Autumn is a particularly spectacular time to visit Cornwall, when the air is crisper, the light clearer, and the changes in nature are palpable. As the clocks turn back, bringing in darker evenings, thoughts turn to the strange and unseen, heralding that spookiest of celebrations, Halloween.
Originally known by the Celts as Samhain here in Britain, when people would light bonfires and dress up in costumes to ward off spirits, it eventually transitioned into the Christianised All Hallows Eve (the night before All Saint’s Day) and later into the Halloween that we know today.
Nothing beats an autumnal October getaway, whether you adore this time of year or want to make the most of the good weather. Escape to one of our cosy cottages in Cornwall to make the most of the school half term holidays as a family, hide away in a romantic retreat for two or make the most of the quieter time of year to catch up with your favourite friends. After all, Cornwall is full of myths, legends, and the otherworldly – just what you need for Halloween!
Whatever you choose to do, sprinkle your Cornish stay with a few Halloween-themed experiences to really celebrate the season. Here are our top events that promise all treats and no tricks (well, maybe a few) to add some spice to your stay.
Family-friendly frighteners
If you have little ones in tow, here’s a great choice of gently ghoulish events to get your fangs into…
Halloweden at the Eden Project
Eden Project, Bodelva PL24 2SG
Nature-loving kids will love a visit to the Eden Project over half term, where they’ll discover a host of creepy crawlies at the fantastic Minibeast Show. Featuring some of the planet’s most intriguing creatures such as giant African snails and Chilean tarantulas, children and grown ups alike can test their mettle – dare you get up close and personal with these fascinating beasts?
There’s also a Bug Fair where you can make tiny crafts, have a go at the sticky spider slingshots, and even try snail racing. Meanwhile, in the rainforest biome, you’ll find a host of mega-beast cardboard sculptures lurking amongst the foliage, from ghost crabs to the sticky webs of the orb weaver spider – take to the trail and see if you can fearlessly find them all! Both activities are free with a general admission ticket and Halloweden runs from the 26th of October through to the 3rd of November. Eden’s ice rink is back (the only one in Cornwall), too, perfect for those looking for a thrilling activity.
Pumpkin picking at Trevaskis Farm
Trevaskis Farm, Connor Downs, Hayle TR27 5JQ
Much loved by locals, Trevaskis Farm near Hayle is a charming spot filled with pick-your-own fruit and vegetables, farm animals, a fantastic farm shop and an excellent restaurant. As autumn rolls around, their enormous supply of pumpkins appears in an array of colours, from orange and white to goblin green. Nestled in straw-strewn fields, it’s an annual event taken very seriously to find that perfect pumpkin to take home to carve. Children love searching for them amongst the spooky scarecrows and ghoulish gourds, while parents can look on with a mug of something warming in hand.
Afterwards, give in to temptation and explore the farm shop for their super fresh, home-grown goodies, such as apples and plums (perfect for a spiced crumble or Dutch apple cake), meat from the large butchery, handmade cheeses, baked goods and a great selection of beers, spirits and wines crafted in the local area. If you’re feeling peckish, head to the restaurant that serves excellent food (including a fab roast on a Sunday) and has an incredible dessert counter that draws people in from miles around.
Cornish Maize Maze
Smeaton Farm, Pillaton, Saltash PL12 6RZ
Running every weekend from the 5th of October and then every day from Saturday the 26th through to the 31st of October, the Cornish Maize Maze near Saltash opens its gates for some fangtastic family fun. Set on Smeaton Farm, a 450-acre working farm that forms part of the Duchy of Cornwall estate, pay a visit and you’ll discover a pick-your-own-pumpkin patch and a maze with a Halloween-themed quiz for younger children that’s sure to keep little ones entertained. In addition, there are farm animals and special breeds to visit too.
On the evening of Saturday the 26th, there’s a special Halloween Maze of Horrors, with performers, fire jugglers, and scary scenes as you make your way through the maze. This one isn’t for the faint-hearted, so parental discretion is needed, and prepare for frights that will last a lifetime! There’s a café onsite, and on the 26th there will be a barbeque. This is a dog-friendly space, so it’s a great place for everyone.
