Pumpkins, potions and trails for Calan Gaeaf/ Halloween
The end of autumn and the beginning of winter is marked with many traditions - some stretching back to the pre-Christian times and the Celtic Samhain (SOW-an). This was thought to be the time of year when the unseen divide between the real world and the spirit world would grow thin, allowing spirits to mix with the world of humans.
In Wales, the first day of winter was November 1st and the night before is known as Calan Gaeaf, 'Winter's Eve', and Ysbrydnos or 'Spirit Night' – when the spirits came out to visit.
Calan Gaeaf/ Halloween falls during the school half term, so there are lots of activities available to entertain the children and a great opportunity to dress up.
First... pick your pumpkin! There are pumpkin fields where you can pick your own pumpkin to carve at home or join in pumpkin carving activity and other creative craft activities across Ceredigion.
Halloween craft and activities for children
Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum are offering a series of free, fun workshops for children over the Half Term Holiday. There's Calan Gaeaf Stories with Peter Stevenson, a Halloween Lego Challenge and an Animation workshop where you can craft captivating storyboards to bringing your characters to life, all while exploring various animation techniques. Spaces on these workshops are limited are limited so pre- booking is required.
In Cardigan, Fun at the Flair, offer children's craft workshops throughout the year, but have special Halloween themes from making slime, to crafty creatures or colourful Halloween wreaths. There are workshops for adults too.
Did you know that half term week is known as potato picking week in Ceredigion? Find out about the potato harvest with Peggy at Fantasy Farm Park during potato crafting sessions during autumn half term. Mr Jon Jon the popular children's entertainer will also be at Fantasy Farm Park - everyone's invited to dress up to celebrate Halloween with him.
Half Term at NT Llanerchaeron
Autumn is a lovely, colourful, time of year to explore the grounds of Llanerchaeron, and being a historic estate with medieval, or even older foundations, there’s bound to be a few ghosts and stories to discover. Get into the spirit of things with a range of activities around the farmyard and walled garden including dressing up scarecrows and a spooky fairy door trail. There will also be potions and treats cooked up in the mansion’s kitchen, and a storyteller that will reveal the intrigues and characters of the past.
There's an autumnal theme in the house, providing one of the last chances to see the house before it closes for the winter months. The Play room will also be in the stable block providing some fun shelter, and don't forget to visit the farmyard.
Guided walks and talk
Can you tell the difference between the murderously macabre and the made up? The feverishly frightening or just plain fibs? Mosaic expert Alison Pierse becomes the Demonic Mosaicist of Great Darkgate Street to guide you on an immersive ghostly walking tour of Aberystwyth town. Some of the stories are true and some of them are just a pack of lies. Can you spot the ghouls..t?
The National Library of Wales has a special themed talk each year for Calan Gaeaf/ Halloween. Hear about witches, the Celtic otherworld, the Irish roots of halloween, Welsh traditions and tales of haunting and witchcraft in Wales from prehistory through to modern times. See the National Library of Wales events page for details.
Sweet, spectacular and maybe spooky wildlife?
RSPB Ynyshir is a fantastic site for a family walk, but for Halloween there's a special Twilight Trail event at Calan Gaeaf, October 31st with a woodland walk, games and hot chocolate round the fire - perfect for Halloween!
Visit the RSPB Ynys-hir reserve with the family and pick up a clue sheet and learn more about some creepy creatures on a self guided family wildlife trail around the reserve during the autumn Half Term holiday. Collect a clue sheet at the Visitor Centre when you arrive and see whether you can solve the riddles. Who comes out at night? Which creature has eight legs?
There are regular 'Wild Wednesday' sessions at RSPB Ynyshir too - an opportunity for children between 4 and 11 to use their senses to explore the hidden world around them, from the tops of the trees to the depths of the pond. Booking essential and all children must be accompanied by an adult.
The Welsh Wildlife Centre on the Teifi Marshes at Cilgerran have a Halloween Nature Quest trail and various craft activities throughout half term week. Can the family take on the Welsh Wildlife Centre’s challenging Halloween/Nos Galon Gaeaf Quest to help protect the nature reserve from spooky spirits and creepy creatures? Search the trails for special ingredients to create a protection potion then return to the visitor centre and add them to the cauldron. Earn a prize and save us all from those pesky phantoms!. No need to book, the Quest is available from shop desk.
A free spectacle that draws people to Aberystwyth at dusk in autumn and winter are the swirling murmurations of starlings coming in to roost under the Pier. Can they cast their magic spell on you?
Halloween at the Silver Mountain Experience
A restored 19th century silver lead mine, already echoing with heroic and haunting stories from the past has special events for Halloween. The buildings form a unique complex where myths and fantasy provide new tour experiences and interactive features.
The guided tours of the Black Chasm which lead visitors through tales of Welsh history, myth and legend and for Halloween have added spooky twists and spine-tingling ghost stories.
There's pumpkin carving, and children of all ages can follow the Witches Potion Trail - will you find all the ingredients our resident Witch needs to brew her potion? There might be a treat for those who find them all…
Terror Mountain
Terror Mountain Halloween event takes place on selected nights in October at the Silver Mountain Experience. Full of thrills, and frights, the unique live action horror event includes five thrilling horror attractions as well as quirky and charismatic street entertainers roaming the site. They’ll certainly want to meet you, but will you want to meet them?
Paranormal Investigations
The Silver Mountain Experience also hosts Paranormal Investigations in the evening on specific dates in the year. The Victorian mine is reputedly one of the most haunted mines in the country. You will be working with an expert team to capture evidence with the latest scientific equipment as well as more traditional methods. Under the watchful eye of paranormal experts, you will have access to different areas during the night, from our historic buildings to the dark and eerie depths of the mine.
Abertoir Film Festival
Abertoir is an annual horror and horror film festival held in the Aberystwyth Arts Centre. As well as screening new big-budget horror films, classic and independent films form a large and important part of the festival line-up. In addition to film screenings, the festival regularly features concerts, theatre shows and masterclasses in its line up. Each year a short film competition is held, which showcases horror and fantasy short films from around the world.
Firework displays
Bonfires are an ancient Calan Gaeaf tradition in Wales, but now also linked to the commemoration of the Gunpowder Plot and Guy Fawkes.
Firework displays in Ceredigion are organised by charitable and community organisations to raise funds for local good causes.
Fireworks displays are usually accompanied by music and food. In New Quay many cafes and restaurants have one night only specials, so it is well worth making a night of it.
