8 Activities for Children in Cornwall This October Half Term

1. Cornish Creepy Crawlies Trail – Trebah Garden, near Falmouth

When: 19th October – 1st November
Age: Family-friendly

Grab a magnifying glass and set off in search of some of Cornwall’s creepiest residents at Trebah Garden this October. The Cornish Creepy Crawlies Trail winds its way through the subtropical garden, inviting families to follow the clues and identify a collection of bugs with suitably spooky names.

Created in collaboration with Buzz & Scuttle, the trail includes a magnifying glass to help young explorers with their search. There’s even more insect-inspired fun to discover during your visit, with a Cornish Insects Exhibition running in the Visitor Centre throughout October and a Creepy Crawly Collage Workshop on 30th October.

2. Biofluorescent Night Walk – Trebah Garden, near Falmouth

When: 21st – 22nd October
Age: 8 years +

See Trebah Garden in a completely different light this October with an after-dark adventure into the fascinating world of biofluorescence.

Armed with specialist UV torches, families will explore the subtropical garden after nightfall, revealing extraordinary colours and patterns in plants and other natural wonders that are usually hidden from the human eye. Safety glasses are provided, while sturdy shoes and plenty of warm layers are recommended for the evening walk.

Suitable for children aged eight and over, it’s a brilliant choice for older children looking for a half-term adventure that’s a little out of the ordinary.

3. Halloween Half-Term at Pendennis Castle – Falmouth

When: 24th October – 1st November
Age: Children and families

There are few better settings for some Halloween fun than Falmouth’s centuries-old fortress. This October half term, Pendennis Castle is hosting its Great Pumpkin Party, with family activities and entertainment taking place throughout the historic site.

Expect interactive storytelling, spooky games and a themed trail to follow as you explore the castle. Little monsters are encouraged to arrive in their finest Halloween attire too, with a fancy dress competition taking place each day and prizes waiting for some of the best costumes.

The Halloween activities are included with general admission to the castle.

4. October Half Term at National Maritime Museum Cornwall – Falmouth

When: 24th October – 1st November
Age: All ages

Things are getting a little strange at National Maritime Museum Cornwall this half term, as the Nautical Nasties take over the museum.

Follow the Peculiar Portrait Trail around the galleries in search of spooky faces from the deep, before getting creative and making your own wonderfully weird portrait to take home. From 26th to 30th October, families can also catch The Haunted Bookshop: Nautical Nasties, a storytelling show created with Coppice Theatre and filled with sea monsters, peculiar puppets and curious tales dredged from the depths.

Half-term activities are included as part of the museum’s annual admission.

5. Halloweden – Eden Project, St Austell

When: 24th October – 1st November
Age: All ages

Nature takes a magical turn at the Eden Project this October as Halloweden returns for half term.

Follow the Freaky Fungi Trail through Eden’s gardens to uncover the hidden world beneath your feet, then step inside The Glow Room, where an immersive UV forest reveals nature in an entirely different light. There’ll also be atmospheric storytelling beneath the trees of the Mediterranean Biome and plenty of Halloween fun from Eden’s very own band, The Scarecrows.

For another seasonal adventure, Eden’s much-loved ice rink will also be back, reimagined for 2026 with a shimmering Northern Lights-inspired look. Halloweden activities are included with admission, while ice skating carries an additional charge.

📸: Eden Project

6. Halloween at Heligan – The Lost Gardens of Heligan, St Austell

When: 24th October – 1st November
Age: Family-friendly

Step into the darker side of history at The Lost Gardens of Heligan, where medieval myths, eerie tales and birds of prey set the scene for a rather different autumn day out.

Raphael Historic Falconry will be bringing its birds to the gardens for daily displays inspired by everything from dark medieval mythology to Victorian ideas about the natural world. Families can also gather round for live retellings of some of the Brothers Grimm’s more macabre original stories.

The daytime Halloween activities are included with standard admission to Heligan. For families with older, braver children, separately ticketed evening ghost tours will also take place from 28th to 31st October and are recommended for ages eight and over.

7. October Half Term at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary – Gweek

When: 26th October – 3rd November
Age: All ages

Make some new flippered friends this half term with a family day out at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek.

Alongside meeting the sanctuary’s rescued seals and discovering the important work that goes into their rehabilitation, children can delve into the world of bugs and mini beasts on a Halloween trail, get creative with creepy crafts and learn more about the newest seal pups arriving at the sanctuary for the rescue season.

There’ll also be seal pup rescue demonstrations, regular feeds and talks throughout the day, giving budding wildlife lovers the chance to learn more about Cornwall’s marine life and the journey rescued pups take from rescue to release. Halloween costumes are welcome too, so little witches and wizards can dress for the occasion.

📸: Cornish Seal Sanctuary

8. The Falmouth Ghost Tour – Falmouth

When: Selected dates throughout October
Age: Family-friendly

Think you know Falmouth? Wait until you’ve discovered its darker side.

Led by an appropriately undead guide, the Falmouth Ghost Tour takes families through the town’s historic streets and tucked-away opes in search of some of its most intriguing and spine-tingling stories. Despite the ghostly subject matter, there’s plenty of humour and theatrical fun along the way, making this much more playful than your average history lesson.

The walking tour lasts around 75 minutes, beginning at The Touc Inn on Church Street and finishing at the top of Falmouth’s High Street. Spaces are limited, so booking ahead is recommended.