October is a beautiful time of year to visit the Lake District with the colourful autumnal displays, the cooler weather, and all of the wonderfully spooky events taking place for half-term and Halloween.
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Halloween in the Lake District
The Lake District is a great place to visit for Halloween with haunted castles and spooky woods galore. This year, Halloween occurs during the week after October half term, so many attractions are holding spooky events during the week before, as well as on Halloween itself.
Muncaster Castle – Halloween Festival
This year’s Muncaster’s Halloween Festival will include food & drink stalls, a Scary Maze, a Trick or Treat Trail, fire juggling shows, face painting, a Zombie Shootout and more!
- Dates: 22nd to 30th October, 2022
- Website: muncaster.co.uk/events
Pumpkin Picking at Walby Farm Park
Walby Farm Park never disappoints when it comes to their October pumpkin picking. Your ticket includes a free pumpkin for every paying child, pumpkin carving, a corn cannon, indoor and outdoor play, as well as the chance to get to meet their fam animals. The absolutely perfect autumnal day out with the family.
- Dates: 1st to 31st October, 2022
- Website: walbyfarmpark.co.uk/latest-news/pumpkin-picking-2022
Brockhole Halloween Experience
This is an extremely popular event in the Lake District, and in fact, has sold out completely the last three years running so be sure to buy your tickets now! Examples of what’s on includes a haunted forest, a pumpkin trail, a crazy science show, Halloween arts & ‘witch’ crafts, ghost storytelling, a pirate photo booth, pumpkin carving, a monsters ball silent disco, and much more!
- Dates: 20th to 31st October, 2022
- Website: brockhole.co.uk/whats-on/brockhole-halloween-experience
Halloween Half-Term at Carlisle Castle
Carlisle Castle invites you and your family to follow Dennis, Gnasher and friends to solve creepy clues around the grounds. They promise it will be a “phantomtastic” day with so many wonderfully spooky events taking place.
- Dates: 22nd to 30th October, 2022
- Website: english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/carlisle-castle-halloween-22-30-oct-202
Ghost Tours at Carlisle Castle
Over Halloween weekend, you’ll hear tales of ghosts and horrors from history at Carlisle Castle. The tours are suitable for 16+ so this is not one for the kids! Don’t forget to bring a torch. Tours are offered at 7.30pm and 8pm.
- Dates: 28th to 31st October, 2022
- Website: english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/carlisle-castle-ghost-tours-28-31-october-2022
Halloween Week at Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
Ravenglass and Eskdale have announced their dates for their Halloween Week and, whilst they’ve not released much detail at the time of writing, in past years, they have featured a “ghost train” that takes off after sunset and rides through the night with lots of scary sights to see along the way. Please keep an eye on their website for the full spooky details.
- Dates: 22nd to 30th October, 2022
- Website: ravenglass-railway.co.uk/events
Dark Skies Guided Trail Runs & Walks at Whinlatter
Whilst not explicitly a ‘Halloween’ event, we’re putting this one in our Halloween category due to the nature of these taking place after dark in late October! The walks and runs all start around 6.30pm in the evening and involve a night out in the crisp October air, enjoying the starry skies (hopefully!) and the dark forest (definitely!).
- Dates: Various dates in October
- Website: forestryengland.uk/whinlatter-forest/venue/events-whinlatter
Watchtree Halloween Family Day
This event is for the whole family where you can all get dressed up, carve pumpkins, get your face painted, go for a ‘monster mile’ walk, and maybe even win a prize for the best costume or the best carved pumpkin. Best of all, the event is free (donations appreciated).
- Dates: 30th October, 2022
- Website: watchtree.co.uk/events/watchtree-halloween-family-day-more-info-tbc
Watchtree Halloween Horror Trail – Over 18s Only
Whilst the other event at Watchtree is amazingly family friendly, this one is for the older crowd only – 18+ only! This is a 5km trail in the woods that you can either walk or run with various actors and installations in place to scare the bejeebers out of you. The organisers are encouraging fancy dress, though they do advise to wear appropriate footwear. Head torches are essential and you cannot participate without one. Not for the faint hearted!
