Posted on Friday 21st October 2022
Alton Towers Scarefest
Tourism chiefs Enjoy Staffordshire are encouraging Staffordshire residents to have a hair-raising half-term in the county this October, with their run-down of 10 great family days out.
Scarefest returns for its 15th year at Alton Towers Resort, bringing spine-tingling scare mazes – such as The Invitation, brand new for 2022 – plus family fun with the Freaky Five and the chance to ride the rollercoasters in the dark.
At Drayton Manor Resort, the Pumpkin Smash Bash is perfect for the little monsters and Night at the Manor for the over 14s, while there are skeletons, vampires and death-defying stunts for Gandeys Circus at The Trentham Estate.
The Halloween Spooktacular at the National Forest Adventure Farm, near Burton, includes the immersive scares of Screamfest and the maize maze, potion-making, broomstick-riding and more for younger visitors.
And Boscobel House in South Staffordshire is home to Beano characters and costumed story-tellers for Halloween Half-Term.
There are thousands of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes at Staffordshire pumpkin patches including Lower Drayton Farm near Penkridge, and Canalside Farm and Amerton Farm near Stafford.
Steer clear of the ghosts and ghouls at Lichfield Cathedral, where the Museum of the Moon exhibition provides an out-of-this-world experience, and at the Snowdome, where Team GB Olympic hero Jenny Jones is one of the star attractions at the Big Bang Snowboard Show.
And it’s the last chance to see the primates at Trentham Monkey Forest, which closes for winter at the end of October, while the National Memorial Arboretum’s Outdoor Escape Challenges finish this month too.
Philip White, Deputy Leader at Staffordshire County Council and Chair of Enjoy Staffordshire said:
“Staffordshire is a great year-round place to visit, and the October half term break offers even more things to do and see.
“Whether it’s the scary mazes at our theme parks, or more gentle Halloween fun like pumpkin carving, arts and crafts, face painting or fancy dress parties, we’ve got it all.
“We also know that many families are worried about the rising cost of living pressures but I want to remind people that as well as our larger attractions, there are also lots of other affordable days out too.
“Our #30DaysUnder30Pounds campaign which we launched in the summer has lots of ideas for family days out which are either free admission, or cost no more than £30 for a family of four to enter.
“There really is lots to choose from and I’d urge people to visit www.enjoystaffordshire.com and get some day trips planned.”
For more information on things to do with the family this October half-term, visit https://www.enjoystaffordshire.com/whats-on/halloween-in-staffordshire