This is the Milton Keynes Kids ultimate guide to Halloween events and parties for kids in 2017. It features places in Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire. If events are ticketed I suggest you book ASAP as they can often sell out quickly. Where we have previously visited places, I have given lots of information which I hope you will find useful. Where I haven’t added anything, it’s because we haven’t gone before but you may simply find it useful to know the event is happening. For details of each event just click the words in blue. Parking charges may apply at some places. If you have an event which I can add, please email me the information with pictures if you have held the something similar before to laura@miltonkeyneskids.com or message me via Facebook. I’ll be adding events all the time so please keep checking back to see what’s new. If this is the first time you’ve found Milton Keynes Kids then welcome! I’m Laura, radio producer by day, blogger by night and mum to two boys aged 4 and 2. This website is all about the places I take my sons to. We’d love for you to share this article with friends but please don’t replicate the content, you don’t want to see my grumpy face.
21st – 29th October Castle Ashby pumpkin hunt – This was absolutely fab last year and our top tip for this year – a lovely walk around these beautiful gardens in Northamptonshire to find a number of different pumpkins. There’s also a menagerie and nice play area. 10am-2pm. It was so busy when we went last year that the queues for the café and to collect the prize at the end were immense. Definitely take a picnic. They are restricting numbers this year though to control the crowds and will be selling tickets online from 1st October. £2.50 child. It’s £5 for parking which includes the cost of adults going – bargain. I urge you to book tickets if you want to go. Do read our full review of Castle Ashby from when we visited prior to the Halloween event so you can see what it’s like. Best postcode is NN7 1LQ. See pictures below to get an idea of what it’s like.
23rd – 29th Oct Pumpkin trail at Dunstable Downs. £1.50 a child. Learn freaky facts about bats, spiders and creepy creatures along the way through Chute Wood then return for your tasty treat. LU6 2GY. We did the Easter one there it’s good fun, and Chute Wood has some cool natural play equipment. Also worth taking a kite to fly on the Downs and watch the gliders take off. Also 24th Oct – Create a floral pumpkin arrangment at Dunstable Downs. 10am-11am – £6. (NOTE the pumpkin trail was due to start 21st but has been delayed to 23rd due to bad weather being predicted. AND I did originally have this down as finishing on 27th Oct but it looks as if on their facebook event it now says 29th)
21st – 29th Oct – Various Halloween activities on different dates at Waddesdon Manor including pumpkin carving and painting £4, spooky afternoon tea £10, creatures of the night trail £2. Normal admission applies in addition to those prices. Check their website for times, dates and details.
21st – 30st October – Freaky Fun Fest at Mead Open Farm. Spooky events, ghost stories and pumpkin carving (extra charge). With it’s big outdoor play area, indoor soft play, diggers, and tractors, there’s loads to do at Mead. It’s not the cheapest place to go, but if you’re looking for a full on day out that incorporates Halloween activities for a variety of ages (with alternatives for younger children), then it’s a good option. We went a couple of years ago, my eldest son wasn’t took keen on ‘going into anything’ for a Halloween experience, but he liked pumpkin carving. You can read about one of our previous visits to Mead here.
21st – 31st October – Boo at the Zoo at Whipsnade Zoo. There’s so much to do at Whipsnade in Bedfordshire – loads of animals to see, a train, fun adventure playground, indoor soft play and farmyard petting area. The highlights include the delightful penguins and the fabulous views over Dunstable Downs. BUT it’s very much a treat day out so start saving now or look to exchange some Tesco vouchers in advance. You pay extra for the train. During half term they have creepy crafts, magic, pumpkin patch, museum of fantastic creatures, ghastly golf and face painting. Extra charges apply so may sure you’ve budgeted for extras.
23rd October – Halloween party by Mummies Meetings MK – if you’re not aware there’s a fab Facebook group in Milton Keynes called Mummies Meetings MK which is run voluntarily by Anne-Marie Newman. She is endeavouring to bring mums together and regularly organises events. The Halloween party is at Oxley Park Community Centre, MK4 4TA between 2pm and 4pm. Aimed at 0-6 year olds although all ages welcome. Fancy dress, spooky snacks/buffet & drinks, a Disco, raffle, lucky dip, Halloween themed play items. Optional fancy dress (prize for best dressed) £5 for first child, £2.50 per sibling up to two additionals, any siblings after this are free
Under 1s are FREE with a paying sibling OR only £3 with Adult only. Tickets MUST be bought in advance with details via the mummies meeting group which you’ll need to join (click blue link above). Any money raised goes to Community First Responders.
