The nights may be drawing in, but there’s still a little light at the end of the tunnel (or day!) and there’s Halloween to look forward to at the end of the month, so watch out for the trick or treaters. Whilst it may only seem that the kids have just gone back to school, it’s also the October half term so read on to see if our must do events this October will help keep the kids amused.
Abbotsbury’s Enchanted Illuminations – Dorset
Discover an illuminated wonderland at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens and brace yourself for Halloween Fright Nights at one of Dorset’s finest annual events from Thursday 29th October to Saturday 31st October.
Big and little kids will love exploring an enchanted route around the gardens dressed in their spookiest fancy dress costumes as floodlights illuminate the paths and candles blaze in the garden’s many nooks and crannies. With a spectacular laser rave, a scary scars workshop, a creepy-crawly bug show, eerie characters to meet and free face-painting, what better place to celebrate Halloween.
Nottingham’s Robin Hood Beer & Cider Festival
This annual festival offers the widest choice of draught cask conditioned beers in the entire world with over 1,000 cask ales and 300 ciders and perries on offer. It all takes place at Nottingham Castle, between Wednesday 7 and Saturday 10 October.
With its fine selection of food stalls, many of which offer local produce, Nottingham’s Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival is a great place for foodies too. You’ll be able to sample locally produced pork pies and cheeses, along with hearty hog roasts and venison burgers while soaking up the lively atmosphere. A great excuse to leave the car behind and take a cab home.
You can see the likes of comedy superstars such as Alistair McGowan, Jaspar Carrott and some alpacas at The Halifax Comedy Festival running from 23 to 31 October.
If you want to be at the very first Halifax Comedy Festival you can enjoy stand-up, fringe events, family-friendly workshops and a Hansel & Gretel special for the kids on Halloween. Venues include the Victoria Theatre, Square Chapel, Dean Clough and Halifax Minster.
As one of the most exciting events on London’s cultural calendar, the 59th BFI Film Festival brings the latest and greatest cinema releases to the capital from 7 to 18 October.
With hundreds of films to choose from the BFI’s festival is more accessible than most, offering an appealing line-up of world premieres, IMAX specials, archive films and animated shorts in cinemas across London, from the Ritzy in Brixton to the Odeons of the West End. Don’t forget to book a cab to avoid the rush and make sure you don’t miss the film.
Musicport Indoor Festival – Whitby
If you are missing the music festival season already, then head down to Whitby on the 16 to 18 October where you can party at England’s biggest indoor world music festival.
Suitable for all ages, the festival offers captivating music and exciting new cultural experiences, with over 50 acts in one indoor venue, across five different stages. This annual three day event is renowned for its friendly atmosphere and will take you on a journey through the world of music, with previous acts having come from as far as Peru, Zimbabwe, USA, Tanzania and Mali.
Visit one of Britain’s Top Scare Attractions this October at Scaresville, a haunted village that mysteriously appears in grounds of Kentwell Hall, Long Melford, Suffolk every Halloween.
A previous winner of the prestigious Screamie Award, visit at your peril to enjoy over an hour of pure adrenaline as you journey through dark rooms, forests and open farmland. Not somewhere you want to run out of petrol, why not get a cab instead!
