Halloween Holidays: Prepare for a Scare!

This Halloween, make an October Autumn holiday part of the family tradition. Across Waterside’s Dorset and Cornwall holiday parks, you can combine seasonal adventures with Halloween entertainment, cosy evenings and plenty of time to simply enjoy being away together. 

From pumpkin carving and creepy crafts to fancy dress, spooky games and even a full-blown zombie funfair, there’s plenty to keep little monsters entertained. Parents get something out of it too: comfortable holiday accommodation, food and drink, facilities and a change of scenery while the children embrace their inner ghosts and ghouls. 

And because Halloween falls during the October half-term, it’s a great opportunity to make a proper break of it rather than squeezing all the fun into one evening. 

Halloween at Waterside is less terrifying horror movie and more excuse to dress up, eat treats and have a brilliant time together.

Seasonal entertainment varies between parks and dates, but includes pumpkin carving, creepy crafts, monster-themed activities, spooky games, children's discos and Halloween entertainment.

There are plenty of opportunities for children to get involved rather than simply watching from the sidelines. At Bowleaze Cove, the 2026 programme includes activities such as Boo & Brush, where children can paint their own ceramic ghost, Trick or Squish, where they can make a Halloween Squishmallow teddy, pumpkin carving and colouring their own trick-or-treat bags.

Fancy dress is very much encouraged. There are Halloween dress-up competitions, kids' discos, Halloween bingo and party dances, giving everyone an excuse to dust off the witch's hat, vampire cape or skeleton onesie.

For younger children, the emphasis is on silly, playful scares rather than anything too frightening. Think pumpkins, monsters, music and plenty of opportunities for a photo you'll probably embarrass them with when they're older.

Top tip: pack the costumes. Even if you don't normally go all-out for Halloween, it's part of the fun when the whole family joins in.

The best thing about a Halloween break is that the spooky stuff doesn't have to be the whole story. Choose your Waterside park and you'll have an autumn base from which to explore the coast, countryside and attractions of Dorset or Cornwall.

If you're looking for a lively family Halloween holiday in Dorset, Bowleaze Cove brings together a classic holiday-park atmosphere with its coastal setting, activities and entertainment.

The Halloween programme is packed with things to do throughout the day, followed by evening entertainment ranging from kids' discos and Halloween games to fancy dress competitions, glow shows, party dances and live acts.

Then there's the rather excellent Southside Funfair next door.

For Halloween 2026, Southside is transforming into Weymouth's Biggest Zombie Funfair from 23 October to 1 November. On 30 and 31 October, brave visitors can also take on the Frightmare Ghost Train of Terror, running from 5pm until late at £8 per person.

There will even be fireworks at Southside on Halloween itself, at 9pm on Saturday 31 October.

That's one way to end a half-term day.

For a Dorset getaway with easy access to the Jurassic Coast, Chesil Beach makes a great base for an autumn family escape.

Spend the day exploring the coastline, head into Weymouth for some seaside atmosphere or build your own Halloween adventure around the park and its facilities.

The beauty of an October break is that you don't need sunshine from morning until night to have a good time. A crisp coastal walk followed by somewhere warm to eat, a few games and a cosy evening back at your accommodation can be every bit as enjoyable as a summer beach day.

Discover more of our Dorset holiday parks and find the setting that suits your family.

For something a little quieter, Osmington Mills offers a woodland and countryside setting close to the Dorset coast.

It's a lovely choice if your ideal Halloween involves wrapping up warm, exploring autumn trails, coming back to a cosy lodge and watching the leaves blow around outside.

The darker evenings only add to the atmosphere. Just don't blame us if every rustle in the bushes suddenly sounds suspicious.

Over in Cornwall, Tregoad offers a different kind of Halloween backdrop, surrounded by Cornish countryside and plenty of opportunities to get outside.

Its 2026 Halloween programme includes Creepy Crafts, Monsters Mayhem, Meet the Animals, pool activities and Spookyarobics, alongside evening entertainment such as Fireside Frights, kids' shows, live singers and a Halloween quiz.

There is also a Halloween Bobs and Fancy Dress Showdown on 31 October, giving little witches, monsters and pumpkins another opportunity to show off their costumes.

Sometimes the simplest Halloween activities are the ones children remember the most.

There's something rather satisfying about scooping out a pumpkin, deciding whether your monster should have a wonky smile or terrifying teeth, then proudly displaying the finished creation.

Across Waterside's seasonal programmes, families can get stuck into activities including pumpkin carving, creepy crafts, Halloween games, trick-or-treat activities, monster-themed sessions and fancy dress.

At Tregoad, children can get creative during Creepy Crafts sessions, while Bowleaze Cove's programme includes pumpkin carving, Boo & Brush and Trick or Squish.

There are activities for different ages too, from character breakfasts and Kanga Boo Kapers for younger children through to evening entertainment for the whole family.

Activities, entertainment and availability can vary between parks and dates, so check the Waterside Holiday Group app before and during your stay. Daytime activities are bookable through the app and spaces can be limited.

Halloween might be the reason you book the break, but autumn in Dorset and Cornwall gives you plenty of reasons to head outside too.

Wrap everyone up, pull on the wellies and see what you can find.

Look for the first signs of autumn colour on a woodland walk. Collect fallen leaves. Explore a beach without the crowds of summer. Follow a coastal path with the sea stretching out beside you. Stop for a hot chocolate afterwards.

