With Halloween just around the corner and the October Half Term starting soon, Daily Info has picked some of the best spooktacular events to get excited for in Oxford and the surrounding areas.
Pick-up-a-pumpkin
October is the time to celebrate the mighty pumpkin, and there are plenty of places to go to grab one of these. Millets Farm Centre has a pick your own running weeks in October and daily from the 14th. They’ve also got a Halloween Circus, a Spooktacular Disco and special evenings where you can take in a woodland trail and pick your pumpkin, as well as enjoying some food and drink.
Alternatively there’s a Pumpkin Patch & Trail at High Lodge Farm, which mixes a pick-your-own, spooky trail, Halloween games and refreshments. Plus you can play on the farm’s static tractor. They’ll even be running torchlight trails for some night time fun.
You can also pick your pumpkins at Ridgeway Adventures, Earth Trust and Rectory Farm.
Spooky fun for the children
The build up for Halloween takes in Half Term, which means there’s plenty of activities to celebrate the season of magic and mischief. At the Museum of Oxford there’s Spooky Stories Workshops, where participants can create spooky characters and scary stories with local authors.
Cogges Farm are bringing back their Witch’s House. Visitors can tiptoe through spooky rooms, take the pumpkin trail through the grounds and enjoy Halloween-themed treats at their café. And there are various Halloween activities as part of Pumpkins n’ Pirates at the Fairytale Farm.
Blenheim Palace have a spooky trail through the grounds, complete with scarecrows, spiders, werewolves and pumpkins. There’s a skeleton trail and creepy critters from Zoolab at Waddeson Manor. And there’s bug handling, nocturnal animal trails, face painting and wand making sessions at Beale Park.
Waterperry Gardens has a Halloween Hunt around the gardens. And finally, why not get involved with Daily Info's Fireworks competion. Submit a work of art for your chance to win family tickets to this year's Oxford Round Table fireworks.
Evening fun for the adults
Halloween sees the Story Museum kick off a season of themed evening for adults. Halloween Late sees a host of themed activities, including performances from Creation Theatre, silent horror movies orchestrated to live music, and fabulous talks on the world of magic and witchcraft. Daily Info can’t think of a more perfect way to celebrate Halloween. Spooky dress is even encouraged!
Alternatively there’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Tap Social Movement, complete with a spooky welcome cocktail and popcorn. Alternatively there’s The Shining at the Phoenix Picturehouse or (for the brave) Antichrist at the Ultimate Picture Palace. And Mollie's (near Abingdon) is turning into a drive in for one evening, which looks fabulous fun! For even more Halloween watches check out our blog on what's on at home and in the cinema.
Ghost Fest runs at the Oxford Castle & Prison, with spooky tours around the site highlighting some of the gruesome history behind the site. And earlier in the day there’s Potion Making for younger participants.
The weekend before sees a Halloween Karaoke at the White Hart in Wolvercote, with prizes for the best costume and the best singers. Or you can go to Fright Nights at the Crocodile of the World, where you can see their animals in the dark by torch light.