Discover Halloween events across Dorset for 2026, from illuminated forest trails and pumpkin picking to ghost trains, castle quests, family activities and terrifying experiences for adults. Our county-wide guide covers Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch alongside Purbeck, Weymouth, Dorchester, Sherborne, Bridport and rural Dorset. Find confirmed dates, ticket prices, age guidance and booking information for Halloween and October half-term events, with further activities added as organisers announce them.
6th November 2026
Discover Halloween events across Dorset for 2026, from illuminated forest trails and pumpkin picking to ghost trains, castle quests, family activities and frightening experiences for adults. Our county-wide guide covers Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch alongside Purbeck, Weymouth, Dorchester, Sherborne, Bridport and rural Dorset. Find confirmed dates, prices, age guidance and booking information for Halloween and October half-term events, with further activities added as organisers announce them.
Pumpkin picking is available at farms across East, North and West Dorset, although several 2026 programmes are still awaiting confirmation.
Confirmed options currently include Gullivers Farm at West Moors and Gorcombe Farm near Blandford. Other established pumpkin patches include North Farm at Horton, Parley Pumpkin Patch, Dewflock Farm near Dorchester and Washingpool Farm near Bridport.
Images: Unsplash
Our separate local guides contain more detailed information about smaller events, parties, theatre, cinema and activities within each area.
Halloween Events in Bournemouth
Bournemouth’s Halloween programme includes family entertainment, theatre, seasonal attractions and parties taking place around the town centre, Boscombe and surrounding neighbourhoods.
Read our full guide: Halloween Events in Bournemouth 2026
Halloween Events in Southbourne
Find neighbourhood Halloween events, children’s activities and seasonal entertainment taking place around Southbourne and nearby Tuckton.
Read our full guide: Halloween Events in Southbourne 2026
Halloween Events in Christchurch
The Christchurch guide includes family attractions, nearby pumpkin picking, events at local venues and Halloween activities around Christchurch and Highcliffe.
Read our full guide: Halloween Events in Christchurch 2026
Halloween Events in Poole
Explore farm attractions, family trails and October half-term theatre in Poole, including Farmer Palmer’s and productions at Lighthouse Poole.
Images: Unsplash
Halloween at Moors Valley
Where: Moors Valley Country Park and Forest, Horton Road, Ashley Heath, BH24 2ET
Moors Valley now has a substantial programme of daytime and after-dark Halloween activities running throughout October and into early November.
The Great Halloween Mystery
Dates: 1 October-1 November 2026
Times: 9am-5pm
Activity pack: £3.50, including a prize
Recommended age: 4+
The Giant Halloween Pumpkin has disappeared, and children are invited to join the Cobweb Crew to investigate.
Families will follow clues around the park, gather evidence and decode a secret message as they attempt to solve the Great Halloween Mystery. Advance booking is not currently listed as a requirement, although normal Moors Valley parking charges apply.
Check all Halloween activities at Moors Valley.
Halloween Illuminated Trail at Moors Valley
Dates: 23 October-1 November 2026
Times: Bookable sessions from 4pm–9pm
Booking: Required
When darkness falls, the forest will be transformed into an illuminated Halloween trail filled with eerie installations, live characters and immersive scenes.
The 2026 experience includes giant skeletons, a sinister Demon Barber, a carnivorous garden and mysterious forest rituals. It is designed as a family Halloween experience, although some scenes may be unsettling for particularly young or sensitive children.
Food, hot drinks and seasonal treats will be available to purchase around the trail. Parking should be reserved when buying tickets, with a limited free parking offer available for qualifying Moors Valley members and season-ticket holders.
Book the Moors Valley Halloween Illuminated Trail.
Sundown Adventures - Go Ape at Night
Dates: 16 October–8 November 2026
Times: Selected evenings
Tickets: £31.95
Booking: Required
Go Ape’s high-ropes course will open after dark for an illuminated adventure through the forest canopy.
Visitors can take on the usual aerial obstacles and zip wires while the surrounding trees and course are lit with glowing lights. This is a more adventurous Halloween option for older children, teenagers and adults, with individual participation requirements applying to the different Go Ape courses.
