by Katie Thompson
Pumpkin patches, creepy costumes, and terrific trails- it could only be October half term! And there’s plenty to keep the whole family occupied across Norwich and Norfolk. That goes for the not-so-spooky stuff too!
From hair-raising Halloween workshops to thrilling adventure parks, there’s something for every little ghoul, witch or vampire. Here’s our guide to October half term in Norwich- it’ll be a scream! (Sorry.)
Find loads of family-friendly activities, workshops and events at Norwich Book Festival
For any avid reader, Norwich Book Festival is a must this half term. From your very first story to YA novels and every age in between, there’s a whole series of exciting events to attend across the city.
In the Imaginarium, there are special family-friendly activities (27 & 28 October, 10am – 4pm, The Forum, FREE), including nursery rhymes galore on the First Story Bus. If you’re a wannabe illustrator, try your hand at creative character workshops with Matty Long (Monday 27 October, 1pm – 2pm, The Forum, £5). And for poetry lovers, there’s TOASTies, a silly, giggly event where rules are made to be broken (Tuesday 28 October, 1pm – 2.30pm, The Forum, from £2.50)!
Divorced, beheaded, LIVE! The Garage brings SIX to life this half term
Divorced, beheaded, live! This October, Broadway Bella’s are bringing the teen edition of SIX to The Garage!
It’s a high-energy reimagining of the stories of Henry VIII’s six wives into an electrifying pop concert. Think unforgettable songs, bold choreography and an empowering tale, that brings these women to life. And with The Garage’s Junior Queens and Senior Queens performing across 3 times each day, there’s even more chance to enjoy this fantastic show.
Head outdoors with a Halloween Nature Trail at Taverham Mill!
When swathes of golden leaves crunch underfoot, half term is a beautiful time to head outdoors and explore the grassland, meadows and woodland trails at Taverham Mill. And with the nature reserve’s Halloween Nature Trail, you can discover some of our spookier native wildlife! Collect your clue sheet from the visitor centre to start your journey and a Halloween treat to take home!
Will you work out the creepy phrase?
This half term, it’s up to you to find all the Halloween letters hidden throughout shop windows across Chantry Place! Keep an eye out for bright orange pumpkins- there are 12 to find in total, before arranging them to create the correct creepy word or phrase. If you complete this spooky challenge before the deadline, you’ll be in with a chance of winning a special prize! (It’s all treats, no tricks here!) Pick up a form at the postbox next to Bakeaholics or download it from Chantry Place’s website to get started.
Get lost in exciting tales at Norwich Puppet Theatre
It’ll be hard to stay away from Norwich Puppet Theatre this half term thanks to their exciting array of family-friendly puppet shows!
In Hickory Dickory Dock (25 October, 11am & 2.30pm), see if Mrs Hickory and her cat can catch the mouse running about the house, while in The Five Children and It (28 October, 6.30pm), you’ve got to be careful what you wish for with this imaginative take on a timeless classic. For the little ones, you can join Baby Bear (31 October, 103.am, 12pm, 2pm & 3.30pm) as she adventure into the curious world outside her cosy cave. Or how about musical adaptation of much-loved fairytale The Ugly Duckling (1 November, 11am & 2.30pm)?
And if you want to get a little creative this half-term- check out Norwich Puppet Theatre’s hands-on workshops, where you can try your hand at creating mischevious mice, cool cats, creepy creatures and monster puppets!
Try your hand at Halloween crafts at Redwell Brewery this half term
Get involved with the next instalment of Redwell Brewery’s free children’s activity days! Expect a whole host of spooktacular crafts to end your weekend on a high.
Children can hone their skills in pumpkin decorating- will you go for scary, sweet or funny? There’s the ever-popular slime making, Halloween arts and crafts and a fancy dress competition! So make sure you come dressed to impress. To guarantee your spot, book a table via Redwell’s website!
Be inspired by Dragon Hall at the national Centre for Writing
You can always rely on the National Centre for Writing for engaging half term workshops- and this October it’s no different!
As part of Norwich Book Festival, you can turn your ideas into epic comic book adventures with award-winning cartoonist Neill Cameron in Donuts, Robots & Awesome Comics (Monday 27 October, 11am – 12pm, children £7 and 1 FREE adult). Or take inspiration from the incredible building around you to draw, collage and colour your own dragon Make, Play & Take Home: Dragon Friends (8 – 10 years) (Monday 27 October, 2pm – 4pm, from £5). And take part in storytelling, craft activities and games for all ages with their Family Activity Day (Wednesday 29 October, FREE, 10am – 3pm).
At Norwich Theatre’s Family Festival, there’s loads to get involved with!
Norwich Theatre’s Family Festival returns for a fourth year with a fantastic offering of free, low cost and pay-what-you-can family-friendly activities! Across Cafe Royal, the Playhouse and Stage Two, you can take part in a whole host of interactive workshops, sensory activities and fun-filled shows.
