Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve written an events listings guide! I won’t dwell on what a crazy year and a half it has been, other than to say it’s great to see events going ahead (at the moment, at any rate) and life feeling a little more normal.  At least, I hope; we’ve all seen how quickly things can change.

Please remember that all events are subject to cancellation or postponement and that’s even more true in current times when restrictions can come in so quickly.

Most events listed here are pre-book only and many of the pumpkin events have limited availability or are close to selling out. However, there’s plenty that you can still do over the coming week and a half.

Events are categorised as follows: Pumpkin picking and Halloween themed; Theatre and performance; Museums and culture; Science events; Outdoor and nature-themed (non Halloween); Cinema (including drive-in cinemas and cheaper early morning family film options run by the larger cinemas). Clicking on the name of the event will take you to the website for further information.

As I’m sure you can imagine, these events listings take a long time to put together so a big request from me: please, please don’t copy them! It’s been brought to my attention that someone has been doing this with some of my previous posts without mentioning they’ve taken the information from my website. However, if you find this information useful, please help spread the word by sharing the original post, or liking or commenting on any of my social media channels. The incredible support everyone has shown Cardiff Mummy Says since it started in 2014 is what has kept it going so long – I’m so thankful to you all.

I hope you find plenty here to inspire your family adventures.

I share a lot of local ideas on the Cardiff Mummy Says Instagram account, as well as the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page and Twitter account. Do come and say hello! 

For more ideas of day out, see the Cardiff section of Cardiff Mummy Says where you’ll find lots of reviews of places to visit locally. 

Pumpkin picking and Halloween themed

Pick Your Own Pumpkins plus Halloween events

Forage Farm, Penllyn Estate, near Cowbridge

Saturday 23-Sunday 31 October, 10am-3.30pm

£7.50 per car; from £2 per pumpkin

Search the patch for your perfect pumpkin, then enjoy other spooky family activities, including getting lost in the giant maize maze, taking a tractor ride around the pumpkin patch, getting your little monsters’ faces painted…and enjoying delicious food and drink from a variety of vendors.

Spooky Rosedew

Rosedew Farm, Llantwit Major

Saturday 23-Sunday 31 October, 10am-12pm or 1pm-3pm (some dates already sold out)

£13 per child

Two hours of spooky fun and entertainment including a Halloween magic show, spooky disco, face painting, balloon modelling, magic wand decorating, colouring in, play park and bouncy castle, bale maze tower plus lots of photo backdrops and opportunities.

Also available on the day, PYO pumpkin field, sweetcorn and potatoes available to buy in the shop, plus hot food and drinks.

Pick Your Own Pumpkins

Picking Patch, St Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan

Friday 22-Sunday 31 October, 9.30am-4pmNo booking required

Pumpkins from £1 and measured by size

Thousands of pumpkins waiting to be picked, carved and eaten. Choose which one to take home and learn a little ‘pumpkinologoy’ too – recipes, ideas and activities all related to pumpkins.

Pumpkin Festival

Cantref Adventure Farm, Brecon

Saturday 23-Sunday 31 October

£7-£13 per adult/child over 93cm, £5-£7 per child under 93cm

Includes a free pumpkin for every child. Visit the pumpkin patch, carve your pumpkin, attend wizard school, plus pet handling, meet Blue the dinosaur, and lots of indoor and outdoor play.

Pick Your Own Pumpkin

Berryhill Farm, Newport, Gwent

Daily until Sunday 31 October

£5 per car with a maximum of 6 occupants

Pre-book an hour slot to pick your own pumpkins for Halloween.

Halloween on Gower

Gower Fresh Christmas Trees

Saturday 23-Sunday 31 October

Choose from pumpkin carving, broomstick decorating and cauldron capers with the Wicked Witch (£7.99 per activity).  Also experience a range of new activities, new characters and spooky experiences. You can even meet and feed Santa’s reindeers as they relax before work starts in December. The Wicked Teens will be teaching children to sing and dance plus in the Halloween barn, visit the spooky grotto and take a lucky dip in the giant cauldron.

Pick Your Own Pumpkin

Clearwell Farm, near Cardiff

Thursday 21-Sunday 31 October

£5 per vehicle, maximum of 5 people

More than 20 varieties of pumpkins are growing at Clearwell, ranging from tiny multicoloured gourds to the massive Atlantic Giant. The farmyard will turn into a weatherproof Halloween themed Pumpkin festival with thousands of pumpkins in the farmyard and barn. You can scoop and carve on site if you wish.

