It’s half term and Halloween Yipeeeee! It’s one of my favourite time’s of the year and here’s my run down of the best things to do in Norfolk October half term 2022 with the kids.
The Monster Club show
Having had huge success with their summer Kidz Pop Party, Joe, Pip and the gang are back once again for my favourite October Half Term musical extravaganza. Set under the Big Top at The Norfolk Showground, this spooky spectacular will have you dancing in the aisles and laughing till your belly hurts. A fantastic band, engaging dance routines, comedy, circus acts, a fancy dress competition and even a licensed bar. Brain-child of Joe Ringer from the locally renowned and nationally acclaimed Joe Ringer Band, this show is suitable for all ages and is a steal with tickets from £10 per person. When I told the kids we were going again they yelped with excitement. This really is a family favourite and we will definitely be dressing up this year to enjoy the fun. It’s Halloween week after all! For tickets click here but be quick they won’t be around for long.
BeWILDerWood: The Glowing Lantern Parade.
We love visiting BeWILDerWood through the year, but the glorious glowing lantern parade is a favourite of ours, and wow has it grown. The standalone attraction can now be purchased for £10 a ticket. We combined ours with a day out at BeWILDerWood too.
Enter the gates and be transported to a lantern-lit glen where you can craft your own bindle (lantern) and take some spooky snaps before your journey along a beautiful woodland walked soaked in a rainbow of illuminations. Look out for the Twiggle village and UV bats (my faves). You’ll meet some of the wonderful characters from Tom Blofelds famous story books and Wilba loved telling jokes with Snagglefang the bat and Pip Pip the Parasquark. The Boy was impressed with the size of Hazel’s pumpkin and the misty bubble machine. This is a great event for all ages and a lovely way to start a spooky (not scary) Halloween.
The path would be suitable for more sturdy buggies. Wheelchair users might find some areas difficult at the beginning but the visibility and path has definitely improved from last year. Wheelchair users and Carers of disabled guests go free as do children under 92cm. The path is well lit with lots of staff around. Click here to find out more and book tickets.
Wroxham Barns
The Pumpkin Festival at Wroxham Barns is our new favourite October tradition. We have exchanged trawling the various pumpkin patches of Norfolk for a whole days worth of entertainment at Wroxham Barns and a free pumpkin for each child. Not only do you get to select your pumpkin, you can carve it there too, leaving all the mess behind fo the animals to enjoy. This year Wroxham Barns is bigger and better than ever with a huge 10 acre field of pumpkins and maize maze. Wilma the witch is there too, to enrol your little monsters in |Potion and Spell School before embarking on some more messy fun. This year you can visit the pumpkin festival at night on the 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th of October from 5.45pm until 9.30pm. Great for those still having to work over the hols. Fire entertainers’ caterers and a bar make this the perfect evening out.
The Pumpkin festival is on from the 23rd to 31st of October and is just 14.99 for children and £13.99 for adults. The fun park, crazy golf and all the activities like pony grooming are included too. The event is suitable for younger children and is fully accessible. Hope to see you there. Click here for tickets.
Pleasure Beach Great Yarmouth – Fairground Frights
The whole family are excited about this one we missed the Coaster Cabana nights in the summer this year and we are desperate for our scare-fest fix. Fairground Frights is one not to be missed especially if you have older kids. You will definitely win some parenting points.
Equally couples will love the live roaming actors and scare maze. For £19.50 (same as 2021) you enjoy unlimited rides throughout the park. Best of all there’s the live DJ sets from Club Tropico music. Fairground Frights was voted Europe’s best scare zone and roaming characters 2020. Are you brave enough? If so click here to get your tickets.
Pensthorpe Natural Park – Poisons and Potions
Throughout half term Pensthorpe will be getting all spooky for some Halloween fun. Visit Haunted Hootz house Pensthorpes amazing indoor play area. Listen to some junior wildlife talks. Take the Poisons and Potions trail and don’t forget to book your slot for pumpkin carving. There will also be some Pensthorpe explorer tours on during the day which can be booked separately.
Adult tickets are £13.95 with a pound off for the over 60’s. Children between 3-16 are £12.95. Pumpkin carving is an additional £3 and must be booked online. I would also recommend pre-booking your Hootz Haunted house slot to avoid disappointment i think the mini activity trail will be a hit. There’ll also be spooky crafts and devilishly tasty treats in the cafe. Click here to book your tickets.
