From nerve-jangling trails to spine-tingling stories, fancy dress competitions to pumpkin picking, there’s plenty to see and do in Derbyshire when schools break up.
We’ve rounded up a few suggestions to help make your family’s holiday frighteningly good.
1. Party time
Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Bolsover Castle where The Great Pumpkin Party runs from October 24 to November 1, from 10am until 4pm. Spooky games, interactive storytelling, a themed trail and a seasonal selfie spot will await families. Don't forget to wear your best fancy dress costume - you might just win a prize! This attraction is included in your admission ticket to the castle, with prices from £16.50 (adult), £8.10 (child) and a range of family tickets available. Book early to save 15% at https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/bolsover-castle-halloween-2026 Photo: Historic England/English Heritage Trust/Oliver Edwards
2. Fang-tastic activities
Chesterfield Markets will host a day of family fun on October 31 with free face painting, arts and crafts, spooky stilt walkers and a pumpkin trail around the market and market hall. Sparky Ink Studio will run an animation workshop where visitors can make their own mini film using handmade skeletons and pumpkins. Activities will run in gazebos between Boots and McDonald's. At Queen's Park, the miniature train Puffin Billy will have a Halloween makeover on October 30 and 31 when riders will get a special treat and fancy dress is encouraged. Bug Hotel Workshops will be held at Eastwood Park, Hasland on October 28 and at Holmebrook Valley Park, Chesterfield on October 29, both from 11am until 2pm, when participants will need to bring a cardboard box or plastic bottle. A Halloween themed orienteering challenge and a craft workshop will run on each day. Photo: Chesterfield Borough Council
3. Spook-tacular activities
Half-term promises spook-tacular activities for families visiting Frasers Plus Designer Outlet at South Normanton. From October 23 to October 31, there will be a Trick & Treats Trail; collect a leaflet from Guest Services, hunt down the 10 pumpkins hiding in shop windows across the outlet and return the complete sheet to collect a HARIBO sweet treat. All participants who return a completed sheet will go forward to a prize draw with a Halloween Jellycat up for grabs. The fun continues on Wednesday, October 28 when families are encouraged to dress in their most imaginative fancy-dress costumes and join the centre’s Spook & Seek trick-or-treat trail. Parents will receive a list of the stores where little ones can collect a treat from friendly brand teams dressed in their Halloween finery. Once their trick-or-treating is complete, families can head back to Guest Services to capture their best spooky selfie in the centre’s Halloween photo frame. By sharing the image on social media and tagging Frasers Plus Designer Outlet East Midlands, visitors will be entered into a competition to win a £100 Halloween hamper. Photo: Adobe Stock
4. Children's event
A Halloween children's party with themed games and free food for the kids will be held at Tupton Village Hall on October 31, from 2pm. There will be a raffle and licensed bar. Tickets cost £2 per person for children and adults. Photo: Adobe Stock