Halloween Events in Norwich and Norfolk 2023

3 October 2023

Halloween Events in Norwich and Norfolk 2023

It’s time to get spooky! Halloween is just around the corner which means there are a whole host of spooktacular events to enjoy, both for families looking for fun activities to get involved in, and for adults searching for something a bit scarier.

From themed afternoon teas to all-out frights – there’s plenty to entertain you this Halloween in Norwich and Norfolk. We’ve even split them up into family-friendly and less family-friendly… Read on for our top recommendations!

And if you’re looking for even more fantastic suggestions for the month, be sure to check out our ‘What’s On in October‘ and ‘How to Spend the October Half Term‘ blogs, which both feature events and activities not seen in this blog!

Family-Friendly

The Assembly House of Horrors Halloween Afternoon Tea 

Since it’s Halloween, it makes sense to enjoy some sweet treats, doesn’t it? And for Halloween this year, you can find some of the best sweet treats this city has to offer at The Assembly House.

The Assembly House of Horrors Halloween Afternoon Tea is seriously spooky feast that tastes just as good as it looks. Start off with the usual and tasty finger sandwiches and other savoury treats, including a cheddar cheese witch’s finger, before moving onto the main event – the frighteningly good cakes and pastries.

We particularly like the sound of the Vampires Wedding Cake, which is red layers of almond gateau opera sponge sandwiched between cream cheese frosting and strawberry coulis, and the Witch’s Familiar, a white chocolate frog with passion fruit filling.

Available for £29.50 per person, with children’s versions available for £18 per child, this themed afternoon tea is on for a very limited time, available from Monday, October 16 – Tuesday, October 31. Booking is strongly advised – these afternoon teas are very popular! Find out more on The Assembly House website.

Black Cats and Witches Hats Halloween Trail – Chantry Place

Make your trip to the city that much spookier and exciting with the Black Cats and Witches Hats Halloween Trail at Chantry Place (Saturday, October 21 – Tuesday, October 31). Simply head down to HMV or The Works on the ground floor, where you can pick up a FREE trail map to help you find different letters laid out across the mall to spell out a magical word.

Once you’ve found every letter and figured out the mystery word, head to the Chantry Place post box and post your entry to be in with a chance of winning a prize worth over £150! That’s a real Halloween treat. And the first 1000 families to complete this trail will be awarded a FREE trail badge from The Works too. At the end of it all, make sure to mark the moment with a spooky selfie at the Halloween photo display opposite Oliver Bonas!

Plus, on select days, the RSPB will be at Chantry Place, so you can visit their pop-up pod to learn more about Norfolk nature! (Tuesday, October 24 – Wednesday October 25 and Saturday, October 28)

A promotional graphic shows a black cat with a witches hat and broomstick above text.

Make your Chantry Place shopping experience that much spookier with the Black Cats and Witches Hats Trail!

Stranger Things Extravaganza – Castle Quarter

Reality is about to be turned upside down at Castle Quarter this Halloween as they travel back to the 1980s for their special Stranger Things Extravaganza. If you’re a fan of the series, this is a must-see for you. For one day only on Saturday, October 28 (11am – 4pm), you can get involved in the fun and see Castle Quarter transformed into Hawkins!

Open to fans of any age, you can snap pictures with the iconic Alphabet Wall, Vecna’s grandfather clock, the ‘Welcome to Hawkins’ sign, and even Hopper’s American Cop Car. You might even spot Eleven, but keep your eyes peeled for any Demogorgons too!

So, get in the Halloween spirit and dress up like your favourite Stranger Things character then get involved – a great oufit could even win you a £50 voucher to spend at Castle Quarter! Plus, it means your Halloween costume for the day itself is sorted too!

This is the perfect day out for Stranger Things fans!

Dippy’s Halloween Days – Roarr!

This Halloween, what better trick is there to play on the family than taking them back to school? They’ll soon realise it’s really a treat when you take them to Dippy’s Halloween Days at Roarr! This year, the Weston-Smythe School of Dinosaurs and the Undead is opening its doors once again for another term of hands-on lessons and sessions!

Find a host of unusual professors teaching six different lessons available to attend, including Professor Bloodlust’s history lesson, Professor Crochet’s dance classes, and many more special activities! The best bit? The rest of Roarr!’s well-known attractions, including Valley of the Dinosaurs and Predator High Ropes will all remain open!

Tickets for Dippy’s Halloween Days are available for £15 per person, with children under 90cm going for FREE.

A promotional graphic for a Halloween Event.

What classes will you attend at Dippy’s Halloween Days?

BeWILDerwood, Glorious Glowing Lantern Parade 

This Halloween, a magical twilight adventure is lighting up BeWILDerwood for their most famous event of the year – The Glorious Glowing Lantern Parade (Saturday, October 14 – Sunday, October 15 and Thursday, October 19 – Tuesday, October 21). BeWILDerwood is going to shine like never before in this popular and gorgeous woodland display, so you really don’t want to miss it!

