YES FAM! THE BEST FAMILY DAYS OUT THIS OCTOBER

ORANGE OCTOBER / OCTOBER 1 – 31 / EVERYWHERE

Raise money to support local charity Challengers this Orange October. No matter where you are – at school, work, or home – you can easily jump into the spirit with a variety of orange-themed activities and challenges. Together, let’s raise funds to break down the barriers to play for local disabled children and young people. Sign up online and get in touch with the friendly Fundraising Team.

For more, visit disability-challengers.org

TOTS TALES: SENSORY STORYTELLING SESSIONS / WEDNESDAYS / WEST HORSLEY PLACE

Tots Tales is a fun and engaging play session designed for preschool children. Through hands-on activities, storytelling, and interactive play, little ones can explore history in a way that sparks curiosity and creativity. Each session features a new tale inspired by the estate’s rich heritage, combined with experiences that encourage exploration, movement, and discovery.

For more, visit westhorsleyplace.org

FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: THE BIG DRAW 2025 / OCTOBER 11 – 12 / FARNHAM MALTINGS

Pick ups your pencils, collect your crayons and get ready to draw as 18th Big Draw at Farnham’s Festival of Crafts take place. A free, open-to-all creative activity led by Emma ‘Luna’ Lesur, a graduate of Illustration at UCA. Join Emma and enjoy exploring communal mark making. Free to all from 2 – 92+ year olds. All materials and instructions provided.

For more, visit farnhammaltings.com

MYSTERY EXPERIENCE: MURDER AT THE MANOR / OCTOBER 11 / COWDRAY RUINS, MIDHURST

Take part in and solve an engaging, interactive murder mystery experience at Cowdray Ruins this October. Suitable for ages 8 and over, during this event, you will explore the picturesque exterior of the Ruins, along with the historic Kitchen and Tower rooms inside. You will question a variety of ‘witnesses’ to gather essential clues, then present your findings in a compelling trial to uncover the identity of the culprit. Ooh-er.

For more, visit cowdray.co.uk

STICK MAN / OCTOBER 16 – 19 / YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE, GUILDFORD

What starts off as a morning jog becomes quite the misadventure for Stick Man: a dog wants to play fetch with him, a swan builds a nest with him, and he even ends up on a fire! How will Stick Man ever get back to the family tree? Touching, funny and utterly original, Freckle Productions’ delightful adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Stick Man is back in town!

For more, visit yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

SUNDOWN ADVENTURES / OCTOBER 17 – NOVEMBER 9 / GO APE, ALICE HOLT FOREST, FARNHAM

Back for 2025, experience tree top thrills in a whole new light at Go Ape. It’s the ultimate autumn adventure with epic forest views under the night sky. Experience your senses heighten and test your nerve as you step out onto high wire crossings with stunning colourful lights to illuminate your path.

For more, visit goape.co.uk

ZOG / OCTOBER 18 – NOVEMBER 2 / WAKEHURST, ARDINGLY

This autumn, Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, invites families on an adventure inspired by Zog, the tale of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s lovable dragon. Enrolling in Dragon School, children can join a fun-filled adventure, earning a brand-new iron-on badge to take home once they graduate as fully-fledged dragons.

For more, visit kew.org/wakehurst

MAXI HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN RIDE / OCTOBER 18 – NOVEMBER 2 / SHETLAND PONY CLUB, COBHAM

Looking for something a little different? Enjoy Shetland pony Club’s legendary Halloween Pumpkin Rides, which are themed pony treasure hunts for pony-mad witches and wizards. Enjoy Halloween-themed pony dress up and learn to ride along a short pumpkin path, followed by a candy trail and a rosette presentation.

For more, visit shetlandponyclub.co.uk 

CRAFT CAFE – PUMPKIN LANTERNS / OCTOBER 24 / G LIVE, GUILDFORD

Get crafty this spooky season!  Join G Live for their Halloween Craft Café for a frightfully fun time that’s perfect for all ages and abilities! Delve into the spooky spirit with a pumpkin lantern-making workshop — create your very own glowing masterpiece to take home and light up the night!

