With half term covering both Halloween and Guy Fawkes Night there are so many amazing family-friendly events going on over the next week or so. I can’t even tell you how long this events guide took to put together… ages! Please please please help me out and give this a share on social media.

The first section features all the Halloween-specific events followed by firework displays. There’s plenty of other events going on – theatre and performance; regular events; arts crafts culture and museums; nature and the great outdoors; cinema and film.

All events are subject to change and cancellation – please do check ahead beforehand to avoid disappointment.

Anything I’ve missed please leave in the comments below, on the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page or you can tweet me on @cardiffmummy

Photo above taken at Mountain View Ranch two years ago.

Halloween-themed events

Half term and Halloween at Parc Play

Parc Play Curren Embankment Cardiff

Spooky Evening at Parc

Friday 26 October 6.30pm-8.30pm

Must be pre-booked. Adults £1; children 4-12 £8 including hotdog and juice; 2-3 £6.50 including hotdog and juice. Members pay £3 for hotdog and juice.

Half-term activities

Monday 29 October-Friday 2 November 10am-6pm

No booking required

Activities all week include haunted castle; best dressed prize; Parc’s spooky trail; green ice cream; Halloween-themed slush; mystery box; bare foot Challenge; photo booth; Halloween games.

Wild Walk at Parc

Friday 2 November; half hour shows every hour from 10.30am until last show at 4.30pm

Adults £2.00; children aged 4-12 £10.50; children aged 2-3 £9.00

A unique encounter with some of nature’s spookiest and scariest animals. Look out for tarantulas, scorpions, stick insects, frogs, toads, assassin bugs, millipedes, centipedes, geckos and slithery snakes, including a photo opportunity with one of the stars of the show. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Prices include full access to Parc on Friday 2 November, keepsake for each child, photo opportunity and 30 minute guided talk. Advance Tickets recommended and some spaces may be available to book on the day. Not suitable for children under two.

Halloween and half term

Amelia Trust Farm, Five Mile Lane, Barry

Pumpkin Patch Trail

Saturday 27 October-Sunday 4 November

£2.50 per sheet

Find the spooky, silly and spectacular pumpkin faces appearing around the farm. Pick up your trail leaflet and tick them off as you go, spell two words and receive a prize at the end of the trail.

Kids crazy head wear

Monday 29 and Tuesday 20 October; 10.30am; 11.15am; 12pm; 1.45pm; 2.30pm; 3.15pm

£5.50; must be pre-booked

Prepare your costume before October 31. Children can make their own fancy dress head wear, ranging from pumpkin and googly eye head bands to monster hats.

Little Pumpkins’ Parties

Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 October

£5.50 per child; must be pre-booked; some sessions sold out

Two hours of music, bouncy castle including a disco dome, soft play and ball pit, face painting and a fancy dress competition for the best spooky character! Plus, the Pumpkin Patch trail is included as well as a goody bag.

Halloween at Mountain View Ranch

Mountain View Ranch, Tongwynlais, Cardiff

Saturday 27 October to Sunday 4th November

£6 per person age 2+ (under 2s free); family of 4 £23; family of 5 £28

Spooky fresh air fuelled fun. Events include Room om the Broom story read by either the witch, wizard or dragon; marshmallow toasting at Creepy Creek; plus complete the spooky pumpkin trail and get a treat. Events are weather dependent – check ahead to avoid disappointment.

Read our review of Mountain View Ranch to see what else to expect.

Spooky Science live science show / Star Tours / Graham the Ghost

Techniquest, Cardiff Bay

Saturday 27 October-Sunday 4 November

Adults £8.20; children £6.70; under 4s free; family (up to 2+3) £29 (cheaper prices available if you book online in advance and don’t choose to gift aid)

Planetarium shows cost £1.50 extra per person.

As well as more than 100 hands-on science exhibitions half term sees Halloween-themed shows in the science theatre and digital planetarium.

Spooky science asks if you’ve ever seen a pumpkin carve itself, or a coin scream? Can you sit on a bed of nails without screaming, and can science be used to create potions and ghosts? (Included in admission price; must be booked on arrival.)

Graham the Ghost is the Planetarium’s interactive story-time show for under 7s. All ghosts need to show up in the dark but poor Graham the Ghost has lost his glow. He needs to learn to make shadows, steal shadows and scare people or he won’t be able to pass his test and join the ghost union.

Star Tours is the Planetarium’s show for over 7s. Find out more about some familiar constellations, the planets, how stars are born and how they die. Journey through space for a close-up look at some of nature’s most beautiful sights such as distant galaxies and exploded stars.

FREE ENTRY Pumpkins in the Park

Central Park, Barry

Saturday 27 October, 12pm-5pm

A host of spooky activities at Central Park,  please turn up in your best Halloween outfit. Activities include: Pumpkin Carving (book early to avoid disappointment); Freaky Dog Show starting at 1pm and every 15 minutes to 3pm with various doggy categories (entry for dogs £1 per class); face painting and wax wounds; Halloween crafts in the library; bouncy castle; spooky Victorian Barry tours every hour from 12pm; food and drink stalls.

Corpse Bride (PG)

Chapter Arts Centre, Canton, Cardiff

Saturday 27 October 1pm; Sunday 28 October 3pm; Wednesday 31 October 11am

The day before Victor is due to marry Victoria in an arranged marriage Victor puts his wedding ring on what looks like a branch but is in fact the skeletal finger of the enchanted Corpse Bride. She whisks him off to a dark and mysterious netherworld where they are now married. Realising he has fallen in love with his true fiancée can Victor find his way back to his own world?

Curse of the WereRabbit (U)

Chapter Arts Centre, Canton, Cardiff

Saturday 27 October, 3pm

A special scratch’n’sniff version of the Aardman classic in which Wallace and his loyal dog, Gromit, set out to discover the mystery behind the garden sabotage that plagues their village and threatens the annual giant vegetable growing contest. Audience members will be given a scratch card containing 10 weird and wonderful odours that link to key scenes within the film. When prompted, viewers will be invited to scratch and sniff the gel odour.

Film Activity Day: Tim Burton

Chapter Arts Centre, Canton, Cardiff

Wednesday 31 October; 10am-3.30pm

£22.50; must be booked in advance

Join artist Beth Morris for a day of Gothic-inspired fairytale art, inspired by the films of Tim Burton. Ticket to the 11am screening of The Corpse Bride included. Please bring packed lunch.

Pumpkin carving

Dyffryn Gardens, St Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan

Saturday 27-Wednesday 31 October

£4 per pumpkin in addition to usual entrance fees

Adults £11; children £5.50; family £28

Get creative and create your very own pumpkin ready for Halloween this autumn. There will be stencils, carving sets and helpers on hand to get you started.

An A’MAZE’ing Medieval Halloween

Caerphilly Castle

Saturday 27-Sunday 28 October 11am-4pm

Adults £8.50; children £5.10; family (2+3) £24.60; free for members

Dare you enter Caerphilly Castle’s maze with the Green Lady and the Red Spectre wandering the passages? Can you escape the executioner? Medieval Halloween fun at Wales’s biggest historical adventure. Hunt down the witch in the family trail. Join in with some medieval ghost busting and take a spooky selfie. Carve a pumpkin to take home with you (small charge; while stocks last).

The Haunted Maze

Caerphilly Castle

Saturday 27 October 5.30pm, 6.30pm and 7.30pm

£5 per person; strictly no under-7s permitted; must be pre-booked

Are you brave enough to visit Caerphilly Castle after dark when our spooky maze comes to life? Come along for this one-night only opportunity to meet the scary medieval spirits.

