How to Spend October Half Term in Norwich

How to Spend October Half Term in Norwich

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 adventures to bookish entertainment, treetop thrills and immersive illuminations, 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.)

Image: BeWILDerwood

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Norwich 

Norwich Book Festival
24 – 30 October, FREE and ticketed 

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.   

Our top picks include The Imaginarium, where you’ll encounter fantastic hands-on activities for all ages (25 – 28 October, 10am – 4pm, The Forum, FREE) and Roman Britain Gets Totally Chaotic (26 October, 11am – 12.15pm, St Peter Mancroft, £12.50), a funny, fast-paced romp peppered with jokes and audience interaction all about the messy beginnings of Roman Britain!  

Then, there’s Sensory Storytelling (26 & 27 October, various times, The Forum, FREE), relaxed, creative sessions for families and, of course, headliner Jacqueline Wilson (29 October, 11am – 12pm, The Playhouse, £12.50), who will be delving into her wonderful world and sharing an excerpt from her latest book!

Spend a Day with the Normans at Norwich Castle
24 October – 1 November, 10am – 5pm, included in admission (adults from £15.30, children from £13.05, pre-book online for the best prices, twilight ticket 1 hour before close £2.50) 

Step back in time and spend a day with the Normans at Norwich Castle!  

To celebrate the arrival of the Bayeux Tapestry in Britain, come along and meet Queen Adeliza and the stitchers of our Norwich Friends’ Tapestry. Have a go at stitching and enjoy a craft activity inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry and its famous imagery before discovering rare objects on a special trail. 

And in honour of the 960th anniversary of the Battler of Hastings, join Knight Club to try your hand at medieval fighting techniques and explore the armour they would have worn in Norman times.

And from 27 – 29 October (10m – 2.30pm, FREE), Norwich Castle is encouraging children to get arty across three days as part of their ST*ART Club! Here, you’ll get to experiment with different types of art, jot down sketches and ideas, get inspiration form the museum’s collections and galleries and learn from a professional artist! (Find out more and sign up by emailing [email protected].)

Fireman Sam Live- The Lost Pirate Treasure at Norwich Theatre Royal
Saturday 24 October, 12.30pm & 3.30pm, from £15.90 

When you hear that fire alarm, make sure to head to Norwich Theatre Royal for Fireman Sam Live!  

Norman Price is determined to win the Pontypandy Treasure Hunt, but when he discovers clues to real pirate treasure, it’s up to Sam, Elvis and Ellie to save the day and find Norman and the treasure! Think clues, songs and swashbuckling adventure. There’s even a dedicated Chilled Performance (3.30pm) for those with sensory processing differences. Ahoy!

Meddling Kids: Character Design at the Wayward Adventurers Guild
Saturday 24 October, 10am – 12pm, £15 

Head to the Wayward Adventurers Guild at St Saviour’s Yard this half-term for a fun drawing workshop inspired by Scooby-Doo. 

Take inspiration from this mystery-solving gang to design your own kooky group of friends and the supernatural monsters they unmask! Along the way, you’ll get to find out about character design, different roles and personalities, and how to adapt your drawing to this classic cartoon style. Every adventurer is welcome, from beginners to experienced illustrators!

And while you’re at St Saviour’s Yard, why not take part in their Monster Mash-Up stamp trail (31 October, FREE)? Collect your passport and build a monster from stamps collected at six shops across St Saviour’s Yard, then return your creation to Wayward Adventurers for a reward sticker!

Activities at the National Centre for Writing
26 & 29 October, from 10am, FREE and ticketed 

Let your imagination run wild at the National Centre for Writing this half term. 

Drop-in to their Halloween Family Imagination Day (26 October, 10am – 3pm, FREE) to cause some mischief. A coven of witches has taken over Dragon Hall! Create your own Wicked Witch, be entranced by pop-up puppet making, play giant games and be absorbed by drawing and colouring. 

Then, try your hand at tabletop role-playing games in Roll With It: Stories Get Dicey! (29 October, 10am – 12pm, pay what you can, 11 – 13 years). Create detective and suspects, using dice to tell stories with predicaments.

Luxmuralis at Norwich Cathedral
27 – 31 October, 5.15pm – 8.45pm, adults £10, children £5, family ticket £25 

Set to illuminate Norwich Cathedral’s ancient architecture, immersive light show Luxmuralis is a wonder to behold. 

Be wowed by a journey though Time. Explore our relationship with the concept of time through an unforgettable journey about history, science and imagination. As you travel through this beautiful building, encounter captivating installations, from wormholes to clocks to H.G Wells’ The Time Machine.

Mr Sleepybum’s Dream Machine at The Garage
Wednesday 28 October, 1pm, adults £10, under 25s £8 

The critically-acclaimed children’s comedy show arrives at The Garage this October! 

Mr Sleepybum is sad because he can’t dream. So, he invents a machine to bring dreams to life! From dinosaurs to robots, car chases to the world’s largest blanket.  

Take a seat and watch this award-winning interactive show, packed with sketches, slapstick and silliness that will have adults laughing as much as the little ones!

Halloween Stadium Tour at Carrow Road
Wednesday 28 October, 11am & 1pm, aduls £25, children £15

One of the best things about the school holidays is spending time as a family- so, why not do something for the lifelong football fans and the newest Canaries to the clan?

Head to Carrow Road this half term for a spooktacular tour of Norwich City’s home ground, walking in the footsteps of iconic players and having the chance to access exclusive areas- from the home and away dressing rooms to the players tunnel, press conference room, directors’ box, trophy cabinet and more! And along the way, there will be a Halloween Scavenger Hunt, with a sweet treat (no tricks here) waiting for you at the end! Dressing up encouraged!