Pick Your Own Pumpkins

Vale Pick Your Own, Bonvilston, Vale of Glamorgan

Saturday 23-Sunday 31 October

Twilight picking, Friday 22, Saturday 23, Friday 29, Saturday 30 October

£3 per car pumpkin picking; £8 per car pumpkin picking and scarecrow maize maze; £6 twilight picking

The farm’s 25 acres contain everything from white mini Casper pumpkins to pink porcelain dolls. Plus get lots in the scarecrow maize, as well as picking your own sunflowers, plus seasonal food and drink options.

Halloween events

Fonmon Castle, Rhoose

Halloween Toddlers

Saturday 23-Sunday 31 October, 10am-3.30pm

Under 3s free, adults £13.50, children £9.50.

Halloween games, fancy dress and interaction with costumed staff for little ones.

Halloween Haunted Gardens

Thursday 22-Sunday 31 October, 5pm-9.30pm

£14.50 per person.

Test your nerves and stamina as you make your way through the interactive horror gardens. Watch out for ghosts, ghouls and chainsaw-wielding madmen.

Halloween Festival

Cosmeston Country Park and Medieval Village, Penarth

Saturday 23-Sunday 24 and Wednesday 27-Sunday 31 October

£12 per person aged 3+; under 3s free with accompanying fee-paying adult

Cosmeston comes to life after dark with thousands of lights illuminating the Medieval Village, and special effects and spooky experiences to test your nerves. Suitable for all ages the festival will feature ghost stories, special effects, scary installations, pumpkin carving and a guided trail by professional Halloween performers. The festival all also include a children’s fairground and food and drink stalls.

Spooky Halloween Party

Parc Play, Cardiff

Friday 22 and Friday 29 October, 3.30pm-5.30pm; 6.30pm-8.30pm (suitable for older children)

Age 1-12 £9.99, under 1s £2.99, adults £1.50, members £3.99; children’s tickets include hotdog and juice box

Indoor/outdoor play and spooky fun including a haunted castle, spooky trail, barefoot challenge, spooky music and more.

Halloween Fun

Greenmeadow Community Farm, Cwmbran

Saturday 23-Sunday 31 October, 10am-5pm

Adults £6.50, children £5.40, family £23.50

Halloween themed fun for little ones every day of half term including pumpkin carving, creepy creatures, piggy pumpkin teatime, tractor rides and more.

Halloween Trail

Mountain View Ranch, Caerphilly

Saturday 23-Sunday 31 October; 2.5 hour slots available to book

£8 per person

A spooktacular fresh air fuelled family adventure, including the witch’s house, spooky spider wood, pumpkin trail ad Ranch favourites including the jumping pillow, soft archery, fairy forest, tree houses, double zip wire, vomit comet, big big swing and Gruffalo trail. Stonebaked pizza and fries available to purchase from the café.

Spooky Fun

Amelia Trust Farm, Barry

Monday 25-Friday 30 October

Monday 11am mini monster talk (reptiles), 2pm furry beast talk (little pets)

Tuesday 11am mini monster talk, 11.30am and 1pm Terrific Tales with Rhoose Library, 2pm furry beast talk

Wednesday 11am mini monster talk, 2pm and 3pm Brilliant Bats talk

Thursday 11am donkey discovery talk, 11.30am and 1pm Terrific Tales with Rhoose Library, 2pm furry beast talk

Friday 11am mini monster talk, 1pm starry skies talk with Barry Astronomical Society, 2pm furry beast talk

Plus spooky farm trail and scary snaps photo competition.

St Fagans Online Ghost Tours

Online

Thursday 28 October, 7.30pm

£6; age 12+

Dark Wales Tours presents a virtual Ghost Tour that explores St Fagans National Museum of History, exploring the spots where inexplicable things have been repeatedly seen, heard, and felt by generations of Museum staff and visitors. The virtual event will immerse participants in the history of each building, recounting the ghostly tales that have been gathered over the years.

