Fill October half-term 2026 in Winchester with family-friendly Halloween events and autumnal adventures
Looking for things to do in Winchester during October half-term? From family friendly Halloween events and pumpkin patches to theatre shows, trails and outdoor adventures, we've rounded up the best October half-term events and activities in Winchester city and beyond.
In Hampshire, half-term runs from Monday October 26 to Friday October 30 2026 (so you've got Saturday October 24 - Sunday November 1 to fill with autumnal adventures and spooktacular fun) though some schools are breaking up on Friday 16 October for a bumper two-week October half-term.
Halloween, the spookiest night of the year, falls on Saturday 31 October 2026, which means the October school break is full of magical events and activities with a family-friendly level of scariness, from PYO pumpkin patches, fancy dress competitions and silent discos to spooky face painting, witchy riddle trails and pumpkin carving at the zoo.
If Halloween isn't your vibe, there's plenty to do this October half-term without a fright in sight. From family bushcraft sessions to drawalongs, plays at Theatre Royal Winchester and sleepovers at Winchester Science Centre. Read on to discover all the events on in and near Winchester during the October 2026 half-term.
🎃 Read more: Our full guide to October half-term in Winchester
Curated by Ellie Walker-Arnott from the Visit Winchester team (who has two kids to entertain this October half-term in Winchester!)
Last updated: 8 October 2026
Winchester's top things to do in October half-term 2026 at a glance:
- For little ones: Dear Zoo at Theatre Royal Winchester
- For a free day out: Spooky Winch Letter Hunt in Winchester city centre
- For party vibes: Halloween Glow Party at Winchester Science Centre
- For craft lovers: Family Story Build Workshop at The Arc
- For outdoor adventures: PYO pumpkin patches near Winchester
- For thrill seekers: Halloween Witches of Watercress Woods at The Watercress Line
October half-term trails and walks
Head off on a free Letter Hunt around Winchester city
Spooky Winch Letter Hunt.
Saturday 17 October - Sunday 1 November.
📍Winchester city centre
Follow a sweet book-themed trail for younger ones
Who's in Your Book? at The Vyne.
Until Sunday 8 November.
📍near Basingstoke
Step into a world of myth, magic and nature
Folklore and Fable Autumn trail at Gilbert White's House.
Saturday 24 October - Sunday 1 November.
📍Selborne, near Alton
Spot witches and werewolves in the woods
Spirit of the Woods Halloween Trail at Itchen Valley Country Park.
Saturday 24 October - Sunday 1 November.
📍near Southampton
Find pumpkin displays and fun family games to play
Pumpkin Displays at Hinton Ampner.
Saturday 17 October - Sunday 1 November.
📍 near Alresford
Set off on a family ghost hunt trail
We're Going on a Ghost Hunt Halloween Adventure at Mottisfont.
Wednesday 7 October - Sunday 1 November.
📍near Romsey
Follow a free pumpkin trail
The Pumpkin Trail at Winchester's Military Museums.
Saturday 24 - Saturday 31 October.
📍Winchester city centre
Do a family-friendly Jane Austen trail
Persuasion Trail at Jane Austen's House
Until Sunday 15 November.
📍Chawton, near Alton
Spot signs of autumn in beautiful gardens
Autumn Spotter Trail at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
Until Sunday 30 November.
📍near Romsey
Plays and shows for October half-term in Winchester
Enjoy a gentle intro to theatre for little ones
Playtime! Ratty's Birthday at The Nutshell.
Sunday 25 October.
📍Winchester city centre
Witness incredible science, with added seasonal spookiness
The Spooky Science Show at Theatre Royal Winchester
Thursday 29 October.
📍Winchester city centre
See a much-loved classic come to life on stage
Dear Zoo at Theatre Royal Winchester
Saturday 31 October - Sunday 1 November.
📍Winchester city centre
Watch a thought-provoking family play - and join in too
Not Now, Bernard at The Nutshell
Sunday 1 November.
📍Winchester city centre
Catch a family-friendly ballet show
Alice in Wonderland at Theatre Royal Winchester.