Halloween and half term events

Tredegar House, Newport

Friday 26 October-Sunday 4 November

Adults £10.40; children £5.40; family £26 or free to National Trust members

Pumpkin Carving

Friday 26-Wednesday 31 October 11am-3pm

£3 per pumpkin in addition to entrance charges

Pick your own pumpkin and Tredegar House will provide you with all the tools you’ll need to create your masterpiece.

Toffee Apple Bar

Saturday 27 October-Sunday 4 November, 11am-3pm

£3 per apple

Pick your apple and choose from a range of decorations to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Hedgehog trail

Saturday 27 October-Sunday 4 November, 11am-4pm

Walk a mile in a hedgehog’s shoes on an interactive trail and get stuck into some critter arts and crafts.

Create some wild art

Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 October, 1pm-3pm

Create some truly wild art using only natural materials. Go on a scavenger hunt to find what you need and then create your masterpiece. You can make anything you like, from colourful star shapes, to 3D twig sculptures, to a leafy picture of a wild animal.

Create mud faces

Thursday 1 and Friday 2 November, 12pm-3pm

Get messy and join in with our hedgehog themed half-term with some hedgehog mud face making.

Halloween and half term events

Aberdulais Falls, Neath Port Talbot

Adults £6.50; children £3.25; family £16.25 or free to National Trust members

Saturday 27 October-Sunday 4 November, 11am-3.30pm

Try the spooktacular Halloween trail or get hands-on with some ghoulish games and activities. Or enjoy the autumnal colours and see displays of red and gold fill the ground. There’s also ’50 Things’ activities like run round in the rain or catch a falling leaf.

Spooky Valleys

Aberdulais Falls, Neath Port Talbot

Wednesday 31 October, 5.30pm-8pm

Adults £6.50; children £3.25; family £16.25 or free to National Trust members

An after dark experiences – discover Aberdulais like you’ve never seen before.

Dare you take a candlelit walk round the old spooky industrial site, and see what goes bump in the night? Listen to the tales of terror, and see who or what, lies round the corner in wait for you. There’ll also be ghoulish games and activities going on.

Halloween Events

Cardiff Castle

Sunday 28 October-Sunday 4 November

Entry to Cardiff Castle is free to Castle Key Holder (£6 for three years for those who live or work in Cardiff); adults £13.95; children £9.25; family £38

Some events have a separate entrance charge.

Halloween Cinema

Family-friendly films include Hocus Pocus; Coco; The Nightmare Before Christmas; Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban. See website for times and days.

Ghostly Knights

Saturday 28-Tuesday 31 October; 10am-4pm

Free to Castle Key holders;

Following his appearance at Cardiff Castle last year, the Black Knight returns. Join in and help the brave knights find out a way to conquer this evil being. Included in normal castle admission

Spider Encounter

Monday 29-Tuesday 30, 2.30pm

£4 per person; ages 6+; must be pre-booked

What makes people so scared of spiders? An in-depth insight into these fascinating creatures and then get a chance to test your nerve by seeing how it feels to hold a tarantula. Children – see whether the adults are as brave as you and manage to face their fears.

Creepy Crawlies

Monday 29-Tuesday 30 October; various sessions available

£4 per person; no charge for under 1s; must be pre-booked

The return of the castle’s ever-popular Halloween animal sessions. This hour-long session will enable visitors to get close to variety of creepy creatures, from maggots and frogs to lizards and snakes.

Spooky Halloween Day

Blaenavon Ironworks

Sunday 28, Monday 29 and Wednesday 31 October; 10am-4pm

Entry to the ironworks is free; £2 per spooky trail

Join in the Halloween-themed trail for a day of thrills and chills with a prize for the first 150 to complete the trail. £2 charge per trail.

Wednesday 31 only – Welsh spooky tales and legends in the cottages with storyteller Cath Little.

School of Magic

Raglan Castle

Saturday 27-Sunday 28 October, 11am-4pm

Adult £6.90, children £4.10, family (2+3) £20; free for Cadw members

Fancy yourself as a wizard or witch? Raglan Castle has magic-themed games and activities for you to try, and some spooky characters to meet too. Don’t forget to dress up and bring your magic wands and broomsticks.

Spooky Halloween Trail

Chepstow Castle

Sunday 27 October-Sunday 4 November; 10am-4pm/11am-4pm Sundays

Adult £6.90, children £4.10, family (2+3) £20; free for Cadw members

Join the Halloween-themed trail at Chepstow Castle for a day of thrills and chills.

Get into the spirit of Halloween

Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths

Monday 29-Wednesday 31 October;10am-4pm

£2 per child; entry to the site is free

Children can earn a treat by completing a spooky trail around the 2000-year-old remains. Custodians will also be on hand to apply fake wound makeup, be it a Dracula bite or a werewolf scratch.

Spooktacular

Rhondda Heritage Park

Monday October 29-Wednesday October 31; 10am-4pm

£3.50 per child; adults free

Book now for spooky fun including a brand new Halloween show, mask making, pumpkin carving, a pumpkin hunt, face painting, arts and crafts and more.

Horrible Halloween Pumpkin Trail

Parc Slip Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre Reserve, Bridgend

Monday 29-Wednesday 31 October 11am-3pm

Age 6+; £2 per child; no need to book in advance

A spooky pumpkin trail around the reserve, with a prize for each completed trail. The trail paths are a flat and easy walk. The visitor centre has a cafe and toilet facilities which are wheelchair accessible.

Halloween Events

Margam Country Park Port Talbot

Entry is free; some events have additional charges

Monday 29 October-Sunday 4 November

Slime making

Monday 29th October; 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm

£6.50 per child; advance booking recommended

Family friendly castle tours

29 October 2018, 12:15 and 2pm – free

DIY Trick or Treat Bags

Tuesday 30 October 2018, 11am, 12.15pm, 1.30pm and 3pm

£3 per child

Make a spooky or sparkly trick or treat bag

RSPB

Tuesday 30 October, Thursday 1, and Friday 2 November 11am-3pm

Give nature a home with the RSPB. Come and enjoy family fun nature activities, learn how to give nature a home.

Children’s Monster Ball

Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 October, 6pm-9pm

Children £8.50; adults £3.50; ages 3-12; must be booked in advance

Halloween themed children’s disco in the Orangery including bouncy castle and face painting plus prizes for best dancer and best costume.

FREE Halloween Special – Potions

Wednesday 31 October 2018, 11am-3pm

Join in on a spooky trail with a chance to make your own magic potions and slime.

Day of the Dead Mask Making

Thursday 01 November 2018; 11am, 12.15pm, 1.30pm and 3pm. £3 per child

Get creative and make your very own Day of the Dead mask.

FREE Guy Fawkes Fun

Friday 2 November 2018, 11am-3pm

Get crafty for Bonfire Night with the ‘Friends of Margam’. Make a card firework, try out a Guy Fawkes mask, find out about wildlife safety for bonfire night…and more!

Halloween events

Bedwellty House, Tredegar

Monday 29 October-Friday 2 November

Pumpkin carving

Monday 29 October 11am-12.30pm and 1pm-2.30pm

£6.50 per child; must be pre-booked

LUSH workshops

Tuesday 30 October; 11am-12pm and 12.30pm-1.30pm

£8.50 per child; age 4+; booking essential

A Halloween-themed LUSH Workshop where you can make your very own Brightside Bubble Bar.

