Welsh schools begin their autumn half term on Monday, October 26, and families across the country will find a mix of free and ticketed Halloween activities in Cardiff, Swansea and further afield in south Wales, including spooky trails, pumpkin picking, concerts and more.
Free Halloween fun in Cardiff
Mermaid Quay in Cardiff Bay will host six days of free Halloween fun from Monday 26 to Saturday 31 October, 11am–4pm. Each day features a different activity, alongside a Halloween Haunt Trail inviting families to explore the waterfront on a spooky mission, with workshops, face painting and treats.
Forage Farm, just outside Cowbridge, opens for the 2026 season on October 3 until October 31. Its patches will be full of pumpkin varieties, with tractor rides, animals, seasonal food and drink, plus entertainment. There is a spooky maize maze and an after-dark session with more thrills and scares.
Halloween events at castles and farms
Fonmon Castle in the Vale of Glamorgan, known for its dino trail, is hosting three kinds of Halloween events: daytime fun with character appearances and performances from the likes of Hocus Pocus' Sanderson sisters and Maleficent, evening spooktaculars with scary characters after dark, and paranormal investigations. The events run on select dates until November 7.
Clearwell Farm at Michaelston-Y-Fedw, just outside Cardiff, holds its Pumpkin Festival with a pumpkin village, Harvest of Horror, autumn cocktails, DJs and more, starting Friday, October 2. Wales Millennium Centre's Halloween Spooktacular on October 31 offers a family afternoon with orchestral music and Halloween favourites.
Swansea's spooky offerings
Spooks in the City returns to St David's Place on 31 October with a free celebration inspired by El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), featuring the Caravan of Lost Souls with acrobats, fire performers and circus artists. Oystermouth Castle will host The Spooky Castle - Alina's Great Ghoul Getaway on Saturday, October 11, 11.00am-4.00pm, with vampire Count Crumble, witch Mabel Moonbeam and monster Boris Bumbles. Castle admission applies, but shows are free.
The Swansea Bay Rider land train gets a spooky makeover for ghostly rides along the promenade during half term, with an earlier, less scary session for younger children and visitors with additional learning needs. Tickets are £8.50, with advance booking required. Swansea Market's Terror at the Market Garden on October 31 offers free face-painting and spooky storytime.
Festivals and trails across south Wales
Swansea Science Festival 2026 runs from October 26-31 at the National Waterfront Museum, with tickets from £1 per person and free exhibitions. Highlights include Confessions of a Traitor with Wales' Traitors contestants Fiona and Amanda and Swansea University psychologist Dr Alex Jones, Grace's Amazing Machines with the CBeebies presenter, and The Science of Harry Potter.
Gower Fresh offers a car pass (£5.26 for up to six people) giving full-day access to its pumpkin patch and haunted trail through the Christmas trees, plus a visit to the reindeer herd. Ponty's Big Bang firework display in Pontypridd's Ynysangharad Park takes place on Halloween, with gates opening at 4:30pm, closing at 7pm and fireworks at 7:30pm. Tickets are from £9 for adults and £5 for kids 3-13.
Milford Waterfront in Pembrokeshire hosts Mad4Animals live animal encounters at Sybil House on Friday, October 30, with a 60-minute show and a 30-minute meet and greet. Tickets are £3 for infants, £8.50 for children and £9.50 for adults. The National Botanic Garden runs a Dino Trail from Saturday, October 24 to Sunday, November 1, featuring 18 brick-built dinosaurs, included in Garden admission.
Cadw's spooky castle events include Kidwelly Castle's Halloween trail (Monday, October 26 to Sunday, November 1, 09:30-17:00), a trail at Laugharne Castle on Halloween (Oct 31) between 11am and 4pm, a children's activity day at Strata Florida Abbey on Thursday, October 29, and a spooky trail at Tretower Court and Castle near Crickhowell on October 30 and 31.