21st – 29th October – Pumpkin week at Hatton Adventure World – bit further afield in Warwickshire CV35 8XA, but more of a full day out with the kids with animals, soft play, rides, tractor rides, adventure playground etc. They’re also doing pick your own and lots of other Halloween activities. Milton Keynes Kids follower Laura-Jane had an amazing time when she visited last year. See her pics below.
23rd October – Halloween Disco at the Forest of Marston Vale – booking in advance required. 5-7pm. £8 per ticket, includes food box and drink. Fancy dress, games, prizes and dancing. There’s also going to be a pumpkin trail 25th -29th October which is £3 and tickets will be bookable though this link. The Forest of Marston Vale is a fab place to visit at any time. It has a nice play area and small sandpit. My sons especially love the wooden train with a bell. It was one of the first places I blogged about – you can read all about it here. Since blogging about it we’ve discovered you can now go on a lovely walk there which takes you right up to the wind turbine which is quite an impressive sight.
23rd Oct – 28th Oct – various activities on various dates at Wyevale Garden Centre in Woburn Sands including haunted heather planting (£2.50), create spider finger puppet (£2.50), phantom lanterns (£2.50), pumpkin carving (£2.50) and Halloween party (£7.50). Could be a good non-scary option for younger children. They also have a small soft play there which is good, I think the current price is £1.75 – you can read our previous review of the soft play which includes a video.
23rd – 30th October – Stanwick Lakes – With it’s huge climbing frame, adventure trail, assault course and sand and water area, Stanwick Lakes in Northamptonshire is one of favourite cheap days out ever! For Halloween they have quite a few activities on including creepy trail and crafts. On selected days that week there’s also face painting, birds of prey, reptiles and a spooky lantern walk (bookable). Small charges for each activity. You do pay to park. NN9 6GY
23rd – 29th October – Ghosts and Ghouls at Wrest Park – solve the riddles and claim your terrifying treat, crafts and carving pumpkins. £4 for pumpkin carving. Normal admission charges to the park apply unless you’re an English Heritage member in which case it’s free. There’s also a Halloween walk early evening on 27-29th which lasts 45 mins and is suitable for children aged 5 up it says. Adults £6, kids £5.
23rd – 31st Oct – Various Halloween activities on various days at Intu MK shopping centre – near Debenhams / frog clock – Tues 24th 11am – 4pm join Lush for a crafty activity, Thurs 26th 10am – 4pm get a FREE pumpkin, make a scary face and carve away. Sat 29th / 30th 11am – 4pm trick or treating. Will you be a wicked witch? A daunting devil? Or a ghastly ghost? Go dressed for the occasion and collect your bucket from the Customer Information Desk. Buckets issued on a first come, first serve basis so arrive early to avoid disappointment.
23rd – 27th October – Thrift Farm Halloween Spooktacular 9.30am – 4pm. Pumpkin hunt and carving (additional charge for carving) every day with additional different activities each day. £5 adult, £2.50 a child. Thrift Farm is a lovely small non-commercialised farm with different animals for the children to see. There’s also a climb-on tractor and ride-ons. Do read our full review of Thrift Farm before you go. Great if you don’t want to travel far and are local to Milton Keynes. MK17 0EQ
23rd – 29th Oct – pumpkin scooping at Frosts Garden Centre in Woburn Sands. £6.99 and Halloween circus £7.99.
24th, 25th, 26th October – Halloween workshops at Foundation House / Urb Farm in Wolverton – £3.50 per child. Appropriate for ages 5 – 11. Advance booking required. See picture for details.
26th Oct – Rushmere Country Park is such a fun place to visit in the daytime. There are fairy doors, a giant spider and a giant slide to find. It’s free to go and £3 to park. You can read our review here. Well they’re also doing a Halloween Disco – £12 for children aged 5-12. Ticket includes hot dog, juice, fancy dress competition, games and dancing. The bar will be open and food available for adults to purchase.
27th Oct – **** SOLD OUT **** Spooky walks in Milton Keynes organised by the Park’s Trust from 6pm onwards. Booking is essential and the event will sell out so book asap. Not recommended for young children. Walks get scarier as night progresses. Each walk is 20-25 mins and everyone will need a ticket. £5 per person. Howe Park Wood Education Centre, H7 Chaffron Way MK4 3GG.
26th October – Spooky activities in Market Square, Aylesbury. 3pm-6pm. Panto-ween, magic shows, circles skills. Fancy dress and pumpkin carving competition at 5.30pm.