Pumpkin Carving

Tredegar House, Newport

Friday 29-Sunday 31 October, 11am-3pm

£4 per person plus usual admission fees – adults £12.10, children £6.10, family £30.30 or free to National Trust members

No need to book

Run on a first-come, first-served basis

Spark your creativity by personalising your pumpkin – will it be smiley, spooky or silly? Everything you need is provided in the cost.

Ghost Trains

Blaenavon Heritage Railway

Thursday 28-Sunday 31 October, departing from 4pm to 8.30pm

£8 per person aged 3+

Alight the Halloween Ghost Train at the spookily decorated Furnace Sidings station for a return trip to Whistle Inn Halt, with ghouls and ghosts scaring you at your seat along the way.

FREE Pumpkin Fest

Porthkerry Country Park, Barry

Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 October

Take on the 9-hole crazy pumpkin golf course, enter your pumpkin lantern into the carving competition and help build a magical glowing pumpkin gallery at the Forest Lodge. Also enjoy face-painting and pumpkin games. Fancy dress highly encouraged!

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Halloween Trail

Chepstow Castle

Monday 25-Sunday 31 October, 9.30am-4.30pm

50p plus normal admission

Suitable for children of all ages, follow the Halloween trail around the castle.

Halloween Trail

Raglan Castle

Saturday 30-Sunday 31 October, 11am-3pm

Normal admission applies

Take on the Spooky trail and receive a sweet Halloween treat!

Spooky Halloween Weekend

Blaenavon Ironworks

Saturday 30-Sunday 31 October, 11am-4pm

A spooky trail, storytelling about Welsh myths and legends, plus a Halloween trail for children in the spookily themed cottages, with a chocolate prize.

Spooky Bowling

Hollywood Bowl, The Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay

Saturday 30 October, 7pm-9.30pm

All the fun of bowling but with a spooky twist; dust off the Halloween costumes and enjoy spooky bowling plus food and drink.

https://thereddragoncentre.co.uk/events/faboolous-fun-at-hollywood-bowl-this-halloween/

Theatre and performance

Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever

New Theatre, Cardiff

Wednesday 27-Thursday 28 October

The cheeky pig is back in a new live show packed full of songs, game and laughter. Peppa Pig is excited to be going on a special day out with George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig – it’s going to be her best day ever! Get ready for a road-trip full of fun adventures. From castles to caves, dragons to dinosaurs and ice-creams to muddy puddles – there is something for all of the family and their friends to enjoy, including Miss Rabbit, Mr Bull, Suzy Sheep, Gerald Giraffe and more!

FREE Ripples Of Kindness

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay

1 October-7 November

This virtual reality experience is playing in conjunction with The Boy With Two Hearts, at Wales Millennium Centre until 23 October. This story of brotherhood, love and positivity is inspired by the stories of Hussein Amiri and his family, who were forced to flee Afghanistan in 2000. Created in collaboration with Hamed and Hessam Amiri to honour their brother’s incredible life, Ripples of Kindness invites small groups to share in the positive impact that Hussein had on everyone around him, from Afghanistan to Wales.

The experience is centred around the sofra – the living/dining space within the family home where the three brothers and their parents would meet, talk and exchange stories over food. The Amiris welcome you to join them at the sofra to (virtually) meet them and some of the people who came to their aid when they needed it most.

Become immersed in an ever-changing virtual and sensory world which combines text, performance, verbatim recordings, imagery and sound, and truly experience the Amiri family’s stories.

Mysterious Maud’s Chambers of Fantastical Truth

Castell Coch, Tongwynlais

Wednesday 27 October-Sunday 7 November, 7.30pm

Adults £12, concessions £10. Age 12+

The famous castle plays host to a theatre performance which will leave you “intrigued, unnerved and most thoroughly entertained”. Mysterious Maud has uncovered a fantastical truth — a truth so terrifying it has driven her mad. Is this new knowledge the doorway to a dream or a nightmare? Wander with Maud and her extraordinary household through the glorious interior of Castell Coch in this production from award-winning theatre maker Caroline Sabin (A Curious Zoo, Blood on the Snow), known for making work that is visually delicious, warm hearted, funny and dark.

MARVELus: All The Marvel Movies… kind of

Memo Arts Centre, Barry

Tuesday 26 October, 7pm

Adults £10, under 18s £8.50. Age guidance 12+.

