Last updated: 2026 event details added throughout as venues confirm dates. October half term 2026 falls in the week of 26-30 October for most Somerset schools, with activities running from Saturday 24 October through to Sunday 1 November.
If you’re looking for things to do in Somerset for October half term 2026, you’ve come to the right place. The county goes wonderfully overboard for Halloween and there are brilliant family days out in Somerset to keep everyone happy all week, whether your children are pumpkin-obsessed or mildly indifferent to the whole thing.
From ancient folk traditions and spooky steam trains to National Trust Halloween trails, pumpkin patches, and one of England’s most dramatic walks, I’ve rounded up everything I can find below. I’ll add 2026 dates as venues announce them – and if you know of something that’s not listed, please submit it here. For the full year-round list, start with my guide to 50 Best Things to Do in Somerset.
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October Half Term Events 2026
Quick Find – jump to your section:
- Apple Days
- Pumpkin Picking
- Halloween Trails and Outdoor Activities
- Creative Activities
- Heritage & Transport
- Theatre
- Animals & Wildlife
- Somerset Carnivals
Apple Days & Harvest Events in Somerset 2026
- Harry’s Cider Apple Day, Long Sutton – Saturday 3 October 2026, 11am-5pm. FREE entry. Live apple pressing (11am–2:30pm), orchard tours, games and family activities, live music from The Kahunas (2:30-4:30pm), loaded fries from Soul Fries, and apple cake to finish.
- North Down Orchard Apple Day & Classic Car Meet, Haselbury Plucknett – Sunday 4 October 2026. Wessex Big Band.
- Barrington Court Apple Harvest Weekends – 3-4 and 10-11 October 2026. Join the National Trust Ranger team to collect this year’s crop. (Barrington also runs a separate Halloween trail later in the month – see below.)
- Family Day (formerly Apple Day), Chalice Well, Glastonbury – 10 October 2026
- Bishop’s Hull Hub Apple Day, Taunton – 10 October 2026.
- Apple Weekend, North Perrot Fruit Farm – 17-18 October 2026.
- The Newt Apple Day Weekend, Bruton – 17-18 October 2026. Pressing, games, tastings and tractor tours.
Pumpkin picking in Somerset 2026
One of autumn’s most delightful activities, pumpkin picking is fast becoming an October tradition in the UK. Whether you’re doing it for the ‘gram, prefer plucking your own gourd fresh from the soil or just love getting into the spirit of Halloween, I’ve rounded up the best places to go pumpkin picking in Somerset.
A few highlights for the half term week:
- Fairfield Pumpkins, Yeovil: Open 10am-4pm 10-11, 17-18, 24-31 October 2026. PYO, games, goats, face painting, glitter tattoos, haunted house. Adults £3 | Children £1 | U3s FREE. After Dark evening event: 30 October 2026.
- Thurloxton Farm, near Taunton – at the foot of the Quantocks, with a carving barn, spooky walk, and wood-fired pizza
- Avon Valley Pumpkin Patch: 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 October 2026. Full spectacle, with rides, apple cannons, and Pumpkin Patch Nights (9-10, 16-17, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 October 2026.
- Birds Farm, Knapp, North Curry: opens 3 October 2026 10am-4pm. Tractor rides and fairy light-lit cafe
- For the complete list of pumpkin patches across Somerset – including patches near Bath, North Somerset, and South Somerset – head to my dedicated guide: Best Pumpkin Picking in Somerset 2026.
- Quantock Pumpkin Patch 2026: Weekends from 10 October 2026, daily from 24-30 October. Drinks, live music, and the burning of the Quantock Giant. Wood-fired pizzas, burgers, and more. Tickets and full details will be released soon – stay tuned! £2 per person.
- Bath Pumpkin Patch: open 3rd October, every weekend throughout October, plus every during half term. 20 acre patch, 30 varieties, hayrides, pumpkin painting, face painting. FREE entry – reserve a spot via eventbrite.
- Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm Pumpkinfest: 19 Sept-1 November 2026. Free to Enter Pick Your Own Pumpkin Patch. No Zoo day ticket needed.
Avon Valley Pumpkin Patch 2026
2026 dates: 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st October
In addition to pumpkin picking, Avon Valley Pumpkin Patch will be packed with spooky characters roaming the grounds, fairground rides (additional charge), Pumpkin Paintball, fire shows, Scarecrow Shoot’em, brand-new apple cannons, a Pumpkin Slingshot, and a fun fair – plus much more! It’s a true pumpkin-packed extravaganza!
Tickets for Pumpkin Patch: £4.99 per person (£6.99 for Pumpkin Nights). Tickets are £2 more expensive on the day so best to book in advance! Tickets to the Pumpkin Patch do not give you access to Avon Valley Park which is closed at this time.
Pumpkin Patch Nights at Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park
2026 dates: 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st October
Make October nights unforgettable with Halloween fun at Avon Valley’s Pumpkin Patch Nights! As dusk falls, the patch comes alive with vibrant lights. Alongside pumpkin picking, enjoy festival vibes, a pop-up bar, firepits, street food, live performers, stunning seasonal entertainment, and enchanting lighting.
FEARless at Avon Valley 2026
FEARless at Avon Valley is back for 2026, running on select nights: open 24, 29, 30 & 31 October. Designed for 11-15 year olds, this immersive, family-friendly experience offers four (tamed down) scare attractions for youngsters.
The evening includes epic fire shows, spooky street performers, funfair rides, and side stalls. For older teens (16+) and adults, there’s FEAR at Avon Valley Scream Park which also runs on select October nights with multi-maze scare attractions, fire shows, and licensed street food pop-ups.
Farrington’s Farm Pumpkin Festival 2026
10-11, 17-18, 23-31 October 2026
With over 40,000 pumpkins planted, Farrington’s Pumpkin Festival is bursting with autumn fun. Wheel your barrow through the patch to find your perfect pick.
The fun doesn’t stop there: toast marshmallows in Whinny the Witch’s cauldron, dive into the straw pool, ride the pop-up funfair, and let little ones loose in the playbarn. Round off your visit with fresh seasonal goodies from the farm shop or a cosy bite in the café. Booking is essential for this pumpkin-packed day out! Tickets available NOW – book here.
Pumpkinfest: Poo at the Zoo 2, Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm
Dates: 19 Sept-1 Nov 2026, 10.30am-5pm
This October 2026, become a Dung Detective at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm! Follow the poo trail, solve the mystery and discover nature’s secret superpower. Then head to Pumpkinfest for pumpkins, autumnal decorations and family photo opportunities. 10% Early Bird discount when you book five or more days in advance.
Spooky trails and Halloween events Somerset
Coates English Willow Halloween Trail 2026
Watch this space! Coates English Willow
Ninesprings Halloween Trail, Yeovil
Pick up a Yeovil Country Park Halloween trail map opposite the Ninesprings Café between 11am-2pm on 29 October 2026, and follow the markers through the eerie woods. Long route and a short route, suitable for ‘adventurous buggies’. £3 per child, under 3s go free.
Halloween Trail, Torre Cider Farm
Get ready to awaken Doctor Frankiencider on Saturday, 31 October, from 3-6pm at Torre Cider Farm. Packed with kids’ games, a themed trail, fancy dress, and a disco, it’s top-tier Halloween fun. Tickets are £3.50 per child, which includes a spooky party bag to take home!
Pumpkin Hunt, The Bishop’s Palace, Wells
Head to The Bishop’s Palace in Wells from 17 October to 1 November for their October Half Term Pumpkin Hunt! Explore the stunning autumn gardens with the kids, then warm up at the café. Plus, enjoy Art Adventurers on the 22 Oct and Nature Ninjas craft sessions on the 29 October 2026.
American Halloween, American Museum & Gardens
This Halloween in Somerset 2026, the American Museum & Gardens in Bath is getting spooky after dark! From 16 October to 1 November, explore atmospheric gardens filled with eerie surprises before stepping inside Claverton Manor House for a special candlelit experience. Expect glowing installations, encounters with spooky characters, food and drink (think mulled wine, hot chocolate and American-inspired treats) and plenty of eerie atmosphere.
Halloween at The Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare
Get ready for a spooktacular Halloween celebration at the Grand Pier on 29 October 2026. Party Peeps, the UK’s number one interactive family rave, brings two hours of non-stop fun with a family disco, games, dancing, bubbles, snow effects, confetti cannons and sweet giveaways.
The Grand Pier’s spectacular Fireworks at Sea returns on 14 November 2026. Enjoy unlimited rides, including go-karts, before watching a dazzling fireworks display over the seafront.
Halloween Family Fun Day at The Helicopter Museum, Weston-super-Mare
Enjoy a spooktacular family day out packed with Halloween entertainment on 25 October 2026. Children in fancy dress receive free entry, while highlights include giant bubble shows, costumed characters, a haunted graveyard, helicopter cockpit experiences, face painting, photo opportunities, charity stalls and a special Halloween-themed menu in the café. More info here.
Lytes Scary Halloween Trail 2026
National Trust Halloween events are always one of my favourite things to do during October half term in Somerset. Discover what’s lurking in the woods at Lytes Cary from 24 October-1 November 2026; be they witches, ghosts, or evil spirits? £3.50 per trail and includes a trail sheet, pencil and mask.
Find out more about Somerset October half term 2026 at Lytes Cary
October half term children’s activities at Barrington Court
Have a go at the Wild Creatures Hide & Seek Spotter Trail (24 October-1 November 2026) this October Half Term and explore the grounds to find fifteen wild creatures hiding around the estate.
Grab a mini wheelbarrow and help gather windfall apples for harvesting with the Ranger team (26-30 October). Home to over 100 varieties of apples, once collected, they will go off to be turned into delicious cider.
Pop by on 27 October to join the Ranger team for day of woodcraft in the Cricket Pitch woods. Learn how to make fire without matches and toast some yummy marshmallows. £1 per child.
Montacute House, National Trust
One of Somerset’s grandest Elizabethan houses, Montacute is beautiful in autumn – the gardens turn burnished gold in late October, and the parkland is lovely for a family walk. This October half term, animal paintings have been hidden around Montacute. Search the gardens and grounds to try to find them all from 23 October-1 November 2026.
Tyntesfield Halloween half term trail 2026
Discover the quirky and spooky ways Victorians celebrated Halloween. Finish Horace the Hunky Punk trail to earn a prize and find out if your detective skills were up to the challenge. More details on halloween things at Tyntesfield. Don’t miss the stunning Tyntesfield autumn harvest display in the Orangery.
Stourhead National Trust
One of the world’s finest landscaped gardens, the preposterously scenic Stourhead is beautiful all year-round, but in Autumn, the estate really likes to show off. Hillsides swathed in woodland are transformed into a patchwork of golds, scarlets and burnt orange, making for some seriously seasonal scenes.
Viewpoints gaze out to follies, a Palladian bridge (one of only four in the UK) and temples set around a glassy lake, tinged with the reflections of the fiery leaves. There’s also an impressive manor house, grotto, a gothic cottage filled with pumpkins to explore, and the meandering pathways are buggy-friendly to boot!
This October half term, Stourhead is packed with family fun. Follow the Marvellous Moths trail, tackle spooky Stableyard games including broomstick races, and get creative with autumn crafts from 22 October. Plus, discover the new Drawn to Trees exhibition.
Prior Park Landscape Garden, Bath
Discover creepy sights at National Trust’s Prior Park (24 October-1 November)! The lawn games will be out again, including the popular marble run. The gardens are glorious in October light and contain one of only four Palladian bridges in the UK.
Family Halloween Woodland Experience, ROAM, Dillington Estate
For wholesome things to do in autumn, enter the wonderful woodland of ROAM Outdoors Activity Centre family for some spooky Halloween activities! Follow the Halloween Trail to unlock a prize, carve a Pumpkin and eat ghostly marshmallows. Visitors will also have access to rope and tyre swings, the log-stacle course, slack line and mud kitchens.
