There is plenty to do to keep the little ones entertained over the break
The kids are off school (again!) and no-one wants to spend the next week hearing the cries of ‘I’m bored’, but fear not we’ve got you covered.
There are a whole host of Halloween themed activities happening right across the country over the next week to keep the whol family entertained while the schools are off.
We’ve put together a list of just some of the many events you might want to check out this Halloween break.
READ MORE: Halloween 2025 fireworks displays taking place across Northern IrelandREAD MORE: NI Halloween events happening in 2025
Belfast One Pumpkin Patch
The famous Belfast City Hall Pumpkin Patch is back, and this year it’s even better! Join us at City Hall for a pumpkin-filled adventure with over 1,000 pumpkins to choose from. Friendly scarecrows and witches will be there to help you pick the perfect pumpkin!
Dates: 25th & 26th October
Time: 11 am – 4 pm (Quiet time slots available for children with additional needs)
Boo at the Zoo
Join us this Halloween for a spook-tacular weekend of family fun on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October.
Bring your little monsters, witches and superheroes for a day packed with frightfully fun activities, including:
- free face painting (10am to 2pm)
- character appearances (every hour)
- sensory wildlife stations with Friends of the Zoo, and
- sensory play, colouring station, and a spooky trail
Pumpkin Forest & Gruffalo Walk at Colin Glen
Enjoy a magical 90-minute Gruffalo adventure with storytelling, a guided forest trail, pumpkin picking, nature crafts, broom and wand making, BOOgie disco, fancy dress, and exciting activities like low ropes, climbing, and free fall. Take home a pumpkin and treats, with optional Alpine Coaster add-on for extra thrills.
- A 90-minute guided walk through the forest following The Gruffalo story with theatre-style storytelling.
- Pumpkin Forest: pick your own pumpkin to take home.
- Nature arts & crafts: make wands, brooms, etc. from natural materials.
- Physical/adventure elements: low ropes course, climbing wall, free fall experience for children aged 5+
- Optional Alpine Coaster included in some ticket packages.
- All children also receive a magical goodie bag and treats.
Halloween Hooley @ Larne Town Park
When the nights grow darker and the pumpkins start to glow, there’s only one question to ask: Who ya gonna call? This Halloween, the Ghostbusters are heading to the Halloween Hooley with an interactive show that brings their ghost-zapping world to life.
But that’s just the beginning. Roll up your sleeves for gooey slime making, and join Jump Jiggle and Jive for the high-energy UV Glow Party.
Fire performers will light up the night as you make your way through the park and encounter some of the most mischievous walkabout characters and frightfully fun friends. Don’t forget to bring your best dance moves to party alongside Wednesday Addams at her deadly disco.
Try your luck at carnival games and then jump right into the messy play stations full of splashes, squishes, and spooky surprises.
So gather your little ghouls, dress for the occasion, and step into a Halloween celebration you won’t want to miss.
Haunted Wheels: Banbridge Halloween Roller Disco
Roll into the spooky season with the whole family at Banbridge Leisure Centre’s frightfully fun Halloween Roller Disco! Costumes encouraged – good times guaranteed!
Saturday, 1st November – 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Expect ghoulish tunes, glowing lights, and spooky vibes – perfect for little monsters and grown-up goblins alike.
Halloween at W5
This Halloween, from 11 October to 2 November, W5 transforms into a world of magic, mystery, and spine-tingling fun! From ancient forests and ghostly encounters in the immersive Enchanted Hollow, to thrilling science experiments led by wizards and witches in Pumpkins and Potions, there’s something to captivate every curious mind.
Head to the Spooky Science Bar for hands-on experiments, bubbling potions, and gooey surprises that will amaze both kids and adults. Brave the haunted heights of Climbit, our multi-storey climbing structure, and watch out for spiders, skeletons, and other eerie creatures hiding in the shadows.
For those who prefer to stay on solid ground, visit the Hocus Pocus Café and enjoy spooky snacks and magical drinks to recharge before continuing your adventure. Don’t forget to grab a seat at our Spooky Story Time sessions and unleash your inner artist designing Halloween Masks at the Sketch Club.
With thrills, chills, and magical surprises around every corner, W5 is the ultimate family destination this Halloween.
Halloween at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens
Celebrate spooky season at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens with Halloween fun, folklore and family workshops this October half-term where 100 acres of autumnal gardens come alive with seasonal activities and magical encounters.
From Saturday 25 October to Sunday 2 November, visitors can enjoy a spellbinding mix of workshops, performances and outdoor adventures:
- Hands-On Family Crafts (25–26 Oct): Bird box decorating and clay crafting sessions make perfect keepsakes.
