Dorset Halloween Events and Pumpkin Patches for 2023

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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: 12 October 2023 with this year’s dates and details!

Happy Halloween…

Family Halloween Events in Dorset

Aquarium to Ascarium at Weymouth Sea Life

Dates: 23 September – 5 November 2023
Location: SEA LIFE Weymouth
Price: from £13.50 per adult
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Serafina the Sea Witch is back at Sea Life Weymouth for 2023! Follow an immersive activity trail to help her look after her ocean home and fellow sea creatures by completing magical 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: 29 October 2023
Location: Nothe Fort, Weymouth
Price: £9.95 adults (full entry to the Fort)
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During Halloween, the Nothe Fort becomes the spookiest place in Weymouth! As always, they’re running an exciting programme of family activities – including multiple performances of Wanda Witchway’s Spookyloopy Magic Show, storytelling, Ghost Tours, face painting, and crafts.

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: 19th-31st October 2023
Location: Durlston Country Park, Swanage
Price: £3.50
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Durlston Country Park, just outside Swanage, is hosting a fab Halloween activity trail this October half term. And that’s not all! There’s also a Drawing Workshop for beginners and improvers on 23rd October (£20pp – adults and children welcome), a Wild Durlston Kid’s Activity morning with a ranger on 26th October (£3.50pp), and Wild Wednesday with paintings, activities and crafts at the learning centre on 25th October.

Halloween Half Term at Farmer Palmer’s

Dates: 23-29 October 2023
Location: Farmer Palmers Farm Park Ltd, Wareham Road, Poole
Price: £18 for park admission (under 2s free, 2-year-olds £9). Pumpkin picking £4.
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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 famr’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.

Halloween Trail at Moors Valley

Dates: 27 September – 1 November 2023
Location: Moors Valley, near Ringwood
Price: £2.50
More info

Join forces with Shadow the Cat to help your new friend find her lost shoes on Moors Valley’s brand-new Halloween Trail! Pick up a trail sheet at the Visitor Centre and head off on an accessible, 1.5-mile quest.

Haunted Forest Trail at Upwey Wishing Well

Dates: 23-29 October 2023
Location: Moors Valley, near Ringwood
Price: £3
More info

Explore the Haunted Forest Trail at Upwey Wishing Well this half term. Use all your senses and keep an eye out as you journey through the interactive trail – entry fee includes an activity pack and a goodie bag.

Halloween Trail + Bug & Reptile Experience at Moreton Walled Garden

Dates: 21-29 October 2023
Location: Moreton Walled Garden, near Dorchester
Price: Trail £3, Bug experience £5.50
More info

Autumn & Halloween Trail: Explore the gardens and complete the quiz to claim your prize! Every map includes a colouring competition to take home and be in with a chance to win cake for your next visit!

Bug & Reptile Experience: Do you dare to entire the Halloween-themed reptile shed and take part in a special Bug & Reptile Experience? Get up close and personal with death beetles, fire millipedes, cockroaches, stick insects, tortoises, a bearded dragon – and maybe a surprise or two as well! (25th – 28th October).

Abbotsbury Swannery Pumpkin Trail

Dates: 21-29 October 2023
Location: Abbotsbury Swannery, New Barn Rd, Weymouth
Price: Adult tickets at normal price and children’s for £1 or FREE if in fancy dress
More info

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!

Cast a spooky spell in our potions house and discover the pirate skeletons around the Swannery. Also within the Swannery Classroom, there will be an autumnal creative craft to take home.

Halloween at Adventure Wonderland

Dates: TBC
Location: Adventure Wonderland, Bournemouth
Price: TBC
More Info

Last year, the hedge maze at Adventure Wonderland theme park near Bournemouth was turned into the interactive spooky experience, ‘Enchanted’. We’re still waiting to hear if there will be a repeat for 2023 – keep an eye on the website.

Adult Halloween Events in Dorset

Nothe of the Living Dead

Dates: 27 – 28 October 2023
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: 28-29 October 2023
Location: The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth
Price: from £10
More info

Electronic music festival on the streets of Lansdowne this Halloween as 2,500 monsters descend for The Block Party. There will be over 40 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: 7th & 8th October, 14th & 15th October & 21st-28th October 2023
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!

Dorset Country Pumpkins

Dates: 14th & 15th and 21st to 29th October 2023
Location: Longclose Farm, Blandford Forum DT11 0BU
Tickets from: Free
More info

Pick your own pumpkins at this lovely family-run farm shop in Dorset! “This year it’s bigger and better – with more pumpkins grown, new varieties introduced and more brilliant decorations for family photo opportunities!”

PYO Pumpkins and Halloween Maize Maze at Fordingbridge

Dates: 8th-9th, 15th-16th, and 21st-30th October 2023
Location: Bickton Manor Farm, Fordingbridge, SP6 2HA
Tickets from: Free (Maize Maze is £6.50pp)
More info

Pick your own pumpkins, get lost in the spooky maize maze, and enjoy some fun arts and crafts. 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!