For more, visit trafalgartickets.com/g-live-guildford

MERRIST WOOD PUMPKIN PATCH / OCTOBER 25 – 27 / MERRIST WOOD COLLEGE, WORPLESDON

Slip on your wellies and fancy dress and get ready to celebrate the spooky season! Take your pick from over 2,000 pumpkins—big ones, small ones, wonky ones! Plus, quirky gourds and lumpy squashes to add to the fun. Expect fancy dress competitions, ghoulish treats, farm animals and much more.

For more, visit merristwoodevents.co.uk

HALLOWEEN AT HAMPTON COURT PALACE / OCTOBER 25 – NOVEMBER 2 / WEST HORSLEY PLACE, EAST MOLESEY

Discover Henry VIII‘s notoriously haunted palace this Halloween, the spookiest time of the year at Hampton Court Palace. This October half term, lose yourself in atmospheric projections and creepy sound effects as the palace and gardens are transformed by magical spells. See if you can brave our eerie new outdoor trail and keep your eyes peeled for restless spirits who might be roaming the grounds.

For more, visit hrp.org.uk

CREEPY CRITTERS / OCTOBER 28 / DENBIES WINE ESTATE, DORKING

Dare go to Denbies this October as Creepy Critters galore are in store. Meet the likes of Snakes, Spiders and Snails in this Creepy Critters show by Zoolab. Face your fears and meet these animals that some people don’t like! Learn fun gruesome facts about Venoms, Poisons, Fangs, Claws, Webs, Slime and Poo in this not so spooky Halloween animal encounter.

For more, visit denbies.co.uk

WILD EXPLORERS / OCTOBER 28 / NOWER WOOD EDUCATIONAL RESERVE, LEATHERHEAD

For really wild kids aged 5 – 11, head for Nower Wood near Leatherhead and join this Wild Explorers Holiday Club for the day. Explore, play and connect with nature by building campfires, building shelters and toasting marshmallows.

For more, visit surreywildlifetrust.org

JUSTIN FLETCHER LIVE TOUR / OCTOBER 29 / G LIVE, GUILDFORD

Are You Ready To Rock?…. Because Justin has got the band back together! Justin Time To Rock is a fabulous show suitable for all the family. Justin and his friends are putting together a rock band. But with so many songs to choose from, they are going to need your help to choose the best songs to sing and dance to. Head for Guildford’s G Live this half term for musical fun.

For more, visit trafalgartickets.com/g-live-guildford

HORRIBLE HISTORIES – GORGEOUS GEORGIANS & VILE VICTORIANS / OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 2 / ROSE THEATRE, KINGSTON

Are you ready to swing with a Georgian king? Does the Duke of Wellington get the boot? Would you stand and deliver to dastardly Dick Turpin? Can you help detectives find the headless man? Dare you dance the Tyburn jig? Will you be saved by Florence Nightingale Find out what a baby farmer did and move to the groove with party Queen Victoria! Don’t miss this horrible history of Britain with the nasty bits left in!

For more, visit rosetheatre.org

HALLOWEEN FAMILY DAY / OCTOBER 29 / THE LIGHTBOX, WOKING

Visit the Lightbox gallery in Woking or a day full of activities in the October Half term. Celebrate 200 years of the Railway with Ghost train crafts in the Education studio on the first floor, head for the Cafe and delve into the art cart for fun creative activities for you to enjoy whenever you like. You can also read some books or try out different looks in the Imagine and Play area. The Lightbox’s Pay What you Wish entry applies all day for this Family Day

For more, visit thelightbox.org.uk

TRICK OR TREAT: LINO PRINTING WORKSHOP / OCTOBER 31 / WEST HORSLEY PLACE

Get creative this Halloween with a hands-on lino printing workshop! In this creative course children will decorate their own Halloween-themed paper bags using pre-carved lino blocks featuring pumpkins, witches’ hats, animals, florals, and more. Workshops take place in the Barn, finishing with the chance to trick or treat at the historic manor house. All materials provided — just bring your imagination (and clothes you don’t mind getting messy).

For more, visit westhorsleyplace.org

HALLOWEEN CUPCAKE DECORATING / OCTOBER 31 / FARNHAM MALTINGS

Trick or treat! Join Farnham Maltings for a spooktacular Halloween cupcake decorating session. Decorate your creepy (and delicious) cupcakes using a frightfully fun selection of spooky toppings. All cakes and decorations supplied, as well as a lovely box to take the cakes home in.

For more, visit farnhammaltings.com

 

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