October is one of our favourite months around here. The mornings are crisp, the deer park at Burghley is alive with autumn colour, and the whole area seems to lean into the season with a pleasing enthusiasm for all things spooky. Whether you have little ones who want to follow a Halloween trail or you are looking for a proper grown-up night out, there is plenty happening across Stamford and Rutland this month.
Here is our pick of the best Halloween events taking place in October 2026.
The Burghley Halloween Trail, Stamford | 17 October – 1 November 2026 | Burghley House, Stamford | 10am–5pm
The spooktacular Halloween Trail at Burghley is back for another year, and it is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend a half-term afternoon in the area. The trail winds through Burghley’s beautiful Sculpture Garden, where families can hunt for hidden ghosts, collect clues along the way, and crunch through fallen leaves on winding paths. Complete your trail sheet and you will be rewarded with a tasty treat. The trail is included with standard admission (adults from £11, children from £8.50). Booking in advance is recommended.
More information: https://burghley.co.uk/events/the-burghley-halloween-trail
Halloween Craft Workshops at Burghley, Stamford | 26–30 October 2026 | Burghley House, Stamford | 10am–5pm
Running through the last week of October, these Halloween craft workshops at Burghley give younger visitors the chance to get creative in suitably spooky style. Included with admission, the sessions run alongside the Halloween Trail, making it easy to combine both into a full family day out among the autumn gardens.
More information: https://burghley.co.uk/events
Adventure Cinema: Hocus Pocus, Stamford | 9–11 October 2026 | Burghley House, Stamford
Kick off the Halloween season in style with outdoor cinema at one of the country’s finest stately homes. Burghley is screening Hocus Pocus across the weekend of 9–11 October, which makes for a brilliant early-October outing before the half-term crowds arrive. Wrap up warm, bring a blanket and settle in for a classic bit of seasonal fun in a rather spectacular setting.
More information: https://burghley.co.uk/events/adventure-cinema-2
Spooky Shakespeare at Tolethorpe Hall, Little Casterton | 26–28 October 2026 | Tolethorpe Hall, Little Casterton | from 6:30pm
This one is genuinely different. The Stamford Shakespeare Company brings Halloween and the Bard together for an evening tour of Tolethorpe Hall that follows the ghosts and ghouls of Shakespeare’s scariest scenes. Tours run across multiple time slots each evening from 26 to 28 October, starting from 6:30pm, and last around an hour. It is not recommended for children under eight, which gives you a sense of the atmosphere they are going for. A memorable evening for anyone who loves theatre and doesn’t mind being unnerved.
Book at: https://tolethorpe.co.uk/spooky-halloween-tours/
Murder Mystery Dinner: Adieu Adieu, Little Casterton | October 2026 | Tolethorpe Hall, Little Casterton | 7pm for 7:30pm start | £75 per person | Over 18s only
If you prefer your Halloween with fine dining and intrigue rather than ghost stories, Tolethorpe’s Murder Mystery evenings run throughout October with a new plot for the month. “Adieu Adieu” is set in wartime France, with a murder in a café bar near the Somme providing the mystery to unravel over a welcome drink and three-course meal. For those who enjoy the Allo Allo era
with a devious twist, this is a rather good night out.
Book at: https://tolethorpe.co.uk/an-evening-of-murder-and-fine-dining/
Spooktacular on the Rec, Stamford | 26 October 2026 | Stamford Recreation Ground, Stamford | 1:30pm–3pm | Free
Organised by Stamford Town Council and the Friends of Stamford and Rutland Theatre, this free Halloween event on the Recreation Ground is a lovely low-key way to mark the occasion with younger children. Expect a fancy dress competition (with a prize for the best-dressed pet, which is always a highlight), an interactive quiz, games, crafts, refreshments and live entertainment. It runs from 1:30pm to 3pm on 26 October, costs nothing to attend, and has a genuinely warm community feel.