- Dates: 29 October, 2022
- Website: watchtree.co.uk/events/watchtree-halloween-team-challenge
Keswick Ghost Walks
Whilst not explicitly a Halloween event, Lakeland Hauntings offers ghost walks in Keswick, which would be perfect in the spooky month of October when the weather starts to get cooler, the leaves begin to fall and the evenings start to get darker. The walks are led by “The Lady” who tells stories based on local legend, myth, folklore, real events and/or eyewitness accounts.
- Dates: Various dates available
- Website: lakelandhauntings.co.uk/keswick.html
Grange Pumpkin Walk
The Grange Pumpkin Walk involves a spooky stroll around Park Road Gardens at night lit up by pumpkins carved by locals. It’s put on by the local pub, the Keg & Kitchen, over two days during half-term. This year, in 2022, they will be raising money for St Mary’s Hospice and are asking that local businesses help out with donations if they can.
- Dates: 26th to 27th of October, 2022
- Website: facebook.com/pumpkin4all
Snow White Spooktacular
The World of Beatrix Potter and the Old Laundry Theatre are putting on a scary pantomime this October based on the famous story of Snow White. There are other events happening in the day, such as face painting and an afternoon, so be sure to check out the official website for further details.
- Dates: 29th October, 2022
- Website: hop-skip-jump.com/event/snow-white-spooktacular
Arts & Crafts Workshops
Quirky Workshops and Cowshed Creative are two great places to get your crafting on here in the Lake District. Each has its own distinct set of courses that they offer that change each month with plenty of options in October still available. Examples include painting an autumnal Lakeland landscape at the Cowshed Creative or discovering stained glass and creating your very own at Quirky Workshops. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Hutton-in-the-Forest: Apple Day
Hutton-in-the Forest always puts on fun family events and Apple Day will surely be no exception. Expect all things apples on the beautiful grounds of Hutton-in-the-Forest on the 2nd of October from 10-4pm. You’ll have fun to your very core… a very a-peel-ing event for the apple lover in your family (we do apple’ogise for all the cr’apple jokes).
Cumbria Wildlife Trust: October Conservation Events
We think that the Cumbria Wildlife Trust puts on the very best events in the Lake District, including conservation days, marine surveys, river restoration and more. What could be more important than learning how to preserve our beautiful world and maybe making some like-minded friends along the way? Check out all of their wonderful events this coming October and get involved!
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival
The annual Lakes International Comic Art Festival is taking place this October from the 14th to the 16th. Events include live draws, interviews, presentations, workshops, exhibitions, book launches and a chance to meet some of the greatest comic artists in the world!
Broughton Beer Festival
The Broughton Beer Festival will be taking place over the last weekend of September / early October from Friday the 30th through to Sunday the 2nd of October. There will be at least 60 real ales on offer to sample with various pubs/venues hosting the event centred in Broughton.
Oaktoberfest at the Royal Oak Inn Moorhouse Pub
Oaktoberfest at the Royal Oak Inn Moorhouse pub in Carlisle is taking place on Saturday the 8th of October, 2022 from 12 noon. Expect German beer, good food and lots of laughs. We give them three cheers for their amazing pun!
Broughton Beer Festival
The Broughton Beer Festival will be taking place over the last weekend of September / early October from Friday the 30th through to Sunday the 2nd of October. There will be at least 60 real ales on offer to sample with various pubs/venues hosting the event centred in Broughton.
Blackwell: Cumbrian Blue(s) - Works by Paul Scott
Cumbrian Blue(s) is a new exhibit this October at Blackwell. The event celebrates Cumbrian-based artist, Paul Scott, as he reworks industrially printed ceramics to fit the 21st century. The exhibition is on from the 21st of October all the way up to the 2nd of January, 2023, and is free to view with the cost of entry to the house.