Newquay Halloween Trail and Zombie Crawl
Newquay Tourist Info Centre, Marcus Hill, Newquay TR7 1BD
This October, Newquay has been overrun by all things Halloween and it needs to be cured! The town is asking children (with parents in tow) to help find the cure that will help Newquay go back to normal. Starting at the Tourist Information Centre, this free trail, complete with a clue sheet, will take mini paranormal investigators around the town where they’ll need to solve clues to discover the cure. If they complete the trail and hand it back in, children will be given a little Halloween prize. Clue sheets are available from Friday the 25th of October.
If that wasn’t enough, on Saturday the 26th the town will be overrun by zombies on their annual crawl. Expect the unexpected throughout the day as they creep their way around town, and you’re invited to join the hordes of the undead! Don’t have any formal training? No worries – there are different zombie workshops throughout the day from face painters and a wounds workshop to circus skills and dance workshops. Don't forget to head down to Fistral Beach in the evening to see the spooctacular annual fireworks display!
Hal‘owl’een at the Screech Owl Sanctuary & Animal Park
Goss Moor, nr Indian Queens TR9 6HP
Head to the Screech Owl Sanctuary on Thursday the 31st of October for a day of freakishly good fun amongst the birds and animals, such as the fancy dress competition that’s open to young’uns and parents alike, a pumpkin carving competition, free face painting, deliciously devilish storytelling and themed talks. Of course, while you’re here pay a visit to the stars of the show themselves, the owls – from British barn, tawny and long eared owls to European eagle owls, African wood owls, New Zealand boobook owls and American northern hawk owls, there’s a plethora of feathered friends to admire.
The Sanctuary, located near St Columb Major, is also home to creatures of the furry kind, such as wallabies, racoons, llamas, meerkats and pygmy goats. There’s a tea room where you can indulge in a delicious hot chocolate, a play area for the little ones, and shop onsite for memorable gifts to take home.
Train a dragon at Trerice Manor
Kestle Mill, near Newquay TR8 4PG
As if this spectacular Elizabethan manor isn’t creepy enough with its supposed resident ghosts, Trerice Manor near Newquay is opening its doors from the 26th to the 31st of October for people to come along and train a dragon! A free event (although admission to the manor itself applies), come dressed up as your best spooky self and take part in a host of dragon-themed things to do, such as storytelling and step-by-step instructions to train your very own magical beast.
Managed by the National Trust, Trerice itself is worthy of exploration this time of year – in the hayloft children can try on Tudor-inspired costumes, have a go at brass rubbings, and play a variety of Tudor games, all while keeping an eye out for the tiny mice hidden in each of the rooms.
Pendennis Castle
Falmouth TR11 4NQ
What’s more eerie than a haunted castle? The fantastic Pendennis Castle (which is technically a fort if we’re splitting hairs) in Falmouth is opening its doors for your little monsters to enjoy a brilliant day of hauntingly horrific storytelling. In addition, there’s an epic Halloween quest, which will lead you up the ramparts and down into the depths of the castle where you’ll need to solve riddles and answer questions in order to become a ‘Halloween Hero’.
Grown-ups, meanwhile, will love the breathtaking views across Falmouth Harbour and a glimpse into the fascinating history of the fortress, built by Henry VIII and used to defend our shores right up to World War II. Managed by English Heritage, Pendennis boasts a fantastic weaponry collection, Tudor keep, and a new soft play area for little ones. There’s also a great café stock-full of tasty treats and a shop for those all-important holiday mementos to take home with you.
Pumpkin Fest at Camel Creek
Tredinnick, Wadebridge PL27 7RA
There are pumpkins aplenty at Camel Creek this Halloween, with every child getting a free pumpkin on arrival before delving into a host of hauntingly excellent activities. Running from Saturday the 18th to Thursday the 31st of October in Wadebridge, you’ll find plenty to keep your little ones entertained. Head to the pumpkin patch where they can grab their very own wheelbarrow and choose a free pumpkin to take home (while stocks last).
If you’re feeling brave, head to the House of Horrors where children can enjoy all the things spooky, with scream-inducing surprises and fun around every corner, while the Trick or Treat Doors dares you to find out who (or what!) is behind each door – will it be a surprise or a scare? In addition, there’s scarily good live entertainment throughout the park, and even marshmallow toasting for those with a sweet tooth (or fang). Of course, the usual rides and attractions will be open so whether you fancy a ride on the dragon roller coaster, a go on the shipwrecked golf course, or a play in Merlin’s magical playground, there’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained.