Check availability for Go Ape Sundown Adventures.
Halloween Laser Tag Special
Dates: 24 October-1 November 2026
Times: Selected sessions
Tickets: From £23 per person
Recommended age: 8+
Booking: Required
Moors Valley’s outdoor laser-tag zone will receive a Halloween makeover during the October half-term holiday.
Teams will enter a darker, atmospheric game area for Halloween-themed versions of the attraction’s usual laser-tag challenges. Places must be reserved in advance and session availability may vary by date.
Check the Halloween Laser Tag sessions.
Halloween Crafts
Dates: 27-29 October 2026, depending on activity
Recommended age: 4+
Booking: Required
Moors Valley is offering two seasonal craft activities during October half term.
The Wall Clock Creation Workshop takes place on Tuesday 27 and Thursday 29 October, from 10.30am-11.30am, costing £7 per person. Participants can decorate an autumn-themed clock face and assemble a working clock to take home.
Halloween Suncatcher Making takes place in the Ranger Den on Wednesday 28 October, with sessions at 10.30am-11am and 11.15am-11.45am. Tickets cost £4 per child, with colourful tissue paper used to create a Halloween decoration for the window.
Check the activities and book with Moors Valley.
Gullivers Pumpkin Fest
Where: Gullivers Farm Shop, Station Road, West Moors, Ferndown, BH22 0JG
Pumpkin Fest: Selected weekends from 17 October 2026
Weekday pumpkin picking: Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm during the pumpkin season
Gullivers is combining weekday pumpkin picking with Pumpkin Fest events on selected October weekends.
Families visiting during the week can explore the pumpkin patch, choose their pumpkins and visit the farm shop, kitchen and café.
Pumpkin Fest weekends add seasonal games, family activities, farm experiences and entertainment, with food and drink available.
Check the official programme for the full weekend schedule, admission arrangements and pumpkin availability before travelling.
Check the Gullivers Farm events programme.
Where: Wimborne Model Town, 16 King Street, Wimborne, BH21 1DY
Dates: 24-31 October 2026
Closing time: 4pm from Sunday 25 October, with last entry at 3.30pm
Wimborne Model Town’s Halloween Spooktacular brings seasonal activities to its miniature streets during October half term.
The published programme includes a Halloween quiz, spooky storytelling, arts and crafts, a sweetie cauldron lucky dip and a spooky house, with visitors encouraged to wear fancy dress.
Storytelling and arts and crafts are advertised daily throughout the event week. Face painting takes place on Saturday 31 October, from 11am-2pm.
Check the attraction’s website for admission prices and any additional activity charges before visiting.
Corfe Castle October Half Term
Dates: 24 October-1 November 2026
Times: 10am-4.30pm, except 25 October when the advertised event finishes at 3pm
Admission: Activities included with normal castle admission; free for National Trust members
Booking: Not required
Families can explore Corfe Castle with the Folklore and Fairies Family Quest, following clues inspired by the mysteries and superstitions of everyday life in the past.
The teddy bear zip-wire also returns. Children can bring their own teddy or borrow one from the castle before sending it down the wire beside the keep.
A seasonal pumpkin display provides a Halloween photograph opportunity among the ruins. Wear suitable footwear for the castle’s steep slopes and steps.
Plan an October half-term visit to Corfe Castle.
Gruesome Tales at Corfe Castle
From 27 October until 1 November, Corfe Castle’s spooky storyteller will share stories about horrible heroes, vile villains and the more unpleasant parts of medieval life.
The storytelling offers a slightly darker addition to the family half-term programme without turning the visit into a full horror attraction.
See all upcoming Corfe Castle events.
Studland’s Wicked Wildlife Trail
Where: Studland Bay, near Swanage
Dates: 24 October–1 November 2026
Times: 10am-3pm
Booking: Not required
The Wicked Wildlife Trail takes families across Studland’s beach, dunes and woodland.