If you’re feeling creative, head to the Crafty Cafe drop-in (27 October, all ages) to make War Horse-inspired puppets. Get energetic with dance workshops like Creative Play for Babies & Toddlers, (6 – 18 months, 29 October), Family Move & Groove (4 – 7, 29 October) and New Adventures: Take Flight inspired by Matthew Bourne’s magical Swan Lake (10 – 17 years, 1 November). Our other top picks include Sensory Stories (7 – 11 years, 29 October), Storytelling: Pablo Fanque, in honour of Black History Month (4 – 8 years, 28 October), and Claytime (3 – 6 years, 1 November).
Unleash your creativity at Yalm- and why not enjoy a delicious lunch there afterwards?
Halloween is time for tricks and treats. This half term, Yalm’s exciting activities are sure to keep your little ones occupied.
One word: slime! Unleash your creativity with their Creative Planet Halloween Craft Workshop (Wednesday 29 October, 10.30am – 2.30pm, £8.50)– materials are provided, all you need if your imagination! Or cook up a storm with Kids Kitchen Halloween Workshop (Thursday 30 October, 10.30am – 12pm, £17) and tuck into your own frightfully tasty feast- spooky cupcakes, monster smoothies and pumpkin pizza pies!
Get your skates on in Castle Quarter for their scarily fun Skate & Scare event!
Looking for a frightfully fun way to celebrate Halloween? Roll up to Skate & Scare at Castle Quarter! Here you’ll encounter a spooky roller-skating rink, complete with eerie lighting, decorations, and haunting music.
It’s free to have a go- all you have to do is bring your skates (or borrow a pair), whether you’re a pro or complete beginner, and Castle Quarter will be raising money for local charity The Hamlet. As always costumes are encouraged- there’s a prize for the most spooktacular!
What will you discover in the magical woods at BeWILDerwood this Halloween?
Immerse yourself in the magical woods of BeWILDerwood this October half term at Halloween at BeWILDerwood– new for 2025!
Clamber, climb, and zip through wild attractions and adventure play areas, and enjoy a whole host of hauntingly good Halloween activities. There’s a Spooky Disco for the little ones, tales on the Storytelling Stage and Halloween games to get involved with throughout the day. Then meet curious creatures along the Twig or Treat trail and follow the Glowing Light Trail at the end of the day as the sun sets. The woods are open 11am-6pm and everything is included in one day ticket.
Sundown Adventures is Go Ape with an autumnal twist!
For a thrilling adventure, head to Go Ape for their brand-new Sundown Adventures experience! In the treetops of Thetford Forest, you can expect exhilarating ropes, obstacles and zip lines, with a twist- it’s all after dark!
The course will be colourfully lit up, adding to the atmospheric feel and offering incredible sky-high views above the forest floor. This incredible experience is for a limited time only, so we recommend booking in advance- we’re sure you’ll want to do it all over again!
Pick a pumpkin, carve it and select your favourite scarecrow at Pensthorpe this October
Pensthorpe’s popular Pumpkin Festival is back and bigger than ever! This a truly wonderful day out.
In Pensthorpe’s brand-new pumpkin patch, you can pick and carve your own pumpkin (included in admission), before navigating their ‘Weird Wonder’ Maize Maze- will you find your way out? Get hands-on with spooktacular crafts, vote for your favourite scarecrow on the Scarecrow Trail and run wild in their indoor and outdoor play areas. End the day with a creamy hot chocolate- with all the trimmings, of course.
Enjoy a spooktacular day out on the Bure Valley Railway
All aboard the Bure Valley Railway! This October half term, children go free with one full-paying adult. So, hop aboard and admire our incredible Norfolk landscape as you chug along from Aylsham to Wroxham. Plus, as it’s Halloween, there’s a spooky activity to get involved with and special lunch boxes to purchase at the Whistlestop Cafe for lunch!
Dippy’s Halloween Days await you this half term at ROARR!
Join Dippy and friends this half-term for spooky fun at the Weston-Smythe School of Dinosaurs and the Undead! Expect hauntingly fun activities, thrilling rides, the Spooky Maze, Skeleton Trail and more.
And if you visited ROARR! this summer (weekends in July or 19 July – 2 September), you can use your 50% off return to enjoy the Halloween fun for less! (T&Cs apply.)
What incredible animals will you encounter at Banham Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo event?
If you like your half term on the wild side, head to Banham for their spooktacular Boo at the Zoo event!
Encounter the zoo’s incredible animals along the Trick or Treat trail as you solve spooky puzzles, be captivated by spellbinding magic shows and dive into a bubbly Foam Party! There’s also the chance to handle some of the world’s creepiest crawlies, dance along to the Monster Mash Disco and take a seat aboard spooky train rides. Don’t forget to dress up and dazzle in your costumes- there’s a prize for the best dressed!
Top tip: Use code KIDSGOFREE by Saturday 19 October when booking online for half term- up to three children go free with every full-paying adult!
Face paint, potions, pumpkins and more at Holkham’s Halloween Garden!
Delightful chills and spooky thrills have transformed Holkham’s Walled Garden this Halloween.
From spooky stories with the Norfolk Yarnsmith to creepy crafts, plus a chocolatey treat along the way! Discover the frightful face painter hidden away, take a quest to find the ingredients for the witches’ cauldron and head into the forest and brew up a magical potion. There’s also pumpkin carving (£4)- what face will you choose?
