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Family Autumn Activities
Visit a Halloween Trail
Where: Moors Valley
About: Get into the Autumn spirit with a spooky Halloween trail at Moors Valley. Explore the forest after-dark with a brand-new spooky illuminated trail for the whole family; Wander from dusk into darkness, but remember, the darker it gets, the spookier it gets.
Best time to go: The trail will be open from from 23rd October to 2nd November 2025 between 16:00-21:00. For the ultimate spooky experience, the later in the day that you go, the better!
Celebrate Halloween at Monkey World
Where: Monkey World, Wareham
About: Celebrate Halloween this year with your loved ones at Monkey World! Show up in your best fancy dress for free entry.
Expect a fancy dress competition with potential prizes to be won, as well as the Acivity Centre will be open for children. Alongside all of this, you will be able to explore all the monkey enclosures as usual, visit the cafe and snacks kiosks. Make sure to select the Fancy Dress option when booking online for a free ticket for your child.
Best time to go: This event will be running from 10:00-17:00, but head down as early as possible to enjoy a full day of Monkey fun!
Mapperton's Halloween Trail
Date: 26th to 31st October
Location: Minterne Estate
Event Information: Join Mapperton this October half term for a spellbinding Halloween trail through the Mapperton Gardens.
Children will receive a mini activity booklet at the start and follow a mapped route through the gardens, discovering decorative Halloween scenes. Each display hides a letter to collect and unscramble into a spooky word.
From witchy washing lines and golden pumpkins to giant spiderwebs and spooky coffins, every stop brings a touch of autumn magic.
The trail finishes at the Summerhouse, transformed into a Potion Room filled with broomsticks, potion bottles, cobwebs and candlelight.
Price:
- Trail price: £5 per child (includes garden entry, activity booklet, trail and potion-making)
- Garden entry: For every child, one accompanying adult has FREE garden entry
Minterne House Halloween Trail
Date: 17th to 31st October
Location: Minterne House and Gardens
Event Information: Minterne House has organised an exciting Halloween Trail this Autumn! At Minterne House, you'll have 27 acres of untamed woodland garden to roam and discover during their Halloween Trail.
Expect -
- Ghostly appearances in the Gardens.
- Skeletons rowing across the lake.
- Spiders & Cobwebs hiding in the shrubbery.
- Bats, Bats & more Bats!
- Witches casting spells over their cauldrons!
Price:
- Adult Ticket - £10.48
- Children- £5.24
Join RockReef for their Spooktacular
Where: RockReef, Bournemouth Pier
About: October Half Term Fun Begins with RockReef & PierZip!
RockReef's Spooktacular Half Term includes:
- Pumpkin Hunt (Dates TBC) – Find the pumpkins and win sweets!
- Look out for their spooky decorations!
As well as RockReef's Spooktacular activities, they will also still be running their Clip 'n Climb, PierZip, Pier Cave and have their 28 Climbing Walls open!
Best time to go: Anytime between 10:00-16:00
The Blue Pool
About: Get ready for a spook-tacular time this Half Term with a whole week of Halloween-themed activities! Enjoy a Spooky Trail around The Blue Pool packed with eerie surprises, plus fun Halloween activities:
- Pumpkin Carving
- Face Painting
- Bat Box Making
Opening Times/Dates: From Saturday 25th October to Friday 31st October 2025 from 9:30am until 5:00pm.
Price: Admission fees apply; members get free entry and 10% off activities. Fancy dress encouraged—no booking needed, just pay at the gate!
Address: Furzebrook Road, Wareham, BH20 5AR
Enjoy Some Halloween Festivities
Where: Various locations across Dorset.
About: The arrival of Autumn means it’s time to celebrate Halloween once again as Dorset prepares itself for spectacular spooky activities. This year we’ve got Halloween in Dorset covered with our ghost-filled guide covering everything you need to know about the scariest holiday of them all.
Check out Dorset;s Halloween favourites below including:
Pumpkin picking
Halloween events
Haunted places
And so much more!
Best time to go: Throughout October
Adult Autumn Activities
Head On An Autumn walk
About: Dorset's coastlines and hilly countryside make for a host of brilliant walks all year round, and we’ve rounded up our pick of the best Autumn walks in Dorset. If you’re looking to get out into the great outdoors this Autumn then take on one of Dorset's brilliant walks and enjoy seeing some breathtaking views as forest floors explode with colour and coastlines become the scenes of some epic waves.
There are plenty of things to do in Dorset throughout Autumn but heading out on a scenic walk has to be one of our favourite seasonal activities. Check out Dorset's best Autumn walks here.
Best time to go: Any time of the day, avoid evening due to visibility.
Marvel at Bonfire Night Fireworks
Where: Various events happening around Dorset.
About: Remember remember the 5th of November because bonfire night is once again returning to Dorset this Autumn as firework events take place across the county. Secure your space at one of Dorset's brilliant bonfire night events and enjoy a fun-filled evening out with the kids watching Dorset's skyline be illuminated with exciting colours and dazzling patterns on one of the biggest days of Autumn.
Check out our guide to Bonfire Night in Dorset here or by clicking below.
Best time to go: Bonfire night events will take place in the evening.
Catch the Golden Hour
About: Is there anything more beautiful than watching the sunset? Dorset's is full of brilliant locations to watch the sunset and with nights getting earlier throughout Autumn, you don’t have to wait up late for the golden hour to arrive. Keep your phones at the ready for some stunning golden hour pictures as you visit Dorset's brilliant sunset locations and watch as the sky replicates the colours of Autumn that are exploding all around us.
Check out the best sunset locations in Dorset here.
Best time to go: Changes throughout Autumn, most sunsets around 6.30pm to 7pm.
Enjoy A Cosy Pub Meal
About: As the cold weather approaches there is nothing more comforting than a hearty pub meal by an open fire. Dorset's culinary scene features some of the best cosy pubs around, with plenty of options to choose from this Autumn as you look to get out of the elements and warm up with family and friends. Click here to check out our favourite cosy pubs around Dorset!
Best time to go: Evening
Go Surfing
Where: Branksome Dene Chine, Poole Park and Hamworthy.
About: Get your wetsuit out and dive on in because Autumn brings with it some of the best surfs that Dorset has to offer. As winds increase and kids go back to school, Autumn is one of the best times of the year to grab your kit and head out for an awesome surf. Check out Dorset's best surfing spots, here.
For those wanting to rent a board or get a little extra help in a Surfing Lesson - TGt recommends:
Best time to go: Depends on swells, check local surf reports before you go.
Take a Theatre Trip
Where: Tivoli Theatre, Bournemouth International Centre, The Pavilion
About: This Autumn and Festive period there will be numerous on stage performances for you to visit, including Pantos and Musicals!
Family Autumn Activities
Pumpkin Picking
About: We’re ready to celebrate the spookiest season of the year as Halloween approaches with plenty of Dorset's pick-your-own farms stocked up on pumpkins for one of Autumn’s favourite activities. Check out our guide to the best pumpkin picking patches in Dorset here and enjoy an afternoon of Instagram-worthy fun picking your pumpkin and carving out some ghostly designs. Enjoy celebrating Autumn’s scariest holiday by taking the kids out for a day on the farm.
Best time to go: Throughout October.
Check out Dorset's Autumn events
About: There are tons of brilliant Autumn events taking place around Dorset, meaning your end to the year is packed with things to do in the county. From food festivals to park runs, Autumn markets to musical performances, there is a range of exciting Autumn events happening around Dorset. Take a look at our events calendar here or click below to find out more about the biggest and best events taking place in Dorset this Autumn.
Best time to go: Various