23 spooktacular family events in Bristol this half-term

There will be fun and frights galore in Bristol, as there’s lots to do with the family over October half-term to celebrate Halloween. Whether you want an eerie day out or to get spookily creative, check out what’s on.

DAYS OUT

October 21-29: Halloween Spooktacular, Wild Place Bristol

A witch is making her home in Wild Place Bristol and will be telling exciting stories of magic and mystery to bewitch and enthral families. Brave children can explore the witch’s home and invent potions in her magic cauldron, enter the magical creatures’ enclosure and try to spot them hiding in the shadows.
www.wildplace.org.uk

October 21- 29: Halloween Half Term, Tyntesfield

Dress up warm and make Halloween paper lanterns at Tyntesfield Victorian Gothic Revival house. Tyntesfield was one of the first properties in England to have electricity installed and this is being celebrated with lantern-making during every morning of the half term holiday.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk

October 21 – November 3: Pumpkin Fest, Noah’s Arc Zoo Farm

Get involved with pumpkin painting and decorating, pumpkin sports and pumpkin themed animal enrichment. There’s also a heated indoor play area, over 100 species of animals, free animal talks and shows and the UK’s longest hedge maze.
www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk/events/pumpkin-fest

October 21-November 5: Halloween, Bristol Zoo Gardens

Enjoy a frighteningly good Halloween and celebrate Mexico’s ‘Day of the Dead’ traditions with a variety of creepy activities, crafts and story time. If you’re feeling brave, you can also take part in the spooky Halloween parade. Children’s entry costs just £5.
www.bristolzoo.org.uk/whats-on/halloween-festival

October 23-27: Twisty-turny-topsy-turvy ball run fun, We The Curious

Credit: Kossmann.dejong

Explore the new-look science museum and try out their imaginative ball run this half term. Young inventors are invited up to the second-floor workshop to build the longest and most complex ball run possible.
www.at-bristol.org.uk/event/twisty-turny-topsy-turvy-ball-run-0

October 23-31: Halloween takeover, Scrapstore

Join in with the Halloween Stay and Play at the scrapstore, where you might see a monster or a spook castle. If you’re feeling really brave, book onto the Halloween Takeover and try apple bobbing, the indoor trick or treating trail, fireside cooking and storytelling.
www.childrensscrapstore.co.uk/showEvent.aspx?EventId=375

October 24-26 and October 28-29: Heritage Diesel Railcar, Avon Valley Railway

Take the family on a ride on the railway’s Heritage Diesel Railcar. FREE train rides for children in fancy dress, plus a spooky trail around the station.
www.avonvalleyrailway.org

October 26-28: Halloween Hocus Pocus, The Galleries

Pop to The Galleries for three days of free family fun. See the Cursed Castle on October 26, join in with  ghost-busting workshops on October 27 and have a go at pumpkin carving on October 28.
www.galleriesbristol.co.uk/halloween-hocus-pocus

October 28: Somali family fun day, M Shed

To celebrate Black History Month and as part of Bristol Somali Festival, discover something new about Somali heritage and culture and celebrate Bristol’s Somali community. Families are invited to drop into this free day event, where you can choose your own Somali name, enjoy craft activities and dress in traditional clothing.
www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/m-shed/whats-on/black-history-month-family-fun-day

October 28-29: Halloween Half Term, Brunel’s SS Great Britain

Contagious conditions and woeful wounds, inspired by passengers’ tales of Victorian illnesses, will terrify the whole family. Children can get their faces made up with impressive prosthetics and special-effect wounds, plus you’ll come face-to face with some real Victorians as you explore the ship, including a policeman, dock worker, fisherman’s wife and even a rat catcher accompanied by his live rats.
www.ssgreatbritain.org/whats-on

ART
October 21: Drag Queen Story Time, Watershed

Alyssa makes crown props for the next story

Following successful previous events including Pride, some of Bristol’s most friendly drag artists will don their reading glasses along with their wigs for sing-alongs and family-friendly storytelling. Stories of girls who go on adventures and boys who wear dresses celebrate being yourself, no matter what your gender or appearance.
www.dragqueenstorytime.co.uk

