Cornwall’s top tourist attractions seek to extend season over October half term

Cornwall’s top tourist attractions will be offering plenty of family fun this autumn, as visitor attractions across the county reveal their events schedules for October half-term.

For holidaymakers and locals looking for something to keep the kids amused during the school holidays, there’s a feast of fabulous fun to pick from – from spooky happenings around Halloween through to the autumnal celebrations of nature, harvest and the great outdoors!

After a bumper summer for tourism, Cornish visitor attractions have continued to attract strong visitor numbers through September and October – and October half term fun looks set to extend the season even further.

Jon Cummins, Chair of the Board of Directors at Cornwall Association of Tourist Attractions, said: “We’re delighted that all of our attractions are offering such a varied and exciting programme of events this autumn, and hope visitors enjoy all of the treats on offer.

“It’s been really important for our Cornish visitor attractions to enjoy a good season – despite the many challenges in recent months – and it’s really heartening to see visitors from across Cornwall and beyond continuing to enjoy what’s on offer right through the autumn months.”

Visitors to Cornwall’s top attractions can be assured that appropriate COVID-19 safety measures will continue to remain in place, and all attractions will follow recommended government guidelines.

Here’s some of the best half term activities in Cornwall, running from 23-31 October 2021. Dates and opening times may vary so visitors are advised to check attraction websites before visiting.
 

Camel Creek - Halloweek at Camel Creek
A spooktacular week of Halloween fun and terrifying thrills at Camel Creek this October half-term with a host of spooky activities, interactive experiences and spooky encounters planned for this year. Booking is essential as places are filling fast.

Find out more: https://www.camelcreek.co.uk/events/halloweek-at-camel-creek/

Cornish Seal Sanctuary - Whodunnit Mystery Trail
Help Detective Lily solve the mystery – no tricks, just treats! Come dressed in your spookiest outfit!

Find out more: https://sealsanctuary.sealifetrust.org/en/how-to-book-your-tickets/

Eden Project (Joined by the Screech Owl Sanctuary team) - Halloweden
See the award-winning Bakehouse Factory’s bespoke show, created especially for Eden and based around their fabulous 3m tall owl, taking place daily in their Citrus Grove.

Don’t miss the beautiful owls from the Screech Owl Sanctuary and learn all about our feathered friends. Get the whole family involved solving creepy clues in a special puzzle trail, developed in partnership with Eureka Escape. 

Book your spot on a Potion Making Workshop and create your perfect potions, made with a touch of magic and sealed for you to take home and treasure - and don’t forget to book a spin on their spooky ice rink for the perfect half-term day out. 

Book now: https://www.edenproject.com/visit/whats-on/halloweden-october-half-term

Flambards - October Half Term Fun
There’s a host of fantastic family fun on offer at Flambards throughout the October Half Term holidays. From monster magic shows and spooky pumpkin trails through the Victorian Village, to the Helston theme park’s thrilling rides and a stunning fireworks spectacular there’s something for visitors of all ages to enjoy.

On Monday 25 October, The Big Dance Company will be surprising visitors with flash mob shows across the park, and on Tuesday 26 October don’t miss the spine-tingling Billy Wizz Monster Magic Show on the outdoor stage.

Families can take to the cobbled streets of Flambards’ award-winning Victorian Village to explore the spooky pumpkin quiz trail. Authentic shops filled with thousands of 19th century artefacts transport visitors back in time.

A fun mix of rides and attractions– including the white-knuckle Sky-Force ride and the brand new Western Mine Train - are open daily throughout the half term break alongside a horrifying host of additional fun thrills and chills on offer.

On Wednesday 27 October, the theme park is staying open late to stage its famous Halloween Tricks & Treats Firework Spectacular.

As well as the stunning pyrotechnics display which will commence at 7:30pm, visitors can enjoy after dark rides and fabulous entertainment with the local talent, Stone Roots performing two sets of live music before the fireworks launch.

On Sunday 31 October, little ones are invited to come in fancy dress where prizes will be given out on the day for the most terrifyingly terrific outfits

Book now: https://www.flambards.co.uk/october-half-term-cornwall

Lappa Valley - Meet Peppa Pig at Lappa Valley & Lappa Fireworks Spectacular
Find out more about these family events at Cornwall’s secret world of play and trains, a true favourite for the little ones: https://www.lappavalley.co.uk/news-events/

Lost Gardens of Heligan - Heligan Halloween Tricks & Treats!
Travel to the East Lawn Play Tent to join one of Heligan’s have a go workshops, expertly facilitated by the spellbinding Pokya circus troupe. The tricks that you might learn will include poi, diabolo, hula-hoop, tight wire, juggling, unicycle, stilts and so much more. Who will learn the best trick and will it be good enough to earn you a Heligan treat?

