October half-term happenings

The county will be hosting the very first Halloweenfest this October half term, a Halloween- themed festival which will be touring the county’s five market towns between 30 October and 3rd November 2023 offering stacks of family fun.

The touring festival is free to attend and takes place each day from 10am to 4pm launching on Monday 30th October in Bromyard, moving on to Ross on Wye, Ledbury, Leominster, before finishing off in Kington on Friday 3rd November.

Each town will have its very own pop-up pumpkin patch - centrally located- where families can enjoy carving one of over 250 pumpkins as well as joining in with other craft activities which are being run in conjunction with local businesses including Yat Pottery in Ross on Wye and the Sydney Nolan Trust in Kington.

In addition, each town will have its very own Scarecrow Trail for families to follow and enjoy throughout the week ( 28th October to 5th  November).

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Over at Pumpkin Pete's near Ledbury, roam the field and take your pick from 20 varieties of pumpkin and gourd. There's face painting, glitter art, a barrel train plus perennial favourites the ride on tractors and bale barn. And each weekend is also themed for extra fun, including the chance to walk with dinosaurs (7 & 8 Oct); get stuck into arts & crafts (14 &15 Oct); and meet spiders, snakes, owls and meerkats (27 & 28 Oct). The grande finale is 31 October with special Halloween parties on offer for ages 3 -5 and ages 6 - 9. With fabulous food options on different weekends, including Origin pizza, Beefy Boys and Queen of Tarts.

Tickets available 7 - 31 October, 10am - 4pm, from £4 per car - booking advised
More info 

Or try Country Pumpkins, also near Ledbury, with a magnificent two acre pumpkin patch, open for PYO pumpkins 7 October to 30 October each weekend as well as being open on Friday 27 and Monday 30 October for half term – 11.30am to 4.30pm

Another option is The Pumpkin Patch, in Marden, a few miles outside Hereford. Pick farm fresh pumpkins, go on a scavenger hunt, ride around on pedal tractors and play in the games area. With Friday twilight picking experiences also on offer.

Take one of our 'Hideous Histories' mini roadtrips to take a legendary family adventure through the county's past to a magical cave, wild woods, haunted houses and captivating castle ruins. You'll get to know the ‘darker’ side of Herefordshire… centuries of bloody deeds, ghastly ghosts and fearsome folklore! Roam the dramatic ruins of  Wigmore Castle, tiptoe around the most haunted house in the Midlands and step on the spot where three 14th-century burial pits for plague victims were discovered,

Ralph Court Gardens will be transformed for Halloween! Day visitors can meet the animated witches, walk through the graveyard, visit the skeleton ‘flower seller’, listen to spooky tunes and sing along with the singing pumpkins. In the evening, the gardens are lit by hundreds of glowing pumpkins which lead you to meet Jock the sleeping Giant and his good friend Bobo. If you like a fright then meet the Ralph family in their horror tunnel. The gothic rectory will have a special light show every evening with rag tag skeleton band.

From 15 October to 4 November
Daytime 10am to 4pm, evening 6 to 8.30pm

Wannabe witches and wizards are invited to the walled garden at NT Berrington Hall to create their own potions. Using homegrown herbs and a smidge of magic, children will create their own unique enchanted brews which they can take home to cast spells. Also in the gardens, uncover the dangerous plant which was used to poison a scullery maid at Berrington Hall.
Potion activity, free with admission, trail £3 to include prize

Grab your broomsticks and get ready for a bewitchingly brilliant day out. Gather round at Goodrich Castle  for scary stories from spooky storytellers and then solve creepy clues in the Halloween Quest.
Free with admission

Get ready for an evening of frightening fun on the Halloween Ghost Walk. You'll wander the streets of historic Ledbury, which is packed with tales of ghosts and hauntings. Suitable for adults and accompanied children aged 10+. 

£9 adults, £4.50 child (age 10-15)
31 October, 7pm, booking essential

Head to The Nest, just outside Ledbury, over half-term week for pumpkin picking & carving, a spooky photo shoot, bat trail, and cookie decorating. With coffee and cake on hand for parents! 

Dive into the The Courtyard's annual Family Festival. Over half term, there's a Fairytale Wonderland themed programme of fun activities, shows and experiences including a sideways take on A Midsummer Night's Dream; Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes narrated by Toyah Willcox to a score played by the Orchestra of the Swan; and a mischievous visit from Pippi Longstocking!

Watch the skies as they're lit up by fantastic fireworks! Bonfire Night falls at the end of the half term and there's a number of places you can go to enjoy displays, including:

• Hereford, 28 October at Broomy Hill Railway, 2-6pm, advance booking required
• Kington on 28 October, 6-8pm at The Recreation Ground, £5 adults, £2 children
• Ross-on-Wye on 4 November at The Rowing Club, gates open 6pm with fireworks from 7.30pm, plus food court, bouncy castle and other novelties