Messy Halloween Spooktacular

Tuesday 30 October 30, 11am-12pm

Age 5 months-8 years; child ticket £5.50, siblings £3.50, older siblings £1; must be booked in advance

Messy Halloween fun with scary slime, pumpkins, apple bobbing plus lots more Halloween themed messy play as well as mark making stations such as play dough, whiteboards and spooky colouring in. Fancy dress is encouraged.

Halloween Fun Day

Wednesday 31 October, 11am-12pm and 12:30pm-1:30pm

Ages 2+; £6.50 per child; must be booked in advance

An action packed day full of fun this Halloween. Crafts, biscuit decorating, games and party fun with face painting available at an additional charge.

Witches and Wizards Story Trail with Louby Lou

Wednesday 31 October, 11am-12pm and 12:30pm-1:30pm

£6.50 per child; must be booked in advance

Come along to Louby Lou’s Spookalicious witches and wizards trail this Halloween, with crafts to follow afterwards.

Ghost Hunt

Thursday 1 November, 10am-4pm

£2 per child; drop in event – no need to pre-book

An outdoor ghostly trail. Call in to reception to collect your trail sheet and find  gruesome friends in the park grounds. Once you have completed the trail, call back to reception to collect a small prize.

Let’s Play

Thursday 1 November, 10am-12pm

Open access outreach play session provided by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council.

Wild Tots at Bedwellty

Friday 2 November 2, 10am-11.30am

£2.50 per family (up to 2 children); additional children £1

Outdoor-based parent and toddler group. An Ugly Bug Ball themed session of storytelling, activities and snacks on the campfire including: fire pit, campfire cooking, natural crafts, toddle walks, mud kitchen, toasted marshmallows, exploring, adventures – whatever the weather.

Spooky Slime Workshop

Friday 2 November, 11am-12pm

Ages 4+; £10 per child; must be booked in advance

A Halloween themed spooky slime workshop. The more gruesome the better!

Ice Cream Making Workshop

Friday 2 November, 12pm-1pm

£6.50 per child; ages 4+

Make your very own Ice-Scream. Dietary requirements must be stated upon booking.

Halloween Party

Ants Inya Pants, Rhymney Riverbridge Road, Cardiff

Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 October, 4-6pm.

£7.50 per child; £1 under 1s; adults no charge

Price includes professional pace painting, professional entertainer, fancy dress, competitions, games, dance, buffet and more. Tickets can be purchased at reception or over the phone 029 2047 2236.

Half term and Halloween events

St Fagans National Museum of History Cardiff

St Fagans Dark Castle Tours

Thursday 25 October 7pm; Friday 26 October 7.15pm; Thursday 1 November 7pm; Friday 2 November 7pm

£12.50 adults; £10 ages 10-13

Age guidance 10+; under 18s must be with an adult

A 100 minute evening ghost walk. The tour begins walking to the castle, along the wooded lane and past the ponds, site of the original St Fagans Village settlement. Here you will stop briefly for tales of ghostly sightings and legends in the grounds, before reaching the castle itself. Once inside, you will gather in its darkened rooms and passageways to explore its ghostly history. Must be booked in advance.

For more information and booking, please go to the Cardiff History and Hauntings website: www.cardiffhistory.co.uk.

St Fagans Museum Ghost Walk

Monday 22-Thursday 25 and Saturday 27 October; Thursday 1 and Friday 2 November (limited availability on some dates)

£15.50; age guidance 13+; under 18s must be with an adult; Booking www.cardiffhistory.co.uk

Explore St Fagans National Museum of History from a completely different angle. Hear true tales of ghostly encounters in the historic buildings as well as Welsh superstitions about death, mourning, and ghosts, and discover why Wales could be the world’s most haunted country. Must be booked in advance

Building The Wicker Man

Saturday 27-Tuesday 30 October, 12-4pm

Burning the Wicker Man is one of the highlights of St Fagans’ Halloween Nights – but they need your help to build him. Come and lend a hand in these family friendly drop in sessions. The Wicker Man will be burned at the Halloween Nights events.

St Fagans Makers’ Market

Saturday 27 October-Friday 2 November; 10am-5pm

Pick up something special that you’d never find on the high street. Plus meet the makers and find out more about their crafts as they run workshops and demonstrations throughout the weekend. Small charges may apply to some events.

Traditional Fairground

Saturday 27 October-Sunday 4 November

From £1; ages 2-11

Visit St Fagans Traditional Fairground and experience the magic of a bygone era.

Halloween Nights

Monday 29-Wednesday 31 October, 6pm-9pm

£15 adults, £8 child, under 2s free; must be booked in advance

Age 4+

The museum’s familiar, friendly buildings will be showing their dark side with spook-tacular technical wizardry.  New for this year will be an extra-creepy Scare Zone for those who like their nightmares on the wild side (age 12+). Other activties include spooky stories for little ones around the witch’s cauldron in Oakdale, and darker tales for the older and braver in Penrhiw Chapel; extra ghostly guests straight out of the weirdest pages of Welsh folklore; Creepy Craft workshops or make a magic wand in Kennixton Barn to cast your own special spells. There’s live music, and fiery jugglers to light up the night on Gwalia Green. Then as the evening draws to a close gather to watch the Wicker Man burn.

FREE Craft Session: Wales Remembers WW1

Thursday 1-Friday 2 November; 12-4pm

Head to the Weston Centre for Learning for family-friendly craft sessions to remember the First World War.

St Fagans Museum Ghost Walk

Monday 22-Thursday 25 and Saturday 27 October; Thursday 1 and Friday 2 November (limited availability on some dates)

£15.50; age guidance 13+; under 18s must be with an adult

Booking www.cardiffhistory.co.uk

Explore St Fagans National Museum of History from a completely different angle. Hear true tales of ghostly encounters in the historic buildings as well as Welsh superstitions about death, mourning, and ghosts, and discover why Wales could be the world’s most haunted country. Must be booked in advance.

Wacky Wands and Weird Wildlife

RSPB Newport Wetlands

Monday 29 October to Friday 2 November; 10.30am-12.30pm

RSPB members £4.40/ non-members £5.50

Make wacky willow wands before going in search of the weird and wonderful wildlife at the wetlands. There will also be lots of nature based creepy crafts and frightful fun.

Frankenstein’s Laboratory

The Royal Mint Experience, Llantrisant

Monday 29 October-Friday 2 November; 11am, 12.15pm, 1.30pm and 2.45pm

Adults £13.50, children £11, under 5s free, family £40 on the door prices. £13/£10.50/£38.50 advance online prices

Young scientists are invited to assist Dr Victor Frankenstein’s ground-breaking laboratory with unusual experiments including his secret technique to impart life to non-living matter. 40 minute workshops are included with regular tour tickets.

Halloween Events

Cwmcarn Forest Visitor Centre, Crosskeys

Pumpkin Carving

Monday 29 October, 11am-3.30pm

£5.50 per child; ages 4+; booking essential

A ghoulish carving workshop where you can turn pumpkins into a scary lantern. This is a hands-on workshop using carving tools.

Ghoul Pots and Ectoplasm

Tuesday 30 October, 11am-3.30pm

£4.50 per child; ages 4+; booking essential

Bring along an empty jam jar and create a spooky ghoulish jar filled with home made ectoplasm slime!!

Vampire Hunt

Wednesday 31st October, 11am-3pm

£3.50 per child; ages 3+; booking advised

Are you feeling brave to wander through the woods to find the Vampires lair? Follow the clues around the trail where a surprise awaits. Please note the trail may be muddy/uneven in places.

