Halloween is almost here and many of your favourite Leeds haunts are embracing the spooky season with eerie new experiences to enjoy. Whether you’d like to party all night, pick your own pumpkin or paint a glowing neon masterpiece, these ghoulish goings on are sure to get you in the spirit.
Swithens Farm Pumpkin Festival
Throughout the month of October, Swithens Farm is offering family-friendly fun in the form of its annual Pumpkin Festival. Little ones can get dressed up in their favourite costumes and take a tractor ride through the magically decorated woods, where they’ll find resident witch Jules in her little house. They can also pick their own pumpkin to carve in the marquee before visiting the animals and play areas. If you dare to stay out after dark, Swithens also runs ‘Halloween Nights’, which feature a scary tractor ride through the woods, pumpkin carving and trick or treat goody bags for a small extra charge. Fancy dress is strongly encouraged for both events.
Swithens Pumpkin Festival is open on the last three weekends of October, and every day during Half Term. Tickets for adults and children aged 2+ cost £13 with a pumpkin or £9 without.
Halloween Nights run between Wednesday 23rd-Friday 25th October from 4-7pm. Tickets for adults and children aged 2+ cost £7 with a pumpkin or £3 without.
Leeds Zine Library Lates! Hallow’zine, Leeds Central Library
A creative Halloween event for the over 16s, the Central Library is holding a spooky edition of its Zine Library Lates. Come along to the Drawing Room for an evening filled with cats, bats and monsters. You can work on your own zine, sew a felt creature or make monster badges, all while enjoying a themed playlist. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet fellow zine makers and learn some cool new skills while drawing inspiration from the library’s varied collections.
Leeds Zine Library Lates! Hallow’zine takes place on Wednesday 30th October from 5:30-7:30pm. Entry is free. Over 16s only.
FunkyLove Halloween, The Wardrobe
If you’d like to dance your way through the witching hour, The Wardrobe’s biggest night of the year is back with a seasonal special. FunkyLove Halloween will feature funky house and classic tunes from the 90s onwards, spun by DJs including Tony Walker, Marc Dennis and Soraya Vivian. The venue in St Peter’s Square will get a creepy floor-ceiling makeover with crowds in full on fancy dress contributing to the amazing vibe.
FunkyLove Halloween takes place on Saturday 26th October with doors at 7pm and a 2am finish. Tickets start at £11.25. Over 18s only.
Spooky Brunch, Flight Club
You’lll soon be able to treat yourself and your friends to a spooktacular brunch at Flight Club with a two-hour Halloween-themed session. Step into the club’s eclectic, fairground-inspired interior and you’ll be greeted with a devilish cocktail. You can then take your turn to compete at a game of darts while enjoying pizza paddles accompanied by prosecco, Madri or non-alcoholic lager. Dressing up is encouraged and there may even be a prize for the best outfit.
Flight Club’s Spooky Brunches can be booked on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th October from 12-2pm or 2:30-4:30pm. Tickets cost £35 per person. Over 18s only.
Euphoria: Dystopia, Mint Warehouse
This November, Mint Warehouse will be celebrating Halloween with Euphoria’s Dystopia: an 8-hour long rave featuring the best D&B, house and techno music with impressive production, themed fancy dress and a huge LED ceiling to get you in the mood. Hosted by Phantom, Vispera and Settla, the incredible lineup will include award-winning DJ and producer A.M.C and Belgian jump up and D&B DJ Basstripper, along with Skantia, Jaybee, Formula and more.
Euphoria: Dystopia opens on Friday 1st November with last entry at 11:30pm. Tickets start at £24.45. Over 18s only.
Halloween House Hunt & Autumn Wreath Making, Harewood House
If you’re visiting Harewood House this October half term, you’ll need to keep your eyes peeled as hidden creatures will be lurking throughout its ghostly halls. Pick up a free trail worksheet and embark on a quest to find them as you explore the historic home. If you’d like to try some crafty foraging, you can also collect an autumn wreath activity bag from the courtyard during your visit. These include a rattan wreath base, twine, and simple instructions to guide you as you stroll through the scenic woodland and collect fallen leaves to fashion into a nature-inspired decoration.
Both activities will run between Saturday 26th October–Sunday 3 November from 10.30am – 4pm. Under 4s free, Children £9, Adults £18. Wreath making bag £3.
Bongo’s Bingo: The Haunted House
Bongo’s Halloween is here. The one-of-a-kind bingo experience is bringing a thrilling themed special to the O2 Academy. Arrive wearing your scariest costume and prepare for a night of grown-up fun with Halloween-related prizes and money to be won. You can expect the usual bonkers mix of traditional bingo interspersed with cheesy singalongs, hilarious dance-offs and rave intervals. The event will also feature a spooky soundtrack and plenty of surprises to look forward to as the night draws on.
Bongo’s Bingo: The Haunted House takes place on Saturday 2nd November from 4pm. Tickets start at £12. Over 18s only.
Neon Halloween Special: Haunted Mansion, Pinot and Picasso
If you’d like to get arty this Halloween, Pinot and Picasso invite you to a ‘sip and paint’ session with an eerie twist. For one night only, their studio in the Central Arcade will be transformed with frightful décor, setting the scene as you paint your own haunted mansion. A tutor will guide you through the process step-by-step and – as an extra surprise – you’ll finish your artwork under UV lighting, so you can watch the neon paints glow as your masterpiece comes alive. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks can be purchased to drink while you paint and a playlist of wicked tunes will keep you motivated. Feel free to come in a Halloween-themed outfit.
This workshop takes place on Saturday 26th October from 6:30-9:30pm. Tickets cost £44 and include all materials plus your painting to take home. Over 18s only.
Images- @swithensfarm, @flightclubdarts, @pinotandpicassoleeds
