Fun Things to Do with the Kids During the Halloween Mid-Term Break

🎃 Fun Things to Do: Halloween Mid-Term Break

The evenings are darker, the air is crisp, and pumpkins are appearing on doorsteps all across the country — it can only mean one thing: Halloween mid-term break is here!

Fun things to do with kids during Halloween mid-term include visiting pumpkin patches, spooky trails, baking treats, crafting, and enjoying outdoor play or trampoline fun across Ireland.

For parents, it’s that wonderful (and sometimes challenging) week when the kids are home, full of energy, and eager for adventure. Luckily, Ireland offers no shortage of family-friendly Halloween fun — from spooky trails and pumpkin patches to cozy days at home filled with laughter and creativity.

At Trampolines Ireland, we’re all about getting families active, outdoors, and smiling together, so we’ve gathered our favourite ideas for making this mid-term unforgettable. Whether you’re looking for day trips, free local fun, or at-home activities, you’ll find plenty of inspiration below.

👻 1. Visit a Halloween Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin patches have become a Halloween tradition across Ireland, and for good reason. They’re not just about choosing a pumpkin — they’re about getting muddy, laughing, and making memories.

Many farms now offer full-day experiences: tractor rides, corn mazes, petting farms, and even hot chocolate by the fire.

Our Top Picks

🎃 Clonfert Pet Farm Pumpkin Patch – Co. Kildare
Pick your pumpkin, visit the animals, and enjoy a family-friendly atmosphere.
🎃 Galway Pumpkin Patch – Galway City outskirts
Perfect for little ones; great photo opportunities!
🎃 The Farm Grenagh – Co. Cork
Famous for its Halloween “Spooktacular” family days with pumpkin picking and tractor rides.
🎃 Streamvale Open Farm – Belfast
Northern Ireland’s most popular pumpkin patch experience, with storytelling and fancy dress competitions.

Tip: Book early — many of these sell out weeks in advance.

🧙♀️ 2. Attend a Local Halloween Festival or Parade

Ireland does Halloween better than anyone — after all, the festival originates from the ancient Celtic celebration of Samhain. Many towns embrace this heritage with incredible parades, fireworks, and spooky family entertainment.

Family-Friendly Favourites

🕸️ Bram Stoker Festival (Dublin)
A celebration of all things gothic — themed trails, outdoor movies, and child-friendly workshops.
🔥 Derry Halloween Festival – Derry City
Voted one of the best Halloween celebrations in the world! Expect parades, fireworks, and a magical atmosphere.
🎭 Púca Festival (Meath & Louth)
Brings ancient Irish Halloween traditions to life with music, myths, and food.
🎆 Galway Halloween Fireworks Display
A relaxed but spectacular evening by the sea, perfect for families.

Pack warm layers, a flask of tea, and some glow sticks for the kids — and soak up the Halloween spirit.

🏡 3. Halloween Fun at Home – Family Activities for Rainy Days

Ireland’s October weather can be unpredictable, but staying indoors doesn’t mean missing out on fun!

Here are some simple, screen-free activities that kids (and grown-ups) will love:

🎨 Pumpkin Decorating

Instead of carving, try painting pumpkins with glow-in-the-dark paints or funny faces. It’s safer for younger kids and far less mess!

🍪 Bake Spooky Treats

Whip up Halloween-themed cupcakes, spider biscuits, or ghost-shaped cookies. Let the kids decorate them — even if the kitchen looks like a flour bomb afterwards.

🕯️ Create a Halloween Den

Use blankets, fairy lights, and cushions to make a cozy fort for story time or a Halloween movie marathon.

🧛♂️ Costume Fashion Show

Raid the dress-up box and hold a mini catwalk show. Add categories like “scariest,” “silliest,” or “most creative costume.”

🔦 Glow-in-the-Dark Treasure Hunt

Hide sweets or clues around the house and turn off the lights. Give everyone a torch or glow stick and let the hunt begin.

These kinds of simple, shared experiences are what childhood memories are made of.

🕸️ 4. Outdoor Adventures (and a Bit of Fresh Air!)