At Tregoad, the countryside setting makes it particularly easy to embrace the outdoors, while its Halloween programme includes nature-led activities such as Meet the Animals and Fireside Frights.

There's something about an October afternoon that makes even an ordinary walk feel a little more atmospheric. The low light, bare branches and crunchy leaves are practically doing the Halloween set design for you.

And if the weather turns? That's what cosy accommodation is for.

You don't have to spend your entire break at the park. October half-term is a great time to explore the attractions and landscapes around Dorset and Cornwall too.

Halloween in Dorset

If you're staying near Weymouth, Nothe Fort's Halloween Family Half-Term runs from 24 October to 1 November 2026, with Halloween mouse hunts, family ghost tours, wand-making, pumpkin golf, creepy crafts and spooky games.

There are plenty of other seasonal options across Dorset too. Farmer Palmer's Halloween Half Term runs from 26 October to 1 November, with a Halloween quiz, Snotbags Disco, a Maize Maze and its usual family attractions.

For something particularly atmospheric, Moors Valley's Halloween Illuminated Trail returns from 23 October to 1 November, transforming the woodland after dark with spooky installations and illuminated scenes.

Closer to home, Weymouth's coast, harbour and historic streets are an easy starting point for an autumn day out. You could spend the morning exploring, stop for lunch, then return to the park in time for the evening's Halloween entertainment.

Halloween in Cornwall

Cornwall has its own collection of seasonal adventures.

At the Eden Project, Halloweden runs from 24 October to 1 November 2026. Families can follow the Freaky Fungi Trail, explore the Glow Room and enjoy Halloween entertainment, with a special Halloween celebration on 31 October.

For something a little darker, Bodmin Jail's Trick or Treat Halloween Trail runs from 17 to 31 October, with games, puzzles, riddles and prizes included with jail entry.

And for a family day out filled with rides and seasonal fun, Camel Creek is running its Pumpkin Fest from 24 October to 1 November, with pumpkin picking, a Halloween-themed maze, games and spooky attractions.

Closer to Tregoad, Looe and the surrounding coast are perfect for an autumn wander, while the local area also has its own Halloween events. A Family Friendly Ghostly Tales Walk is scheduled in Looe on 30 October 2026, followed by an adult Halloween Ghost Walk later that evening.

Always check individual attraction websites before travelling, as seasonal events, opening times and ticket arrangements can change.

After pumpkin carving, coastal walks and chasing monsters around the park, you'll probably have earned dinner.

Luckily, Halloween holidays aren't all about keeping the children entertained. There's something wonderfully cosy about coming back from an autumn day out, getting everyone fed and settling in for the evening.

Waterside's restaurants and bars give you the option of making an evening of it without having to venture far. At Tregoad, Stargazy Bar & Grill is at the heart of the Halloween entertainment, with Fireside Frights, children's shows, quizzes and live music taking place during the programme.

Then there's the accommodation.

Put on a Halloween film. Make hot chocolates. Get the board games out. Let the children compare whose pumpkin looks most terrifying. Or simply put your feet up after a busy day and enjoy the rare luxury of having nowhere else to be.

That's the other side of a good October half-term holiday: you don't have to do everything.

For younger children, Halloween can be more about the excitement than the fright.

There are costumes to wear, pumpkins to decorate, crafts to make and new characters to meet. At Bowleaze Cove, for example, the programme includes character breakfasts, Kanga Boo Kapers and children's Halloween activities alongside the bigger evening entertainment.

Tregoad also has plenty of gentler options, from Creepy Crafts and Meet the Animals to pool activities and kids' shows.

So if your little one isn't quite ready for a ghost train or a haunted attraction, there's no need to miss out. Halloween can simply mean putting on a ridiculous costume, carving a pumpkin and eating something sweet before bedtime.

Honestly, that sounds pretty good to us.

Halloween itself lasts one day. A Halloween holiday can last much longer.

A few nights away gives you time to settle in rather than rushing from one activity to the next. Spend one day exploring the coast. Another enjoying the park. Fit in a Halloween attraction. Have a lazy morning. Find somewhere lovely for lunch. Let the children burn off some energy before everyone retreats to the accommodation for a film.

Waterside offers family holidays and school holiday breaks designed around making the most of time together, with short breaks available alongside longer stays.

And October has its own particular charm.

The beaches are quieter. The countryside is changing colour. The air feels crisp. There are fewer crowds at some of your favourite places. Then, as darkness falls, Halloween gives the whole evening a little extra sparkle.

Or a little extra spook.

From pumpkin carving and creepy crafts to coastal adventures, cosy evenings and proper Halloween thrills, an October half-term holiday in Dorset or Cornwall gives the whole family something to look forward to.

Stay at Bowleaze Cove for lively family entertainment and the added excitement of Southside Funfair’s Zombie and Frightmare takeover. Choose Chesil Beach for a Jurassic Coast adventure. Head to Osmington Mills for a quieter autumn escape surrounded by countryside. Or make Tregoad your Cornish base for woodland adventures, seasonal entertainment and plenty of Halloween fun.

Just remember to check the Waterside Holiday Group app for the latest activities, entertainment, opening times and booking information during your stay. The programmes can change, and some activities have limited spaces.

So pack the costumes, bring your appetite for adventure and prepare for a half-term with a few surprises around every corner.

Explore Waterside holidays and find your perfect Halloween hideaway.