The best Halloween and half-term events across Hertfordshire

We’re all treats and no tricks this year as we bring you our round-up of some of the best Halloween adventures to be had in Herts. Pumpkin-picking and after-hours adventures await, plus sneak peeks into some of the spookiest spots in the county…

UNMISSABLE EVENTS

National History Museum Tring - credit National History Museum Tring

Get those cauldrons at the ready as you concoct the potion for a paranormally perfect, adventure filled Halloween season.

Paradise Wildlife Park – Dinos after Dark (October 20-23 and 27-30), Halloween at Paradise (October 23)

When it comes to going big, our friends over at Paradise Wildlife Park know how to put on a real spectacle, and that certainly doesn’t stop at Halloween. The last two weekends of October are your chance to visit the park after-hours, taking a magical trip back in time as Dinos After Dark returns. And for the ultimate way to top off the season, running throughout half term is their Halloween Spooktacular, which sees the park transform into a bewitching spectacle for the festive period. Cameras at the ready, we’ll see you there!

pwpark.com/events/

Natural History Museum Tring – Nocturnal Animals (October 24-26), Museum by Torchlight (October 27)

The natural world holds many mysteries in its grasp, and they’re coming out of the shadows for you to discover this year at the Natural History Museum in Tring. In the week of half term, you’re going to want to set aside a day for testing your senses at Nocturnal Animals, exploring what certain species get up to after dark, and even create your own bat to take home. And for that ultimate Halloween celebration, don your best fancy dress, discover some spooky specimens, and take on the haunted trail at their Museum by Torchlight.

nhm.ac.uk/events/

Hertford Castle – Open Day: Guided Tours (October 29)

For those of you looking for something less haunting and more historical, why not take a step back in time for a tour around Hertford Castle? Built in 912 and having been besieged, lived in by royalty, and witnessed wars, it’s safe to say there’s plenty of inspiring and chilling stories to be told. Maybe these walls can’t talk, but the expert tour guides can, and they’re here to tell you all about the centuries’ worth of stories that have unfolded within the castle.

hertford.gov.uk/events-listings/hertford-castle-open-day-guided-tours/

PUMPKIN PICKING

Willows Activity Farm Halloween - credit Willows Activity Farm It just wouldn’t be Halloween without the pumpkins. Whether you’re looking to carve, roast, soup, or simply admire these spooky squash, make sure it’s with one you’ve picked with your very own hands!

Willows Activity Farm – Pumpkin Festival (October 14-31)

Go all out and celebrate pumpkin season in style at Willows Activity Farm’s Pumpkin Festival, running for two weeks in October, so there’s plenty of time to go twice. With thousands of pumpkins for you and the little ones to choose from, spend the day carefully selecting the right one, checking for roundness, orange-levels, stalk sturdiness, and carve-ability, all before heading off to the Gourds Grotto where you can snap a photo to share with friends and family.

.willowsactivityfarm.com/events/pumpkin-festival/

Cammas Hall Farm

In the beautiful Hatfield countryside, surrounded by fiery oranges and reds, Cammas Hall Farm is open and ready for you and the family to come pumpkin picking. Spend the day wandering through the idyllic farm, home year-round to a delicious variety of produce, and choose from their splendid squashes. Found the perfect pumpkin? Head home and get carving, currying, or souping – and be sure to check out their website for some tasty recipe inspo.

.cammashall.co.uk/pyo/

The Pop Up Farm

Six generations of family run farming await at the Pop Up Farm in Harpenden, where picturesque pumpkin patches have been grown to perfection over the years. One of the UK’s most traditional patches, grab a wheelbarrow and take an afternoon amble through 10-acres of gourd glory. On top of that, hay bale fun, refreshments at the Red Barn café, and much more family fun is on your itinerary when you visit.

thepopupfarm.co.uk

HAUNTED HUNTS

St Albans Cathedral - credit St Albans Cathedral

From ghosts and ghouls to paranormal plights, delve into Herts’ haunting history this Halloween.

Brocket Arms

When it comes to quaint, charming villages, you won’t find anywhere more so than Ayot St. Lawrence. Enjoy the area by taking a picturesque autumnal walk, our favourite being the Circular Walk, where you’ll wander past churches, pubs, and Shaw’s Corner, the National Trust site once home to playwright and politician, George Bernard Shaw. Not spooky enough for you? A short walk down the road will bring you to The Brocket Arms, said to be haunted by a priest who was tried and hanged in the building centuries ago. But you wouldn’t believe it, as you step into the warm and welcoming restaurant, settling down for the afternoon with a hearty meal, and getting to rest your head in one of their charming and comfortable rooms.

brocketarms.com/en-GB

St Albans Tour Guides – Ghost Walks

The rich and deep history of St Albans always leaves us astounded and curious to learn more, especially when there’s a spook factor involved! Go on a hauntingly historic exploration of the city in their guided Ghosts and Ghouls tour and see for yourself just how mysterious the place really is. Running throughout October, you can delve deep into the strange events that have gone on here and get to know the well-known phantoms of the town. Be warned, you might just realise that we’re not alone after all…

stalbanstourguides.co.uk/calendar