Fire On The Water
Another Yarmouth event (Yarmouth seems to be having some regeneration of late) and one I’ve heard good things about Is Fire on the Water ; this year its set on the beach. The event starts at just £3 per person (aimed at low-income families) with a pay what you can tiered system up to £12 per person. How wonderful and inclusive is that. Last year’s Venetian waterways event was a huge hit, as was their summer antics. We are really excited to be going this year to check it out. The trail is in Yarmouth from the 23rd to 29th of October why not pair it with a day by the sea and some autumn sun… hopefully. Click here for tickets.
Algy Farm Shop
The ONLY Pumpkin Patch we’ve visited this Norfolk October Half Term (at time of writing) because in my opinion its still the best. Not overly commercial, no hard sell and just great pumpkins. There’s lots of sizes and variety to find plus a banging farm shop and on selected dates wood-fired pizza. Need I say more? Well I’m going to… There’s a pumpkin hill for some great insta-gramable pumpkin pictures, hay bales a massive variety of gourds and ‘new for 2022’, hotdogs and sweet treat stall. You have to try their sweet and salted popcorn it’s THE BEST. It’s free to visit but for more information about opening times and pizza dates click here.
Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure
Make the most of your half term by joining Dippy and friends at the Weston-Smythe School of Dinosaurs and The Undead!
When you arrive, you will be allocated to your school house (Dippy/Raz/Paris/Terry) and a timetable for the day and make sure you are not late to lesson, complete all the lessons and earn yourself a reward. Don’t worry, the teachers bark is worse than their bite,
Dippy’s Halloween days include some extra spooky goings on in addition to the 20 attractions on the park. Entry is £17.95, Jimmy’s Farm and Sealife season ticket holders get a concessionary rate. Disabled guests 50% off and carers £8.98. Everything inside is included but don’t forget the splash park is now closed. I know my two would still ask me. Click here for more details.
Ha Ha Farm
I’ve not been myself but I’ve been assured that this one is great fun and value for money. The Pumpkin Patch at Ha Ha Farm is open from the 15th-31st October, open everyday from 10-4pm.
This year boasts spooky surprises, truly delicious treats and I’ve heard Farmer Tom has planted many more pumpkin varieties for you all.
The Spooky Saloon is serving super scary cakes, biscuits and brownies and witches potions galore. To keep you warm as you hunt for the perfect pumpkin.
The Ha Ha farm is located on Hemblington Road Strumpshaw, NR13 4AH Click here for more details.
*Dogs on leads are very welcome
Castle Quarter
A spell is being cast over Castle Quarter to transform into a place of wizardry wonder
On Saturday 29th October between 12pm-4pm Castle quarter will transform into the school of Hogwarts, where families, wannabee wizards and muggles can join in with a whole host of spellbinding activities.
Listen out for shrieks of expelliarmus and spellcasting calls of riddikulus as fans devoted to Harry Potter, Hermione, Ron and friends make their very own magic wand at the creation station.
There will also be the chance to try on the all-famous, all-wise sorting hat. Pop it on to discover which Hogwarts house you belong to. Will you be in Gryffindor Slytherin, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff? Only the hat will decide.
The Hogwarts Halloween fun continues with the Weasley’s Ford Anglia flying in too, with the chance to take a spectacular selfie alongside the enchanted car or step onto Platform ¾ to capture a magical moment.
Plus there will be the chance to make your own magic wand! Click here for more details
Spooks and Sparks
My sister had friends who went to this last year and had a great time set at The Hewett Academy on Cecil Road, Norwich, NR1 2PL on October 28-29, both 5pm-10pm it looks like its going to be a lot of fun and something that the older ones will especially enjoy but also the little ones as its low noise.
Adults are £7.50 + booking fee, children (under 18) are £5 + booking fee. October 29th prices are a fraction higher £8.50/£6 + booking fee. Buy on the Community Sparks Fatsoma page click here for a direct link.
Phew, and there you have it. My top things to do in Norfolk October Half Term 2022. Of course there’s pumpkin carving, sofa snuggles and crisp beach walks to squeeze in.
Have I missed any blinders or is there any events you would like me to check out? let me know in comments or on my socials. Find me on instagram @cookiecrumblesuk or on Facebook at TheWaytheCookie Crumblesuk or on Twitter Cookiecrumbsuk and i’ll do my best to report back. Don’t forget having some quality time at home can be just as fun you can find some ideas here.