Things to do this October Half-Term in Wakefield

Nostell has welcomed some ghostly guests, and you’re invited to join a spooky adventure trail through the house and gardens. Search the gardens for sneaky ghosts hiding among the trees and pathways, then head inside the house to help the Nostell team uncover clues of paranormal activity. Keep your eyes peeled for evidence of ghostly goings-on and discover the ghoulish tricks our mischievous spirits have been playing throughout the house.

Heading out into the parkland, pesky pumpkin rocks have been growing in Joiner’s Wood. Can you find them all?

When: Saturday 24 October – Sunday 1 November, 11am – 4pm
Where: Nostell, National Trust, Wakefield, WF4 1QE
How Much: Free activities, standard admission applies
How to Book: No booking required, just drop in

Get ready for some gothic gore this Hallowe’en half-term with free creative reading sessions at Queen’s Mill! Step into a world of mystery and chilling tales, where storytellers bring age-appropriate fiction to life alongside hands-on art and craft activities. Try your hand at everything from modelling to costume design, picking up new creative skills as the stories unfold. Designed especially for young people aged 10–13, these spooky sessions are a fun way to build confidence, get creative and discover a love of reading.

When: Monday 26 – Friday 30 October, sessions at 10am – 11:30am, 12pm – 1:30pm and 2:15pm – 2:45pm
Where: Queen’s Mill, Castleford, WF10 1JL
How Much: Free
How to Book: Call 07395 462293 or email samantha@samtheenglishteacher.co.uk

It’s the return of the frighteningly popular October half term Witches and Wizards week at Pontefract Castle! Take part in witchy outdoor activities, learn to make magical potions and magic up themed crafts. Join the resident witches on the bandstand for potions demonstrations (demonstrations at 11:15am, 12:15pm and 1:30pm). Dressing up not required, but always encouraged!

When: Wednesday 28 – Saturday 31 October, 10am – 3pm (SEND session from 10am – 10:45am on Wednesday 28 October)
Where: Pontefract Castle, Pontefract, WF8 1QH
How Much: Free
How to Book: Booking is only required for the SEND sessions, otherwise just drop in

Don your detective cap this half term and unpack some museum mysteries at Castleford Museum. Solve some peculiar puzzles and make your own mystery disappearing box to take home.

When: Monday 26 – Tuesday 27 October and Thursday 29 – Friday 30 October, 10am – 3pm (Friday 30 October is an SEND session but all are welcome)
Where: Castleford Museum, Castleford, WF10 1BB
How Much: Free
How to Book: No booking required, just drop in

Star Walk is back this Halloween! Heroes and villains will swap the big screen for Trinity Walk‘s malls in Wakefield this half term as the massive, free cosplay event returns. Expect to see all your favourite film and TV characters and grab a photo with classic cars and props. Plus, there’s even free face painting! The whole event is free, with donations welcome for Wakefield Hospice.

When: Saturday 31 October – Sunday 1 November, 10am – 4pm
Where: Wakefield, WF1 1QS
How Much: Free (donations welcome for Wakefield Hospice)
How to Book: No booking required, just drop in

Step into the Wild West and test your skills in an action-packed Cowboy Nerf Shootout at WX Wakefield Exchange! Take cover behind barriers and bunkers and dodge through hideouts in this Wild West nerf war. With unlimited ammunition, Nerf blasters, and all equipment provided, players can gear up and jump straight into the action. A fast-paced, family-friendly experience packed with teamwork, strategy and plenty of fun.

When: Thursday 29 October, sessions at 10:30am – 11:30am, 12pm – 1pm, 1:30pm – 2:30pm and 3pm – 4pm
Where: Wakefield, WF1 3AD
How Much: Free
How to Book: Book online in advance.

Get ready for a spooktacular October Half Term packed with storytelling, crafts and curious adventures at the National Coal Mining Museum! From magical mysteries to Pokémon Parties, sensory storytelling to wonderful workshops, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this October.

When: Saturday 24 October – Sunday 1 November, 10am – 5pm (excluding Monday and Tuesday)
Where: Wakefield, WF4 4RH
How Much: Most activities free, some up to £10 per family
How to Book: Most activities drop-in, some activities can be booked on the National Coal Mining Museum website.

Join Groundworks Yorkshire for a spooky self-guided adventure through the ghoulish woods of Fryston Country Trails and Frickley Country Park!

When: Monday 26 – Friday 30 October
Where: Castleford, WF10 2RD and South Elmsall, WF9 2EF
How Much: Free
How to Book: Book online for Fryston Country Trails and Frickley Country Park.