Even as the days get shorter, autumn is one of the most beautiful times to be outdoors in Ireland. Golden leaves, crisp air, and that satisfying crunch underfoot — perfect for family outings.

🍁 Woodland Walks & Nature Trails

Try local favourites like:

Avondale Forest Park (Wicklow) – home to the Treetop Walk.
Doneraile Park (Cork) – deer spotting and autumn colours.
Coole Park (Galway) – stunning trails through literary history and nature.
Castlewellan Forest Park (Down) – a maze, a lake, and a playground.

Turn it into a mini adventure: collect leaves, make bark rubbings, or have a “nature scavenger hunt.”

🎯 Playground + Trampoline Time

If you’ve got a trampoline at home, the mid-term break is the perfect chance for kids to burn off energy outdoors.
Dress warmly, make sure the safety net is secured, and let them bounce through the autumn leaves!

For families thinking of getting one before Christmas, a trampoline trial run over Halloween is a great idea — it helps kids spend more time outside and away from screens.

🦇 5. Family Day Trips & Adventure Centres

A short road trip can make the week feel like a real holiday. Ireland is full of family adventure parks, indoor play centres, and activity farms that go all-in on Halloween fun.

Ideas to Try

Lough Key Forest & Activity Park (Roscommon) – zip lines, forest trails, and an indoor puzzle room.
Funtasia Waterpark (Drogheda) – an all-weather favourite; check for Halloween deals.
Airtastic Adventure Parks – locations in Cork, Belfast, and Craigavon; trampoline zones, bowling, and ninja courses.
Jump Zone or Jump Lanes – ideal for rainy-day bouncing.
Pirates Adventure (Wexford) – themed mini-golf, play areas, and laser tag.

Each offers special Halloween events, so check their websites for “spooky sessions” or fancy-dress days.

🎬 6. Halloween Movie Night

A movie night is a must-have tradition. Choose something age-appropriate, pile up the blankets, and dim the lights.

For Younger Kids

Room on the Broom
Hotel Transylvania
Coco
The Addams Family (animated)

For Older Kids / Tweens

Hocus Pocus (both the original and sequel)
Ghostbusters
Casper
Monster House

Make it special with themed snacks: popcorn “spider webs,” orange-and-black sweets, or hot chocolate with marshmallow ghosts.

🕯️ 7. Get Crafty with Halloween Decorations

Nothing excites kids like turning the house into a haunted mansion.
Try these easy DIY ideas using everyday materials:

Paper ghosts: white tissue or paper on string — great for windows.
Cardboard bats: hang from the ceiling with thread.
Jar lanterns: paint old jam jars orange, add a battery candle, and draw spooky faces.
Leaf monsters: glue googly eyes on autumn leaves for a silly-scary display.

It’s inexpensive, messy in a good way, and perfect for creative minds.

🏠 8. Host a Mini Halloween Party at Home

If you prefer to avoid crowded venues, throw your own family Halloween party.
A few ideas:

🎶 Monster Mash Dance-Off – play classic tunes and award “best dancer” prizes.
🍎 Apple-Bobbing & Donut-on-a-String – timeless games that kids love.
🧩 DIY Haunted House – decorate one room and create a fun “spooky maze.”
🍿 Popcorn & Pumpkin Movies – easy entertainment for a cozy evening.

Encourage everyone — adults too — to dress up. The sillier, the better!

🔥 9. Discover Ireland’s Spooky Heritage

Ireland is the birthplace of Halloween, and every county has its share of ghost stories, castles, and ancient sites.

Why not turn mid-term into a mini adventure in folklore?

Hauntingly Fun Family Ideas

Visit a Castle – Trim, Malahide, and Leap Castle all have fascinating (and spooky) histories.
Explore Ancient Sites – Newgrange, the Hill of Tara, and Carrowkeel are steeped in Samhain legend.
Join a Ghost Tour – many towns now offer family-friendly versions that are more storytelling than scary.

This is a great way to blend history, myth, and fun — and maybe spark a lifelong interest in Ireland’s ancient past.