Spooky Tiny and Midi Tots Craft Sessions

Thursday 1 November; sessions begin from 10.30am

£2 per child; booking essential

Get spooky and messy in these fun little craft workshops where messy hands are guaranteed.

Halloween Activities for Kids

Llancaiach Fawr Manor, Nelson, Treharris

Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 October

£7.50 per child, £1.50 for adults

Five hours of fun and entertainment (no further details on website sorry)

Witch Trials in the Manor

Llancaiach Fawr Manor, Nelson, Treharris

Tuesday 30 October-Friday 2 November

Adults £8.50; children £6.50; family (2+3) £25; under 5s free

Based on 17^th century court cases – vote on the verdict.

FREE Spooky Family Craft Sessions

Newport Museum and Art Gallery

Wednesday 31 October; 10am, 11am and 12pm

Free family craft sessions. 15 spaces available for each sessions and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis on the day. Children must be accompanied by an adults.

Pumpkin Carving

Gazebo outside Pettigrew Tearooms, Bute Park, Cardiff

Wednesday 31 October, 10am-12pm

A fundraising event in aid of Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Cardiff

Spooky Halloween Tales

Cosmeston Lakes Country Park and Medieval Village, Sully, Vale of Glamorgan

Wednesday 31 October, 10.30am

£5; must be pre-booked

A spooky tour of the medieval village where

Children will be led on an atmospheric tour as they discover All Hallows Eve has come. Discover the spooky tales of Old Cosmeston Village. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Suitable for all the family.

Ghostly Goings On

Cosmeston Lakes Country Park and Medieval Village, Sully

Wednesday 31 October, 3pm-4.30pm

£7.50 per person; must be pre-booked

Hear all about paranormal activity that has been witnessed by staff and paranormal investigation teams like UK Ghost Hunts and the South Wales Paranormal Research.  What secrets will be revealed about the people who used to live here? Advisory notice: children may be frightened and must be accompanied by an adult.

Big Pit Goes Batty and Face Painting

Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon

Wednesday 31 October, 11am-4pm

£1 per person, per activity

Come along to make bouncy bats and get your face painted ready for Halloween

FREE Creepy Crafts – RDC Eco Kids

The Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay

Wednesday 31 October; 12pm-4pm

Eco-friendly fun including creepy crafts and Halloween-themed pedal powered fun with the latest RDC Eco Kids event in partnership with Eggseeds and Pedal Emporium.

Halloween Fun Day and Afternoon Tea

The Crepe Escape, Mermaid Quay Cardiff bay

Wednesday 31 October; 10am-2.30pm

£10 per child

Face painting, decorate your own crepe and other Halloween crafts. Halloween freakshakes and lots of Halloween treats.

Afternoon tea at 4pm; £7.95 per child

Coconuts Halloween Party

Coconuts Soft Play, Sully Moors Road, Barry

Wednesday October 31, 4pm-6pm

£9.50 per child including spooky supper box; adults free (max 2 adults per booking)

Spooky fun including a fancy dress competition, Halloween disco, facepainting, crafts and activities.

Halloween Family Party

Maes y Coed Community Centre, Cardiff

Wednesday 31 October 5-8pm; £5 family of 4 with £1 per additional person.

Spooky family fun including scary room; apple bobbing; learn a dance routine to Thriller; costume parade; pumpkin carving (additional charge).

Halloween Fun for Little Ones

Greenmeadow Community Farm, Cwmbran

Wednesday 31 October, 10am-3.30pm

£6.50 per adult; £5.40 per child; £23.50 family 2+3

Slightly spooky fun for those who don’t want to be scared. Additional events include creepy creatures; pumpkin carving (£2.50); Creation Station Halloween Play-Doh; spooky storytelling.

Halloween Spooktakular

Greenmeadow Community Farm Cwmbran

Wednesday 31 October; from 6pm

£7 per person in advance; £8 per person on the door.

The scare factor will be ramped up this evening with moonlit tractor rides, forgotten circus, Halloween games and lots more freaky fun. Food will be available from Café Cwtch plus there’s a licensed bar. Please note parts of the event are intended to be scary. Expect loud noises, strobe lights and gory scenes.

Cwtchy Creepy Crawlies! Halloween Workshop

Pugh’s Garden Village, Wenvoe

Thursday 1 November; hourly sessions 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm

£8 per child

Create your very own Sid the Friendly, Fleecey Spider to take home and cwtch. With eight legs, it’s no wonder he’ll give the best hugs! Alternatively you can use your friendly spider as a hanging Halloween decoration in your home. Before you leave make sure to go on the ghost hunt around the garden centre. Find all the spooky subjects and win a prize.

Bonfires and Fireworks

FREE Bonfire Extravaganza

Willows High School

Friday 2 November; bonfire lit 6.30pm; display 7.30pm

Firework display with lasers and music plus children’s funfair and other activities.

Sparks in the Park

Blackweir Fields, Bute Park, Cardiff

Saturday 3 November from 4.30pm

Adults £10 children £5 family £25 (2+2 or 1+3) under 3s free; must be booked in advance

Cardiff Round Table host the annual display including the junior display (with noise sensitive effects) from 5pm and Wales’s largest fireworks display from 7pm.

FREE Fireworks Display

Caerphilly Castle

Saturday 3 November; display starts at 7pm

This year’s Fireworks Display run by Caerphilly Town Council at Caerphilly Castle. Best viewing areas are Crescent Road and Dafydd Williams Park. Admission is free but there is a charity collection for the Mayor’s charity. Please see website for details of road closures and parking restrictions.

Ogmore Bonfire and Firework Fiesta

Heritage Coast House Field, Ogmore by Sea

Saturday 3 November 5pm-7.15pm

Gates open from 5pm. Bonfire will be lit at around 6pm. Fireworks display at around 7pm lasting 15 mins. Expect stalls, raffle prizes, glow sticks and hot and cold refreshments. Entry fee applies.

FREE Llantwit Major RFC Firework Display

Llantwit Major Rugby Club

Saturday 3 November 6.30pm-9pm

Fireworks accompanied by a music and laser show.

FREE Barry Island Rotary Club Fiesta

Barry Island

Saturday November 03, 6pm-9pm

The Barry Rotary Club, with support from the Vale of Glamorgan Council and Barry Town Council will bring their annual Fireworks Fiesta to Barry Island. The display is set to begin at 7.45pm and entry is free – but please help support the Barry Rotary Club by donating to the bucket collections on the night.

FREE Fireworks Display

Marshfield Village Hall

Saturday 3 November; gates 5.30pm display 6.30pm

Free event; donations welcome to pay for the fireworks and the hall’s maintenance. Please note no on-site parking is available.

Fireworks Display at the Vale Resort

Hensol Park, Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan

Sunday 4 November

Family tickets £27 (2 adults & 2 children under 12); £22 members; adults £10/£8 members; children £6/£5 members

A spectacular fireworks display illuminating the skies around the Vale of Glamorgan. Hot dogs, burgers, soup, candy floss and popcorn available on the evening. Tickets available from leisure club reception.

Fireworks display

Cardiff Golf Club

Sunday 4 November; gates from 6pm firework display 7.30pm

Adults £7; children 12 and under £4; family £20 (2+2)

Aselection of food stalls, music and a fireworks display by Shockwave, one of the leading fireworks display providers in the UK. There will be a £1 raffle on entry. The winner of the raffle will have the opportunity to press the ‘golden button’ and begin the fireworks display.

Fireworks display

Whitchurch Golf Club, Cardiff

Monday 5 November; display starts 7.30pm

Ticket-only event. Tickets available from the bar.