Children’s Halloween Party at the Maids Head Hotel
Thursday 29 October, 1pm – 3pm, £20 (includes 1 accompanying adult) 

Embrace spooky season at the Maids Head this half term! 

Expect an afternoon of spooky entertainment, fun games and exciting prizes as part of their Halloween Party. Not to mention a moreish buffet for the little ones, packed with tempting treats and delicious goodies. No tricks here!

Knock Knock Halloween at Castle Quarter
29 – 31 October, 11am – 3pm, FREE 

Knock, knock… who’s there? Halloween at Castle Quarter! 

Are you brave enough to discover what’s hiding behind the doors? Enter this mysterious Halloween neighbourhood filled with quirky characters, spooky surprises and family fun. All you have to do is pick a door… 

Expect games, prizes, treats and more on the other side! Just watch out for slime, spiders, snakes and other creepy tricks.

Norfolk 

Sundown Adventures at Go Ape
16 October – 8 November, 4.30pm – 6.30pm, £31.95 

Get glowing with the return of Go Ape’s thrilling 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!  

As the sun goes down, the lights go up. The course will be colourfully lit up, adding to the atmospheric feel and offering incredible sky-high views above the forest floor. It’s for a limited time only, so we recommend booking in advance- we’re sure you’ll want to do it all over again!

Pumpkin Fest at the Goat Shed
22 – 30 October, 10am – 3.30pm, £6 (£5 when you book until 30 September)

Where better than the Goat Shed for an exciting seasonal experience?  

This half-term their field will be transformed with amazing pumpkin displays and towers as part of their new Pumpkin Festival! Not only that, but you can expect street food, live music, fire pits (and the obligatory s’mores and hot chocolate), festooned lights and scarecrows. Wow!

And their anticipated maze remains- this time with a pumpkin trail, tractor tyres and mud kitchens to make this are truly unforgettable school holiday. So, why not make a day of it and go fully autumnal? Half term also marks the launch of their new autumn menu and Halloween is the date of their monthly independent market (31 October, 9am – 3pm, FREE)!

If you’re already thinking about the next holiday (ahem, Christmas), then the Goat Shed’s Christmas Shed is also open for business from 23 October (open during farm shop hours)!

Pensthorpe Pumpkin Festival
24 – 31 October, 10am – 4pm, from £5 

Pensthorpe’s popular Pumpkin Festival is back and bigger than ever this October- including an all-new twist on their much-loved maze. And with three ways to enjoy it, you can make the most of everything going on for great value! 

Just here for the pumpkins? Head to the Festival patch to pick your favourite (£5). If you want to make a full day of it, there’s Pumpkin + Play (from £12.95), where the Pumpkin Festival and the 700-acre nature reserve are ready to be explored! Or you can embrace the wildlife, gardens and play areas at Pensthorpe without the festival (from £9.95). 

And for an even excitement, the Pumpkin Festival comes alive After Dark (29 October, 5.45pm – 9.30pm, adults £9.95, children 4.50)! Choose your perfect pumpkin from the floodlit patch then head to the carving tent to unleash your creativity. If you’re feeling brave enough, take on Curse of the Cornfield in the maize maze, expend your energy on the outdoor play area and watch fire entertainers in awe as you munch on street food and marshmallows in front of the fire pit.

Kids Go Free at Bure Valley Railway
24 October – 1 November, 10am – 4pm, adults £25 

This half-term, up to two children travel free with a paying adult at Bure Valley Railway! 

Hop aboard for a spooktacular steam adventure, chugging between Aylsham and Wroxham, past picturesque fields in shades of orange and gold. Each ticket includes Halloween-inspired crafts and children are encouraged to dress up in their most daring ensembles.

Halloween at BeWILDerwood
24 October – 1 November, 11am – 6pm, £26.50 

BeWILDerwood is a magical adventure park at all times of year, but especially during Halloween!

Dressed in your best spooky outfit, get ready to clamber, climb and zip your way through the woods during the day and go Twig or Treating with your favourite friendly characters (complete the trail sheet to win a prize). Along the way, you can take part in plenty of spooktacular activities, too! Think face stencils, a creepy disco and more!

And as the sun begins to set, enjoy the Glowing Light Trail through the woods.

The Halloween Garden at Holkham
27 – 31 October, 10am – 3pm, £7 (parking £6.50) 

Delightful chills and spooky thrills have transformed Holkham’s Walled Garden this Halloween.  

Join Vince Vampire and Bog Witch for a whole host of woodland Halloween adventures. From a terrifying treasure hunt to monster drawing, puppetry and even a dance-off! Will you complete the trail? (There’s a chocolatey reward awaiting you when you do!)  

Elsewhere, discover the frightful face painter, spot spectacular decorations and sit down for a spellbinding story. There’s also pumpkin carving (£4)- what face will you choose?

Outdoor Fun at Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden
28 & 29 October, 10am – 2pm, FREE and ticketed 

Set in the beautiful leafy surroundings of Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden, this half term is all about stories, crafts and outdoor fun! 

Join their Wonder Wednesdays Children’s Club (28 October, FREE) for an exciting morning of seeded paper planting in their wildflower meadow, seasonal colouring activities and a special book reading! All you have to do is drop-in! 

Then on 29 October (£4.50), it’s all about Halloween. Think guided pumpkin carving where you can be as artistic, kooky or spooky as your creativity allows!