With Halloween right around the corner, What's On have put together our top picks for keeping the kids entertained across the spooky season this half term.

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OCTOBER HALF TERM AT WESTON PARK

A half-term packed with magic, potions, pumpkins and creepy critters will serve up a week of fun at Weston Park.

The week sees the return of the hugely-popular Pumpkin Patch in the Walled Garden, animal encounters and creepy critter shows from Zoolabs and exciting magic activities hosted by Weston Park’s outdoor education team, Educating Kids Outdoors.

The Pumpkin Patch will be open from 11am - 2pm every day, giving visitors the chance to pick their own perfect pumpkin, pose for some special photographs with pumpkins carved by the Weston gardeners and take their prized pumpkin home to carve for Halloween.

On October 30 and November 1, animal-encounter experts Zoolabs will bring their Creepy Critters show to the estate. Plus there will be the chance to make a bubbling magic potion and your own wand with Educating Kids Outdoors on October 30 and 31 between 10.45am and 3.45pm.

Weston Park, nr Shifnal, Saturday 28 October - Saturday 4 November

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HALLOWEEN AT THE POTTERIES CENTRE

Spooky season has arrived at Stoke-on-Trent’s The Potteries Centre. Experience the wizarding world of spells and potions, or Trick or Treat for some ghoulishly delicious, sweet treats this half term.

From 28 October - 3 November, The Potteries Centre calls all budding giants, pixies, witches and wizards to take part in the Spellbound Spooktacular Wizarding School of Magical Mayhem. Grab a wand and cloak and meet the magical professor to learn fantastic tricks and spells to hunt creatures and monsters, with a chance to achieve a certificate in Wizarding.

Perfect for children aged five and above, head down to the centre to cast a mysterious spell. Located outside H&M on the upper mall, pre-book online for just £1 charity donation to the centre’s One Great Day charity, Horton Lodge Community Special School, to secure a spot.

Halloween wouldn’t be complete without a Trick or Treat hunt and sweets galore! Hop on a broomstick and glide around the centre in a spooky Halloween werewolf costume or dress up in a princess dress of choice. Grab a free bag outside H&M on the upper mall and keep an eye out for posters in the windows of participating stores, ready to fill up with chocolates and sweets, including Game, Lush and Smiggle.

The Potteries Shopping Centre, Stoke-on-Trent, Saturday 28 October - Friday 3 November 

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GANDEYS CIRCUS HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR

A very special (trick or) treat for Halloween, Gandeys Circus returns once again with a brand-new action-packed legendary Halloween Spooktacular Big Top show for all the family.

A specially selected international cast of skeletons, vampires, Jack o’lanterns and not forgetting Circus Artistes, have been brought together for this year’s sensational extravaganza. From the thrill acts to the big production numbers Gandeys are famous for, it’s all here and you will be on the edge of your seat with excitement, rolling in the aisles with laughter, and hiding under your coats from the spooky thrills.

Trentham Estate, Staffordshire, until Sunday 5 November

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NATIONAL FOREST ADVENTURE FARM'S SPOOKTACULAR

This half term families can enjoy all the fun of the National Forest Adventure Farm plus a day packed with hair-raising Halloween activities.

Pick a pumpkin from the patch (1 per child) , learn how to become as scary as a monster and the best broomstick rider with the spooky shows, and take on the UK's longest outdoor slide - Mega Slide Mountain. All activities, including the indoor soft play, outdoor adventure play and animal barn and paddocks, are included in your ticket price with just the fairground rides and Mega Slide Mountaion as optional extras.

National Forest Adventure Farm, Staffordshire, Saturday 28 October - Friday 3 November

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SCAREFEST

Alton Towers Resort's award-winning Scarefest returns for 2023 with live entertainment for all ages and its award-winning spooktacular scare experiences for the bravest of souls. 

The park is open until 9pm each day, meaning daring guests can face the hair-raising rides and attractions in darkness including Wicker Man and The Smiler.

