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October half term and Halloween family fun across Kent 2018

Half term's still going strong: here's what's happening across the county...

ASHFORD TOWN CENTRE

There’s a Halloween trail and family fun at the Spooktacular Celebration on Saturday, October 27 between 11am and 2.30pm. Collect a free trail map from The Little Teapot or the Loveashford gazebo opposite the bandstand and collect letters to spell out a secret spooky message - then claim your prize. There’s also face painting, street entertainers and discounts from some of the town centre traders.

Happy Halloween
Happy Halloween

BETTESHANGER COUNTRY PARK, DEAL

Deep in the woods, something is stirring this half term... Vampires are on the loose. The Halloween trail will run to Sunday, October 28, between 10am and 3pm each day. Young visitors can solve the riddles, complete the activities and earn a place in the Vampire Welfare Society. The trail is suitable for three to eight-year-olds and costs £1.50, with wellies advisable. For details visit betteshanger-park.co.uk

THE BEANEY, CANTERBURY

The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge has family afternoon and evening on Friday, October 26 - Fright at the Museum - between noon and 8.30pm. There will be a ghost hunt trail, pumpkin carving and a Halloween-themed menu in the cafe. To details visit canterburymuseums.co.uk/beaney/

BLUEWATER SHOPPING CENTRE

The centre is giving children the chance to try and test this year's must-have toys until Friday, October 26, with brands including LEGO, Build-a-Bear, Disney, John Lewis, The Entertainer, Hawkins Bazaar and Early Learning Centre bringing some of their toys to the Toy Testing Lab for children to play with. For details go to bluewater.co.uk

What are you doing with your little horrors this half term and Halloween?
What are you doing with your little horrors this half term and Halloween?

BROADDITCH HAUNTFEST

Until Sunday, October 28 there will be a range of scarily good activities for children. There's the Freaky Forest tractor trailer ride, the Boo Bungalow, Monster Madness and pumpkin carving workshops at the Broadditch Farm Shop in New Barn Road, Southfleet. For details of times and prices, visit spookycastle.co.uk/day-events/

For National Trust ideas across Kent click here.

BROGDALE, FAVERSHAM

There will be activities throughout the week and on Friday, October 26 there will be a Wild Weather Day when you can ride the tractor trailer to Brogdale’s interactive weather station, take scientific measurements, and learn about the weather. Book your tickets at brogdalecollections.org

CANTERBURY TALES

The attraction in Margaret Street holds its Spook Quest for half termuntil Sunday, October 28. There will be ghosts and ghouls hidden throughout the venue, and alongside the regular storytelling tours, young visitors can enjoy a spooky trail. Armed with their trail sheet, kids can hunt down ghosts, and when they complete the trail, they can claim a spook-tacular prize. Entry is £10.95, with five to 15 years £8.95 and a family £32.50. To book call 01227 696 002, or visit canterburytales.org.uk

Canterbury Tales spook-tacular event for half term
Canterbury Tales spook-tacular event for half term

CHATHAM HISTORIC DOCKYARD

Enchantment and Magic is back at the dockyard for October half term, when the Enchanted Garden returns in the grounds of The Commissioner’s House. There will be craft activities, and pumpkin carving, plus to ensure all your dreams are enchanted, there will also be a chance to create a dream catcher. There’s also wand making and storytelling throughout the day and for weekend visitors, there's the chance to see the Pumpkin Express. A visit to the Enchanted Garden is included in the entry ticket, though there is a small extra charge for some activities. Go to to The Historic Dockyard Chatham. Visit dockyard.co.uk for more details.

CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE, NEAR TONBRIDGE

Chiddingstone Castle’s wizarding school opens for a second year from Thursday, October 25 to Saturday, October 27 Young witches and wizards from six to 10 can try flying lessons, the Dark Arts and Crafts and potion making and there are prizes for the best dressed and certificates to all students. Entry is £14.50, with £10 for an accompanying muggle. Details at chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

Chiddingstone Castle school of wizardry and witchcraft
Chiddingstone Castle school of wizardry and witchcraft

Where to go pumpkin picking across Kent.