Halloween at Paradise Park
16 Trelissick Road, Hayle TR27 4HB
Alongside 130 different species of bird and the resident otters, red squirrels, red pandas, and miniature donkeys, Paradise Park is home to something unexpected this Halloween. Nestled in Hayle, Paradise Park is welcoming Mark’s Ark, whose close encounters of the creepy crawly kind are a must for any animal-loving child. Featuring snakes, tarantulas, and other crawling critters, experiences are running from the 27th of October to the 1st of November – do check out their website for exact timings to avoid missing out.
Other spooky goings-on include a Halloween trail, where you can learn interesting animal facts (and discover the eye-opening Dracula parrot!). There are some super-special meet-and-greets too, such as Frank the orange-eyed eagle owl, daily penguin talks, and feeding times for the otters and lorikeets - not to mention an indoor soft play area where little boys and ghouls can let off steam.
The Dark Gathering
Mayfair Car Park, Tintagel
This unique and extraordinary gathering has taken place for the last ten years. Originally based in Boscastle, The Dark Gathering recently moved to the nearby town of Tintagel where the ruins of one of Cornwall's most famous haunted castles lie. Celebrated on the Saturday before Halloween, it’s a fantastic festival with performances from Morris dancers and musicians, and the appearance of Penkevyll, the Cornish Oss who marks the end of Summer and the beginning of Winter.
In the evening, there’s an ancestral ceremony to honour those who have passed and, this year, to celebrate its tenth anniversary, there will be a ceremonial performance from Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations. Expect fantastical costumes, rousing music, and a real spectacle, whether you celebrate Samhain or just love all things spooky. It’s on whatever the weather, so bring warm, waterproof clothing and a torch! If you get peckish, there will be food stalls and plenty of places to eat in the village itself. Head to the Mayfair Car Park on the 26th of October where celebrations begin from midday. Anyone under 18 needs to be accompanied by an adult, and you’ll need to book tickets online beforehand.
Gruesome goings-on for grown ups
Of course, Halloween isn’t only for children! If horror films and spine-chilling ghost stories are your bag, here are a few events that are strictly for adults.
Bodmin Jail
Berrycombe Road, Bodmin PL31 2NR
Spooky enough at the best of times, Bodmin Jail really comes into its own at Halloween. Set among the chilling and atmospheric Bodmin Moor, once the sun sets you’re in for a night of horrific hijinks. For the particularly brave, there’s an after-dark Halloween special, running on the 31st of October and the 1st of November, where you’ll investigate paranormal phenomena from 11pm to 3.30am when the veil between worlds grows thin.
Guided by experts in small groups, you’ll be given special equipment to aid your investigations through the darkness. Alternatively, book yourself one of the last few tickets for ‘Beyond the Veil’ on Friday the 1st of November, when you can enjoy ghost-themed cocktails, a ghost walk, a séance, and private readings. Other events are more family-friendly if you want to visit with the kids, such as Halloween fireworks on the night itself, a heritage tour, and the Haunted Gallery, as well as the usual ghost tours.
The Scare Asylum
Raze the Roof, 30a Parkengue, Kernick, Penryn TR10 9EP
If you love the fear factor and fancy a night out where you’ll be frightened to the bone, head to The Scare Asylum in Penryn, where the brave can enter the Scare Asylum maze, home to murderous-criminals-turned-dangerous-zombies. The aim of the game is to make your way through the rooms to find the antidote, dodging the zombie inmates as you go to save the world. Once you’ve found the cure, it’s time to finish off the escaped zombies through a spine-tingling VR experience.
If all that apocalyptic excitement has worked up a thirst, head to The Graveyard Inn for a tipple or two, while the Boneless Bistro serves snacks and ice cream. You have to be over 16 to join in the frightening fun and expect live scare-actors and twisting and turning corridors with jumps around every corner, so this is definitely not an event for the easily scared! Running from the 26th to the 31st of October, you’ll need to book your tickets online in advance.
Feeling inspired to get involved in some ghostly goings-on? Take a look at our devilishly delicious holiday cottages in Cornwall and start planning your getaway today.
