A Kaleidoscope of Colours at St Edmundsbury Cathedral

Date & Time: Tuesday, 27 and Wednesday 28 October 2026.
Venue: St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Angel Hill, Bury Saint Edmunds, IP33 1LS
Description: Come along to St Edmundsbury Cathedral this half term for free family craft activities! Use the Cathedral as inspiration to let your creativity fly in, The Cathedral: A Kaleidoscope of Colours, Patterns and Shapes.
Cost: Free-to-attend please book your session here

Rougham Estate Pumpkins

Date & Time: Daily through October (including Pumpkins by Torchlight & Silent Disco on 17 and 24 October, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
Venue: Rougham Estate, Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham, IP30 9HZ
Description: Pumpkin picking in the patch, evening torchlight walks, and seasonal family entertainment.
Cost: Entry is free but some activities will cost extra so please check here for more information

The Pikachu Art Adventure at Ickworth Estate

Date & Time: 1 October – 8 November 2026
Venue: Ickworth Estate, Horringer, IP29 5QE
Description: A family-oriented exploration trail winding through the beautiful park and gardens. Discover 30 Pikachu cards, each brought to life by a different illustrator, find out fun facts about the iconic character, and design your own Pikachu trading card.
Cost: Normal admission prices apply. Find out more here. There’s no need to book, and nothing extra to pay (normal admission applies).

Brandon Country Park Autumn Half Term Trail

Date & Time: 23 October – 31 October 2026
Venue: Brandon Country Park, Bury Road, Brandon, IP27 0SU
Description: Seasonal outdoor trail perfect for younger children to explore the changing autumn woodland.
Cost: Check local park details for trail sheets.

Bury Get Together (Abbeycroft Leisure)

Date & Time: 26–30 October 2026 (specific park/community locations daily, including Abbey Gardens on 28 October)
Venue: Various local venues including Abbey Gardens and community centers
Description: Free 30-minute drop-in activity sessions featuring climbing and axe throwing for local youth aged 5–16 living in IP32 or IP33 postcodes.
Cost: Free but advanced booking is required. Find out more here

Haverhill’s annual Halloween celebration

Date & Time: 31 October (2pm – 5pm)
Venue: Haverhill High Street
Description: A brand new Halloween event comes to Haverhill. Free to attend and perfect for families with children ages 3-12. Take part in spooky scavenger hunt across Haverhill Town Centre, featuring plenty of scary sights and interactive monsters along the way, as well as short performances on the Market Square (times TBC). There will also be a family-friendly Halloween party at the Haverhill Arts Centre at 3pm, 4pm and 5pm.
Cost: Halloween event in the town centre is free. The Halloween party is £1.50 per child. You can find out more here.

Terrifying Toddlers at Museum Discovery Day

Date & Time: Wednesday 28 October 2026 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Venue: Christchurch Mansion, Soane Street, Ipswich, IP4 2BE
Description: Come along to the Biodiversity Discovery Day, featuring our free under fives zone, Terrifying Toddlers! Join us for Halloween themed free play, craft and story-telling sessions. Activities will be taking place in the Lower Tudor Room. Fancy dress is optional, but encouraged! This event is for under 5’s.
Cost/Tickets: Free admission and no need to book. Click here to find out more

High Lodge Hocus Pocus Family Fun Day

Date & Time: Friday, 30 October 2026, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Venue: High Lodge, Thetford Forest, Brandon, IP27 0AF.
Description: Enjoy a full day of spooky family activities including laser tag, pumpkin carving, Halloween archery, crafts, magic shows, fairground rides, and live entertainment from a bubble witch.
Cost: Free entry; standard parking charges apply (free for members).

Magical Creatures Author Event

Date & Time: Wednesday, 28 October 2026, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.
Venue: Thetford Library, Raymond Street, Thetford, IP24 2EA.
Description: An interactive indoor storytelling session ideal for children aged 4 to 9 featuring author Catherine Coe (The Owls of Blossom Wood).
Cost: This is a FREE event but cash donations are welcome as they support the host and your local library.

Fun2Play Halloween party

Date & Time: Friday, 30 October 2026, starting at 4:00 PM.
Venue: Fun 2 Play, 9 Roman Way, Thetford, IP24 1XB.
Description: A spooky evening event featuring soft play, a children’s disco, party games, fancy dress competitions, pizza, and slush drinks.
Cost: Ticket required (£13 for kids and £2.50 for adults) Find out more here.

Norwich book festival

Date & Time: Selected days during half term
Venue: Different venues across Norwich

Description: For any avid reader, Norwich Book Festival is a must this half term. From your very first story to YA novels and every age in between, there’s a whole series of exciting events to attend across the city.   

Our top picks include The Imaginarium, where you’ll encounter fantastic hands-on activities for all ages (25 – 28 October, 10am – 4pm, The Forum, FREE) and Roman Britain Gets Totally Chaotic (26 October, 11am – 12.15pm, St Peter Mancroft, £12.50), a funny, fast-paced romp peppered with jokes and audience interaction all about the messy beginnings of Roman Britain!  

Then, there’s Sensory Storytelling (26 & 27 October, various times, The Forum, FREE), relaxed, creative sessions for families and, of course, headliner Jacqueline Wilson (29 October, 11am – 12pm, The Playhouse, £12.50), who will be delving into her wonderful world and sharing an excerpt from her latest book!

Cost: Click on the links above to find out more and book.

Halloween Drop-in Craft Day – Cambridge Museum of Technology

Date & Time: Friday 30 October between 10.30am and 3pm
Venue: Cambridge Museum of Technology
Description: Come along for some spooky, Halloween themed crafts. Explore the poo trail and get creative in the Pye Building with a range of Halloween-themed crafts.
Cost: All included in normal museum entry. Find out more here.

Skeleton Science – Whipple Museum of the History of Science

Date & Time: Saturday 24 October and Monday 26 October
Venue: Whipple Museum of the History of Science
Description: Add a little science to your Halloween celebrations and discover the fascinating world of skeletons. Explore the bones tunic, find out what your bones do for you, and compare human and animal X-rays.

There will be a short, 5-minute talk about the objects at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. You can arrive at any time and stay for as long or as little as you like.

There’s no need to book, just drop-in. All welcome, suitable for families and children.

Cost: Entry is free. Find out more here.