There's plenty to enjoy on the Isle of Wight this Halloween, with events running Island-wide at all your favourite attractions.
Take a look below at our guide for Halloween on the Isle of Wight 2023!
Wizard Week at Isle of Wight Steam Railway
Witches, wizards and other ghouls are taking over Havenstreet for the Steam Railway’s Wizard Week this Halloween.
Meet the friendly witches of Havenstreet and enjoy a real-life magician conjuring up a few tricks – you may even become a spooky apprentice and help with some magic spells.
Watch the skies as the birds of prey from Haven Falconry swoop and dive, and don’t miss Greg Chapman in the station telling terrible tales and mesmerising you with illusions.
Take the terrifying treasure hunt trail and explore the grounds before boarding the steam train, where a crafty witch will be dealing out treats.
- WHERE? Isle of Wight Steam Railway, Main Road, Havenstreet
- WHEN? Monday, October 23 – Friday, October 27
- Find out more on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway website HERE
Fiesta of the Dead at Blackgang Chine
Inspired by Día De Los Muertos, Blackgang Chine’s Fiesta of the Dead will immerse you in a vibrant eruption of light and colour inspired by the traditional Mexican celebration.
Embark on a journey from the land of the living to the land of the dead, passing lighting displays and the spirits of the past on your way.
Dance the night away with the live Mariachi band, with street entertainment and flavours of Mexico.
- WHERE? Blackgang Chine, off Blackgang Road near Chale
- WHEN? Select dates from Friday, October 20 – Thursday, November 2
- Find out more on the Blackgang Chine website HERE
Pumpkin Festival at Tapnell Farm
Back for another year, celebrating everything pumpkin, Tapnell Farm hosts lots of pumpkin-related festivities, including pick your own pumpkin, axe throwing, carving and much more.
There will be pumpkin-themed treats, a licenced bar and live music on selected dates.
It is free entry to the Pumpkin Festival but does not include entry to the Farm Park.
- WHERE? Tapnell Farm Park, Newport Road (Middle Road), Freshwater
- WHEN? 11am – 4pm from Saturday, October 21 – Tuesday, October 31
- Find out more on the Tapnell Farm website HERE
Halloween Half Term at Carisbrooke Castle
Gather round and prepare to be enthralled as you listen to stories spun by Carisbrooke Castle’s spooky storytellers.
Follow the Victorian Mediums as they draw back the veil to the spirit world and enter the Graveyard of the Unfortunate to find out the stories of those who have passed into the realm of Death in the most unfortunate fashion.
Your little monsters will giggle and gasp at these kid-friendly tales, all against the backdrop of the creepy Carisbrooke Castle.
Take part in the Castle’s Halloween quest and discover magical potion ingredients, complete the booklet’s activities and solve its creepy clues to become the wicked witch’s apprentice.
- WHERE? Carisbrooke Castle, Castle Hill, Newport
- WHEN? From Saturday, October 21, to Sunday, November 5
- Find out more on the Carisbrooke Castle website HERE
Isle of Wight Ghost Experience
If you love a good ghost story, a taste for the macabre and a fascination for Island history, let Marc Tuckey take you on a journey into the dark and mysterious.
With Halloween events in Brading, Ventnor Botanic Gardens, Arreton Barns, Hare and Hounds, The Pointer Inn and Shanklin Old Village, there’s plenty to enjoy across the Island.
Read more: Marc Tuckey ready to scare anyone who dares to go on his ghost walks
- WHERE? All over the Island
- WHEN? Monday, October 23 – Thursday, November 2
- Find out more on the Isle of Wight Ghost Experience Facebook page HERE
Halloween Spooktacular at Shanklin Chine
A family-friendly Halloween Spooktacular event has already begun during the day and at night at Shanklin Chine.
Wander the walkways and follow the trail around the Chine with the cryptic clues.
Look out for witches, werewolves and spooky spiders and pick your perfect pumpkin at the Chine’s onsite pumpkin patch.
Then, as the sun goes down, be in awe of the Halloween-themed illuminations and marvel at the 45ft waterfall.
- WHERE? Shanklin Chine, Chine Avenue, Shanklin
- WHEN? Event until November 4
- Find out more on the Shanklin Chine website HERE
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Terror Island at Blackgang Chine
One of the South’s multi-award-winning 16+ scare attractions is returning to the Isle of Wight for more chills and thrills this Halloween.
Experience Blackgang Chine’s collection of terrifying scare experiences guaranteed to put your fears and phobias to the test.
It’s like an American-style funfair with a spooky twist with live music, eerie roaming characters, spine-chilling street entertainment, bloody games and, of course, the park’s rides.
- WHERE? Blackgang Chine, off Blackgang Road near Chale
- WHEN? Friday, October 27 – Saturday, November 4
- Find out more on the Blackgang Chine website
Halloween at the Donkey Sanctuary
Bring out your creative side with the best-carved pumpkins or best-decorated carrot competitions, or show off your best scary costumes in the costume contests at the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary this Halloween.
Visit the spooky barn for a special lucky dip and maybe some donkey activities.
- WHERE? Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, Lower Winstone Farm, Wroxall
- WHEN? Wednesday, October 25
- Find out more on the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary website HERE
Halloween Spooktacular at Medina Theatre
Get ready for rib-tickling laughter and bags of audience participation as you join intrepid explorers on the Halloween adventure of a lifetime in Made to Measure Production's 'Halloween Spooktacular'.
Jam-packed with your favourite Halloween hits and ultra-violet puppetry, Halloween Spooktacular promises to bring a smile to children aged three to 103.