Thursday 29 October.
📍Winchester city centre
Crafty days out for October half-term in Winchester
Take part in a live draw-a-long
Nick Sharratt's Once Upon a Drawalong at Theatre Royal Winchester.
Saturday 24 October.
📍Winchester city centre
Build imaginative scenes and characters together
Family Story Build Workshop at The Arc.
Monday 26 October.
📍Winchester city centre
Be guided through a spooky Halloween-inspired craft
Mini Makers Halloween Special at Splat! Studio
Friday 30 October.
📍Kings Worthy, near Winchester city
Design your own bag for collecting Halloween treats
Screen Print a Trick or Treat Bag at The Arc
Tuesday 27 October.
📍Winchester city centre
Make an animation out of nature finds
Nature Animation Lab at The Yard.
Thursday 29 October.
📍Chilton Candover, near Alresford
Craft your own autumnal wreath
Children's Halloween Wreath Making at Bella Crafts
Saturday 31 October.
📍Winchester city centre
Autumnal adventures for October half-term in Winchester
Take on a medieval escape game
The Crusader's Collectible at Hospital of St Cross.
24, 25, 26, 30 and 31 October.
📍Winchester city
Carve pumpkins at the zoo
Wild Autumn at Marwell Zoo.
Saturday 24 October - Sunday 1 November.
📍near Winchester city
Sleepover among science exhibits
The Big Family Sleepover at Winchester Science Centre.
Friday 30 - Saturday 31 October.
📍Winchester city
Follow a spooky trail around the play farm
Halloween at Finkley Down Farm.
Saturday 17 - Saturday 31 October.
📍near Andover
Hang out around an open fire in the woods
Family Bushcraft at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens.
Saturday 24 October.
📍near Romsey
Explore Fort Nelson with a Halloween twist
Halloween Fun at The Fort at Fort Nelson.
Saturday 24 October - Sunday 1 November.
📍near Portsmouth
Ride ponies and make potions and wands at the farm
Halloween at Manor Farm.
Saturday 24 - Saturday 31 October.
📍near Botley
Find out what life would have been like in Roman Britain
Roman Reenactment Weekend at Butser Ancient Farm.
Saturday 31 October - Sunday 1 November.
📍near Petersfield
Play wild in local woodland
Autumn Wild Play at Swanwick Lakes.
Thursday 29 October.
📍near Whiteley
Please LEGO fans with a museum hunt
LEGO Logistics at The Royal Logistics Corps Museum
Tuesday 27 - Saturday 31 October
📍near Winchester city
Pumpkin patches for October half-term in Winchester
Graduate from Broomstick Academy
Droxford Pumpkin Patch.
Friday 23 - Saturday 31 October.
📍Droxford
Pick pumpkins and ride on tractors
Bourne Valley PYO.
Friday 16 October - Sunday 1 November.
📍near Andover
Find the perfect pumpkin in 10 acres of fields
Pickwell Farm.
Open now, until the pumpkins run out.
📍near Bursledon
Find more PYO pumpkin patches near Winchester here.
Spooky Halloween activities in Winchester
Head off on a spooky train journey with Hansel and Gretel
Halloween Witches of Watercress Woods at The Watercress Line.
Thursday 29 - Saturday 31 October.
📍Alresford
Party at the Science Centre after dark
Monster Lab: Halloween Glow Party at Winchester Science Centre
Tuesday 27 October.
📍Winchester city
Dress up for a Halloween soft play party
Wildly Wicked Soft Play Disco at Thrive & Wild.
Friday 30 October.
📍Kings Worthy, near Winchester city
Take an after-dark, family tour of haunted Winchester
Family Halloween Guided Walking Tour of Winchester.
Saturday 31 October.
📍Winchester city centre
Boogie at a spooky silent disco
Halloween Silent Disco at Winchester Science Centre.
Saturday 31 October.
📍Winchester city
Celebrate Halloween at a mega family theme park
Halloween Spooktacular at Paulton's Park.
Friday 9 October - Monday 2 November.
📍near Romsey
October half-term in Winchester
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