Autumn at Barnsdale: Breakfast and Guided Walk, Exton | 7 October 2026 | Barnsdale Gardens, Exton, Rutland | 9:30am–12:30pm
Not strictly a Halloween event, but October at Barnsdale Gardens is something worth going out of your way for. The gardens near Exton are one of Rutland’s most loved horticultural treasures, and this guided walk with Nick Hamilton takes you through the individual gardens and borders at one of the most colourful times of year. Arrive from 9:30am for a full English breakfast
before the walk begins at 10:30am. Booking is required and places are limited.
Find out more: https://barnsdalegardens.co.uk/october-events.html
Halloween Fun on the Farm at Rutland Farm Park, Oakham | 21 October – 2 November 2026 | Rutland Farm Park, Uppingham Road, Oakham
Rutland Farm Park goes all out for Halloween half term every year, and 2026 is no exception. Running from 21 October through to 2 November, the farm offers a packed programme of spooky activities including fancy dress, a scavenger hunt through the woods, Halloween games and the usual mix of hands-on animal experiences. It is one of the most reliably enjoyable half-term destinations in Rutland for families with younger children.
Find out more: https://rutlandfarmpark.co.uk
Pumpkin Picking at Rutland Pumpkins, near Oakham | Selected dates throughout October 2026 | Riddleman’s Farm, near Oakham
Rutland Pumpkins at Riddleman’s Farm near Oakham is a proper pick-your-own pumpkin patch, and one that gets better every year. Entry to the patch is free; you only pay for the pumpkins you choose to take home. The patch also has a bale tower, a maze and ride-on toys for toddlers, with undercover seating for parents who want to keep warm while the little ones play. Open across selected dates throughout October, including evenings at the end of the month. Well worth checking their social media for exact dates and any special weekend events.
Ghostly Tours and Craft Sessions at Oakham Castle, Oakham | October half term 2026 | Oakham Castle, Oakham
Oakham Castle is a remarkable building with a history stretching back to the twelfth century, and it turns out to be an excellent venue for Halloween. Over October half term, the castle runs craft sessions and ghostly walking tours for children and adults, weaving the castle’s long and occasionally dark history into the spirit of the season. A good option for families who want to mix a bit of local history into their Halloween activities.
Find out more: https://discover-rutland.co.uk
Spooky Sunday at Rutland Farm Park, Oakham | 27 October 2026 | Rutland Farm Park, Uppingham Road, Oakham
Within the wider Halloween programme at Rutland Farm Park, Spooky Sunday on 27 October is a day packed with face painting, a hunt-the-witch trail, apple bobbing and a scavenger hunt. Anyone who arrives in fancy dress gets a free bag of animal food, which is a very good incentive for younger visitors to make the effort with their costumes.
Count Fangula Halloween Trail at Belvoir Castle | October half term 2026 | Belvoir Castle, Belvoir
Belvoir Castle sits just over the Rutland border in Leicestershire, but it is well within reach of most people in the area and well worth the short drive. The Count Fangula Halloween Trail takes families through the castle’s Adventure Playground following glowing footprints and ghostly surprises, with a story about a vampire who has escaped from the castle’s forgotten dungeons. Pumpkin decorating is also on offer. A thoroughly enjoyable half-term day out with a bit of dramatic flair.
Find out more: https://www.belvoircastle.com
Rutland Water Halloween Craft Weekend | 24–26 October 2026 | Rutland Water Visitor Centre, Egleton
Rutland Water’s nature reserve at Egleton regularly runs hands-on seasonal events for families during October half term, with activities such as pumpkin carving, broomstick making and nature-themed crafts. It is one of the more original ways to celebrate Halloween in Rutland, combining the outdoors and wildlife with a seasonal theme. Check the Rutland Water website
for confirmed activities and booking details ahead of your visit.
Find out more: https://www.rutlandwater.org.uk
October in Stamford and Rutland is genuinely one of the nicest times to be here. The countryside looks spectacular, the events are well-spread across the area, and there is something suitable for almost every age group and temperament. Whether you are wrapping up for a ghost tour at Tolethorpe or heading out to pick pumpkins near Oakham, we hope you have
a brilliant Halloween.