DOVER CASTLE

Who's feeling brave? The castle will become a Haunted Castle to Sunday, October 28, between 10am and 4pm every day. Prepare to be scared when you can try a frighteningly fun day and enter the tunnel of terror or say boo to a ghost or two. There will also be creepy crafts, and prizes for the best children's Halloween costume. To find out more about visiting english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/haunted-castle-dover

DEAL CASTLE

Halloween Ghost Tours will run at the castle on Monday, October 29 to Wednesday, October 31 at 6pm. 7.15pm and 8.30pm. There will be myths and stories surrounding the castle to hear as well as some of the strange experiences of those who work here. To find out what goes bump in the night at Deal Castle, it costs £11 and £6.50 for children from five to 15, or £28.50 for a family.

Find out more by visiting english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/halloween-ghost-tours-deal/

Visit Dover Castle for a spooky tour this Halloween. Picture: English Heritage
Visit Dover Castle for a spooky tour this Halloween. Picture: English Heritage

DREAMLAND, MARGATE

There will be seven days of hauntingly good fun for the family until Sunday, October 28. Get spooked in a slippery slime factory, put your craft skills to use in a Halloween-themed costume workshop, get jumpy in a spooky games arena or get lost in a puzzle hedge maze. There will also be a appearances from children’s TV superhero favourites, PJ Masks on Wednesday, October 24. Get Spooked will run from noon to 4pm each day, though the park itself is shut on Monday, October 22 and Tuesday, October 23. There is also the scare festival for adults, Screamland - for those who dare! Details at dreamland.co.uk

FORT AMHERST, CHATHAM

There are plenty of horrors to be had at the Chatham venue, which this year is celebrating 35 years of scaring. There are Halloween Horrors for various age groups, including a children's experience, where children must be accompanied by an adult over 18. Admission for ages four to 12 is £8, with an accompanying adult costing £8. There's also a Teen's Halloween Horrors for children aged 12 and over. They can be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are £16.50 for ages 12 to 16 and an accompanying adult also needs to pay £16.50. To book, go to fortamherst.digitickets.co.uk

GROOMBRIDGE PLACE, NEAR TUNBRIDGE WELLS

The Addams Family will be taking visitors on a journey to solve a mystery through the Enchanted Forest until Sunday, October 28. Meet all the family including Gomez, Morticia Addams, Wednesday and Pugsley. For more details go to groombridgeplace.com

HEVER CASTLE

Prepare to be spooked at the castle this Halloween and half term, with activities running until Sunday, October 28. Listen to ghostly tales in the Ghost Catcher’s Lair, follow the pumpkin trail in the grounds and hear tales of the ghosts of Hever in the castle. There will also be a craft workshop to create a ghost puppet in a free creepy craft workshop or decorate a ghoulish biscuit. There will also be prizes for the scariest costumes. To find out more visit hevercastle.co.uk

Hever Castle at Halloween
Hever Castle at Halloween

HOP FARM, PADDOCK WOOD

A spook-tastic feast of fun for the holidays runs until Sunday, October 28. Kids can go to the family park in in their best Halloween fancy dress and take part in pumpkin carving, face painting, laser games, storytelling, as well as magic shows and and meeting the animals. Details at thehopfarm.co.uk/events

HORNBY VISITOR CENTRE

Little ones who visit the Margate attraction until Friday, October 26 dressed in their finest Halloween costume will get in free! For those who forget their fancy dress, it’s £2 entry, and is open from 10am to 4pm. There is no admission charge to visit the shop or cafe. For more information go to hornby.com/visitorcentre

HOWLETTS WILD ANIMAL PARK, CANTERBURY

Not only is there the chance for kids to go free until Sunday, October 28, but visitors can also enjoy meeting the county's only baby elephant at the reserve. The jumbo surprise arrived to parents Jama and Coco in September. To find out more go to aspinallfoundation.org/howletts/ See what else the animals have been up to here.

