From sprawling pumpkin picking fields and ancient castle ruins to vibrant local markets and cozy community trails, October proves why the Wakefield district is England’s true home of Halloween. As the leaves turn, towns across the region come alive with an incredible variety of autumn activities for all ages.
Whether you’re searching for terrifying Halloween scream parks, family friendly half term activities, or cosy candlelit concerts, here is your essential edit to what’s happening across the Wakefield district this October.
Spooky Season, Pumpkin Patches & Family Halloween Fun
Farmer Copleys Pumpkin Festival
Throughout October – Sun 1 Nov | Copley Farms, Pontefract
The UK’s premier pumpkin extravaganza returns with over 250,000 pumpkins across massive fields, fancy dress contests, tractor rides, seasonal street food, and family entertainment.
Yorkshire Scare Grounds Scream Park
Fri 9 Oct – Sun 1 Nov | Wakefield
For serious thrill-seekers, Yorkshire’s top Halloween scream park features live-action horror mazes, haunted scare zones, immersive special effects, and roaming monsters.
Blacker Hall Farm: Pumpkin Patch & Mischievous Monster Hunt
Sat 10 Oct – Mon 2 Nov | Blacker Hall Farm, Wakefield
Head down for family pumpkin picking and painting, or follow the Halloween trail to track down eight mischievous monsters around the farm shop to collect a spooky biscuit treat.
Horncastle Farm Pumpkin Festival
Fri 9 Oct – Sat 31 Oct | Havercroft
Pick your own pumpkins straight from the vine, hop on a rustic tractor ride, and enjoy outdoor autumn activities across the farm fields.
October Half Term: Ghost Walks & Trails at Nostell
Sat 24 Oct – Sun 1 Nov | Nostell Priory, Nostell
Explore the National Trust parkland with spooky Halloween trail walks, hands-on pumpkin crafts, and autumn garden activities for all ages.
Spooktacular Morning at Haw Hill Park
Tue 27 Oct, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Haw Hill Park, Normanton
A free morning of Halloween fun hosted by Normanton Town Council, featuring a themed trail, fancy dress competition, free face painting, and an interactive Flying Squadron owl display.
Late October | Ossett Town Centre
A charming community trail through Ossett searching for decorated pumpkins displayed by local independent businesses.
Halloween Evening at WRSLS Railway
Sat 31 Oct | Blackgates Railway, Wakefield
Hop aboard miniature steam and diesel trains running in the dark through spooky illuminated decorations, accompanied by live music and festive treats.
Partyland Spooktacular Halloween Party
Sat 31 Oct | Millennium Stadium, Featherstone Rovers
An energetic family Halloween party packed with music, dancing, spooky games, fancy dress prizes, and surprises for kids and adults.
WordFest: Zootropolis Movie Screening
Fri 30 Oct, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Featherstone Library
A free half-term family movie screening of the animated mystery-comedy Zootropolis on the big screen with complimentary popcorn provided.
Knottingley Club Halloween Party
Fri 30 Oct | Knottingley Club, Knottingley
A cosy neighborhood Halloween gathering packed with spooky games, party entertainment, and seasonal crafts for local families.
Under 12s Rollerdisco at The Hut
Fri 2 Oct | Castleford
An energetic evening of roller skating, music, and party lights designed specifically for children under 12.
Tiny Tribe Play Cafe Autumn Sessions
Throughout October | Tiny Tribe Play Cafe, Wakefield
Seasonal indoor play sessions, messy play, and autumn-themed crafts designed for babies and young toddlers.
RSPB Fairburn Ings & St Aidan’s Nature Trails
Throughout October | RSPB Fairburn Ings
Autumn birdwatching walks, fungi forage trails, and outdoor family nature discovery sessions across the wetlands.
Wakefield Museums Family & Youth Workshops
Various dates in October | Wakefield Museum & Pontefract Castle
- Ilbert’s Dragon Tales (Ages 2–5): Interactive storytelling for toddlers.
- Have a Dabble: Autumnal Batik: Creative textile craft workshops.
- Walk & Write (Ages 10+): Family creative writing walks through historic Pontefract.
- From Object to Artwork (Ages 12–16): Fine art techniques using historical museum artifacts as inspiration.
- Dispelling Animal Myths (Ages 6+): Uncovering the real facts behind creepy crawlies and nocturnal creatures.
Stage, Screen & Cultural Highlights
Thu 1 Oct | Theatre Royal Wakefield
A chilling gothic drama staged live inside Wakefield’s iconic historic theatre, setting the mood for October horror.
8th October | Theatre Royal Wakefield
Crown Ballet presents an enchanting full-scale production of Tchaikovsky’s immortal classical masterpiece.
20th October | Queen’s Mill, Castleford
An intimate drama performance hosted inside the unique historical setting of Queen’s Mill on the banks of the River Aire.
26th October | Theatre Royal Wakefield
A delightful, lighthearted theatrical performance packed with original songs and magic for young audiences.
Tue 27 Oct – Wed 28 Oct | Theatre Royal Wakefield
Michael Morpurgo’s moving World War I story comes to life in a powerful theatrical production following the bonds of courage and brotherhood.
1800s Murders of Wakefield Walk
Wed 21 Oct | Starts at Wakefield Museum
An eerie evening historical walking tour revisiting notorious 19th-century murder cases, dark alleys, and local folklore across the city centre.
Richard Holmes’ Dark History of Pontefract Castle
Thu 22 Oct – Fri 6 Nov | Pontefract Castle
A terrifying after-dark tour through the castle grounds and underground dungeons, detailing royal betrayals, Civil War sieges, imprisonment, and ghost stories.
