🎃 Halloween in Thirsk
Ghost walk, cinema and craft events right in town.
🍫 Pumpkin Picking
Spilmans and Monk Park pumpkin festivals and nights.
👻 Spooky Days Out
Trails, ghost tours and lanternlight walks nearby.
👶 Family & Half-Term
Gentler activities for younger children.
🎃 Halloween in Thirsk
Events actually taking place in Thirsk town centre.
Perfectly Spooky Halloween Ghost Walk
Saturday 31 October 2026 · 6pm–7.30pmA 75-minute guided walk exploring Thirsk's historic streets, spooky locations and local legends, finishing with a hot chocolate at a historic location. Starts at Thirsk Tourist Information, 93A Market Place.
Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom
23–29 October 2026 · 7.30pm, plus Sat & Sun 2.30pmA Halloween-season family film set around Halloween Eve, in which Farmer accidentally ruins the pumpkin patch before Shaun encounters a mysterious beast in the woods. A good rainy-day option. Ritz Cinema, Westgate, Thirsk.
Ceramic Pumpkins & Cider
Friday 9 October 2026 · 7pm–9pmNot strictly a Halloween event, but a lovely Halloween-season evening — make your own ceramic pumpkin from clay, with cider included and an autumnal atmosphere. Rural Arts, The Old Courthouse, 4 Westgate, Thirsk YO7 1QS.
🍫 Pumpkin Picking Near Thirsk
The Great Yorkshire Pumpkin Festival — Spilmans
26 Sept & selected dates through October, incl. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18 & 23–30 Oct 2026One of the biggest Halloween-season attractions near Thirsk.
Enjoy a magical evening of pumpkin picking as the patch at Monk Park Farm comes alive at twilight. With live music, lively entertainment and plenty of Halloween fun, it's a great way to celebrate the autumn season.
York Mix Radio's Laura Castle will be performing live, bringing music to the evening. A live MC will keep the party atmosphere going with games and entertainment, while roaming performers add to the excitement throughout the event.
Look out for an impressive two-person live fire show, too!
Adults can enjoy a drink from the bar, while a selection of street food will be available to keep everyone refreshed and well fed.
With pumpkins to pick, music to enjoy and plenty of entertainment, this is an evening packed with festive fun for all the family.
Church Farm, Sessay, near Thirsk.
Monk Park Farm — Family Pumpkin Nights
Select dates 3–31 October 2026 · 5.30pm–8.30pmMake an evening of it this October as Monk Park Farm transforms into a glowing pumpkin-filled adventure for the whole family. The Great Yorkshire Pumpkin Patch comes alive after dark, creating a fun and atmospheric night out for children and adults alike.
Wrap up warm, pull on your wellies and enjoy an atmospheric autumn evening packed with pumpkins, carving, games, entertainment, food and family fun.
Family Pumpkin Nights are a great way to enjoy the Halloween season together at Monk Park Farm.
Monk Park Farm, Green Ln, Bagby, Thirsk YO7 2AG.
Monk Park Farm — Adults Only Pumpkin Nights
17 & 24 October 2026 · 5.30pm–8.30pm · 18+A Halloween evening aimed specifically at adults — pumpkin picking after dark, entertainment, carnival games, carving, food and drinks.
Enjoy a grown-ups-only evening at Monk Park Farm, where the Great Yorkshire Pumpkin Patch takes on a magical new look after sunset. Leave the little ones at home and explore the illuminated patch, surrounded by thousands of pumpkins glowing beneath the festoon lights.
Take your time browsing the pumpkin displays, enjoy a drink from the Ewe La La bar and get competitive with a few rounds of carnival games. With the farm transformed for the evening, it's a chance to enjoy the autumn atmosphere, have some fun and experience pumpkin picking in a whole new way.
Monk Park Farm, Bagby. YO7 2AG - Tel: 01845 42 11 24
Pumpkin Patch — Ripon Walled Garden
Start Saturday 17th October at 9.30am - Ends Saturday 31st October 2026 at 4pmGet into the Halloween spirit at the annual Pumpkin Patch, where families can enjoy a fun-filled day of pumpkins, fancy dress and spooky surprises. Come along in your favourite Halloween costume, choose your pumpkin and get creative at the on-site carving station.
After all the Halloween excitement, take a break in the café with a warming hot chocolate and a slice of specially themed Halloween cake. You can also browse the shop for seasonal goodies and treats to take home.
Entry is free, and all proceeds go towards supporting the charity's work helping adults with learning disabilities. Come along, join the Halloween celebrations and help raise money for a worthwhile cause.
Ripon Walled Garden, Palace Road, Ripon, HG4 3HN
👻 Spooky Days Out Near Thirsk
Halloween Trail — Thorp Perrow Arboretum
3 October – 1 November 2026One of the strongest family Halloween attractions near Thirsk: a trail featuring Widow's Web, Captain's Creek, CarnEVIL and other spooky surprises, suitable for younger witches and wizards.
Thorp Perrow, Bedale, North Yorkshire, DL8 2PS
Crowe's Wood Halloween Trail — Kiplin Hall
16 October – 4 November 2026A spooky woodland trail aimed particularly at families with primary-school children, exploring legends of wolves, witches, ghosts and ghouls.
