It’s time to get your spook on here in the New Forest. We’ve some spine-tingling events taking place in the lead up to and over Halloween. Whether you are looking for days out and activities to join in with over Halloween or a half term Halloween-themed break, we’ve got you covered.
Grab your costumes and see what tricks and treats you can enjoy in the New Forest…
Spooktastic days out
Get ready for Halloween at Calshot Activities Centre (27-29 October), a spooky event for ghouls of all ages. Follow the pumpkin trail, play games, listen to spooky stories, and create Halloween crafts. You can even get a selfie in the castle basement! Tickets cost £7 per child (under 16), £2 per adult, and are free for under 1s.
Image- Calshot Activities Centre
Muster your courage and join Hurst Castle for all things Halloween across the October half term. Are you brave enough to descend deep into the basement to solve the clues and escape from the Prisoner of the Castle Ghost Maze?! You can also roam through every corner of the castle to find the clues to solve a treasure trail and relax by getting crafty with the arts and crafts area afterwards. All activities are included with castle admission.
Visit Lepe Country Park (23-29 October) and help Willow the Witch find the ingredients for her potion. Explore the park and learn fun facts about nature and wildlife but beware of the creepy critters you might find along the way. Pick up your Halloween Trail pack for £3 per child.
Enter the Haunted Barn at Longdown Activity Farm at your peril from 21-29 October. Encounter real-life barn owls and creepy creatures with the Creature Teachers on Sunday 29 October. The Pumpkin Quest promises to be fun for all the family too - everyone will enjoy spotting the mischievous orange faces around the farm as they discover each naughty pumpkin in unexpected places (no prizes, just spookily good fun).
Image - Longdown Activity Farm
Come and explore the New Forest Wildlife Park during the most spooky time of year where they have some ghoulish additions to the park for half term. Some of the animals will have left presents in the mystery boxes, do you dare put your hand in to guess what's inside? Try your hand at potion brewing and creepy craft making. Plus, can you follow the chilling clues to find all the hidden pumpkins?
Paultons Park are hosting their annual Halloween Spooktacular event, where the friendly theme park will get a spooky makeover, including Peppa Pig World! Plus a frightfullly fun show, boo-tiful characters to meet, plus rides in the dark!
Find out more about what’s on this Halloween in the New Forest.
Join in with some creepy activities
Local activity provider, New Forest Activities will be running several events you can take part in over Halloween.
Take part in BattleZone, which has upped the fear factor. Paint the battlefield dead as your ghoulsome troops creep up on the enemy, using infra-red technology guns to spook your way to victory. Ghostly hosts will brief you on the tricks and treats of the battlefield before you head out for two hours of Halloween-themed warfare at dusk. BattleZone will take place on various dates throughout October.
Image - New Forest Activities
For something a little more sedate, join New Forest Activities for a paddle along the Beaulieu River with infamous pirate Black Beard of Beaulieu or join in with some Halloween archery. Practice your aim on vampires, werewolves and zombies before having the chance to shoot your arrows at real pumpkins.
Last but by no means least, with so much history and stories of resident ghosts, are you brave enough to venture out onto the Beaulieu River at dusk? Adorn your best fancy dress and head out in illuminated canoes onto the estuary at nightfall on this 90-minute, canoeing tour listing to tales of ghosts.
The village of Burley is renowned for its witches and ghouls so why not get involved in the festivities and dress up in all your Halloween gear this October half term? New Forest Cycling is offering a 20% off discount to all cycle hire groups that dress up and go cycling with them. Simply wear your fancy dress outfits on the day and they'll apply the discount in store!
Image - New Forest Cycling
Seek out some Pumpkin patches
For some amazing photo opportunities and lots of opportunities to join in with some Halloween-themed fun, head to one of the New Forest’s pumpkin patches.
The New Forest Pumpkin Patch at Strawberry Fields, near Lymington, opens on selected dates from 7-29 October. Activities include pumpkin bowling, pumpkin noughts and crosses and pumpkin patch zorbing (some activities have additional charges). Plus find your perfect pumpkin to take home.
Sunnyfields Farm will also be open on selected dates from 7-29 October. With some wicked displays, thousands of pumpkins and lots more fun.
Image - The New Forest Pumpkin Patch
Spooky short breaks
Make the most of some family time off together by booking a Halloween break.
From the 20 – 28 October, Green Hill Farm will have lots of Halloween-themed activities to get involved with including: pumpkin carving, a spooky Halloween ghost walk, trick or treating, arts and crafts, a Halloween party and games and Halloween movie nights. There’ll also be a competition for the best dressed holiday home and a fancy-dress competition.
Across the month of October, Sandy Balls Holiday Village will be running 31 days of Halloween. Carve out some good times and create some fang-tastic memories with their October family breaks. They'll be celebrating spooky season with themed activities and entertainment throughout the month.