When: Sunday 25, Tuesday 27, Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 October, 11am – 4pm (closed for lunch 1-1.30pm)
Where: Wakefield, WF1 5AW
How Much: Free with an exhibition ticket
How to Book: Book exhibition ticket online

The Spooktacular Scarecrow Trail is coming to Anglers Country Park this half term and the team need your help to crack the case. Can you find all of the spooky scarecrows hidden on the Woodland Trail? Pop into the Visitor Centre to purchase your trail sheet, then follow the trail to spot the scarecrows and collect the secret code letters. Head back to the Visitor Centre with your completed code to grab your reward!

When: Saturday 24 October – Sunday 1 November, 10am – 3pm
Where: Wintersett, WF4 2EB
How Much: £2 per trail sheet
How to Book: Booking not required, just turn up and purchase a trail sheet from the Visitor Centre

This Halloween, enjoy The Witch Who Couldn’t Sleep by Steven Lee at Theatre Royal Wakefield! Being a witch is super exciting. There’s always so much to do and so much fun to be had. Especially around Halloween. And maybe that’s why Natascha The Witch can’t sleep…

Can anyone, or anything, help her drift off?

When: Monday 26 October, 2:30pm
Where: Wakefield, WF1 2TE
How Much: From £10.50
How to Book: Book online on the Theatre Royal Wakefield website.

Let’s get arty at Pontefract Museum this October half term and sketch it! Make a personalised sketchbook for drawing your design and ideas, then join the museum staff on a sketch tour at 11am or 2pm. Try out your urban sketching skills in the town centre or museum (weather dependent!).

When: Wednesday 28 October, 10:30am – 3pm
Where: Pontefract, WF8 1BA
How Much: Free
How to Book: No booking required, just drop in

Join Pugneys Light Railway for their Halloween Spooktacular, a round trip through the spooky woods at Pugneys Country Park. Expect ghoulish decorations, pumpkin mischief and a whole lot of spooky fun! Step on board one of the steam or diesel miniature trains and look out for spooky goings on all along the route, be careful… you might find things that go bump in the night!

When: Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October, 3:30pm – 7:30pm (trains run every fifteen minutes)
Where: Wakefield, WF2 7EQ
How Much: £6.15 per person
How to Book: Book online in advance

Visit Diggerland in Castleford – where children and adults alike can ride, drive and operate REAL diggers, dumper and other full-size construction machinery! Get to grips with real JCBs, take a head-reeling turn or two on Spindizzy, rise to lofty heights and enjoy the views on the Skyshuttle. You can even enjoy an off-road ride on the Groundshuttle or have a go on the Dodgems and Go-Karts!

It’s the last time the park will be open this year, so don’t miss your final opportunity to get your JCB fix.

When: Saturday 24 October – Sunday 1 November, 10am – 4pm
Where: Castleford, WF10 5NW
How Much: From £12.97 per person
How to Book: Book online in advance (for less) or pay on the day

Unlock the secrets of Wakefield Museum on a code and cipher trail this October half term!

Make a handy codemaker and test out different ciphers then send secret messages of your own!

When: Monday 26 – Friday 30 October, 10:30am – 3pm
Where: Wakefield, WF1 2UP
How Much: Free
How to Book: No booking required, just drop in

Something very strange has happened in the library. One of its most treasured books has been mysteriously altered, and the ending has disappeared! In The Great Library Mystery the audience become a team of detectives, following clues, solving puzzles and stepping into the world of the book to uncover the truth. Along the way, they’ll encounter familiar faces from much-loved stories, but everyone seems to have a different version of what happened. Who can they trust? And who is hiding something?

A playful, physical, and interactive adventure for families, created especially for libraries. Part of WordFest.

When: Saturday 24, Monday 26 and Wednesday 28 October, various times
Where: Stanley, Sandal, Pontefract and Normanton Libraries
How Much: Free
How to Book: Book online in advance

Meet underneath the trees in Yorkshire Sculpture Park‘s magical Hidden Forest this October half term and get creative, connecting nature with drawing, sculpture building and sensory activities.

Drop-in and follow your child’s imagination as they explore, create and play under a canopy of trees in the outdoor space where imaginations can soar and family memories are made.

When: Thursday 29 and Friday 30 October, 11am – 3pm
Where: Wakefield, WF4 4LG
How Much: Free
How to Book: Free, drop in. Children visit for free, adult tickets from £10 per person.

Gather your little devils together and embark on Blacker Hall Farm‘s Halloween Mischievous Monster Hunt. There are six monsters on the loose around Blacker Hall and they want another friend – can you make one for them? Find each monster on our spooky hunt and they’ll each reveal a feature of there new friend – draw them on your activity sheet – once it’s complete hand it back to the team in The Farm Shop and you’ll receive a monster prize to take home.

When: Saturday 24 October – Monday 2 November, 10am – 4pm
Where: Wakefield, WF4 3DN
How Much: £4.95 per child, includes monster prize
How to Book: Book online in advance