Bonfire Night

Whitchurch Fire Station, Cardiff

Monday 5 November

£5 per person; under 3 free

Buy your tickets at the station. Hosted by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service with funds raised for Firefighters 999 and local charities.

Fireworks Fiesta

Penarth Athletics Club

Monday 5 November; gates open 6pm starts 7pm

£5 age 14+; £3 under 14s

Pay on the gate.

Sophiaworks

Glamorgan Cricket, Sophia Gardens

Monday 5 November; gates 6pm; fireworks 7.30pm

Early bird online adults, £6; children £4; family £18

On-the-door adults £7.50; children £4.50; family £22

Sophia Gardens Cardiff first fireworks sees Cardiff’s own Wyburn and Wayne hosting the evening with gates opening at 6pm, and the firework extravaganza starting at 7:30pm. There will be live entertainment; funfair rides for children, cricket skills, along with an array of food and drinks stalls. Early Bird tickets available until Sunday 4 November.

Family fun

FREE Lego Big Cats

Tacoma Square, Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay

Saturday 27 October-Sunday 4 November

Following the success of last year’s Lego safari animals this half term sees Mermaid Quay welcoming 12 big cats plus some cubs all made with Lego bricks. More than 650,000 bricks have gone into the making of these incredibly detailed models of wild cat species from across the globe, ranging from the lions and cheetahs of the African Sahara, to the agile jaguars from South America as well as a Bengal tiger complete three cubs.

Halloween at Bridgend Model Railway

Fountain Rd, Aberkenfig, Bridgend

Saturday 27 October 4pm-7pm

Halloween Spooky train rides to take your little monsters on. No prior booking required. (Prices not available on website sorry!)

Regular events

Toddler Days

Parc Play

Friday 26 October – Halloween

The indoor/outdoor play centre runs toddler days on term-time Fridays in the spring, with everything from magicians and circus skills to exotic animals entertaining children. There’s also an outdoor sandpit, mud kitchens, climbing frames, slides and a dedicated toddler play area.

Adults £1; under 2s £2.50 or free with an older sibling; 2-3 £4.50; 4-12 £6

Upcoming dates, Parc is open 10am-6pm; events typically start at 10.30am and 2.30pm

Read our review of a previous Parc Play Toddler Day here.

FREE Amser Chwarae Toddler Time

St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff

Term time Mondays, 1.30pm-3pm

Every Monday during term time. Themed toys and activities with museum staff 1.30pm-2.55pm, story at 3pm.

Baby and Toddler Tuesdays

Greenmeadow Community Farm, Cwmbran

Every Tuesday until the end of November

Entry: Adults £6.50; children 2-16 £5.40; under 2s free; family

Each week sees different taster sessions from local baby and toddler groups, such as music and singing, baby yoga, gymnastics, baby sensory, baby bushcraft, first aid for children and so on. There’s also plenty of animals to see and activities across the farm, including tractor rides.

Read our review of a previous Baby and Toddler Tuesday at Greenmeadow Community Farm

http://www.greenmeadowcommunityfarm.org.uk/

Toddler Day

Techniquest, Cardiff Bay

Pirate Playtown – Friday 9 November

Friday 7 December – Sparkles and Snowflakes

As well as all the usual hands-on science exhibits, Techniquest toddler days see story time, a mini disco or session from a pre-school music class, arts and crafts to take away, a Play-Doh table, face painting and more, with a different theme each month.

Held on the first Friday of the month during term time, admissions costs £5.50 online or £5.70 on the door (including Gift Aid donation) for accompanying adults, with under 4s free.

FREE Toddler Time

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay

Fridays 16 November; 14 December; 11am-2.30pm

A free monthly event where babies toddlers and pre-schoolers can express themselves creatively with music and movement activities. A chance for the under 5s to sing, dance, play and create with a special programme of activities. No need to book; just drop in on the day.

Read our review of a previous Techniquest Toddler Day here.

FREE Toddler Time

National Museum Cardiff

Fridays during term time; 11am-4pm

Every Friday during term, National Museum Cardiff invites children and their parents to explore the museum through play. There are boxes of toys, games and books in the different galleries, themed toys and activities with museum staff between 1.30pm and 2.55pm; a story time session at 3pm and crafts and games relating to each week’s theme.

Read our review of a previous National Museum Cardiff Toddler Time here.

FREE Dinky Dragons

The Cardiff Story, Cardiff

Friday 9 November, 10am-3pm

The Cardiff Story opens its doors to the under 5s on the second Friday of every month, with play, rhymes, stories, detective trails, craft, messy play, music and more. Plus plenty of interactive exhibitions bringing to life the history of Cardiff.

Rhyme Time and Story Time at 11am and 3pm

Read more about what else you can find at The Cardiff Story in our review here.

Theatre and performance

(For full family theatre listings between now and the end of the year see this post)

Lord of the Flies

Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

Wednesday 17 October-Saturday 3 November

£16-£26; age guidance 14+; under 25s half price

Sherman Theatre and Theatr Clwyd present this bold and contemporary staging of William Golding’s classic Lord of the Flies – a terrifying dystopian future where rules don’t matter, law means nothing and school kids rule the world . On a remote island, a new society is being created. A group of evacuated school children have crash landed. There are no adults to tell them what to do. They’ve ripped up the rule book and are starting all over again. But it’s not long before their utopia descends into a nightmarish hell. Read my review here.

FREE National Dance Company Wales – Open Rehearsals

Dance House, Wales Millennium Centre

Wednesdays 14 and 28 November; 6pm

Free but tickets must be booked in advance

A chance to see the NDCW company rehearsing as they get set to head out on tour. Take some of the mystery out of how the company makes its shows and get a real behind-the-scenes taste. You’ll also get to ask questions at the end. You’re welcome to sketch or simply soak in the rehearsal.

WNO Family Concert: A Fang-tastic Feast of Halloween Fun

St David’s Hall, Cardiff

Sunday 28 October, 3pm (pre-show activities from 1pm)

£14-£18 adults; children under 16 £7

A Halloween-themed concert designed to introduce the whole family to the world of opera and classical music. From 1pm learn about the behind-the-scenes world of Welsh National Opera with free fun activities throughout the foyer – including a look at props and costumes, wigs and make-up demonstrations, meet the musicians and face-painting. The fun and informal concert will see the WNO Orchestra and soloists guide the audience through a selection of familiar orchestral music from the world of opera, film and popular culture.

Little Baby Bum

St David’s Hall, Cardiff

Monday 29 October, 12.30pm and 3pm; Tuesday 30 October, 10.30am and 2pm

£14

An online and digital TV sensation, Little Baby Bum is the world’s largest educational YouTube channel with over 21 million subscribers and 20 billion views. Step into the magical and colourful world as you join Mia, Jacus, Twinkle and their Nursery Rhyme friends in a brand new live show

One Man Shoe

Memo Arts Centre, Barry

Monday 29 October, 2pm

£7; group of 4 £24

A dynamic and uplifting show for children and families, performed by Jango Starr and with a style of silent physical theatre including contemporary circus clowning, slapstick comedy, puppetry, juggling and absurd magic. When the headline act fails to show up, Jango, a bumbling theatre caretaker, is suddenly thrust into the limelight and embarks on a hilarious journey of highly crafted and heart-felt silent comedy, magically realising his dream of transforming into a star!