The world’s premier nerd-culture comedy double-act, The Just Us League present their smash hit show MARVELus: All the MARVEL Movies…Kind Of

Squeezing (almost) all the Marvel movies into an action-packed evening of laughs, their short punchy sketches and high-energy style will delight the whole spectrum of MARVEL fans; from those that have seen just one movie to mega-aficionados who know the franchise inside out.  It’s weapons-free comedy that takes no prisoners.

Museums and culture

FREE The Future Has a Past

St Fagans National Museum of Wales, Cardiff

9 June 2021-21 January 2022

What will Wales look like in the future? In this exhibition Amgueddfa Cymru producers and artist Henry Alles discuss the notion that to explore the future, we first have to look to the past. They have delved into the national collections of Wales, with the exhibition featuring 59 iconic objects from the national collection including a protest banner from Greenham Common, Dr William Price’s iconic fox fur hat, a giant piece of coal, and even a lion’s pelt. The Future has a Past asks us to consider our past as a means of discovering our futures.

FREE Firestarter Exhibition

National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon

28 July 2021-26 February 2022

Alongside all the usual Roman artefacts and information that can be found at this museum, Firestarter, as its name suggests, focuses on fire – which is and always has been one of the most important and useful tools in the history of humanity. The exhibition looks at the concept of fire in the Roman world by examining the many fire making techniques and uses for fire, as well as the relationship between fire and the gods.

FREE The Rules of Art?

National Museum Cardiff

23 October 2021-16 April 2023

The Rules of Art?  brings together 500 years of painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, film and ceramics to pose questions about representation, identity and culture.

Works of art will be displayed in a way that questions social and political power and shows how artists have pursued a shared purpose: to push, subvert, question and reimagine what art can be.

Artists whose works will be on display include Rembrandt, Thomas Jones, Pablo Picasso, Gwen John, Maximilian Lenz, Clare Woods, Bedwyr Williams, Caroline Walker and Clémentine Schneidermann, as well as Vertigo Sea by John Akomfrah, one of a number of major new acquisitions acquired by the museum.

FREE Lily’s Fossil Footprint

National Museum Cardiff

Four-year-old Lily Wilder made the headlines when she discovered a fossil at Bendricks Bay, which was then excavated professionally. The 220-million-year-old fossil is a type of footprint called Evazoum, made by a currently unknown herbivorous dinosaur.

Science events

Ghoul School

Techniquest, Mermaid Quay

Saturday 23-Sunday 31 October

Adults from £10.90, children £9.05, under 3s free, family £38.18, plus £2 extra per person for Ghoul School (age guidance: 5+)

Tickets must be booked online in advance.

Ghoul School is the spooky science show running at Techniquest over half term. The special half hour show will take place in the science theatre, featuring live experiments showing how you can set up a spooky atmosphere, make a terrifying entrance and finish with a bang.

Plus there’s hands-on science with more than xx exhibits, including many that are new to Techniquest following its recent refurbishment and extension.

Museum Stage @ Swansea Science Festival

National Waterfront Museum, Swansea

Saturday 23-Saturday 30 October

Events hosted by the museum as part of the festival include Bubble Superstars, Brainiac Live, The Cloud Factory, Science at Night trail, Freaky Food, The Pollinator Passport Challenge, Animation workshops, So You Think You Know About Dinosaurs? and Halloween sweet special.  Some events are free, others are paid entry.

Outdoor events and nature-themed

FREE Animatronic Dragon

Tacoma Square, Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay

Saturday 23 October-Sunday 7 November

The UK’s largest animatronic dragon comes to Mermaid Quay this October, the first time it’s ever been on display anywhere in the world. The new 15-metre-long and 6-metre-tall dragon features a moving head and tail, opening and closing eyes, life-like breathing movements, along with a terrifying roar and smoky breath. In addition to the fearsome red dragon, which is of course the symbol of Wales, there will also be a dragon ride for children (£4 a ride) and dragon-themed competitions and activities to coincide with half term. Free dragon facepainting is available Saturday 23 (9.30am-3.30pm), Sunday 24, Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 (11am-pm) subject to the weather, plus you could win £50 of dragon goodies by designing your own dragon (colouring sheet available from participating retailers in Mermaid Quay or print at home). Plus find the six dragons hiding around Mermaid Quay and you could win free ice cream for a year from Cadwaladers Mermaid Quay – Cadwaladers also have a special dragon sundae available to celebrate the special visitor. See the cinema section below for details of special screenings of How To Train Your Dragon at Everyman Cinema Cardiff.