St Peter’s Consort Present Fauré, Poulenc & Villette
17th October | St Giles Church, Pontefract
A majestic evening of classical choral works performed inside the atmospheric surroundings of St Giles Church.
Sculpture Baby: Hold to This Earth
Wed 21 Oct – 8th December | Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton
Wednesdays at YSP bring a gentle, sensory creative session for babies and carers set within the quiet surroundings of the Peter Murray Gallery.
Live Music & Nightlife
Comedy Night Special featuring Joel Dommett
Sat 31 Oct | Wakefield Exchange (WX)
Popular TV presenter and stand-up comedian Joel Dommett headlines a major Halloween night comedy showcase in the heart of Wakefield.
Chuckl Comedy ft. Reginald D Hunter & Josh Pugh
3rd October | Theatre Royal Wakefield
Top-tier stand-up comedy nights featuring household names Reginald D Hunter and Josh Pugh on his Ha Ha Yeah Sound tour.
Fri 30 Oct | Wakefield Cathedral
Hear the iconic anthems of The Beatles performed live by classical musicians bathed in the ambient glow of hundreds of candles within the cathedral nave.
Fri 16 – 17th Oct | Unity Hall, Wakefield
Unity Hall transforms into a traditional Bavarian beer hall with authentic steins, brass bands, street food, and live entertainment.
23 – 25th October | Wakefield Exchange (WX)
A major celebration of regional real ales, craft beers, ciders, and street food inside WX.
Rocky Horror Picture Show Night
31st October | Venue 23, Wakefield
A wild night of cult movie musical tribute performances, live singing, shadow cast energy, and fancy dress.
31st October | Farmer Copleys, Pontefract
The UK’s premier downtown Nashville country music tribute show performing live inside the barn at Copley Farms.
The Makings of a Murderer: The Undercover Detective
Wed 14 Oct | Theatre Royal Wakefield
A gripping true-crime stage presentation led by a former undercover detective, detailing real-world investigations and psychology.
A Night of Scream, Quiz & Film at RBT Video
Thu 29 Oct | RBT Video, Wakefield
Wakefield’s secret speakeasy hosts a cult horror quiz night featuring spooky cocktails, movie screenings, and free Ghostface masks.
Locked Into The Bassline Halloween 360 FACE2FACE
30th October | Club Nocturno, Wakefield
A high-energy 360-degree stage electronic music night featuring bassline, garage, and Halloween club decor.
Wakefield ALT / ROCK / METAL Reunion
2nd October | Lost Property, Wakefield
A reunion night for alternative, indie, rock, and metal fans bringing back legendary local club tunes.
31st October | Jasper’s Bar, Wakefield
High-energy live rock covers and classic anthems at Jasper’s Bar.
VVLHP Presents: House Party Vol. 25
3rd October | Ossett
An underground electronic music and house DJ showcase taking place in Ossett.
Creative Workshops, Food & Seasonal Outings
Portuguese Wine & Tapas Tasting Evening
Thu 1 Oct | Qubana, Wakefield
Enjoy a welcome glass of Cava followed by six fine Portuguese wines expertly paired with delicious tapas dishes.
Autumn Wreath Making at The Bingley
4th – 5th Oct | The Bingley, Horbury
Craft a seasonal door wreath using fresh autumn foliage, dried flowers, and pinecones under expert guidance.
Pumpkin Painting Workshop by Holly Greenwood Design
5th & 14th October | HAUS, Wakefield
Relax with specialty coffee at HAUS while hand-painting detailed autumn foliage and floral designs onto ceramic or natural pumpkins.
Cocktails & Canvas: Halloween Ladies Night
October Dates | Brush and Bloom Studio
A paint-and-sip evening where guests create two custom keepsakes—a guided canvas painting and a Halloween glassware design—accompanied by cocktails and nibbles.
Fabric Pumpkins: Children’s Craft Workshop
Thu 1 Oct | Wakefield Exchange (WX)
A cosy evening workshop for kids to sew and craft custom fabric pumpkins to take home.
Creative Workshops at The Art House
Throughout October | The Art House, Wakefield
Expand your artistic skills in Wakefield’s premier creative hub:
- Ceramic Pumpkins: Hand-build your own clay autumnal pumpkin.
- Pattern Play with Block Printing: Design custom printed textiles.
- Jigsaw Style Lino Printing: Learn multi-colored relief printing techniques.
- Film Processing Taster: Hands-on analog photography processing.
- Talk & Draw: Casual life drawing and creative social sessions.
Mon 5 Oct | Pontefract Park
Say (almost) farewell to the flat racing season with an exciting penultimate afternoon of top-tier horse racing on the historic track.
24th October | Pontefract Market Place
Discover local Yorkshire makers, hand-crafted gifts, art, and artisanal food treats across the open-air market square.
Scenic Boating Trips on the Canal
Throughout October | Castleford Lock
Set sail along the canal aboard the historic narrowboat Apollo for a relaxing 90-minute autumn cruise through Castleford’s waterways (dog friendly, BYO snacks).
Tabletop Gaming & Draft Nights at Dungeons & Donuts
Weekly in October | Kirkgate, Wakefield
- Warhammer 40k Autumn Tournament: Sat 17 Oct competitive wargaming.
- Mana & Donuts MTG Drafts: Every Thursday evening casual draft games, commander pods, and card trading.
Wakefield Cathedral Tuesday Lunchtime Concerts
Every Tuesday in October, 1:00 PM | Wakefield Cathedral
Enjoy a peaceful 45-minute classical recital inside the cathedral nave, featuring guest organists, vocalists, and chamber ensembles.
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