It only feels like yesterday the kids returned to school after a bit of a wet summer holidays and now another holiday is almost upon us. If you are looking for things to do this October half term, don’t fear as Love Basingstoke has you covered with our ‘fang-tastic’ guide to what’s on in Basingstoke and Deane.

Free spooktacular fun

Love Basingstoke Presents returns this half term with lots of free spooktacular fun such as slime workshops, ceramic painting, storytelling shows, trails and much more for those aged three to 16 years old. Join the Love Basingstoke team on Monday 23 to Friday 27 October 2023 from 11am to 3pm across the Top of the Town to take part. See the programme of autumn fun in Basingstoke town centre.

The free fun continues in the town centre, head to The Malls Shopping Centre on Wednesday 25 October 2023 for a free ‘Jack O’Lantern’ workshop from 11am to 4pm. See Frankenstein and his Bride walkabout on Saturday 28 October 2023 at 11.30am, 1.15pm and 3pm.

In Festival Place, find the Dragon’s Lair in Porchester Square on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 October 2023 from 11am to 4pm. Gather around the campfire and hear tales of wonder. Children will help the performers to concoct stories before crafting a dragon memento to take home. Also at Festival Place from Saturday 21 to Tuesday 31 October 2023 have a crack at the Dragon Egg Trail, pick up a map from the Customer Lounge and find all of the eggs for the chance to win a Festival Place Gift Card.

There is a Halloween Open Day at Basingstoke MakerSpace at 65 New Road, the Top of the Town on Sunday 22 October 2023 from 1pm to 4pm. Pop along to design and decorate your own laser-cut pumpkin. This is a free activity for those aged eight to 14. Bring some 'messy clothing' as the decorating can get messy!

Oakley Hall Hotel invites you and your little ones for a Spooky Scavenger Hunt around its beautiful gardens and grounds. Head on a hunt to find all the items from a list, little ones will receive a trick or treat if all items are ticked off. No booking is required, simply turn up on the day and hunt away!

Boo’kable indoor fun

Have a ghoulishly good time at Milestones Museum this half term. Follow the Halloween trail around Milestones to see if you can spot who’s haunting the museum's buildings. There will be eerie effects and traditional Halloween decorations as you wander through the cobbled streets. The Halloween event is included in admission. Top tip: Don’t forget, with your admission ticket, you can return to Milestones Museum as many times as you like for a whole year.

Proteus Creation Space will be transformed into a spooky space on Thursday 26 October 2023 for it’s annual Halloween family fun morning from 10am to 1pm, book tickets online. In the afternoon, there is a show ‘Giggle! Wiggle! Plop!’ a brand-new show with music for children aged 4+ and their grown-ups.  You can combine tickets to both the Halloween fun morning and ‘Giggle! Wiggle! Plop!’ show for a combo or purchase individually.

Want a sweet treat without going trick or treating – how about an afternoon tea? Join Oakley Hall Hotel if you dare, from Friday 20 October to Friday 3 November for a Halloween afternoon tea, champagne and childrens tea option available. Expect scary scones with clotted cream and jam, haunted homemade sandwiches and terrifying sweet treats. Enjoy a spookilicious afternoon tea at Basingstoke Country Hotel on Saturday 28 October 2023. Included in a child's ticket price is a visit to the Halloween sweet cart and a colouring gift to take home. Purchase tickets in advance.

For very little ones, Pop and Play have roleplay stay and play ‘spooky town’ sessions at Chineham Village Hall on Wednesday 25 October. At Sherfield Park Community Centre there’s roleplay town with a Halloween theme on Friday 27 October and a Halloween Disco on Saturday 28 October 2023.

Not so spooky, celebrating 75 amazing years in show business – The Sooty Show comes to The Anvil on Thursday 26 October 2023 at 11am and 2.30pm. Book tickets to see Sooty, Sweep, and Soo who are planning a very special birthday party and you’re all invited. However, in true Sooty style, nothing quite goes to plan!

Halloween themed events are back at Atmosphere Trampoline Park on Friday 27 October 2023, including a mini jump, family jump and a space rave for those aged four and over. 

Non-bookable event:

A naughty witch has hidden her pumpkins around the Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery. Can you help find them all? There is no need to book for this activity just turn up during the museum opening hours between Wednesday 25 October to Sunday 29 October 2023. The trail costs £2 to take part and includes a prize to take home.

Fa-boo-lous outdoor fun

There’s a Halloween half term spooktacular special at Four Kingdoms Adventure Park with a spooky maze, ghost train ride, pumpkin catapults and a Halloween show included in admission. There will also be some spooky characters!

It's nearly pumpkin picking season at Bourne Valley Pick Your Own. Pick your own pumpkin from Friday 13 October to Sunday 29 October between 9am and 5pm.

For train lovers head over to Viables and take a ride or two on the mini trains. The Basingstoke and District Model Engineering Club is holding a special Halloween run on Saturday 28 October.

The Vyne has a Halloween trail running daily from Saturday 21 October to Sunday 5 November 2023. Hunt The Vyne’s gardens in search of some mysterious and bizarre ingredients to complete the witch’s potion.

We are so lucky in Basingstoke and Deane to have lots of play areas to help the kids burn energy and get active outside.  Pull on your wellies and kick up the leaves or go for a puddle jump. Or why not take their bikes and scooters and head to one of the many skate parks in the borough.

Halloween is not just for little ones!

Spooky fun is most definitely not just for kids, here’s some events just for adults:

Expect an evening of thrills and chills as Pedlars and Petticoats present an evening of gothic tales from the nineteenth century at Proteus Creation Space on Friday 27 October 2023 from 7.30pm. Book tickets for an evening of stories to freeze the blood in time for the dark nights of Autumn and winter. Just don’t look too closely into the shadows as you leave the theatre…

Be prepared to be spooked at one of the Basing House Ghost Tours this Halloween from Thursday 26 October 2023 to Tuesday 31 October 2023! Book tickets to find out more about the wicked history of the site as you're taken on a tour around the historic ruins of Basing House – the grounds have many a story to tell.

Enjoy an evening of exquisite food and dazzling entertainment at a Masquarade Ball at Oakley Hall Hotel on Saturday 28 October 2023 from 7pm. Tickets include a four-course dinner, Venetian Mask and a live band and DJ. Residential Packages on offer which include an overnight stay or tickets can be purchased separately.

There’s a themed Halloween Bottomless Brunch at Duck and Tipple on Sunday 29 October 2023. Starting at 2pm, there will be 2.5 hours of brunching, themed bingo, spooky music and ghastly goings on. Dressing up is strongly encouraged. BOO’king is essential so head to the website to make a booking or e-mail basingstoke@duckandtipple.co.uk.

Further afield

There are also plenty of places within easy reach of Basingstoke. Take a look at Beyond Basingstoke and Deane for inspiration.

If you have any other half term ideas then drop us an email: hello@lovebasingstoke.co.uk

Please note the inclusion of any business within this listing should not be seen as an endorsement of their services. While the information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information. 

October 2023