- WHERE? Medina Theatre, Fairlee Road, Newport
- WHEN? Thursday, October 26, between 2pm – 4pm
- Find out more on the 1Leisure Medina Theatre website HERE
Halloween events at the Monkey Haven
The Monkey Haven is hosting fang-tastic keeper talks, where you can find the minibeasts, snakes and owls, plus there are craft and treat trails to do.
The Haven will be celebrating International Gibbon Day (October 24) and throwing some special Halloween birthday parties for gibbons Bog and Bono and capuchins Lin and Pumpkin.
The half-term week will be the last full week of opening before the Haven closes for the winter to do some maintenance around the site.
- WHERE? Monkey Haven - Primate Rescue Centre, Staplers Road, Newport
- WHEN? Monday, October 23 – Tuesday, October 31
- Find out more at the Monkey Haven website HERE
Sanctuary Spooktacular at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary
Winding its way around the Sanctuary is the Spooktacular Sanctuary Trail, promising to be fiendishly scary in all the right ways.
Starting at the extinction graveyard, you can discover the fate of past animals who roamed the planet. Test your nerves with the Sanctuary’s ‘dare to feel’ boxes and uncover what animals are lurking in the dark.
Try not to get lost in the giant maze whilst trying to find the Sanctuary’s escapee in the middle, or get creative and have some fun making your own spooky Halloween decorations.
- WHERE? Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, Yaverland Road, Sandown
- WHEN? See the Sanctuary’s website for dates and times throughout the half-term
- Find out more at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary website HERE
Ghosts of Ryde and Halloween Treasure Hunt at the Museum of Ryde
Down in the spooky depths of the Museum of Ryde, the ghosts of Ryde will be about during the school half term.
Along with a Halloween Treasure Hunt, kid’s colouring and other kindred activities, there will be plenty to keep visitors busy.
- WHERE? Museum of Ryde, under the Royal Victoria Arcade, Union Street, Ryde
- WHEN? 11am to 4pm on Monday, October 23 to Tuesday, October 31
- Find out more at the Museum of Ryde Facebook page HERE
Spooktacular Kids Halloween Party at MAD-Aid
Fancy dress is encouraged, and everyone is welcome at the Spectacular Kids Halloween Party held at MAD-Aid in East Cowes.
Enjoy some frighteningly good fun, monstrous music, a yucky dip, creepy children’s craft and ghoulish games.
The Hungry Horrors Truck Shop will have plenty of tasty treats and Halloween-themed toys and trinkets for sale too.
Admission is free – although donations are welcome – with all proceeds going to MAD-Aid, which does vital work on here on the Island, across the Solent, and further afield.
- WHERE? MAD-Aid DOT, York Avenue, East Cowes
- WHEN? Between 4pm and 8pm on Friday, October 27
- Find out more on the MAD-Aid Facebook page HERE
Apocalypse Nightclub at Strings Bar and Venue
This Halloween, Strings Bar and Venue will be open until 3am, an hour later than usual, for one of the biggest alternative nights on the Island.
Expect to hear metal, emo and alternative anthems, with the apocalypse bringing you the anthemic songs from your teenage years, your guilty pleasures to scream along to, and the most danceable moshable songs around.
- WHERE? Strings Bar and Venue, Bowling Green Lane, Newport
- WHEN? Saturday, October 28 between 9pm at 3am
- Find out more on the Strings Bar and Venue website HERE
BPM Events Halloween Disco Extravaganza at MOOCOW
‘Get your spook on’ and dance the night away to the beats of legendary artists such as Daft Punk, Chic, Madonna, Blondie, Talking Heads, David Bowie, and many more at BMP Event’s Halloween Disco.
The MOOCOW venue in Cowes will be transformed into a spine-tingling dance floor where attendees can let loose and celebrate Halloween in style.
Attendees are encouraged to channel their inner ghosts, ghouls or any creative and spooky character for a chance to win a mystery prize in the Fancy Dress Costume Competition.
- WHERE? MOOCOW, Cross Street, Cowes
- WHEN? October 28 from 8pm, continuing late into the night
- Find out more on the BPM Events Facebook page HERE
Halloween at Ryde Depozitory
A night of spine-tingling suspense and eerie excitement is coming to Ryde Depozitory with a Halloween evening filled with spooky storytelling and performances.
There are a variety of scary stories planned, all uniquely performed by a line-up of storytellers and performers.
Inspired by a mixture of Island folklore and ghost stories, as well as some classic tales, this show by Tide Nor Time Players promises to provide a Halloween evening not to forget.
Read more: Spine-tingling suspense and shivers aplenty with these Halloween tales!
- WHERE? The Depozitory, Nelson Street, Ryde
- WHEN? October 27, 28 and 29 at 6.30pm
- Find out more on the Tide Nor Time website HERE
Halloween Fun at Fort Victoria Country Park
The Country park will host lots of activities during the half-term week, including a Clue Hunt.
Solve the clues, write down the letters as you go and solve the anagram before claiming your prize at the Museum.
The Reptilarium will offer bugs and beasties encounters, where you can get up close and learn interesting facts about some of its creepy inhabitants, such as the Death’s head cockroach.
Over in The Imaginarium, Halloween crafting activities will keep kids amused with spooky masks, spider webs and bath bombs.
The Museum will host the usual favourites such as the pirate's toy cabin, sinister souvenirs, the Wonkos Sweet Shop and, for this year, a fun scare attraction.
Meanwhile, the ranger will be leading some fossil forays along the beach to find crocodile teeth and other fossilised remains, with dates and times to be posted soon on the Fort Victoria Facebook page.
- WHERE? Fort Victoria Country Park, Yarmouth
- WHEN? Saturday, October 21 – Tuesday, October 31
- Find out more on the Fort Victoria Country Park website HERE
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