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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…
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.
The concent of 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.
Self-proclaimed “the biggest and best Halloween Experience in the Lakes”, a visit to Brockhole is one not to be missed!
Held daily between the 21st-29th of October, The Brockhole Halloween Experience promises hours of family-friendly thrills.
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Explore the towering terrors of The Haunted Forest or try your hand at Zombie Archery. Not for the faint of heart, tackle the Giant Spiders Web or listen to the frightening ghost tales waiting to be told.
The ‘Day of the Dead’ parade concludes the day, where you might catch sight of witches flying overhead. Dance through the grounds to the sound of drummers welcoming ghostly beings for All Hallows Eve.
Little ones are welcome with adult supervision, however, some of these Halloween activities may be too hair-raising for children!
This Cumbrian Halloween Event takes place in the former home of world-renowned English poet, William Wordsworth. Welcoming children aged three and above, there’s lots of family-friendly fun to be had here.
Get toasty on a cold Octobers evening with a hot chocolate as you get to work on creating some Halloween crafts in the designated Learning Space. There’s lots of stories to be heard about the life and writing of Wordsworth, as well as Georgian costumes for little ones to dress up.
When night falls, the group will head to Dove Cottage to hear the terrifying tales of Cumbrian ghost stories.
Taking place between 4pm and 5:30pm, this event is perfect for families with little ones looking to celebrate Halloween in Cumbria!
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 delection, you can begin carving your scariest face on-site, with guidance on hand to help!
Make a day of it at Walby Farm Park, where you can meet friendly farm animals, test your shot on the corn cannon, or let off some steam at the adventure play area.
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!
Taking place at Watchtree Nature Reserve, this Cumbria Halloween event is ideal for the little ones.
Open to guests of all ages, you can test your pumpkin-carving skills, listen to spooky stories or follow the Monster Mile through the woodland. Will you be brave enough to make it to the end?
If you’re up for the challenge, prepare your best fancy dress, as prizes will be awarded for the best hallow-queens and pump-kings.
Although the family fun day is held exclusively on the 25th of October, The Monster Mile will be open daily between 23rd – 31st October.
Fancy carving a pumpkin but not too keen on the mess that goes with it? An afternoon pumpkin carving at Allan Bank 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!
At the end of the event, you’re welcome to take your pumpkin home, where it’ll take pride of place on your doorstep this Halloween!
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)
Hello, I'm Lizi, and I joined the team in May 2021. My favourite staycation destinations include Cornwall, Northumberland, and as ...
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