voyage Trail and Tractor rides (weather permitting).
Owl-O-Ween – 30 and 31 October 2024
Two wickedly spook-tacular family evenings this Halloween. Enjoy ghostly storytelling and marvel at stunning owls as they put on two beautiful flying displays against the backdrop of the Trust’s moonlit grounds.
Join in the Halloween festivities at the historic Tudor House and Garden, Southampton, on Thursday 31 October. With a special lineup of spooky events and activities, it’s the perfect place to celebrate and get in the spirit(s) in a uniquely atmospheric setting. Expect ghostly tales and family-friendly fun for all ages. Admission is free although small charges apply for some activities.
Delve into Southampton’s haunted history with the “Ghosts of Tudor House” guided tour on 27 October. This spine-chilling experience will take you through the eerie past of this historic site, perfect for those who enjoy a good scare or are fascinated by local lore.
Bestselling Hampshire author Ali Sparkes will run candle-lit ghost writing workshops in the birthplace of Charles Dickens.
Writers with a taste for Dickensian thrills can join the Blue Peter Award-winning children’s author at the Charles Dickens’ Birthplace Museum.
Three intimate sessions, suitable for adult writers or accompanied teenagers aged over 14, will run after dark in the atmospheric Victorian terrace in Old Commercial Road, where writers will create frightening flash fiction inspired by objects around the house.
Ali Sparkes, who is well known to local schools for her many visits through Portsmouth Schools Library Service, said: “I can’t wait to see what stories emerge from these sessions. As well as choosing authentic objects from Charles Dickens’ life to trigger ideas, the writers will be pre-chilled with excerpts from The Signalman. This short story is regarded as one of Dickens most spooky – and the true backstory behind it is even darker.
“We will also be tapping into any true ghostly experiences of the writers.”
The Halloween workshops – running on 29, 30 and 31 October between 6 and 8pm – will see the rooms dressed up for Halloween, and there will be hot sweet drinks and cake – Victorian-style – for the writers taking part.
From 28 October to 3 November you can ride the infamous Ghost Train. it’s not suitable for very young or sensitive children
26 October – 3 November 2024
Little wizards and witches will be brewing up plenty of eerie excitement at The Watercress Line this Halloween, when the spine-tingling Wizard Week returns from 26 October to 3 November.
Fearless families will enjoy magical steam train rides, spooky activities, and enchanting adventures. From getting spellbound with magic wands to exploring Harry Potter-style coaches, there’s a host of Halloween fun to sink your teeth into!
Hop on the Wizard Express and travel through The Watercress Line’s four heritage stations, including a stop at the famous footbridge where scenes from the Harry Potter films were shot. With unlimited train travel, you can explore the heritage stations at your own pace, making it a hair-raising day to remember.
Creepy highlights include:
