Halloween

October is a great month for events in Nottinghamshire - and you’re sure to feel a shiver run down your spine with these frighteningly fun festivities happening at Halloween. There’s no better place to be as ghosts, ghouls and all things ghastly emerge from their hidey holes and the dark tales of the city's history are revealed. So get ready to scare yourself witless while discovering haunted hotspots, exploring creepy caves, and hearing terrifying tales of murder and mischief.

Pumpkin Picking

Arguably the best Halloween activity there is...we've found a fabulous spot to ensure you pick the finest, most impressive pumpkin around! Stop by Nottinghamshire ‘Pick Your Own’ Pumpkins this October, set in the rolling Nottinghamshire countryside a few miles north of Nottingham. This family-run 'Pick Your Own' has 1000's of pumpkins and squashes for you to choose from, in loads of varieties and colours, so you will have loads of fun picking the pumpkin that’s just right for you! There will also be some great photo opportunities! There is no need to book for Pumpkin Picking, and it is free entry.

For just £4 you can join the Halloween Trail at Green's Windmill! Keep your eyes peeled as you explore the windmill, millyard, science centre and garden for the haunted pumpkins. Do a spooktacular job on this fearful adventure and win a hair-raising prize pack full of ghoulish goodies. Don't miss their Halloween Biscuit Baking on 26th and 31st October!

Join Manor Farm Park for Halloween fun on the farm this October half term! Come to the Manor Farm School of Wizardry & Witchcraft and explore our Spooky Maize Maze. There's a free pumpkin for every paying child to carve and take home too.

After you've picked your perfect pumpkin, don't forget to submit your creations to Hart's annual pumpkin carving comeptition for your chance to win an afternoon tea for two or panto tickets!

City Centre Capers

A fan of horror/thriller films? Then look no further than The Mayhem Film Festival, back for it's 20th year at Broadway Cinema, between 17th - 20th October. With a mix of premieres, previews, classics and Q&As, there is something for every fan of horror, sci-fi and cult cinema in this year's programme.

Join Groovebox for a seasonal rave at their Halloween Church Of Doom event at converted church, Pitcher & Piano. Headlined by the legendary DJ Todd Terry as well as Groovebox's resident DJs bringing the tunes all night long. You can expect insane production, Halloween decor, over 5 hours of raving ‍& much more! Dress to impress and be part of a spooktacular celebration that will keep you dancing until the witching hour.

On Friday 25th October, Garage Republic returns to Pitcher & Piano Nottingham for a Halloween Garage Rave with Artful Dodger, DJ Luck & MC Neat, Shola Ama & more!

This Halloween, The Lost City Adventure Golf dares you to confront your darkest fears in an event like no other. For the first time ever, the jungle awakens with terrifying new inhabitants for an adults-only, spine-chilling experience: Jungle Jump Scare, taking place on Saturday, October 26th. Are you brave enough to enter?

Adventure Cinema brings thrilling outdoor cinema experiences to Wollaton Hall this Halloween. Bring a blanket or camping chair, wrap up warm, and watch classic Halloween films on a giant cinema screen under the stars! Fancy dress is highly encouraged, plus there will be a spooky soundtrack to enjoy before the movie with specially curated songs for witches, ghouls, ghosts, vampires, werewolves and humans alike.

On Saturday the 26th of October, Hannah Wants takes over Nottingham's newest venue, The Palais. You can expect insane production, a huge transformation with the best Halloween decor, your favourite tech-house tunes, 1000+ ravers and so much more! You're encouraged to pull out all the stops and dress in your best costumes.

Terrifying Tours & Tales

If you dare, why not book onto one of the Ghost Hunts taking place at some of Nottinghamshire's oldest and most haunted attractions, and embark on a quest to discover some paranormal activity.

Starting at Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, The Original Nottingham Ghost Walk is one of the city’s most popular experiences and you are bound to be entranced by the rich tales of Nottingham's haunted history. A storytelling tour around the Castle Quarter of the city, you will hear about the Cursed Galleon of Ye Olde Trip and Nottingham's only pirate. The walk then sets off up Castle Road, skirting the bottom of Nottingham Castle's ramparts and walls. Along the way, you may hear tales of Queen Isabella's screams, the mysterious 'Lady in the Light' and the Human Pin Cushion.

New for Halloween 2024, join the National Justice Museum and discover the disturbing true crimes that landed people in our Gaol throughout the Victorian era, on Victorian Condemned: A Halloween Special - a special, spooky guided tour. Stand in the dock where those found guilty heard their fates, and hear about the gruesome crimes that brought them to our courtroom. Visit the dark cells where the condemned spent their final hours before finally being escorted to the courtyard, where the gallows loom and bodies were laid to rest. Over 18s only. You can also catch their popular Ghosts of the Gaol event, running on selected dates throughout October!

Do you dare explore Bolsover Castle in the dark this Halloween? Join their storytellers as they guide you on a journey through the past, with tales of ghosts, supernatural sightings and horrors from history. Four performers will share spine-chilling ghost stories around the site, so prepare yourself for a hauntingly good time. Over 16s only!

Or why not create your own ghost walk at one of Nottinghamshire's Haunted Hot Spots? We've rounded up the top 10 haunted places across the County, ready for you to explore them this spooky season! To read about the top haunted spots in Nottinghamshire according to Haunted magazine, click here.

Frightful Family Fun

Looking for creepy encounters in the middle of a corn field? Check out Tricker Treat Maze Farm at Notts Maze. You can expect a scavenger hunt, pumpkin carving, spooky stories around the fire, face painting plus various craft options along with our Halloween crow count and a spooky scavenger hunt to complete as you walk through the Maize Maze. Be on the lookout for chilling characters who might just cross your path as you journey through the maize maze. What eerie encounters await you?

Thrill seekers and skaters of all ages are invited to a hauntingly good time at the annual Halloween Disco Skate at the National Ice Centre! Lace up your skates and glide through a chilling wonderland, complete with spooky decorations and a mix of spine-tingling tunes and classic hits. Don your most creative costume for a chance to win terrifyingly good prizes, including food and drink vouchers.

Spooktacular Family Fun Awaits at Twinlakes Family Scream Park! this October. With daily family activities from the “Mummify Your Mummy” contest to the Fancy Dress Competition or explore the park on the Mummy Hunt and win cool rewards! Don’t miss the exciting Family Rave from 21st to 25th October, featuring DJ Dracula spinning the latest hits for a dance party that’s completely FREE!

Over at the Halloween Trail at Belvoir Castle you can embark on a spooky Halloween trail, navigating eerie twists and turns, encountering surprises, and indulging in festive delights along the way through the Dooms and Gardens.

Enjoy a Family Halloween Half Term week at Conkers from Monday 28th October - Friday 1st November. They have a range of activities planned to blow away your Autumnal Blues, offering a super range of family-friendly craft and ranger-led activities, all in keeping with their Halloween theme! Included in the price of admission, their offer includes: creepy sensory trails, spooktacular shows in their Amphitheatre, Rickety Rackety Conkachoo Train, a Witches Potion Scavenger task list & much more! Booking in advance is truly recommended to avoid disappointment.

Around Halloween, the National Justice Museum becomes a hive of paranormal activity. Are you brave enough to help their over-worked Ghost Hunter catch the pesky ghosts which are causing mayhem throughout the museum? This Kids Ghost Hunter Tours also include craft activities and spooky games!

On Friday 25th and Saturday 26th October get set to explore White Post Farm by torchlight and experience some after hours fun for the family down on the farm! With access to the entire farm, get dressed up and visit your favourite animals!

On Sunday the 27th of October Little Bop presents Haunted House, a Halloween family mini-fest! They will be pulling out all the stops for this Halloween spooktacular with incredible shows, entertainment, activities & so much more.

Get ready for a spooktacular adventure this Halloween at Rufford Abbey Country Park! From 12th October to 3rd November, the popular Rufford Halloween Trail returns, offering frightful family fun in the eerie, atmospheric woods. Visitors are encouraged to dress in their spookiest costumes and explore the mysterious forest paths, where ghostly surprises lurk around every corner. The adventure continues by the lake, where even more chilling delights await those brave enough to venture that far.

Play is back at Hardwick Hall this Ocotber Half Term with the Elizabethan themes of Hallowtide weaved through the activities along with some spooky editions such as Witches hat hoopla, broomstick barefoot walk and so much more! There's plenty of fun to be had, whether it's challenging new friends to a game of Wellie wanging or testing out a new talent for apple hooking!

On Saturday 26th October, Mrs Giggly's Magic School is coming to Nottingham Arts Theatre. You can expect a totally wild, utterly bonkers and hilariously nutty circus-opera for children. The story centres around Mrs Giggly, a magic teacher who has lost her belief in magic. Until one day, a young girl unexpectedly climbs out of a rainbow coloured toybox in her classroom and asks Mrs Giggly to be her magic teacher.

Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Bolsover Castle this half term. Follow the quest to solve creepy clues and gather round to listen to spooky stories. Performers will lead you through a spooky Victorian-themed experience, as you enjoy captivating storytelling, embark on a story walk with eerie tales, and participate in thrilling Vampire sword schools.

Get ready for a day of ghostly delights, family fun, and Halloween magic at the Monster Mash at Nottingham Castle! Enjoy music and dancing in the bandstand with a family-friendly DJ, free face painting for kids, spooky games, crafts, and tasty treats from food and drink stalls.

Thoresby Park's Halloween Trail is the perfect spooky day out this October half term! Follow the map around Thoresby Park to find the hidden spooky characters to win a toy prize at the end!

For loads of frightingly good fun with Honey and Sunny bear don’t hesitate to visit Sundown Adventureland – that’s where you’ll find them exploring the magical land!

What could be more fitting for a supernatural Halloween adventure than a place full of creepy crawlers and frightening familiars? At The Tropical Butterfly House there’s spooky adventures in galore. Get on your broomstick and join the magical school of witchcraft where children can follow the trail of activities around the park. From the enchanting sorting hat and potion class to the haunted house and pumpkin carving – there’s plenty of magic going on here!

For more October Half Term ideas, click here.

Scary Scenes

Take on the Zombie Hoards this Halloween at Meetspace VR; the city centre multiplayer, free-roam, virtual reality arcade. Or dare you take on their Frightfest immersive Escape Room experience where you are literally a part of the action! House of Fear or House of Fear, Cursed Souls, are both available to play with teams of either 2 or 4.

Or if you take Halloween seriously and like to be scared then look no further than The Labyrinth, Hillbilly Harvest over at Notts Maze. Discover the haunting tale of Whitley Farm at Notts Maze. Once a thriving homestead, it's now a place of terror. Dare you enter the maze and more importantly will you get out?

Xtreme Scream at Twinlakes also promises an unforgettable experience where fright meets fun in a spectacular festival of entertainment. With a brand-new attraction debuting this year, guests are invited to immerse themselves in the ultimate horror experience featuring seven spine-chilling scare mazes and haunts designed to test bravery and thrill the senses!

Escapologic looks forward to 'locking you in' this Halloween at their bone chilling city escape rooms. The famous Butcher returns to wreak havoc once again and the new escape room Violet looks set to thrill and scare in equal measure! Could you escape?

We will update this page as more Halloween events will be announced in the coming weeks.

For even more Halloween events in Nottinghamshire please see the list of events below.