Ned and the Whale

Blackwood Miners’ Institute, Caerphilly

Monday 29 October 2pm

Age guidance 4+; Tickets £5/£4

Encounter strange lands, dodge the incredibly smelly Trotwood twins, soar the sky with the Clackerjacks and jump feet first into this magical, musical journey of a boy and his whale. This fishy adventure will scoop you up and sail you away on a quest to help Ned find his courage, and discover the truth behind the mysterious Kingdom of Spies… Flossy and Boo use their own magical brand of storytelling to allow you to leap fearlessly into the far reaches of your imagination.

The Snail and the Whale

The Riverfront, Newport

Tuesday 30 October 11.30am and 2.30pm

£7; family of four £26; age guidance 4+

Acclaimed theatre company Tall Stories present this adaption of the bestselling Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler book. Longing to see the world, a tiny snail hitches a lift on the tail of a humpback whale. Together they go on an amazing adventure – but when the whale gets beached, how will the snail save him? Follow the tiny snail’s exciting journey, as seen through the eyes of an adventurous young girl and her seafaring father… Expect storytelling, live music and lots of laughs from the Olivier Award-nominated company that brought you The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom live on stage.

Princess Charming 

Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Wednesday 31 October-Thursday 1 November 2.30pm

£6; age guidance 6-11 but all ages welcome

Some girls like football. Some boys like pink. Everyone likes a good story. Exploring gender stereotypes in a fun, questioning way, Princess Charming is a celebration of being exactly who you are. This one-hour show is for anyone who doesn’t like being told what to do and is about finding the courage to defy expectations.

The cabaret performers explore what really matters about being a boy and being a girl with dances, songs and skits created with children, for children. The theatre is transformed into a family friendly cabaret club full of laughter and sing-a-longs. At the end there is a chance to join in too as the stage is given over to the next generation of cabaret stars.

Wicked

Donald Gordon Theatre, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay

Wednesday 31 October-Saturday 24 November

Age guidance 7+; no under 2s

£20-£70.50

Winner of over 100 major awards, Wicked has been casting its magical spell across the world for over a decade. An ingenious and witty re-imaging of the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two young women who first meet as sorcery students. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

The Little Mix Experience

Memo Arts Centre, Barry

Thursday 1 November, 6.30pm

£13.50

Featuring songs such as DNA, Wings, Salute, Black Magic, Love Me Like You, Secret Love Song and more four talented girls pay tribute to one of the UK’s finest girl bands. With breathtaking dance moves and replica costumes, this is a high-energy show packed with all of Little Mix’s greatest hits and suitable for all ages.

Into the Woods

Tythe Barn, St Donats Arts Centre, Llantwit Major

Friday 2 November 7pm and Saturday 3 November and 2pm and 7pm

£8-£10

Stage Door 1 presents Into the Woods. The Brothers Grimm hit the stage with an epic fairytale about wishes, family and the choices we make. James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take a host of favourite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece. The story follows a baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.

Little Red Riding Hood / Yr Hugan Fach Goch

Sherman Theatre Cardiff

Friday 9-Saturday 10 November and Monday 3-Saturday 29 December

£9; ages 3-6

Following success in previous years Sherman Theatre has chosen another classic fairy tale for its Christmas theatre show for young children. The show will be previewed in November before touring across Wales and then returning to the Sherman in December with separate English and Welsh language performances available. Visiting her beloved Granny on her own for the first time, Little Red Riding Hood rushes through the woods. A chance meeting with the hungry Wolf makes her realise she’s missing all the beauty in her surroundings. She slows down and weaves her way to Granny’s picking flowers as she goes. It’s taken such a long time to get there, will she be too late?

Tour dates:

Thursday 15 Nov: Pontardawe Arts Centre

Friday 16 & Saturday 17 November: The Drill Hall, Chepstow

Monday 19 & Tuesday 20 November: Soar Centre, Penygraig

Wednesday 21 November: The Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl

Thursday 22 November: Maesteg Town Hall

Friday 23 November: The Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale

Saturday 24 Nov: Redhouse Cymru, Merthyr Tydfil

Monday 26 November: Blackwood Miners’ Institute

Tuesday 27 November: Canolfan Garth Olwg Centre, Pontypridd

Wednesday 28 November: The Welfare, Ystradgynlais

Thursday 29 November: The Drill Hall, Chepstow

Luna

Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Friday 9 November 10.30am and 1.30pm; Saturday 10 November 10am and 12.30pm

Age guidance 2-5 year olds; £7

Luna is bored up in the sky with no-one to play with. Although she is surrounded by stars, they never quite understand her – it’s very lonely being the only moon. One night, as she’s racing among the stars, she spots a young boy hiding from the shadows in his bedroom. Billy and his favourite toy, Pig, don’t like dark and do all they can to distract themselves from the scary shadows. Luna decides to slide down from the sky to make friends with Billy. Together they go on a wondrous adventure of light and dark to help him overcome his fear of the night time.

With original live music this captivating play about friendship and bravery is a wonderful introduction to theatre for young children.

Slip Stones | Cerrig Yn Slic

The Riverfront Newport

Thursday 8 November 10am (English language performance); 1pm (Welsh language performance)

£6.50

Memo Arts Centre Barry

Monday 12 November 10am (English language performance); 1pm (Welsh language performance)

£6

This interactive production for children age two to seven and their families follows two friends who love collecting stones and turning them into patterns, shapes, sculptures and music. The performance is a development of previous specialist theatre work created by the company over the last few years for the Foundation Phase using natural objects to tell a story and offering new ways of learning through play in the open air. With strong interactive elements, the story will assist children in recognising and discussing their emotions.

The 4G Race: Cardiff Gang Show 2018

New Theatre, Cardiff

Wednesday 14-Saturday 17 November

Wednesday-Friday 7.15pm; Saturday 3pm

£10-£17.50

The annual show from local youngsters in the Scout and Guide movement. Six groups have six days to find six rare and lost treasures in the most amazing race ever run. It’s a journey that will take them around the globe in their quest to win the ultimate prize – a life of everlasting luxury! But one group is desperately trying to sabotage the others… and not necessarily because they want to win themselves. Meet a crazy cast of characters, including a shape-shifting teenage boy, a girl raised by a bunch of Daffodils, an Olympic medallist who is allergic to her own Silver medal, and a Penguin Detective called Barry!

Humanequin

Weston Studio, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay

Tuesday 20-Saturday 24 November

£12

Age 12+; contains strong language.

Humanequin is a play about gender, identity and finding your family in the unlikeliest of places. With director Jain Boon and writer Kelly Jones, the actors worked alongside members of TransForm Cymru and students from Radyr Comprehensive school to devise Humanequin. They shared their common and individual stories and experiences to create a performance which educates, challenges and provokes conversation about what it means to be trans in 2018.

Alice in Wonderland

Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

Friday 23 November-Saturday 29 December

£16-£26; ages 7+

Continuing its Christmas tradition of bringing classic children’s novels to the stage Lewis Caroll’s Alice in Wonderland is adapted by Mike Kenny and directed by Rachel O’Riordan. Follow Alice down the rabbit hole to meet all of your favourite characters. Catch up with the White Rabbit (he’s still running late) or join the Mad Hatter for tea; just mind the Queen of Hearts doesn’t see you or it will be “off with your head”. A talented cast of actor-musicians, stunning sets and costumes, and (tea)pots of fun combine to bring this much-loved classic to life in a curious adventure that you will remember for a lifetime.

Every Saturday in December you can also book  a children’s afternoon tea in Wonderland at 4pm priced £10 per child.

