Half-Term Halloween Fun for Families Around Cambridge

If you have little ones at home for the October break, Cambridge and the villages around it have plenty on, and a good chunk of it runs right up to Halloween and beyond. Milton's pumpkin patch at Rectory Farm, just off the A10 Milton Bypass, is open daily from 24 to 31 October, with tens of thousands of pumpkins and gourds, two Halloween shows a day, a Field of Fun play area and photo spots. Pumpkins start at 75p, and you need to pre-book online. The event is organised by Little Miracles Charity. A little further out, at Wimpole in Arrington, Halloween in the House runs daily until Sunday 1 November, with a spider tunnel, a pumpkin patch in the Yellow Drawing Room and floating candles in the cellar. The Stranger Folk folklore adventure, played with an app, lasts until 31 October, and children aged 4 to 8 can join spooky story time in the Hall on Tuesday 27 and Thursday 29 October, from 11:30 to 12:00. Booking is mandatory for the story time.

For something a bit more active, the Halloween Punt & Hunt with the Traditional Punting Company runs from 24 October to 1 November. The 50-minute tour comes with a scavenger hunt booklet, costs from £2.50 per child and is aimed at ages 4 to 11, with spaces limited. Closer to the city, Buxhall Farm in Histon is open daily from 24 to 31 October, from 10:00 to 16:00. Entry is free and no booking is needed, and pumpkins start at £1. Dogs are welcome, though the field can be muddy. If you fancy a trip out to Saffron Walden, the Audley End Enchanted Railway runs from 24 October to 1 November, with a forest train ride through Halloween scenes, a Pumpkin Queen meet-and-greet and potion-making. Tickets are £19.25 to £20.75 for adults and children over 92cm, £9.63 to £10.38 for under 92cm, and under-1s go free. Bookings are essential. Wandlebury Country Park, on the Gog Magog Hills, has a free Halloween Hunt until 1 November. You pick up a route sheet from the lobby under the Clocktower, follow the trail along the Ring Ditch, find the magic word and return the sheet for a prize draw. Wandlebury charges non-members for parking.

The weekday options are a good fit for the quieter days of the break. Barnwell Road Library hosts Spooky Crafts on Tuesday 27 October from 10:30 to 11:30. It is a free drop-in session, materials are provided and children must be accompanied by an adult. Arbury Court Library runs its own spooky crafts on Thursday 29 October. At Denny Abbey and the Farmland Museum in Waterbeach, there are free Halloween crafts in the Stone Barn on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 October, and spooky stories in the abbey on the Friday. Normal entry applies, and the site is open from 10:00 to 16:00, with last entry at 15:30. Milton Country Park's Outdoors Project holiday club runs from Monday 26 to Thursday 29 October, from 8:45 to 15:15, for children of roughly 5 to 12. One of the days is the Ultimate Halloween Adventure: Tricks & Treats. It costs £39.50 per day, and the centre accepts nursery vouchers. For younger children, Silly Sasha's Witch on the Broom session takes place at Milton Country Park on Friday 30 October. The pre-school slot runs from 9:30 to 10:15 for £7.50, and the over-4s session from 10:30 to 12:00 costs £15 and includes crafts. Both have a booking fee and limited places. There are also grown-up-friendly options with children in tow, such as the Halloween craft and cupcake decorating at Cottenham Community Centre on Wednesday 28 October, from 12:30 to 13:30, at £10 per child. You book by contacting Cottenham Community Crafters and pay in cash on the day.

The weekend of 31 October is busy. The Waggon and Horses in Milton holds a Halloween afternoon from 14:00 to 18:00, with pumpkin decorating, face painting and a best-dressed competition. Children pay £10.50, adults pay £2, under-2s go free, and booking is mandatory. At Milton Country Park's Wild Place, a Trick or Treat craft session runs from 12:00 to 14:30 with five crafts and magnetic fishing for children aged 7 and under, at £4 per child with no booking needed. Cambridge Ice Arena on Newmarket Road has Halloween Fright Night skating on Friday 30 October at 18:30 and on Saturday 31 October at 13:30 and 15:00, with costumes, spooky music, skate hire included and entry for over-3s. A normal public skate costs £16.50 for adults and £13.50 for children, and you book through Better. Finally, Cambridge Junction on Clifton Way hosts the Big Fish Little Fish family rave Halloween special on Sunday 1 November, where dressing up is encouraged for both adults and children.