October 28: Bristol Family Arts Festival Finale, Arnolfini

A takeover of the Arnolfini auditorium for a day of creativity and experimentation with games, ideas and ways of making. The day is a chance to celebrate the finale of the Bristol Family Arts Festival, a month long citywide celebration of family creativity, held at venues across the city.
www.arnolfini.org.uk

THEATRE

To December 21: The Curious Crocodile and The Meaning of Life, various venues

Expect puppets, giant nets, silky rivers, running, bouncing, singing with gusto and finally going to sleep. This short play for 0-5 year olds and their grown-ups is followed by a workshop exploring the adventures from the show.
www.theatrebristol.net/whats-on/2017/9/6/the-curious-crocodile-and-the-meaning-of-life-various-venues-in-bristol-bristol

October 19-November 11: War Horse, Bristol Hippodrome

The spectacular and internationally acclaimed production of Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse returns to the Hippodrome. An extraordinary piece of theatre, which takes audiences on an unforgettable journey from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of First World War France.
www.atgtickets.com/shows/war-horse/bristol-hippodrome/

October 20-29: The Turn of the Screw, Arnos Vale Cemetery

A story that tells the tale of a governess who is haunted by the past of her new home yet captivated by the children she cares for. This special performance in Arnos Vale Cemetery is not for the easily spooked.
www.arnosvale.org.uk/events/turn-screw-red-rope-theatre-18th-29th-oct/

October 21-25: Yana and the Yeti, Tobacco Factory Theatre

Take a break from all the scary stuff with this enchanting show, featuring arctic landscapes and a cast of extraordinary puppets, has been created by theatre-makers Pickled Image and Olivier-nominated writer Hattie Naylor. A funny and poignant tale of a small child’s discovery that friends can come in the most unexpected shapes and sizes.
www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/yana-and-the-yeti

October 23-24: An introduction to theatre, Tobacco Factory Theatre

Want to go trick-or-treating in peace? Let your kids loose with this two-day workshop. Young people will work with a designer and theatre maker during two days of fun and creativity, exploring performing and storytelling. The work created will then be shared with family at the end of day two.
www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/half-term-workshops-introduction-theatre

October 28-29: Spooky Ship, SS Great Britain
Join Bristol Old Vic aboard the SS Great Britain for a Victorian fright-fest.
b247.staging.proword.press/whats-on/theatre/brunels-ss-great-britain/the-spooky-ship

MUSIC

October 25: Spoken Word Family Hour, Watershed Café Bar

Raise The Bar celebrate their third birthday with a scarily good spoken word event for 6-11 year-olds. There will be performances by Sara Hirsch, the former UK Slam Champion, and author of her first children’s poetry collection Louder Than Words and MiKo Berry, European Slam Champion and one of the most influential UK spoken word poets. Families will also have the chance to create and share their own works.
www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/8481/spoken-word-family-hour-with-raise-the-bar/

October 29: Halloween Spooktacular family rave, Lakota

Pint-sized ravers will love the glitter cannons, bubbles, craft tables and a giant colouring mural at this special event. Halloween fancy dress is encouraged as adults and children alike dance their socks off, while for big kids, there’s a licenced bar, free transfer tattoos, glow sticks and freebie treats to take home at the end of the day.
www.tinyurl.com/y769xhfp

TEEN

October 26 – 27: Level UP workshop, Barton Hill Settlement Community Centre

If current Halloween games just aren’t cutting it, then 11-16 year-old users of Scratch with ideas, talent and the desire to make it big in the world of game design are invited to this workshop. Learning code will go a step further into genuine game design, using an industry-standard development tool.
www.juniorgamecreators.co.uk

October 20: Pan’s Labyrinth, Redcliffe Caves

Older teens will enjoy this beautiful fantasy film, set in Spain in 1944, which interweaves tragic real life circumstances with an escape into brilliant fairytales. This special screening in Redcliffe Caves promises a fantastic atmosphere. Rated 15.
www.bristolfilmfestival.com/event/pans-labyrinth

October 28: Harry Potterthon, Curzon Cinema Clevedon

A marathon screening of all eight Harry Potter films, which begins at 1.30pm and will keep you occupied for a full 22 hours.
www.curzon.org.uk/film/34162