Muncaster Castle Halloween Festival Returns for October Half Term
Muncaster Castle is preparing to welcome families for its annual Halloween Family Festival, bringing a mix of spooky attractions, live entertainment and seasonal activities to the historic Cumbrian estate during the October half-term holiday.
Running from Saturday, October 24, to Sunday, November 1, the festival promises nine days of Halloween-themed experiences for visitors of all ages. This year’s theme, Zombie and Boggles, combines local folklore, imaginative characters and family-friendly scares throughout the castle and its gardens.
One of the main attractions is the Scary Maze, where visitors can navigate winding paths and encounter unexpected surprises. Families can also explore spooky trails, visit the castle’s haunted state rooms and take part in Halloween parades and a costume competition.
A major highlight of this year’s programme is The Zombie-Boggle Apocalypse, a new theatrical promenade show staged inside the castle. The family-friendly production combines music, folklore and mischievous supernatural characters in an adventure designed to bring the festival’s theme to life.
The event will also feature live entertainment in the gardens, bird of prey flying displays, walkabout performers and activities in the Weapons Hall, where visitors can try selected traditional skills under supervision.
The popular pumpkin patch is returning, with a free pumpkin included for children among the first 2,500 eligible child-ticket bookings. Pumpkin-carving workshops will also give families the opportunity to create their own Halloween decorations.
As evening approaches, visitors can enjoy the festival’s torchlight march, which takes participants along the castle’s main drive to conclude their day. The programme also includes All Owls Eve, a special evening display featuring owls flying under atmospheric lighting, accompanied by commentary from the castle’s bird team on selected dates.
Festival-only tickets are priced at £24.50 for adults and £16.95 for children aged three to 15, while children under three can enter free. Combined tickets covering the festival and the castle show cost £41.50 for adults and £29.95 for children.
Organisers encourage visitors to book in advance, particularly for additional evening experiences, which may require separate tickets.
The festival is expected to provide a seasonal attraction for families across Cumbria and beyond, combining Halloween entertainment with the historic surroundings of one of the Lake District’s best-known visitor destinations.
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