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If you’re looking for some Halloween events in Dorset this October half-term, we’ve got you covered! Get ready for lots of spooky fun, fancy dress, and themed days all around the county.
There are spooktacular events all across Dorset this Halloween, from family-friendly events at your favourite local attractions, to adults-only club nights and horror events. We’ve also listed a few local pumpkin patches where you can PYO and pose for pics among the pumpkins!
We’ll try to keep this list updated with any new events, so if you find out about any more please do let us know. You can drop us a comment at the end of this post or get in touch on our social channels.
LAST UPDATED: 17 October 2024 with this year’s dates and details!
Happy Halloween…
- Family Halloween Events in Dorset
- Aquarium to Ascarium at Weymouth Sea Life
- Halloween Fun at the Fort
- Halloween Trail at Durlston Country Park
- Halloween Half Term at Farmer Palmer’s
- Spooky Forest Trail at Moors Valley
- Haunted Forest Trail at Upwey Wishing Well
- Halloween Trail + Bug & Reptile Experience at Moreton Walled Garden
- Spooky Space & Science at Abbotsbury Swannery
- Halloween at Adventure Wonderland
- Adult Halloween Events in Dorset
- Halloween Pumpkin Patches in Dorset
Family Halloween Events in Dorset
Aquarium to Ascarium at Weymouth Sea Life
Dates: 5 October – 3 November 2024
Location: SEA LIFE Weymouth
Price: from £19 (included with your SEA LIFE admission)
More Info
Serafina the Sea Witch is back at Sea Life Weymouth for 2024! Follow an immersive activity trail to help her look after her ocean home and fellow sea creatures by completing ‘spook-splash-tic’ challenges throughout the aquarium.
Make your way to the Witch’s lair where she will cast her spell to open her treasure chest revealing a special reward!
Halloween Fun at the Fort
Dates: 26 October – 3 November 2024
Location: Nothe Fort, Weymouth
Price: £9.95 adults / £4.50 child / under 5’s free (full entry to the Fort)
More Info
During Halloween, the Nothe Fort becomes the spookiest place in Weymouth! As always, they’re running an exciting programme of family activities – including a ghost hunt, Vampire Photobooth, Pumpkin Golf, Potion School and more.
Brave the famous ghost tunnels and come face to face with the “Whistling Gunner”. Fancy dress is encouraged! Activities are free with your entry ticket to the Fort.
Halloween Trail at Durlston Country Park
Dates: 23-31 October 2024
Location: Durlston Country Park, Swanage
Price: £3.50 per trail pack
More Info
Head to Durlston Country Park, just outside Swanage, for a Halloween Children’s Activity Trail. Head to the Castle reception to collect your activity trail booklet, then set off on a spooky trip around the park.
Halloween Half Term at Farmer Palmer’s
Dates: 26-31 October 2024
Location: Farmer Palmers Farm Park Ltd, Wareham Road, Poole
Price: £19 for park admission (under 2s free, 2-year-olds £10). Pumpkin picking £4.
Head to Farmer Palmer’s for SPOOKTACULAR fun for little ones this Halloween Half Term! This year sees the return of the popular “Soak-a-Spook” Tractor Rides, pumpkin picking on the farm’s picturesque pumpkin patch, witches races, and the Spooky Maize Maze.
Most of the farm park has a spooky makeover (some areas remain spook-free for anyone not into Halloween). Dressing up is highly encouraged. You will need to pre-book your admission tickets and pumpkin-picking tickets at the same time.
Spooky Forest Trail at Moors Valley
Dates: 25 October – 3 November 2024
Location: Moors Valley, near Ringwood
Price: Standard: adult £16 child £12 under 3s free / Off-Peak: adult £12 child £8 under 3s free
New for 2024: explore the forest at Moors Valley Country Park after dark with a brand-new Halloween illuminated trail! Booking required.
There are three different sessions to consider – the darker it gets, the spookier it gets:
Daylight – Most suitable for the youngest visitors.
Twilight – The scare level ramps up a notch.
Moonlight – As scary as it gets (but still suitable for all)
Haunted Forest Trail at Upwey Wishing Well
Dates: 26 October – 2 November 2024
Location: Moors Valley, near Ringwood
Price: £4 per child
More info
The Haunted Forest Trail is returning to Upwey Wishing Well this half-term. Make your way around the picturesque gardens following an interactive trail. Includes an activity trail sheet and a Halloween treat.