Children can complete activity stations, discover nocturnal creatures and learn about the wildlife living around the coast. Participants build up a wizarding activity passport as they explore, with Halloween costumes encouraged.
The outdoor route covers natural and potentially uneven terrain, so dress for the weather and check conditions before travelling.
Check the Wicked Wildlife Trail details.
Swanage Railway Halloween Ghost Trains
Dates: 30–31 October 2026
Tickets: Adults £25; children £15
Booking: Required
Swanage Railway’s family-friendly Halloween Ghost Trains combine a heritage train journey through Purbeck with Halloween characters, mysterious encounters and onboard entertainment.
Passengers leave the train at Corfe Castle Station for additional crafts and activities, including slime making, before continuing their journey.
The experience is intended to be entertaining rather than terrifying, making it suitable for families wanting something atmospheric without intense horror.
Book Swanage Railway Halloween Ghost Trains.
Lulworth Castle Autumn Half Term
Dates: 25-31 October 2026
Admission: Normal castle admission applies
Lulworth Castle’s autumn half-term programme includes a new seasonal trail, an autumn display inside the castle and pumpkin-themed games on the lawn.
Families can also explore the castle, climb the tower and visit the woodland playground during their day out.
Adventure Cinema will hold six outdoor screenings at Lulworth Castle from 23-25 October. Check the separate cinema programme before booking, as film certificates and suitability will vary.
Halloween Half-Term Fun at Nothe Fort
Where: Barrack Road, Weymouth, DT4 8UF
Dates: 24 October–1 November 2026
Times: 10am-4pm
Admission: Included with normal fort admission
Nothe Fort will hold its final major family event of 2026 during the October half-term holiday.
Daily activities include a Halloween Mouse Hunt, wand-making, pumpkin golf, Ghosty Boo Bowling and fiendish games, alongside creepy crafts. Spooky Bingo takes place at 11am and 2pm, while Ants on a Rock brings creepy-crawlies to the fort on 25, 28 and 29 October.
Family ghost tours are also planned, but their dates and times have not yet been announced. Places will be limited to ten people per tour and must be reserved free of charge at the shop desk on the day. The route includes steps and one-way tunnels.
Standard admission costs £11 for adults, £9.50 for concessions and £4.50 for children aged five to 16. Children under five enter free. Family tickets are also available.
Plan your Halloween visit to Nothe Fort.
Nothe of the Living Dead: The Freak Circus
Dates: 30–31 October 2026
Times: Bookable slots from 6pm-11.40pm
Tickets: £25 per person
Minimum age: 16
Nothe Fort’s adult Halloween experience returns with a new Freak Circus story for 2026.
The hour-long event combines immersive theatre, live actors, jump scares and escape-room-style puzzles. Participants enter a sinister travelling circus and complete challenges while trying to avoid becoming its next permanent attraction.
The minimum age is 16. Anyone under 18 must take part with a paying adult, and advance booking is essential.
Book Nothe of the Living Dead.
Ascarium at SEA LIFE Weymouth
Where: SEA LIFE Weymouth, Lodmoor Country Park, Weymouth, DT4 7SX
Dates: 3 October-1 November 2026
Admission: Included with SEA LIFE admission
Tickets: From £19 for the event admission advertised by SEA LIFE; online general-admission offers may vary
SEA LIFE Weymouth will become Ascarium for a month of underwater Halloween activities.
Children can follow an aquarium trail, complete magical challenges and help Serafina the Sea Witch protect her ocean home and its creatures. The experience includes themed activities, photograph opportunities and a reward for completing the trail.
The Halloween activities are included with ordinary aquarium admission. Booking online in advance is advisable because admission uses timed entry slots and prices may vary according to the date and ticket offer selected.
Plan an Ascarium visit to SEA LIFE Weymouth.
A Creepy Circus - Live Actor Halloween Trail
Where: Participating locations around Weymouth
Date: 24 October 2026
A mysterious travelling circus will appear around Weymouth as part of a new live-actor Halloween trail.