Arts, Crafts, Museums and Culture

FREE Drawn Together

National Museum Cardiff

Tuesday 2-Wednesday 31 October; 10am-5pm

Drawn Together is a project which invites people in Wales to look at their surroundings, and draw them. These drawings will be on display in the Museum during October 2018. There will be an opportunity for visitors to take part in the project by taking one of the sketching leaflets and to sketch artworks, artefacts or anything else in the Museum.

There are also a number of workshops to inspire you to create your own drawing. Advance booking recommended.

Tuesday 30 October 2pm – ‘Story tiles – making stories from inside the museum’ – Drawing workshop with artist Elizabeth Stonhold –

Saturday 3 November 2018 2pm – Drawn Together workshop with artist Kim James-Williams

FREE Spin and draw

Big Pit National Coal Museum Blaenavon

Saturday 27 October, 11am-4pm

In celebration of Welsh Museums Festival make and decorate your own spinning top and use it to create your own masterpiece of art.

FREE The Winding Engine in Action

The Winding House, New Tredegar

Saturdays 27 October and 24 November 12pm

See the original Victorian winding engine in action on the last Saturday of each month. Chat to the volunteers who maintain it, as well as ask any questions! Running the engine depends on the availability of volunteers. Please check to confirm the engine is running prior to your visit.

FREE Soft Play

Big Pit National Coal Museum Blaenavon

Monday 29 October–Friday 2 November 2018, 11am-4pm

Soft play in the Play Lab for mini miners to enjoy. Suitable for under 5s only and children must be supervised by an adult at all times.

Big Pit Goes Batty & Face Painting

Big Pit National Coal Museum Blaenavon

Wednesday 31 October, 11am-4pm

£1 per person, per activity

Come along to make bouncy bats and get your face painted ready for Halloween

FREE Artes Mundi – half term drop in activity

National Museum Cardiff

Tuesday 30 October-Friday 2 November, 1pm-4pm

Works by the shortlisted artists in this year’s Artes Mundi arts prize will be displayed at the museum from 26 October to 24 February. Over half term families are invited to look at the work in this year’s exhibition and to discover how the artists use different shapes, colours and materials. Children can talk about what they see and spend some time making or planning their own work.

FREE Behind the Scenes at the Museum: Halloween

National Museum Cardiff

Wednesday 31 October 2018, 11am – 4pm

A family friendly behind the scenes day. Follow the museum’s experts around the galleries and find out some fiendishly fun facts; discover some of the creepier objects in the collections and chat to the people behind the jars about the specimens. Halloween is the perfect time for the Museum curators to bring out the icky, pickled and preserved things in jars for you to see. From a stingray to a slug – set your inner ghoul free!

The Winding House New Tredegar

The Big Draw

Wednesday 31 October 11am-1pm

Take part in the world’s biggest celebration of drawing with Amazing Mummies at the Winding House Museum. Learn to draw a large scale Egyptian Mummy, free entry, drop in between 11am and 1pm to take part.

Craft Club

Friday 2 November 11am

£2.50 per child; must be pre-booked

Remember, remember the 5th of November! A chance to make some Guy Fawkes and firework themed crafts.

FREE Pirate Activities

Cardiff Story Museum

Tuesday 30 October

Dress up and play like a pirate on the deck of the museum’s galleon ship.

Pirate Story Time 10am-12pm

Join the museum’s swashbuckling storyteller to hear stories of pirates and their adventures.

Peter Pan 1pm-2.15pm

A special screening of Disney’s Peter Pan at 1pm.

FREE Iron Age jewellery making

Cardiff Story Museum

Wednesday 31 October 11am-2pm

Age 4+; drop-in event

CAER Studio artists Imogen Higgins and Dylan Sutton will be show you how to make clay jewellery inspired by Iron Age and Roman finds from the Caerau Hill Fort. https://cardiffmuseum.com/whatson/iron-age-jewellery-making/

Creepy Crafts

Parc Slip Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre, Aberkenfig Bridgend

Friday 2 November, 1pm-3.30pm

£3 per child; age 5+ with adult supervision; drop in

An afternoon of creepy crafts and other activities.

Made By Hand Wales

City Hall Cardiff

Friday 2-Sunday 4 November

Adult daily ticket £7, concession £6; adult Weekend ticket £13, concessions £11; accompanied Children Under 18 free

Celebrating its fifth year at City Hall Wales’s largest contemporary craft fair brings together a handpicked selection of 135 leading makers from all over Wales and the UK. As part of the programme of events, artist demonstrations and a drop in children’s crafts area will give visitors the chance to learn more about the inspiration, materials, making and stories behind the work that will be on sale.  The highly skilled collection includes jewellery makers, potters, furniture makers, textile artists, glassmakers and many more, all selling their finely made products directly to the public.

Parent/child portrait drawing workshop with Zena Blackwell

Cardiff Made 41 Lochaber Street Cardiff

Friday 2 November; 10am-12pm

£4 per parent and child; age 4+; must be pre-booked

Parents are invited to bring along a child (one child per parent) and draw portraits of each other within the gallery space. There will be a chance for the children to discuss the artworks produced at the end. Please bring along a photo of yourself and your child to draw from. No drawing experience necessary. All levels welcome.

Zena Blackwell’s sole show Seen Not Heard runs at Cardiff Made from 28 October-25 November. Her paintings are inspired by the threads of family life.

FREE Remembrance Service

St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff

Saturday 10 November, 10.50am-1pm

Gather at the war memorial for our annual service to remember the fallen.

FREE Remembrance Sunday

National Museum Cardiff

Sunday 11 November, 11am – 4pm

Remembrance Sunday in the museum is a unique way to mark the day. Find out more about medicine in the First World War, both for people and horses, by chatting to a doctor and vet or have a go at some poppy crafts. The haunting last post will be played before the silence at 11am.

FREE Tim Peake’s Spacecraft Family Day

National Museum Cardiff

Saturday 17 November, 11am-4pm

Tim Peake’s Soyuz space capsule will be at National Museum Cardiff from 15 November until 10 February. The accompanying exhibition is free plus you can also relive the descent from space through a virtual reality experience (£6). The launch event on Saturday 17 November will celebrate with music provided by the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, plus there will be space themed family crafts. Cardiff Astronomical Society will tell visitors more about the capsule itself and space questions.

FREE Diwali Mela

St Fagans National Museum of History

11 November, 10am-4pm

Celebrate the Hindu festival of light at St Fagans as performers, dancers and stall holders from the India Centre Cardiff bring the Museum alive to the sights, sounds and smells of an Indian festival. Diwali is the festival of light and is one of the most popular Hindu festivals. It celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil.

The Great Outdoors and Nature-themed

Half-term events

Greenmeadow Community Farm, Cwmbran

Saturday-27 October-Sunday 4 November

£6.50 per adult; £5.40 per child; £23.50 family 2+3

There’s a full programme of events over half term including tractor rides and cuddle corner. From Saturday 27-Sunday 28 October you can see the Steampunk Halloweenarium pantomime; carve a pumpkin (£2.50 per pumpkin); chicken lunchtime with spooky fun; make a spooky hand; as well as meeting creepy creatures.

Monday 29 and Tuesday 29 October see pig agility and apple bobbing; milking demonstration; crafts and more.

From Thursday 1-Sunday 4 November there’s a milking demonstration; chicken lunchtime; greet and groom; autumn crafts; exotic animal encounters plus tractor rides.

See Halloween events section above for details of Wednesday 31^st October.

Mini beasts and pond dipping

Amelia Trust Farm, Five Mile Lane, Barry

Saturday 28 October; Wednesday 1-Friday 3 November; 10.30am and 2.30pm

£5.50 per child in addition to entrance charges; children must be supervised; age 3+

Grab your wellies and be prepared to spot some mini beasts scurrying around the woodlands, delve deep into the pond to discover what’s lurking in the depths. Includes use of one of the farm’s Explorers kit for this activity.