KENT LIFE, MAIDSTONE

There's a spooky week on offer until Sunday, October 28. The farming attraction will be transformed for the spooky season. There’s pumpkin carving, a creepy cuddle corner, spooky farm rides and daily fancy dress competitions. You can also try a trick or treat in one of the historic houses if you're brave enough to see who’s lurking behind the doors! To find out more go to kentlife.org.uk

LEEDS CASTLE, MAIDSTONE

Until Sunday, October 28 visitors can help Monster Hunter Valerie Van Helsing on her quest through the castle grounds to investigate The Case of the Halloween Monster - but watch out for Halloween bandits along the way. Characters will be hiding across the estate from 11am to 1pm and again from 2pm to 4pm, including Vinnie the Vampire and Frank Frankenstein. Complete the trail card to claim a chocolate reward. There will also be a new haunted trail through the Woodland Walk and a Monster Mash Ball from noon to 3pm with daily fancy dress contests at 2pm with prizes. New family tickets for the castle cost £70 online or £74 on the day and last for a year. For details go to leeds-castle.com

LULLINGSTONE CASTLE, EYNSFORD

There will be a Halloween & Pumpkin Carving event on Sunday, October 28 between noon and 7pm, which is also the last day the house and World Garden are open for the season. For more details call 01322 862114 or go to lullingstonecastle.co.uk

MAIDSTONE MUSEUM

The museum in Earl Street will hold Make It workshops until Friday, October 26, between 10.30am and 4pm. Each day will have a different craft activity, including making an autumn suncatcher, a tealight candle holder, a skeleton scarecrow and a megaphone. You need to book your session at museum.maidstone.gov.uk

PENSHURST PLACE

There will be a host of Halloween happenings going on at the house and gardens until Sunday, October 28. There will be a Halloween Garden Trail every day when young visitors must unravel ridiculous riddles and rhymes between 10.30am and 6pm daily. Look out for abandoned broomsticks that passing witches leave hanging about in the air and on the way out, enter the annual Guess the Weight of the Pumpkin competition - with all pumpkins grown in the estate’s plant nursery. There will be Wicked Witches Storytelling on Friday, October 26, and Not-so-Spooky Storytelling, until Saturday, October 27, led by Aardvark Productions. Hands-on-History will also be performing some fun mock demonstrations of Halloween skull surgery and leg amputation on Sunday, October 28 and there will be creepy crafts daily throughout the week. For more details go to penshurstplace.com

PORT LYMPNE, HYTHE

Come face to face with dinosaurs and meet the latest monkey to join the pack at Port Lympne reserve this half term, when kids go free until Sunday, October 28. For more information go to aspinallfoundation.org/portlympne/

Happy Halloween!
Happy Halloween!

SPA VALLEY RAILWAY

On Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, October 28, youngsters dressed as their favourite super hero will travel for £1 with a paying adult. The cost for a family of two adults and two children on Super Heroes weekend is £26. For train times and to book tickets, go to spavalleyrailway.co.uk

WALMER CASTLE

Take a journey back to Tudor times at the castle on Thursday, October 26. Between 10am and 4pm there will be hands-on activities including den building, hearing stories over a fire and flag making, plus learning about the castle’s history while searching out a garden trail. Entry is £10.90 and £6.50 for five to 15-year-olds. To find out more and book your tickets in advance, visit english-heritage.org.uk/walmer

WESTWOOD CROSS CENTRE, BROADSTAIRS

The shopping centre will have an array of Halloween-themed activities for free on Thursday, October 25 and Friday, October 26. On the Thursday will be a Dia de los Muertos themed entertainment - the traditional Day of the Dead Mexican holiday but in a family friendly and free way, with face painting. The kmfm Street Team will also be there between 11am and 4pm. On the Friday there will be pumpkin carving and balloon modelling. For more information, visit westwoodx.co.uk

WHITEFRIARS, CANTERBURY

There will be daily Halloween party events at the shopping centre until Saturday, October 28, including Guess the Gunk, crafts, potion making and meeting creepy crawlies. There’s also a disco in Whitefriars Square on Thursday, October 25, from 2pm. The full programme is available online at whitefriars.co.uk.

WILDWOOD, HERNE BAY

The park is running a range of spooky talks, activities and trails throughout half term until Sunday, October 28. To find out more, go to wildwoodtrust.org or call 01227 712111.

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