Start at Hazel’s Hideaway, where you’ll craft your own Twiggle Twilight Lantern to help light your way, before embarking on a journey through BeWILDerwood exclusive to this event. See if you can spot Grubbles, the Parasquawk, Swampy the Marsh Boggle, Snagglefang, and so many more fantastical characters that live here! It’s a great way to introduce Halloween to the little ones.

Plus, if you’ve worked up an appetite after all your exploring, you can enjoy some delicious treats from the onsite Munch Bar, including a range of warming snacks and drinks! Tickets for this event are available from £12.50, with children under 92cm going FREE.

A family of 5 walk down a woodland path illuminated with pink, green, and blue lights.

BeWILDerwood’s Glorious Glowing Lantern Parade is the perfect family activity this Halloween!

A Halloween Half-Term at The Bug Parc

For both fans of everything creepy crawly and, well, not so loving fans, The Bug Parc is the perfect place to visit this Halloween! (Monday, October 23 – Sunday, October 29) Explore your love or get over your fears in this fantastic invertebrate zoo, all with additional Halloween twists for the season!

As well as their many, many critters to admire (and even handle with handling tickets!), you can enjoy face painting of ghouls, spiders, and many more fearsome creatures, indoor and outdoor ‘spook and search’ trails, and even an insect eating challenge, if you’re feeling brave (and hungry) enough! How does insect fudge sound?

The Bug Parc will also be opening for the whole week throughout the October half term, so you can get your insect fix anytime you like! Tickets are available from £10.95 per adult and £8.95 per child aged 4-17. Handling tickets are also available from £2.

Adults and Big Kids

Spooktacular: Halloween Party – Slice + Dice

Not every Halloween needs to be spent trick or treating! A spine-chilling and fantastic night of fun is on it’s way to Slice + Dice for their Spooktacular: Halloween Party (Tuesday, October 31, 5:30pm – 11pm). There’ll be board games, brews, and boos! It’s perfect for anyone bored (no pun intended) of the usual celebrations.

In this special one-night only evening, arrive alone or in a group, meet new people, and learn how to play some of their favourite themed games, which have been curated specially for the night! All this while you tuck into a tasty three-course vegan menu included in the ticket price, alongside a welcome cocktail or mocktail.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Halloween without fancy dress, so there is a prize for the best costume! Tickets start at £38 per person, with members receiving a £3 discount on their ticket. Grab your ticket early, and get ready for a fun, new way to spend the scariest night of the year!

Six board games sit in front of a dish of food.

Enjoy a Halloween to remember at Slice + Dice!

2:22 A Ghost Story – Norwich Theatre

Children are permitted at this show, but it is recommended for those aged 12 and above.

Who doesn’t love a night out at the theatre? This October, the new stage phenomenon that took the West End by storm now comes to Norwich Theatre2:22 A Ghost Story (Tuesday, October 10 – Saturday, October 14). Even better that it’s a spooky show, so fits right into the Halloween theme!

As Jenny believes her new home is haunted, her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. They argue with their very first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner Ben. Belief and scepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer, so they’re going to stay up… until 2:22… and then they’ll know.

Tickets for this show are selling out fast, so be sure to reserve your seats soon! Tickets are available from £27.50.

A theatre auditorium is filled with red seats.

2:22 A Ghost Story is going to thrill audiences this October!

Norwich Ghost Walks 

If you’re looking for something seriously spooky this year, look no further than Norwich Ghost Walks Halloween special (Monday, October 23 – Tuesday, October 31)! Join this tour of Norwich at night as haunted stories are brought to life by a troop of performers. Starting in the Cow Tower Park, you’ll be guided along park pathways along the river to Cow Tower and beyond, with chilling tales of the City of Stories on the way… Be sure to listen out for anything supernatural!

The Ghost Walks Tours start at 7:30pm, running for 2 hours until approximately 9:30pm, tickets are available from £15 per person, or £12 for concessions!

A crowd stand around a hooded figure giving a tour of a cobbled street

Norwich Ghost Walks is a great way to hear about the lesser known and scarier sides of the city!

PrimEvil – Roarr!

Children under-16 can attend PrimEvil, but must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

If you want a major fright, this one’s for you… PrimEvil has been going for 14 years and is well-known as Norfolk’s biggest scare experience (Friday, October 13 – Saturday, November 4)! This year is no different, with five terrifying haunts full of spooky scares – including the Circus of Terror, Warehouse 51, and Route 666. Every haunt is vastly different from one another, giving you the biggest and best horror experience possible!

And being outside the haunts won’t keep you safe, either! Street performers will be wandering around the park, ready to jump out at anyone who gets too close… Are you brave enough to make your visit? Tickets are available from £35, with students and Roarr! Annual Pass holders receiving a 15% discount (£29.75).