YES FAM! THE BEST FAMILY DAYS OUT IN SURREY
Fee, fi, fo fum, here come family adventures and a halloween half term. Picked like a pumpkin for your pleasure, discover some terrific and terrifying days out for the family in Surrey this October.
ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND / OCTOBER 7 / ELECTRIC THEATRE, GUILDFORD
Drawing on the wealth of peculiar episodes from ‘Adventures in Wonderland’ and ‘Through the Looking Glass’, Box Tale Soup invites you down the rabbit hole into a timeless world of wondrous fantasy. Carroll’s Wonderland floods onto the stage in a whirl of strange contraptions and curious characters. No matter how young or old, everyone will find their own moment of magic in Wonderland and make it safely home again – the only danger is, you may not want to leave.
For more information, visit electric.theatre
FAIRY DOOR TRAIL / OCTOBER 21 – NOVEMBER 12 / PAINSHILL, COBHAM
Little wooden fairy doors will be hidden around the landscape of Painshill this month. Scattered across the park, seek, and you shall find a magical adventure for the little ones in your life. Price included in general admission tickets.
For more information, visit painshill.co.uk
WE’RE ALL GOING ON A BEAR HUNT / OCTOBER 21 – 29 / ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, KEW
“We’re going on a bear hunt. What a beautiful day! We’re not scared!” Splish, splash, splosh your way to the Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew for this wondrous trail inspired by Michael Rosen’s classic.
For more information, visit kew.org
THE KING OF NOTHING / OCTOBER 21 / MILL STUDIO, YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE, GUILDFORD
This puppet musical is an anarchic re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen’s Emperor’s New Clothes, in which the characters (and the audience) discover that people can be made to believe ANYTHING. With songs, puppetry, slapstick and more, the two Swindlers (or should we call them “actors”?) will weave their cunning magic on children and adults alike. Get some tickets quickly for a day at the theatre this half term.
For more information, visit yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD / OCTOBER 24 – 29 / ROSE THEATRE, KINGSTON
Follow the Gruffalo’s Child on her adventurous mission in Tall Stories’ enchanting adaptation of the much-loved picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. One wild and windy night, the Gruffalo’s Child ignores her father’s warnings about the Big Bad Mouse and tiptoes out into the deep, dark wood. She follows snowy tracks and encounters mysterious creatures – but the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist… does he? Let your imagination run wild with songs, laughs and scary fun for everyone aged 3 to 103.
For more information, visit rosetheatre.org
FAMILY FUN DAY / OCTOBER 28 / G LIVE, GUILDFORD
Fancy some freemium entertainment this month? G Live are bringing the goods with their Feel Good Family Fun Day. Expect face painting, crafts, participatory workshops, games, and much more – and yes, it’s all free! No need to book; just pop along anytime between 10 am and 2 pm for fun times with the fam. Also, throughout the half term, G Live will host bookable Creative Workshops for kids, as well as the arrival of a certain Mr. Fireman Sam earlier in the week.
For more information, visit glive.co.uk
SHREK THE MUSICAL / OCTOBER 30 – NOVEMBER 4 / NEW VICTORIA THEATRE, WOKING
Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film, the Broadway and West End smash hit Shrek the Musical is a fun-filled and hilarious musical comedy with a cast of vibrant characters and a ‘shrektacular’ score. Fun for the whole family; get some tickets quick for an adventure at Woking’s New Victoria Theatre later this month.
For more information, visit atgtickets.com/woking
PUMPKIN FARM FREE FAMILY FUN DAY / OCTOBER 15 / HANS CHRISTMAS ANDERSEN AT VAN ARNHEM NURSERY, GODALMING
Did you know that Shamley Green’s famed Christmas Tree provider, Hans Christmas Andersen, have a new Pumpkin Farm near Godalming? With over 17 varieties of pumpkins grown, expect to find around 8,000 orange, green and multicoloured balls of wonder popping up from the ground throughout the season; head for this FREE family fun day and expect much pumpkin-themed fun fit for the season.
For more information, visit hanschristmasandersen.co.uk
PUMPKIN PICKING + PUMPKIN FESTIVAL / SEPTEMBER 30 – OCTOBER 15 + OCTOBER 20 – 29 / CROCKFORD BRIDGE FARM, WEYBRIDGE
It’s a fact (probably). Crockford Bridge Farm near Weybridge is one of the best spots to pick a pumpkin. This patch is positively bursting with the rotund and robust autumnal orange fruits. Perfect for carving the most ghoulish of faces, the farm will be opening its pumpkin fields on weekends during October for you to seek and find your very own pumpkins fit for you and your home. Additionally, the Farm will host their famous Pumpkin Festival this half term, packed with activities, theatrics and much more. Book tickets online.
For more information, visit crockfordbridgefarm.co.uk
HALLOWEEN – HENRY VIII’S HAUNTED PALACE / OCTOBER 21 – 29 / HAMPTON COURT PALACE
Explore Henry VIII’s notoriously haunted palace for Halloween 2023, the spookiest time of the year at Hampton Court. This October half-term, lose yourself in atmospheric projections and creepy sound effects as the palace is transformed by magical spells. Book tickets online and get set for a spine-tingling time at the palace.
For more information, visit hrp.org.uk
PUMPKIN WEEK / OCTOBER 21 – 29 / SECRETTS, MILFORD
Possibly, our favourite pastime when it comes to Halloween is the picking, carving, and painting of pumpkins. Nothing quite says ‘Halloween’ like a giant pumpkin lit incandescently to reveal a frightening face. So head to Secrett’s Farm in Milford this half term and enjoy the adventure of seeking out your very own pumpkin to take home and transform into a terrifying jack’ o’ lantern. Expect spooky activities, a fancy dress competition, glitter tattoos, and more. Book your tickets online.
For more information, visit secretts.co.uk
HALLOWEEN HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES / OCTOBER 23 – 29 / RURAL LIFE LIVING MUSEUM, TILFORD
Spend a spooky day making creepy crafts at the Rural Life Living Museum in Tilford this half term. Take a ride on the ghost train and get in on the ghoulish action throughout the week.
For more information, visit rural-life.org.uk
SCARY SKYWALK / OCTOBER 23 – 29 / SKYWALK ADVENTURE, ESHER
Trick or Treat? Do you dare take to the trees for a spooktacularly scary skywalk this October? Taking place throughout the half-term, Skywalk Adventure in Sandown will play host to a Halloween-themed skywalk, complete with terrifying treats for visitors.
For more information, visit skywalkadventure.co.uk
HALLOWEEN PANTOMIME / OCTOBER 24 / FARNHAM MALTINGS
The perfect spooky treat for young creatives aged 8 – 12. All your favourite Halloween characters will be brought to life in this creative drama workshop. Choose your role, and Patches the Clown will direct you in a short show to perform for the grown-ups at the end of the session. Please bring water and a snack (please, no nuts!) and feel free to dress as your favourite Halloween character.
For more information, visit farnhammaltings.com