Twit-twoo!! Elsewhere in The Gardens, Heligan’s reserve yard will host an array of stunning owls for you to come face to face with and you will realise they aren’t quite as spooky as you may think!

Find out more: https://www.heligan.com/events/heligan-halloween-tricks-treats

Minack Theatre - HORRIBLE HISTORIES: GORGEOUS GEORGIANS AND VILE VICTORIANS

Are you ready to swing with a Georgian king? Can you see eye to eye with Admiral Nelson? Does the Duke of Wellington get the boot? Dare you dance the Tyburn jig? Will you be saved by Florence Nightingale? Find out what a baby farmer did and move to the groove with party Queen Victoria!  Don’t miss this horrible history of Britain with the nasty bits left in!

THE KISS THAT MISSED

The Little Prince’s goodnight kiss has gone missing.  It’s escaped into the forest where it has no business to be, so the brave and fearless knight is sent on a mission to bring it back… But is he brave and fearless enough?

To book tickets, visit: www.minack.com

National Maritime Museum Cornwall - Silhouettes and Shadows, Halloween At The Museum
There will be plenty of spooky fun to be had during half term with the Museum’s Silhouettes and Shadows event from 23-31 October, with make and take fun and exciting museum trails: https://nmmc.co.uk/2021/04/silhouettes-shadows-2021/

And you can celebrate Halloween at the Museum, on the torch-lit trail to find the spooky sea spirits hidden in the Museum’s deepest darkest corners.: https://nmmc.co.uk/2021/05/halloween-at-the-museum-2021/

National Trust

Autumn children's trail at Trelissick - Saturday 23 - Sunday 31 October, 10am - 4pm
Discover the sights, sounds, smells and wildlife of the season with the autumn children's trail at Trelissick. The trail is free but normal admission charges apply, free to National Trust members.

Visit the website to book www.nationaltrust.org.uk/trelissick

Autumn wild art at Trerice - Sat 16 - Sun 31 October, 10:30am - 4:30pm
Get creative with nature and make wild art on the parade ground. The event is free but normal admission charges apply, free to National Trust members.

Visit the website to book  www.nationaltrust.org.uk/trerice

Paradise Park - Creepy Halloween Half Term at Paradise Park
Special appearances by Mark’s Ark with creepy crawly wildlife encounters!

• Learn some eerie fascinating facts on the Halloween Pumpkin Trail about scorpion eating birds, silent but deadly nocturnal hunters and much more, and claim your treat!
• Will you survive the Jungle Express Train on its journey through the jungle tunnel (small extra charge and weather permitting). 
• Look out for spooky dinosaurs and skeletons lurking around the Park.
• Spot the extraordinary Pesquet’s Parrot also known as Dracula parrot and look out for some wonderful Halloween inspired enrichment food for the birds and animals.
• Get in to the spirit of things and come in fancy dress.

For full information: https://paradisepark.org.uk/events-and-news/daily-events-quizzes/

Pendennis Castle - The Wizards of Once Halloween Quest
Head to Pendennis Castle for a fantastical day out this Halloween half-term. Explore the grounds on our brand-new adventure trail inspired by Cressida Cowell’s bestselling Wizards of Once series.

Will you find the ingredients for the Spell to get rid of Witches and uncover the location of the Cup of Second Chances? Come along in frightful fancy dress and snap a picture to enter our competition on social media. It’s going to be a really wizard day out!

Plus, get up close to a host of real-life 'beasts' with Zoolab! Meet some amazing animals – including snakes, spiders, and more – and learn all about these creepy crawly creatures.

Find out more: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/pendennis-castle-halloween-quest/

PK Porthcurno - Slimy Sea Creature Printing!
Join the PK Porthcurno team this October Half term, to discover and print the untold stories of the slimy sea creatures of Porthcurno. Choose your favourite colour and print a Halloween mythical sea horse, a scary worm or a patrol of fish deep under the sea. Learn more about their environmental initiative Planet PK while you reuse their brightly coloured paper and make environmentally friendly slime.

Find out more: https://pkporthcurno.com/events/event/pop-up-pk-october-half-term/

Tate St Ives - Holiday Art Challenge
Pick up a challenge card and pencil, explore the galleries and have some fun. Will you become a Performance Poet, Map Maker, Shape Shifter or create a Window Wonder? Have fun with the new Sketchbook or Tate Shapes activities or peek at paintings with a buggy walk.

Find out more: https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-st-ives/workshop/holiday-art-challenge

Wheal Martyn
Wheal Martyn will be running a whole host of autumn activities during half term – from Autumn Impressions clay workshops to piskie making workshops, from Halloween hi-jinks to performances of Twisted Tales Volume 2 from Owdyado Theatre. Don’t miss out on the seasonal fun. Find out more here: https://www.wheal-martyn.com/Pages/Events/Category/events-listing