In the restaurant, there a special Halloween-themed items on the menu. They’re also hosting a special Monster Party on 31 October (2pm-4pm, £12 per child, in the School Hall) – with food, drink, and a colour disco.
Halloween Trail + Bug & Reptile Experience at Moreton Walled Garden
Dates: 26 October – 3 November 2024
Location: Moreton Walled Garden, near Dorchester
Price: Trail £2
More info
Halloween Trail: Grab your map from the shop and explore the gardens in search of spooky characters, then complete the quiz to claim your prize! They’re also hosting Pumpkin Carving and crafts sessions.
Spooky Space & Science at Abbotsbury Swannery
Dates: 26 October – 3 November 2024
Location: Abbotsbury Swannery, New Barn Rd, Weymouth
Price: Kids £1 each with a full-paying adult
More info
Visit the Swannery over October Half Term for some Spooky fun. This year’s theme is spooky science and space: discover the mad professor skeletons and crazy aliens around the Swannery. Hidden within the Swannery grounds will be a secret word carved in the Pumpkins. Follow the trail to collect the letters and uncover the secret word!
Also within the Swannery Classroom is an extra activity, book your spot in advance with Professor Lee from Mini Professors for a spooky science workshop. Hands-on experiments, potions and explosions!
Halloween at Adventure Wonderland
Dates: None this year
Adventure Wonderland theme park near Bournemouth is currently closed for a refurb.
Adult Halloween Events in Dorset
Nothe of the Living Dead
Dates: 1 & 2 November 2024
Location: Nothe Fort, Weymouth
Price: £25
More info
A super-scary, interactive zombie maze with live actors, jump scares, and puzzles Weymouth’s Nothe Fort for Halloween! Described as a cross between The Walking Dead and Crystal Maze, Nothe of the Living Dead combines jump scares and challenges in an hour-long experience that sees participants take on a chilling quest to save the world from an undead takeover.
The Block Party
Dates: 26 October 2024
Location: The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth
Price: from £5
More info
Electronic music festival on the streets of Lansdowne this Halloween as 2,500 monsters descend for The Block Party. There will be tons of great DJs & artists performing across 5 venues – including some massive acts. Expect themed rooms and stages in each venue with full Halloween décor and walkabout haunted characters performing fire breathing, stilt walking, LED shows, and more.
Halloween Pumpkin Patches in Dorset
Bincombe Bumps Pumpkins
Dates: 5th & 6th October, 12th & 13th October, 19th & 20th & 26-31st October 2024
Halloween Party 31st October
Location: West Farm, Bincombe, Weymouth Dorset, DT3 5PS
Tickets from: Free
More info
Pumpkin picking, haunted house, trick or treat, and lots more at the popular Bincombe Bumps Pumpkins in Weymouth!
New this year, they’re also hosting a Pumpkin Smash party on 31 October (5-8pm, £10): live music, BBQm fire-breathing and pyrotechnic show, bouncy castle, face-painting and more.
Dorset Country Pumpkins
Dates: Not this year
Location: Longclose Farm, Blandford Forum DT11 0BU
More info
Pick your own pumpkins at this lovely family-run farm shop in Dorset!
Update: sadly, the Pumpkin Patch will not be running in 2024. The farm say that the inclement weather this year has meant that their pumpkins have not grown as well as usual. Hopefully, they’ll be back in 2025!
PYO Pumpkins and Halloween Maize Maze at Fordingbridge
Dates: 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 25-31 October 2024
Location: Bickton Manor Farm, Fordingbridge, SP6 2HA
Tickets from: Free (Maize Maze is £6pp). Pumpkins start at £1.50.
More info
Pick your own pumpkins, get lost in the spooky maize maze, and enjoy some fun arts and crafts. New for 2024 there will be a Murder Mystery Maze, a Halloween Barrel Train around the pumpkin patch, and a culinary themed Escape Room.
There will also be food, drinks and snacks onsite. For an extra spooky twist, book the twilight maze (check the website for dates and details)… if you dare!
Do you know of any more Halloween events or pumpkin patches in Dorset? Leave us a comment and we’ll add them to the list!