£10 per person, includes hot soup and crusty bread. Check availability here.
Hestercombe October half term things to do
Hestercombe Gardens, near Taunton is going all-out with its spooky half term October activities. From 24 October to 1 November 2026, the gardens will be getting a Halloween makeover and a spooky trail (£1).
Somerset Rural Life Museum
Head to Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury from 24-31 October for a daily Pumpkin Trail, meet farm animals, donkeys, and birds of prey, or try needle-felting and apple-themed crafts.
Halloween at Wookey Hole 2026
Pondering what to do in October half term? There’s no spookier time of year than to visit the enchanting realm of the Witch of Wookey than Halloween!
Once you’ve explored the caves, pop into the cinema to watch a 4D movie, watch a circus show and take part in the daily best-dressed competition in the Theatre. There’e also a vintage penny arcade and pirate-themed mini golf!
Check ticket prices for Wookey Hole Halloween 2026 (3 October-1 November 2026)
Halloween at Cheddar Gorge & Caves 2026
Head to Cheddar Gorge (24 October – 1 November 2026) for spooktacular Halloween fun this October Half Term with spine-tingling surprises. Young Cave Explorers can hunt for Skeleton Keepers, solve clues and crack the secret code. Afterwards, enjoy spooky crafts, ghoulish games and a Halloween party, with a special seasonal reward to take home.
Ghost Tours at Dunster Castle
Get ready for a spooky night at Dunster Castle 28 & 31 Oct! Explore the castle after dark on a guided tour of its most haunted spaces, hearing chilling tales of ghostly sightings, unexplained happenings, tragedy and restless spirits. Expect eerie atmospheres, mysterious footsteps, plenty of scares and a glimpse into Dunster Castle’s darker history. Booking essential.
Check ticket prices and event info for things to do October half term at Dunster Castle 2026
Halloween Zombie Outbreak at Mendip Activity Centre
Are you brave enough to join Mendip’s Zombie Outbreak Response Team? Halloween activities will be taking place from 4 October-3 November 2026 at Mendip Activity Centre: expect spooky decorations, zombie targets, Halloween-themed tobogganing and more!
All archery, air rifle, axe throwing, archery active, and tobogganing sessions will have a spooky Halloween twist. Book now!
Forde Abbey Halloween Garden Adventure
Get ready for a brilliant Halloween Garden Adventure at Forde Abbey from 24 October 2026, packed with giggles, games and plenty of seasonal fun! Keep your eyes peeled for low-flying witches as you explore. Pumpkin tic-tac-toe and hook-a-cauldron. Save on admission by pre-booking online!
Wellington Garden of Light
Wellington Garden of Light (October 24, 6.30-9pm) transforms the town’s gardens into an atmospheric evening of glowing installations, light, art and outdoor performance. Created by Somerset-based Fuse, expect plenty of colour, creativity and magical moments as you explore after dark. £2 adult, £1 child.
Ferne Animal Sanctuary, near Chard
Head to Ferne Animal Sanctuary on 31 October 2026 for a fa-boo-lous time filled with Halloween Games in The Hub, Spooky Trail, Creative Corner (bats, cats and spider arts and crafts) and a fancy dress competition. Afterwards, warm up with lunch, snacks and drinks at Perdida Cafe.
Monster Mash at Animal Farm Adventure Park
Shaun the Sheep Spooktacular Adventures 2026, Longleat Safari Park
Join Shaun the Sheep for a giant pumpkin takeover at Longleat this October half term (24 October to 1 November 2026). Inspired by the new film Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, families can help stop the pumpkins from taking over the Halloween Hoedown while enjoying all the park’s usual attractions, animals and seasonal autumn fun.
Punkie Night 2026, Hinton St George
Hinton St George’s Punkie Night procession usually takes place on last Thursday in October at the Village Hall playing field. Bring your mangel lanterns (available in Our Shop Hinton St George) and cash for post-parade refreshments.
