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A family celebrating halloween with carved pumpkins covering their face

With haunted places, ghostly tales and vibrant, autumnal colours, Halloween in Cumbria is a mysterious time to celebrate the spooky season.

Pick your own pumpkin, jump aboard the ghost train, or lose yourself amongst a scary maze! With so many Halloween events in Cumbria to choose from, you’re sure to have a spine-chilling October!

Continue reading to learn more about our favourite spooktacular Halloween events in the Lake District…


Why is Halloween called Halloween?

The term ‘Halloween’ comes from the phrase ‘All Hallows Eve’, referring to the evening before All Hallows Day.

All Hallows Day, otherwise known as All Saint’s Day, is a holiday celebrated on the 1st of November in honour of all of the past saints of the Christian church.

Two young children with carved pumpkins covering their faces

Halloween is thought to have originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. This Gaelic festival was held to mark the end of the harvest season and welcome the beginning of Winter.

It is believed that on this day the boundary between the dead and the living is thinned, meaning spirits can access our world.

During Samhain, the spirits were appeased with offerings of food and drink in exchange for protecting the well-being of humans and livestock.

Nowadays, Halloween has evolved into an evening of celebration, with traditional activities including pumpkin carving, spooky fancy dress and trick-or-treating.


1. The Brockhole Halloween Experience

Brockhole on Windermere – 26th October – 3rd November 2024

Halloween spookiness will once again descend on Brockhole and this year the Haunted Forest has really come to life! Remember, the only thing you should be truly scared of is missing out…

Book early to avoid disappointment, The Brockhole Halloween Experience promises hours of family-friendly thrills.

Image credit: Brockhole

Get ready for yet another spine-chilling Halloween at Brockhole, where our Forest of Fear: immersive live scare experience is not for the faint hearted! Enjoy a fun and festive atmosphere with just the right amount of spooky – enough to capture the Halloween spirit, but friendly and fun for children of all ages.

Here’s a list of spooktacular happenings at The Halloween Experience

  1. Ghost (scavenger) hunting session
  2. Interactive ghost stories with Madame Elvira
  3. Halloween Magic Show
  4. Zombie Archery (7+)
  5. Professor Pumpernickel Science Show
  6. Spooky Pet Encounter: lizards, reptiles & snakes
  7. Brave the Cave: mini caving experience (5+)
  8. Forest of Fear: immersive live scare experience
  9. Halloween Owl Experience
  10. Drumming Workshop & Parade
  11. Frankenstein’s Monster Mash Mini Disco
  12. Mini Tractors Pumpkin Patch (2-6 years)
  13. Go Wild Axe Throwing
  14. Go Wild Laser Tag (8+)
  15. Graveyard Golf
  16. Pirate Boat Hire & Captain Brockbeard’s Treasure Trail

Little ones are welcome with adult supervision, however, some of these Halloween activities may be too hair-raising for children!


2. Twilight Tales at Dove Cottage

Wordsworth Grasmere – 23rd, 28th, 29th 30th October 2024

Image credit: visitlakedistrict.com

 

Join in the spooky fun at Dove Cottage this Halloween. After a delicious hot chocolate and gingerbread, and Halloween crafts in our cosy Learning Space, where kids can dress up in Georgian costumes whilst learning about the Wordsworth family. Once twilight arrives everyone heads over to Dove Cottage and listen to some spooky Cumbrian stories – a great way to spend Halloween in the Lake District!

Perfect for families with children aged 3+. One ticket per family.

Taking place between 4pm and 5:30pm, this event is perfect for families with little ones looking to celebrate Halloween in Cumbria!


3. Walby Farm Pumpkin Picking

Walby Farm Park – 1st October to 01st November 2024

Image credit: Walby Farm

 

No Halloween celebration would be complete without a pumpkin, and this year you can pick your own at Walby Farm Park! Wrap up warm, grab a wheelbarrow and get picking!

Picking out the perfect pumpkin is the first step in creating a terrifying Halloween decoration. Once you’ve made your selection, you can begin carving your scariest face on-site, with guidance on hand to help!

New for 2024: Ghoul School! There’s a whole host of fangtastic activities, from thrilling zip lines to getting up close and personal with our farm animals. When the little monsters need a recharge head to The Cowshed Café for delicious homemade pumpkin soup and spooky treats.

Wellies are recommended, as muddy feet are likely if the weather isn’t on our side. Due to increased popularity, online booking is essential to ensure you don’t miss out!


4. Halloween Family Festival at Muncaster Castle

Muncaster Castle – 26th October – 3rd November 2024

Muncaster Halloween Family Festival has over the years, got bigger and better and this year it returns with a real spine chilling new theme: Vampires!

Image credit: visitlakedistrict.com

Prepare to be frightingly entertained at Muncaster Castle this Halloween. From dawn till dusk, there’s so many ghoulish activities, haunted castle tour, Halloween maze, vampire parade, best costume competition, live entertainment and more…there’s something for everyone to enjoy, ensuring a spooktacular experience for all ages.

Also, for those wanting a heart-pounding experience, try Scarecaster – our spine-chilling, adults-only fright fest, where nightmares reign. There are so many activities and So are you brave enough?


6. Pumpkin Carving

Allan Bank – 26th to 31st October 2024

Two young children dressed in witches costumes carving pumpkins

Fancy carving a pumpkin but not too keen on the mess that goes with it? An afternoon pumpkin carving at Allan Bank in Grasmere is the perfect Halloween activity for you!

The former home of William Wordsworth, the National Trust’s Allan Bank opens its doors this October to Halloween-obsessed visitors eager to get to work on a spooky design.

Hollowed-out pumpkins will be provided, as will all the necessary carving tools, meaning your can spend more time perfecting your design!


Tempted by a spooktacular Halloween in Cumbria this year? Browse our wonderful range of holiday cottages in the Lake District and secure your haunted getaway today! 

For more inspiration on how to enjoy your time away from home, read our ‘discover something new this October half term‘ blog a read. 


Images courtesy of: Matt Brown(CC BY 2.0)