28th October – Halloween family fundraiser at Alban Hill Nurseries in Sherington. 9.30am – 12pm. Pumpkin Picture Trail (with goodie bag), crafts, games, fancy dress competition, face painting. MK16 9QP. We went to their Christmas event last year, it was quite good fun, you made a donation for each activity and was quite nice for younger children. Emberton Country Park is close by if you want to make a day of it in that area.
28th and 31st Oct – Halloween parties at Safari MK in Milton Keynes. 5.30pm – 7.30pm, children £11.95, adults and under 1s free if accompanying paying child, party games, buffet, disco, face-painting. Tickets MUST be bought in advance.
29th October – Caldecotte Miniature Railway – 7pm ride the ghost train. Two trips in the dark around this circular track for £1. The miniature railway is located at Caldecotte Lake in Milton Keynes (where the big windmill is) and it’s free to park. MK7 8HP. They say you should expect it to be busy from 7pm but gets quieter as the evening goes on. Too late for my two young sons but could be fun for slightly older ones. You can read all about our previous visit in the daytime here.
30th Oct – Rhiley’s Smile Halloween Party – £5 child (this includes a Halloween themed treat bag) under 1’s FREE, adult £2. Disco with Halloween games, a monster raffle, pop up photo booth, glitter painting, candy floss, refreshments, fancy dress competition with prizes to be won & a special appearance. 5.30pm – 7.30pm. Greenley’s Community Centre in Milton Keynes. MK12 6AU
31st Oct – Halloween party at 360 soft play in Milton Keynes. 6.30pm – 8.30pm. Tickets need to be bought in advance. £10.50 adult, £5.50 child, under 1s free.
Pick your own pumpkins and pumpkin patches near Milton Keynes?!
I keep being asked for details about pumpkin patches, or pick your own pumpkins near to Milton Keynes. Picking your own (and photographing your children amongst the pumpkins) seems to be increasing in popularity every year. Well the good news is, after much scouring of the internet, I have found some places to go, BUT you may have to travel further afield to find them and they’re all very different. I’ll continue to update this list as I source more info and do let me know if you find others.
Grove Farm – according to the info on their website you can pick your own pumpkin at Grove Farm. Timings are approximate so best to call ahead to check availability. Great Gap Ivinghoe Leighton Buzzard LU7 9DZ
Farmer Paul’s Pumpkins – ‘Pick your own’ from the farm barn rather than from the farm field. It’s apparently because it prolongs the pumpkins’ life so they store better and don’t go rotten which is a big problem with lots of pick your own farms. They also need to clear the field to get it ploughed ready for next crop. Range from 50p for tiny ones to £8 for monster ones. Happy for you to take photos and they’re creating a special display. Pumpkins may be available from the second week of October but the date is still TBC. Weedon Hill Farm off the Buckingham Road, HP22 4DP, just outside of the town of Aylesbury. Cash only. Lots of parking apparently.
Millet’s Farm Centre – Pick your own pumpkins 7th / 8 October, 14th / 15th October, 21st – 29th October. 10am – 4.30pm. Cash only. Millets Farm Centre, Kingston Road, Oxfordshire, OX13 5HB
Pick your own pumpkins at Foxes Farm Produce – two locations at Colchester CO6 3PR and Basildon SS15 43ER. This looks like it’s one of the biggest places you could go to for pumpkins as they supply many of the shops. There are thousands of pumpkins to choose from and you can apparently picnic amongst the pumpkins. No entrance fee. But you must check they’re open before travelling – the website says sometimes if it’s been too wet they have to close the fields. Open 10am – 4pm weekends from 30th September until 29th October and every day in October half term 23rd – 27th Oct. Thanks so much to Gemma for these photos. She visited last year and had a great time.
I'm Laura, mum of two boys - aged six and four. I started this website at the end of Sept 2015 whilst on maternity leave. I now work four days a week and do this blog late at night once the little boys are sleeping. It's won several awards over the last four years and I continue to run it for free and mostly focus on free, cheap, and good value days out. Do drop me an email laura@miltonkeyneskids.com if you want to contact me. Don't forget to follow all of our latest adventures on facebook, instagram and twitter and have a look at all of the videos of the places we visit on the Milton Keynes Kids YouTube Channel - subscribe to it for notifications every time I add a new place. And remember... you may been reading this post months after we visited, do check with the destination you're visiting for up to date opening times and prices. If you find this blog useful then please do comment on my posts and leave me a Facebook review - it makes doing this all the more worthwhile.