Half term at Ginger & Pink, Taunton
- 26 October: GURT Big Toy Swap – 3pm | FREE. Bring along toys you no longer need and swap them with others.
- 28 October: Slime Workshop – 3pm | £10 per slime maker.
- 29 October: Spooky Baby Footprints – 10am | £12.50 per adult and baby.
- 30 October: Pumpkin Carving & Painting – 3pm | £12.50 per pumpkin decorator. More info here.
Cubs Halloween party, Ilminster
If you’re looking for Halloweeny October activities this Somerset half term, Ilminster’s Cubs soft play for under-8 year olds is a good rainy day option. They often run a special Halloween party – watch this space for more details. More rainy day ideas here.
All Hallows’ Eve Shadow Puppet Extravaganza: Día de los Muertos, The Newt
30 October | 10am or 1.30pm | £20 per person
Step into a colourful world of puppetry, music and storytelling at The Newt in Somerset with master puppeteer Tallulah Swirls, inspired by Mexico’s Día de los Muertos. Kids will watch a vibrant shadow puppet performance before creating their own puppets to take home. Best suited to ages 6+, accompanied by an adult. Allow 2 hours. A valid Newt membership or day pass is required.
Children’s Autumn Pumpkin Trail, Sherborne Castle
Take the kids on a pumpkin-packed adventure at Sherborne Castle (technically Dorset, but on the Somerset border) and solve clues along the way 24 October-1 November 2026. Prizes available, fancy dress welcome!
October Outdoor Events
Mendip Rocks! Geology & Fossil Festival
The Mendip Hills National Landscape team and Somerset Earth Science Centre are hosting Mendip Rocks! Guided quarry tours, ancient fossil walks, and cave exploration sessions across Ebbor Gorge and the Mendips throughout October 2026. Many events are free to attend.
Exmoor Dark Skies Festival
Exmoor Dark Skies Festival returns from 16 October to 1 November 2026 for its 10th anniversary, with 70+ events celebrating the night sky. Highlights include moonlit swims, UV rockpooling, night rides, planetarium sessions, astronomy, bioluminescence walks and nocturnal wildlife activities.
Creative activities October half term Somerset
Cosy Fest, East Quay, Watchet
An afternoon of outdoor cosiness at East Quay Watchet on 24 October (3-6pm) with stories, songs and craft, stalls, music and food. Bring a song or a story to share, a bobble hat, warm clothes for sitting outside and a camp chair if you have one.
Read my review of our stay at East Quay Watchet
Halloween events at Flourish
- Prosecco & Paint: Halloween Special – 23 October 2026, 6pm. Paint your own ceramic pumpkin while enjoying a glass of fizz. 16+.
- Halloween Make & Create Workshop – 27 October 2026, 10am. Customise a jumper, sweatshirt or T-shirt with spooky transfers, or create a personalised Trick or Treat tote. Family-friendly.
- Ghouls, Glaze & Graze: Halloween Pottery Painting & Afternoon Tea – 30 October 2026, 2pm. Paint Halloween pottery before enjoying a spooky afternoon tea with eyeball cupcakes, screaming strawberries, coffin-wiches and tomb treat brownies. £70 for two or £130 for four.
- Flourish with a FRIGHT! Halloween Family Afternoon Tea – 30 October 2026, 3pm. A family-friendly Halloween afternoon tea with spooky sweet and savoury treats and unlimited Potion Punch. £25 per person, with freak shakes or unlimited tea/coffee available for an extra £4.95.
Crafts at Glastonbury Abbey
Somerset October half term at Glastonbury Abbey features all kinds of family crafts. Check their website for what’s on.
What’s on in Somerset October half term 2026: History and Heritage
Halloween Weekend 2026 at The Station, Midsomer Norton South
Hop aboard the Halloween Train at Midsomer Norton on 31 October for scary services running during the afternoon and into the twilight! Kids (16 and under) in Halloween costume travel FREE on the Sunday Haunted DMU. Sunday 1st November will be a less frightening experience, when the popular Haunted DMU returns.