Scarefest 2023 will also see the return of three multi-award winning, terrifying mazes; The Attic: Terror of the Towers, Darkest Depths and The Invitation - plus the family fave Trick O Treat Town with HARIBO is back for a third year. 

Also returning for 2023 is the family friendly frights line-up of live entertainment including the Alton Ancestors, Freaky Five and CBeebies Land Monster Ball, where little monsters can see their favourite CBeebies Land characters for a special Halloween party.

Alton Towers, Staffordshire, until Tuesday 31 October

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THE HAUNTED MANOR

This Halloween, experience frights and delights aplenty at The Haunted Manor. Kickstart your day with spooktacular fun with live entertainment, terrific Halloween trails, and the park's rides and attractions.

But as night falls, spine chilling scares will appear right in front of your eyes with new scare experiencess - Castle of Shadows and The Haunted Express - and new for 2023 scare zones; Chaos Cove, The Haunting: Reclaimed and Viking: Ragnarok.

There will also be rides in the dark, music from a live DJ and special spooky food and drink for you to feast on, with a frightful fireworks finale to finish the day.

Drayton Manor Resort, Staffordshire, until Sunday 5 November

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ELSEWHERE IN THE MIDLANDS

BRICK OR TREAT - MONSTER PARTY

Little monsters can enjoy plenty of chills and thrills at Legoland Discovery Centre this month.

Along with two rides, build & play zones and a soft-play area, mini builders and their families can sink their teeth into a whole (g)host of fang-tastic seasonal activities. Highlights include a haunted Miniland spooky scavenger hunt, the chance to help build Lego pumpkins to add to the monster garden, and an opportunity to check out Lego 4D Halloween movie The Great Monster Chase!.

Mascot Scarecrow will also be on site for a Halloween dance party and photo opportunities.

Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham, until Sunday 5 November

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ASCARIUM: TRICK OR TREAT

Get ready to dive into some spinetingling fun as the SEA LIFE Centre transforms from aquarium to ascarium this Halloween.

Guests are invited to follow an immersive trail, complete magical challenges throughout the aquarium, and help the sea witch and warlock look after their ocean home and fellow sea creatures.

There are games and activities to check out as well, with visitors receiving a reward for completing the ‘spook-splash-tic challenges’.

National SEA LIFE Centre, Birmingham, until Sunday 5 November

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VICTORIAN GHOST TOWN

Celebrate Halloween with two nights of spooky special events and creepy goings-on in the lamp-lit streets of Blists Hill Victorian Town.

Visitors can try candle dipping and poster printing, shop for handmade Halloween items at the Morbid Market and meet creatures from a local reptile rescue organisation at the Spooky Zoo.

Other highlights include a special trick-or-treat trail and a lantern parade to the fairground, where youngsters will be able to sing, dance and take part in a special costume competition. 

Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge, Friday 27 & Saturday 28 October

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SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY GHOST & SCREAM TRAINS

Are you brave enough to ride the Ghost Train at Severn Valley Railway this Halloween?

Kickstart your fright night with tricks and treats for the whole family to enjoy at Kidderminster Station, then take your reserved seats and settle back to experience a ride out into the darkness.

Scary characters will join you on board, sneaking along the corridors of the train as it passes through haunted stations to Arley.  The Ghost Train experience lasts for approximately 75 minutes and comes complete with a free goodie bag for every child.

Severn Valley Railway is also hosting a similar but ‘more fearsome’ event for older guests. The Scream Train is aimed at visitors aged 18-plus and features ‘petrifying ghouls’ who will be looking to scare the life out of commuters as they make their way to Arley. 

Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, nr Kidderminster, Saturday 28 - Tuesday 31 October

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HALLOWEEN AT THINKTANK

There are spinetingling goings-on aplenty at Thinktank during this month’s half-term holiday.
The Fright At The Museum family show takes place daily and is full to the brim with freaky facts and spooky science experiments.

Meanwhile, over in MiniBrum’s Den, daily Halloween and autumn-themed interactive and sensory stay & play sessions should keep little ones aged 18 months to three years old nicely entertained.

Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum, Monday 30 October - Friday 3 November