Autumn Apprentice Trail

Dyffryn Gardens, St Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan

Saturday 28 October-Sunday 4 November

Adults £11; children £5; family £28 (gift aid prices)

Complete five tasks including helping the gardeners to rake up piles of beautiful autumnal leaves (and jump in if no one’s watching) and identify some trees by their bark and shape.

Cook on a campfire

Dyffryn Gardens, St Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan

Friday 2 November, 12pm-3pm

Adults £11; children £5; family £28 (gift aid prices)

Get back to nature and cooking in the great outdoors this autumn. Included in general admission.

Pumpkin carving

Saturday 28-Wednesday 31 October

£4 in addition to usual entrance fees

Get creative and create your very own pumpkin ready for Halloween this autumn. There will be stencils, carving sets and helpers on hand to get you started.

Make it Mondays

Monday 29 October 12pm-3pm

Join us every Monday during Vale of Glamorgan school holidays to take part in a craft activity. Included in general admission.

Half term events

Tredegar House Newport

Friday 26 October-Sunday 4 November

Adults £10.40; children £5.40; family £26 or free to National Trust members

Pumpkin Carving

Friday 26-Wednesday 31 October 11am-3pm

£3 per pumpkin in addition to entrance charges

Pick your own pumpkin and Tredegar House will provide you with all the tools you’ll need to create your masterpiece.

Toffee Apple Bar

Saturday 27 October-Sunday 4 November 11am-3pm

£3 per apple

Pick your apple and choose from a range of decorations to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Hedgehog trail

Saturday 27 October-Sunday 4 November 11am-4pm

Walk a mile in a hedgehog’s shoes on an interactive trail and get stuck into some critter arts and crafts.

Create some wild art

Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 October 1pm-3pm

Create some truly wild art using only natural materials. Go on a scavenger hunt to find what you need and then create your masterpiece. You can make anything you like, from colourful star shapes, to 3D twig sculptures, to a leafy picture of a wild animal.

Create mud faces

Thursday 1 and Friday 2 November 12pm-3pm

Get messy and join in with our hedgehog themed half-term with some hedgehog mud face making.

Den Building and Fire

Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, Sully

Monday October 29, 10am-12pm

£5 per child; ages 7-11; must be prebooked.

Help build a shelter in the woods, make a fire and toast some marshmallows!

Holiday Wildlife Watch

Brynna Woods and Llanharan Marsh

Thursday 1 November 10am-12pm

£2 per child; ages 5-11; children must be accompanied by adults

Wildlife Watch is the junior branch of the Wildlife Trusts, and the UK’s leading club for young environmentalists. The group explores local nature reserves to find out about the amazing wildlife living on our doorstep. This half term the group will be learning about dormice and hazelnuts in Brynna Woods & Llanharan Marsh Nature Reserve.

Spooky Night-Time Walk

Parc Slip Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre, Aberkenfig, Bridgend

Thursday 1 November, 6.15pm-8.30pm

£2 per person; booking essential

Keep your eyes peeled for creatures that go bump in the night on this family friendly wildlife walk around Parc Slip Nature Reserve. Learn about Parc Slip’s nocturnal wildlife as you walk the reserve with bat detectors on the lookout for bats and other creatures of the night. Hot chocolate will be available halfway through the walk.

Soup and Starlings

RPSB Newport Wetlands

Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 31 October to Wednesday 28 November

Starts between 3.45pm and 3pm depending on sunset times

RSPB members £5.50 / non-members £6.60; booking essential

Prepare to be amazed by the marvel of the starling murmuration at Newport Wetlands. You’ll find out all there is to know about starlings over a tasty cup of soup or hot drink.  It will also keep you warm as you are guided by a local expert to see the starlings put on a dusk spectacle. The event starts between 3.45pm and 3pm, depending on sunset times. You will be given the time when booking onto the event.

Wild Tots at Bedwellty

Bedwellty House, Tredegar

Friday 2 November 2, 10am-11.30am

£2.50 per family (up to 2 children); additional children £1

Outdoor-based parent and toddler group. An Ugly Bug Ball themed session of storytelling, activities and snacks on the campfire including: fire pit, campfire cooking, natural crafts, toddle walks, mud kitchen, toasted marshmallows, exploring, adventures – whatever the weather.

FREE Family Rangers Bramble Blitz

Hendre Lake, St Mellons

Sunday 4 November, 11am-1pm

Age 5+

Has your family got what it takes to beat the brambles at Hendre Lake? Help Cardiff Community Rangers cut a path through the bramble jungle in this free, family-friendly, hands-on activity. Family Rangers gives children and their grown-ups a chance to try out being a park ranger, going behind the scenes to join in with looking after Cardiff’s green spaces. Tools, gloves and supervision provided.

Autumn Art Attack

Bute Park Education Centre, Cardiff

Saturday 10 November, 1pm-3pm

£1.50 per child

Create a piece of autumn art from leaves, nuts and berries to take home – autumn pictures and mobiles are favourites. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

CINEMA AND FILM

I’m focusing on special film events and cheap family screenings at holidays and weekends here, rather than regular cinema screenings.

Corpse Bride (PG)

Chapter Arts Centre, Canton, Cardiff

Saturday 27 October 1pm; Sunday 28 October 3pm; Wednesday 31 October 11am

The day before Victor is due to marry Victoria in an arranged marriage Victor puts his wedding ring on what looks like a branch but is in fact the skeletal finger of the enchanted Corpse Bride. She whisks him off to a dark and mysterious netherworld where they are now married. Realising he has fallen in love with his true fiancée can Victor find his way back to his own world?

Curse of the WereRabbit (U)

Chapter Arts Centre, Canton, Cardiff

Saturday 27 October 3pm

A special scratch’n’sniff version of the Aardman classic in which Wallace and his loyal dog, Gromit, set out to discover the mystery behind the garden sabotage that plagues their village and threatens the annual giant vegetable growing contest. Audience members will be given a scratch card containing 10 weird and wonderful odours that link to key scenes within the film. When prompted, viewers will be invited to scratch and sniff the gel odour.

Film Activity Day: Tim Burton

Chapter Arts Centre, Canton, Cardiff

Wednesday 31 October; 10am-3.30pm

£22.50; must be booked in advance

Join artist Beth Morris for a day of Gothic-inspired fairytale art, inspired by the films of Tim Burton. Ticket to the 11am screening of The Corpse Bride included. Please bring packed lunch.

Halloween Cinema

Cardiff Castle

Sunday 28 October-Sunday 4 November

Family-friendly films include Hocus Pocus; Coco; The Nightmare Before Christmas; Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban. See website for times and days.

Movies for Juniors

Cineworld, Mary Ann Street, Cardiff

The 10am weekend and school holiday Movies for Juniors showings are just £2 per person. Check online for schedule; films are usually a few months old rather than new releases.

Mini Mornings

Vue Cinema, Millennium Plaza, Cardiff

The 10am weekend and school holiday Movies for Juniors showings are just £2.49 per person. Check online for schedule; films are usually a few months old rather than new releases.

Chapter Arts Centre, Canton, Cardiff

A different family film every week

£4/£3 booked in advance; see website for full listings.

Memo Arts Centre Barry

A selection of family-friendly films at weekends and during school holidays.

Adults £6; concessions £4; under 16s £3 when booked in advance. £6.50/£4.50/£3.50 on the door.