- Outdoor Autumn Workshops (27–28 Oct): From crafting nature-inspired art to embarking on a “Wild Walk,” little ones can connect with the season’s beauty.
- Pumpkin Carving & Storytelling Walks (29–31 Oct): Children can carve their own pumpkins before joining atmospheric guided walks with tales inspired by the Castle’s history.
- The Armagh Rhymers (1–2 Nov): The season closes with Ireland’s iconic folk theatre group, performing traditional mumming in their iconic straw costumes.
Alongside workshops, visitors can get lost in the Halloween maze, take part in traditional games like conker duels and welly-tossing, or explore magical garden installations casting illusions throughout the grounds.
Halloween Half Term at Mount Stewart
Join us at Mount Stewart this Halloween Half Term for a walk on the eerie side.
As the fog rolls in and the trees cast long, twisted shadows, venture deep into the heart of Mount Stewart for spooky fun. Stay tuned for more details.
Halloween at Mount Stewart is suitable for all ages. Dress up is encouraged but also you may need wellies depending on the weather.
Beyond The Wall: First Light
This daytime Halloween event is perfect for all the Family. This one is for all the Game of Thrones fans out there with plenty of themed activities that are sure to keep the little ones entertained for hours.
Admission includes:
- Entry to Studio Tour
- Scavenger Hunt
- Craft Tables
- Face-painting
- Hook-a-Direwolf
- Kid-friendly spooky entertainment!
Hallowe’en at Ulster American Folk Park
Go back to a time of true traditions, superstitions, and lore at the Ulster American Folk Park this Hallowe’en! Delve into the history of our spookiest season, and discover how the people of rural Ulster celebrated Hallowe’en traditions centuries ago. Find out how the same traditions were carried across to America – before becoming the Hallowe’en we know and love today!
Have a go at dressing a scarecrow, listen to tales of lore and misfortune, give barn dancing a go, admire the sights of harvest and taste delicious Hallowe’en fayre like apple tart. Get involved with crafts, face-painting, and family-friendly activities plus a Hallowe’en trail for little ones to follow.
Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled…as you never know what you will find as you walk the Park!
Hallowee’uns at The Jungle
This October, The Jungle comes alive with spooky magic and autumn mischief for Northern Ireland’s ultimate family Halloween day out. From pumpkin picking to spooky stories and adventure activities, Hallowee’uns has it all!
Your little ghouls can:
- Pick their very own pumpkin straight from the home-grown patch
- Climb aboard the Haunted Haycart Ride for ghostly tales and giggles
- Boogie at the spooktacular Halloween Disco on the farmyard stage
- Dive into a world of thrilling outdoor adventures made just for kids
Derry Halloween
Be part of Europe’s LARGEST Halloween Festival as the Walled City of Derry welcomes the spirit of Samhain through its historic gates for a festival like no other!
For four nights the worlds of past and present collide to bring you a dazzling street celebration of all things spooky in the official home of Halloween.
Follow the Awakening the Walled City Trail and find out more about the folklore, history and heritage that makes this place so special. The story of Halloween is brought to life through illumination, aerial performance, pyrotechnics and music, as the spirits cross over to join the festivities, bringing magic and mischief to the streets.
Derry Halloween returns 28th – 31st October 2025 with plenty of things in the plans that are perfect for the family.
Kids Halloween Chocolate Making Experience
Join The Chocolate Manor in Castlerock for the tastiest Halloween experience on the North Coast!
In this one-hour kids only experience, children will be guided by our resident ‘shockolatier’ to make three spooktacular Halloween themed chocolate creations using our finest Belgian chocolate! They will make and decorate their creepy creations. While their chocolates set they will be offered a refreshing drink before packaging up their tantalising treats to take home and enjoy!
The Chocolate Manor offers interactive and engaging chocolate experiences in our dedicated chocolate experience space in our premises in Castlerock.
There are 18 places for the Kids Halloween Chocolate Experience – children under 7 must be accompanied by one adult – there is no charge for the spectating adult.
The Vanishing – Family Halloween Event
Prepare for a world of enchantment, mystery, and Halloween fun this autumn as the woodland trail at Cladagh Glen transforms into a magical, interactive adventure for all the family!
Little Red Riding Hood has gone missing on her way to Grandma’s house… and the forest is buzzing with whispers and riddles. Now it’s up to you, our brave young detectives, to uncover the truth! Who took her? Where did they take her? And what did they use to do it?
Just like the classic game of Cluedo, your family will work together to solve the mystery of Little Red’s disappearance, and every step of the trail holds a clue!
At the very start of your journey, you’ll meet the Oracle. a wise (and slightly wacky!) magical being who will introduce you to the quest ahead. They’ll hand you your Mystery
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