Kiplin Hall, near Scorton. DL10 6AT
After Hours Ghost Tours — Kiplin Hall
Friday 30 & Saturday 31 October 2026 · 5.30pm & 7pm · 14+Explore Kiplin Hall after hours in atmospheric low lighting while hearing supernatural stories and local legends.
Ripon City Ghost Walk
Thursday 29 October 2026An evening ghost walk around historic Ripon, with stories involving the old cinema, the Cathedral bonehouse, the Workhouse and the Courthouse.
Castle by Lanternlight — Bolton Castle
Monday 26 October 2026 6pm–8pmEnjoy a magical Halloween adventure designed especially for families with younger children. Explore the castle after dark by the warm glow of lanterns, with a spooky atmosphere that's suitable for little ones under 10.
Once your lantern-lit adventure is over, gather around the open fire to enjoy a warming drink and share your own spooky stories together. Children are encouraged to come dressed in their favourite Halloween costumes for an extra touch of festive fun.
A lovely opportunity for families to experience the castle at night and enjoy a gentler take on Halloween.
Hocus Pocus Halloween — Mother Shipton's Cave
24 October – 1 November 2026Halloween-themed family activities throughout October half-term at Mother Shipton's Cave, Knaresborough. HG5 8DD
Frightwater Valley — Lightwater Valley
27 September – 23 October 2026A full Halloween family event with movie-inspired Halloween characters, trick-or-treating, live entertainment and both family-friendly and bigger scares for those who want them. Lightwater Valley, North Stainley, near Ripon.
👶 Family Halloween & Half-Term
Family Fungi Walk & Talk — Thorp Perrow
24 October 2026 · 11am & 1pmNot a Halloween event, but a lovely low-key half-term woodland activity for families who want something less frightening — learn about fungi and identification on a woodland foray.
Halloween at The Feathers
Saturday 31 October 2026 · 1pmA free children's Halloween party with a Halloween DJ, fancy-dress prizes, bouncy castle, goody bags and entertainment. The Feathers Hotel, Helmsley.
Dark Skies Fringe Festival
23 October – 1 November 2026Not a Halloween attraction as such, but it overlaps directly with Halloween week — stargazing and night-time activities around Sutton Bank and the North York Moors, plus an off-road cycling event starting at Sutton Bank National Park Centre near Thirsk.
More to look out for
27 Oct — Sister Act at The Forum.
30 Oct — Stargazing at Ampleforth Abbey.
Details to be confirmed closer to the date — check listings nearer the time.
📅 Full date guide
Every confirmed Halloween-season date in one place.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 3–31 Oct | 🍫 Great Yorkshire Pumpkin Festival, Spilmans |
| 3 Oct–1 Nov | 👻 Thorp Perrow Halloween Trail |
| 9 Oct | 🎨 Ceramic Pumpkins & Cider, Thirsk |
| 17 Oct | 🍫 Pumpkin Patch, Ripon Walled Garden |
| 17–18 Oct | 🌙 Monk Park Family Pumpkin Nights |
| 17 Oct | 🔒 Monk Park Adults Only Pumpkin Night |
| 23–29 Oct | 🐑 Shaun the Sheep, Ritz Cinema |
| 23 Oct–1 Nov | 🌌 Dark Skies Fringe Festival |
| 24 Oct | 🌙 Monk Park Family Pumpkin Night |
| 24 Oct | 🍄 Thorp Perrow Fungi Walk |
| 24 Oct–1 Nov | 🧙 Hocus Pocus, Mother Shipton's |
| 26 Oct | 🏰 Bolton Castle Lanternlight |
| 27 Oct | 🎭 Sister Act, The Forum |
| 28–29 Oct | 🌟 Spilmans Pumpkin Festival Fireworks |
| 29 Oct | 👻 Ripon City Ghost Walk |
| 30 Oct | 👻 Kiplin Hall Ghost Tour |
| 30 Oct | 🌌 Stargazing at Ampleforth Abbey |
| 31 Oct | 🍫 Pumpkin Festival, Spilmans |
| 31 Oct | 👻 Perfectly Spooky Thirsk Ghost Walk |
| 31 Oct | 👻 Kiplin Hall Ghost Tour |
| 31 Oct | 🍄 Thorp Perrow Fungi Walk |
| 31 Oct | 🚴 Dark Skies cycling event |
| 31 Oct | 🍫 Helmsley Kids Halloween Party |
| 1 Nov | 👻 Thorp Perrow Halloween Trail ends |
Halloween falls in half-term this year
North Yorkshire's October half-term overlaps with Halloween in 2026, so this isn't just a one-night event — it's worth planning across the whole week. Spread paid activities like Spilmans or Thorp Perrow across a weekday rather than the final Saturday, when it's busiest.
Costumes, pumpkins and last-minute bits — locally
- Farm shops and greengrocers around the Market Place often stock carving pumpkins in the run-up to Halloween.
- Charity shops on Kirkgate and Westgate are a reliable low-cost source for costume pieces.
- Sunset on 31 October is around 5:40pm — plan trick-or-treating and evening events to start before dark falls fully.
- Several evening events (Kiplin Hall, Monk Park Adults Only) have minimum ages — check before booking for younger children.
Ready to plan your Halloween in Thirsk?
New events get added as venues confirm their October programmes — check back, or browse the full listings below.
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