Hedgehog Week

Dyffryn Gardens, St Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan

Saturday 23-Sunday 31 October

Included in entry fee – adults £11, children £5.50, family £27.50

No need to book

There are many hedgehogs who make Dyffryn their home. Make your very own from nature, with a pine cone body and little twiggy legs, and see if you can spot the signs of real-life hedgehogs around the gardens.

Half term events

RSPB Wetlands Newport

Saturday 23-Sunday 31 October – Spooky Species Halloween Nature Trail

£3 per child, including a prize

Saturday 23 October – What’s That Bird? Learning from calls £6.50-£8.50

Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 October – Gruffalo Bug Buffet, £2-£6.50

A big hunt like no other. Discover the spooky and spectacular creepy crawlies lurking on the reserve. The activity will follow a Gruffalo’s Buffet theme story to get little ones in the bug hunting mood.

Friday 29 October – Bat and moth walk, £5.70-£10.50

As night falls join a stroll through the reserve as these fabulous creatures of the night make their appearance

Saturday 30 October – Bird watching for children, £2-£6.50

Cinema

How to Train Your Dragon

Everyman Cinema Cardiff, Mermaid Quay

Sunday 24-Thursday 28 October, with screenings starting between 10am and 10.30am, with more dates to be confirmed

To celebrate the giant animatronic dragon who will be at Mermaid Quay for the next two weeks, Everyman Cinema Cardiff is hosting special screenings of the Dreamworks classic, How to Train Your Dragon, based on Cressida Cowell’s books. 

Streetfood Cinema Cardiff

Splott Market, Cardiff

Monday 25-Sunday 31 October

From £25 per car

Films suitable for families include Corpse Bride (PG), Coco (U), The Witches (PG), Casper (PG), Cruella (PG), The Craft – Legacy (PG), Jaws (12A), Wallace and Gromit Case of The Were Rabbit (PG), Hotel Transylvania (PG), Addams Family Values (PG), Rocky Horror Picture Show (12), Edward Scissorhands (PG), BeetleJuice (12A), Coraline (PG), Ghostbusters (PG). Food is available to order via your mobile phone from a range of vendors, and delivered by roller skating zombies.

Underground Cinema

Cardiff Castle

Friday 29-Sunday 31 October

Adults £8.25, children £5.25

Films for families include Young Frankenstein (PG), Addams Family Values (PG), The Silence of the Lambs (18), Hocus Pocus (PG), The Lost Boys (15), Donnie Darko (15), Paranorman (PG), The Goonies (12A), The Nightmare Before Christmas (PG), Batman Mask of the Phantasm (PG), Beetlejuice (12A).

Drive-in Cinema

Margam Park, Port Talbot

From £25 per car

Wednesday 27-Saturday 30 October

Family films include Goosebumps, Little Shop of Horrors, The Addams Family and Monsters Inc, while for those 15+ there’s Beetlejuice, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, V for Vendetta and La Cha Cha.

Halloween Spooktacular films

St Donat’s Castle, Llantwit Major

Scoob Saturday October 30

Hocus Pocus, Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 October

The Lost Boys (15) Saturday 30 October

£7.50-£12

Films on the big screen in Bradenstoke Hall in the eerie St Donat’s Medieval Castle. The dimmed glowing lights and vaulted wooden ceilings are the perfect setting to get your hair raising this Halloween. Dress for the occasion in your spookiest Halloween costumes if you wish.

Odeon Kids

Odeon Cinema, The Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay

The 10am weekend and school holiday showings are £2.50 per person. Films to be announced; films are usually a few months old rather than new releases.

https://www.odeon.co.uk/offers-membership/odeon-kids/

Movies for Juniors

Cineworld, Mary Ann Street, Cardiff

The 10am weekend and school holiday Movies for Juniors showings are just £2.50 per person. Check online for schedule; films are usually a few months old rather than new releases.

https://www.cineworld.co.uk/movies-for-juniors

Mini Mornings

Vue Cinema, Millennium Plaza, Cardiff

The 10am weekend and school holiday Movies for Juniors showings are just £2.49 per person when booked online or £3.49 on the door. 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.