⚙️ 10. Creative Learning Projects

If your kids enjoy hands-on learning, combine Halloween themes with simple science or art projects.

Build a Paper Rocket “Broomstick.” Teach basic physics with balloon propulsion.
Slime Making: Safe, easy sensory fun — perfect for rainy afternoons.
Pumpkin Volcano: Baking soda + vinegar + orange food colouring = mini eruption!
Trampoline Science: For older kids, talk about energy and motion — then test it with real bounces (safely!).

Learning disguised as play keeps kids engaged and curious during the break.

🌧️ 11. Free & Low-Cost Activities

You don’t have to spend much to make the mid-term memorable.
Some of the best days are simple and spontaneous:

Visit your local library for Halloween story time.
Go on a “spooky nature walk” after dark with torches.
Organise a costume swap with neighbours.
Make a playlist of Halloween songs and dance in the kitchen.
Spend an afternoon making handmade Halloween cards for grandparents.

Kids don’t need big budgets — they need your time, creativity, and presence.

🧹 12. Halloween Trampoline Games

Since we’re Trampolines Ireland, we couldn’t resist adding a few spooky trampoline games for families who already have one in the garden!

👻 Ghost Bounce

One person is the “ghost.” The others sit around the edge. When the ghost bounces, everyone must freeze — the last to stop moving gets “booed out.”

🎃 Pumpkin Pass

Toss a soft ball or orange balloon (your “pumpkin”) between jumpers without dropping it. Increase the challenge with music or multiple pumpkins!

🕸️ Spider’s Web

Use chalk or tape to create a web pattern on the mat. Players must jump only on certain lines — great for coordination and laughs.

🦇 Trick or Treat Challenge

Place small sweets or notes with silly tasks around the trampoline edge. Jumpers pick one and perform the “treat” or “trick” inside the net.

These simple ideas turn everyday bouncing into Halloween excitement.

🧡 13. Keep Safety in Mind

Halloween is about fun, but safety always comes first — especially with costumes and outdoor play.

✅ Avoid long trailing costumes or masks when jumping or walking near candles.
✅ Use battery candles instead of real flames.
✅ Keep reflective bands on costumes for evening events.
✅ On trampolines, allow one jumper at a time and ensure the safety net is closed.
✅ If trick-or-treating, bring torches and stay in familiar areas.

A few precautions go a long way toward ensuring a worry-free week.

🕯️ 14. Why Mid-Term Is the Perfect Time for Outdoor Play

After a busy school term, the Halloween break is an ideal time for kids to unwind.
Outdoor play — whether on a trampoline, at the park, or in the garden — helps them:

Burn energy naturally
Improve mood and sleep
Rebalance after screen time
Build social and motor skills

Even 20–30 minutes of outdoor fun a day can make a huge difference to their wellbeing.

If you’ve been considering a trampoline, the Halloween mid-term is a great time to try one. It gives kids something exciting to do now — and keeps them active right through the winter months.

🌟 15. Make Memories, Not Plans

With so many options — festivals, crafts, trips, baking, and outdoor fun — it’s easy to feel pressure to “do it all.”
But the truth is, kids remember the moments, not the schedules.

Maybe it’s:

Jumping in muddy puddles.
Toasting marshmallows after a spooky walk.
Laughing at homemade costumes gone wrong.
Or discovering how high they can bounce under a glowing autumn sky.

Whatever you do this Halloween mid-term, do it together. That’s what makes it special.

🎃 Final Thoughts – From Trampolines Ireland

At Trampolines Ireland, we love helping families make the most of their time together — whether that’s through safe, active play in the garden or simple seasonal adventures.

The Halloween mid-term break is a rare chance to slow down, reconnect, and enjoy Ireland at its autumn best. From haunted castles to home-baked cookies, from pumpkin picking to trampoline games, the possibilities are endless.

So light the lanterns, bundle up, and let the week unfold in laughter and imagination.
After all, fun is the real Halloween magic.

Happy Halloween from all of us at Trampolines Ireland!