Your guide to Hallowe'en half term fun

There's lots of spooky fun on offer during the half term holiday to keep your little monsters entertained!

25 - 31 October

Hallowe’en fun
Bicton Park Botanical Gardens, Budleigh Salterton
Hallowe’en fun at Bicton. Enjoy a range of Hallowe’en activities and visit the witches’ coven. www.bictongardens.co.uk

25 October – 1 November

exetreme imagination 2014
Exeter
Exeter’s literature festival exetreme imagination is a unique, city-wide, multi-media, interactive festival for children of all ages.  For information and for the full programme of events visit http://exetreme.org/

25 October – 2 November

Family fun at A la Ronde
A la Ronde, Exmouth
From pumpkins to apples and bats to spooky stories, there will be plenty going on. It’s apple day on Saturday (25 October), a quiz trail is running all week, there will be guided walks to Lower Halsdon Farm and many more Hallowe’en spooktacular events.  www.nationaltrust.org.uk/a-la-ronde

Spooky fun at Knightshayes
Knightshayes Court, near Tiverton
Spook yourself silly at Knightshayes, as the National Trust property goes all out with its All Hallows Eve celebrations and late night opening on Friday (31 October). There will be the usual trail in the gardens during the day, as well as craft activities from 1pm-4pm every day.  www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knightshayes

Pumpkins, Witches and Wizards
Escot Estate, Ottery St Mary
Down at the Greenwood Centre you’ll find Hagatha, Escot’s resident witch, who is making a brew for the grossest, yucky dip in Devon ready for Escot Fright Nights. Go along and help stir the cauldron if you can stand the smell! Get ready for Hallowe’en and with help from friendly witches and wizards, choose and carve your own pumpkin to take home with you (small charge for pumpkins. http://www.escot-devon.co.uk/

Hallowe'en at Devon's Crealy
Crealy Great Adventure Park, Sidmouth Road, Exeter
Calling all courageous explorers! Seek and you shall find the legendary Land of the Witches – but are you brave enough to meet a real…live…witch? There are horrid and ghastly surprises at every turn, be careful of what’s lurking in the shadows. Thrill your imagination and test your nerve as you challenge the Monsters, Goblins and Ghouls to a game of trick or treat. Included in the admission fee on Monday (27 October) is the chance to meet Moshi Monsters and also meet Scooby-Doo on Friday (31 October). Characters will be appearing at intervals throughout the day. www.crealy.co.uk/devon

26 - 30 October

Snakes & Lanterns
Powderham Castle, Kenton
Thrills and chills all week! Children can follow the Pumpkin Trail to win their own pumpkin to carve in the Potting Shed. The braver ones will love a close encounter with Dartmoor Reptiles and their family of snakes and lizards. 11am-4.30pm.  http://www.powderham.co.uk/

27 - 31 October

A Touch of the Wild Hallowe’en Holiday Club
Haldon Forest
Join the A Touch of the Wild team at Haldon Forest Park for some spooky days in the woods during October half term. Activities include pumpkin carving, apple bobbing, making pumpkin soup, playing trick or treat games and loads more! You can book for just one, or more days. Call Hannah on 07929 613284 or email info@atouchofthewild.co.uk to book.

Hallowe’en Spooktacular
World of Country Life, Exmouth
Plenty of ghostly goings on throughout the week with freaky face painting, Hallowe’en activities and a special Scoob-tastic show - will Angus, Scooby and the gang be able to unmask the baddie and save the day? All this plus the regular attractions - walk a pygmy goat, bottle feed the lambs, feed the deer on the Deer Train Safari, watch the Hawkridge bird of prey flying display, cheer on your favourite ferret at International Ferret Racing - dare you miss it! http://www.worldofcountrylife.co.uk/

27 October – 1 November

Tram of Terror
Seaton Tramway
Hallowe'en “Trams of Terror” will run by day up to Colyton for youngsters.  Ticket prices for the Tram of Terror tram ride, spooky entertainment and Baddie bag (for children only) are £10 per adult, children (3-15) £10 and children under 3, £5. Departures from Seaton terminus every 30 minutes from 10.30am until 2pm. www.tram.co.uk

28 October

St Nicholas Priory Guided Tours
St Nicholas Priory, off Fore Street, Exeter
Discover a hidden jewel just a short walk from the city centre: Join a guide for extra insight into this splendid Grade 1 listed building. Originally part of Exeter’s first medieval monastery, St Nicholas Priory is presented as a richly furnished Tudor home in 1602 style based on evidence from inventories and archaeology.  Tickets £5/£7. www.ramm.org.uk

29 October

Bat Box Making Day
Escot Estate, Ottery St Mary
Make your own bat box with the guidance of Escot’s nature rangers. Receive an information sheet about native bats and how to care for your box when you take it home with you at the end of the day! £5 per box. Please call Escot 01404 822188 or email the Nature Rangers for further details kerry@escot-devon.co.uk or visit www.escot-devon.co.uk

29 & 30 October

National Family Arts Festival: Monster Masks
RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter
RAMM has thousands of objects on display which, with a little imagination, could inspire a monster mask. How about a creepy clock, an evil elephant, a terrifying tiger or a scary spider? Come and join in the Hallowe’en fun and make your own mask to take away. Drop in 10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm, £2.50 per session. www.rammuseum.org.uk

30 & 31 October

Spookley the Square Pumpkin
Darts Farm, Topsham
One day in the pumpkin patch a strange little pumpkin hatched... Discover the story of Spookley, a square pumpkin in a round pumpkin world. This anti-bullying tale provides the perfect backdrop as we hunt around our very own pumpkin patch. Suitable for children aged 4-12. Parents are welcome to say with their children. Tickets £7.95 per child in advance at Darts Farm or via www.dartsfarm.co.uk

31 October

Petr Horacek
Exeter Library, Rougemont Room
Come and see award-winning author and illustrator Petr Horacek entertain us with wonderful words and pictures. His books include Puffin Peter, Silly Suzy Goose, Animal Opposites and The Mouse Who Ate the Moon. Watch his animals come to life as he draws live on stage and reads from some of his favourite picture books. 2pm-2.45pm. Suitable for children aged 3 plus. For further information an booking http://exetreme.org/petr-horacek/

31 October – 1 November

Extreme Gory Stories at the Underground Passages
Paris Street, Exeter
This evening event highlights some of the more unsavoury tales from Exeter’s history and is NOT suitable for children under 14 years of age.  Exeter’s famous Underground Passages are located in the city centre on Paris Street between the Next and Zara stores. www.exeter.gov.uk/passages

Escot Fright Nights
Escot Estate, Ottery St Mary
It’s thrilling…It’s chilling...It’s scary...You’ll scream…It’s monsterously good fun... Booking and fancy dress is essential! Campfires and scary tales, ghostly walks in the maze; toasted marshmallows, hot blood!, fun and games, grisly lucky dip and fancy dress prize giving. Booking required. £7 per person (£6 members). Places are limited. www.escot-devon.co.uk

1 November

The Sagittarius of the Second
RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter
Come and meet Romans in full kit and quiz them about their lives in the city around 2,000 years ago. The Romans will be joined by Dumnonika, representatives of the Dumnonii tribe who were here before the Romans arrived – decide for yourself whether to fight the army, join the army or pay your taxes and live in peace. Part of the Exetreme Imagination Festival.  10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm – free drop-in. ww.rammuseum.org.uk

See The Exeter Daily's Events page for more ideas!