Check ticket prices for Midsomer Norton Halloween steam trains .
Spooky Specials at East Somerset Miniature Railway, Shepton Mallet
Brave a spooky steam train ride to Mendip Vale this Halloween, with ghostly surprises waiting onboard the East Somerset Railway on 31 October and 1 November 2026. Back at the station, follow a ghoulish trail, visit the historic waiting room and discovery centre, and watch out for the mysterious Old Hag. Enjoy homemade food in the café and explore the station’s attractions, all included with a standard Day Rover ticket.
Fleet Air Arm Museum
Discover the fascinating world of Fairey Aviation this October half term at Fleet Air Arm Museum (26-30 October 2026). Families can hear entertaining stories about the people and aircraft behind the company, then get creative building their own Fairey-inspired aircraft with Brick Ideas.
The Gartell Light Railway
This delightful narrow gauge railway in South Somerset is privately operated by the Gartell family and their friends and only opened to the public on selected dates throughout the year. The railway will open on 25 October for their final open day.
Haynes International Motor Museum
Make this October half term a family day out to remember at Haynes Motor Museum from 24 October to 1 November! Packed with interactive exhibits, a themed family Halloween trail, and hundreds of iconic vehicles, all activities are included with entry. Best of all, your ticket gives you free return visits for a year!
Somerset Kids Theatre & Shows: October Half Term 2026
Bath Children’s Literature Festival
- Until 4 October.
Europe’s largest dedicated children’s book festival is hosting live author events, interactive workshops, and storytelling sessions across Bath for bookworms of all ages.
Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton
- Wednesday 28 October 2026, Natural History Museum presents Dinosaurs Live!A roaring family adventure bringing prehistoric creatures to life on stage, inspired by the world-famous museum.
The Playhouse, Weston-super-Mare
- Jesus Christ Superstar: 28 October 2026 – 31 October 2026
Front Room Theatre, Weston-super-Mare
- Adventures in Hidden History – 24 October 2026, 11am-12pm
- Kindness Karl – Halloween Storytelling for Families – 31 October 2026, 3pm-3.45pm
The Egg, Bath
- Myth Monster: 22-24 October 2026
- Hay: 26-28 October 2026
- All the Small Things: 30 Oct-1 Nov 2026
October Somerset Carnivals
Bridgwater Carnival Concerts
Pre-Bridgeater Carnival celebrations take place at The McMillan Theatre in Bridgwater 4 October-15 October 2026.. It’s a great family show featuring local carnival clubs performing high-energy musical acts before the famous street processions kick off in November.
October Carnivals in Somerset
Dating all the way back to the 1600s to commemorate the Gunpowder Plot, Somerset’s illuminated parades are a highlight of the county’s autumn calendar. Across the county, towns and villages transform into open-air spectacles featuring glowing street processions and fairgrounds. The stars of the show are the carnival carts – with their moving parts, and costumed performers. They are a sight to behold – bring loose change to drop into the collection carts!
- Ilminster – Saturday 3 October, 7.15pm
- Gillingham – Saturday 10 October, 7.15pm
- Chard – Saturday 10 October, 7.30pm
- Wincanton – Friday 16 October, 7.30pm
- Castle Cary – Saturday 17 October, 7.00pm
- Taunton – Saturday 17 October 7.00pm
- Trowbridge – Saturday 24 October, 7.00pm
- Warminster – Saturday 31 October, 7.00pm
October Half Term Somerset Accommodation
Last year Tractors and Cream planned some fun Halloween activities to give your stay a spooky twist! Keep an eye on their socials to see if they’re doing the same this year.
Liked this post on What to do October half term Somerset 2026?
Read more:
- Best Pumpkin Picking in Somerset
- Local Fireworks Displays and Bonfire Nights in Somerset
- 50 Best Things to Do in Somerset: A Local’s Guide
- Family Glamping in Somerset
- Rainy Day Indoor Activities in Somerset
- Buggy-Friendly Walks in Somerset
- The Best Festivals in Somerset 2026
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