Characters and scenes will be hidden among local businesses, inviting visitors to explore the town while following the Creepy Circus story. This offers a more interactive town-centre activity than a traditional static trail.
Full route information, running times and age guidance should be checked before attending.
Check the latest Creepy Circus information.
Haunted Harbour Cruise
Where: Weymouth, with Coastal Vibes Cruises
Dates: 30 and 31 October 2026
Time: 10am
Duration: Approximately two-and-a-half hours
Tickets: Adults and children £15; under-twos £10; family ticket for two adults and two children under 12 £50. Booking fees apply
Booking: Required
Coastal Vibes Cruises is bringing family Halloween entertainment aboard its Haunted Harbour Cruise.
The experience includes Halloween face painting by Diamond Faces, spooky disco music, themed decorations and photo opportunities. Costumes are encouraged, and food and drinks are available to purchase separately.
Check the departure instructions and weather terms before booking. If conditions prevent sailing, the event may still take place alongside the dock at full price.
Book the Haunted Harbour Cruise.
Halloween at SandWorld
Where: SandWorld, Lodmoor Country Park, Preston Beach Road, Weymouth, DT4 7SX
Dates and offers: Check directly with SandWorld for confirmation
SandWorld’s website advertises Halloween activities including a pumpkin-carving competition, quiz and raffle, alongside a free-entry offer for visitors wearing full Halloween costumes.
However, the announcement does not clearly specify its 2026 event dates or the conditions of the costume offer. Confirm these details with the attraction before planning your visit.
Encore's Haunted Halloween
Where: Dorchester Trinity Club, 38 Trinity Street, Dorchester, DT1 1TT
Date: Saturday 31 October 2026
Time: 6pm-8pm; doors open at 5.30pm
Recommended ages: 3-10
Tickets: Check the booking page for current prices and fees
Encore Entertainment is hosting a children’s Halloween disco with music, dancing, games and prizes.
Young partygoers can enjoy disco lights, Halloween games and a best-costume prize, with a snow-machine finalerounding off the evening.
Under-twos are advertised as free when accompanying a paying child. Children must attend with a parent or legal guardian.
Children’s Autumn Pumpkin Trail at Sherborne Castle
Dates: 24 October-1 November 2026
Opening time: 10.30am
Last admission: 3.30pm
Closing time: 4.30pm
Admission: Normal admission charges apply
Children can search the gardens at Sherborne Castle for hidden pumpkins and solve clues to earn a prize.
Fancy dress is welcome, and the trail runs throughout the October half-term holiday. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance, while online booking is also available.
The opening weekend, 24 and 25 October, coincides with Sherborne Castle’s Autumn Colours Weekend.
Plan a visit to Sherborne Castle’s Pumpkin Trail.
Blandford, Shaftesbury and Gillingham
More community parties, workshops and children’s activities are expected around Blandford Forum, Shaftesbury, Gillingham and Sturminster Newton.
Several organisers have not yet published their 2026 programmes. Events will be added only when dates, venues and booking details can be verified.
Families near Blandford can also check the pumpkin patch at Gorcombe Farm, which plans to open from Tuesday to Sunday throughout October.
Images: Unsplash
Where: Abbotsbury Swannery, New Barn Road, Abbotsbury, Weymouth, DT3 4JG
Dates: 24 October-1 November 2026
Tickets: Check the booking page for current admission prices
Six ghostly games will be hidden around Abbotsbury Swannery during October half term.
Families can discover The Bat Cauldron, The Mire and HMS Bone Wreck, with skeletons, spiders, pumpkins and seasonal challenges waiting around the grounds.
The activities provide a Halloween addition to a family visit to the swannery. Check opening times and ticket options before travelling.
Check Ghostly Games at Abbotsbury Swannery.
Families visiting Abbotsbury Swannery can also follow an interactive trail inspired by Jill Barklem’s Brambly Hedgestories.
The trail contains stamp points, questions and characters to discover while visitors explore the swannery. It is a gentle autumn activity for younger children rather than a frightening Halloween experience.
Check current events and admission information at Abbotsbury Swannery.
Images: Unsplash
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