Brush the cobwebs away (literally!) and prepare to be spooked and entertained this Halloween. A whole host of half-term activities awaits you in Newmarket and the surrounding area.

The ghosts are assembling for the first time at the National Horseracing Museum as they offer not one, but two fantastic types of Fright Nights. On Wednesday 28^th and Thursday 29^th October, between 4 pm and 6 pm, families and young children are being asked to dress up and take a tour of Palace House by torchlight and watch history come alive before your very eyes!

Then, for an altogether scarier experience they will be hosting Fright Night on Saturday 31st October from 6pm to 9pm. The museum will be dressed like the set of a horror movie, taking full advantage of their five-acre indoor and outdoor site.  Afterwards, enjoy a BBQ and outdoor bar, serving warming winter favourites including mulled wine and boozy hot chocolate. Tickets are limited so don’t delay.

For a half-term activity, minus the spooky element, why not book a tour of the  National Stud? Public tours will be running on Friday 30^th and Saturday 31^st October at 10.30 am or make it extra special by booking your very own private tour. Set in the beautiful grounds, which look particularly stunning at this time of year, hear about the fascinating history behind the Stud. Find out all about the work that goes into producing future champions of the racetrack from one of their highly knowledgeable guides and meet some of the stallions. All bookings include a voucher for a free brownie at The Bakery, housed in the courtyard at the National Horse Racing Museum. In fact, if you dress up in your best Halloween outfit, then you will also have earned yourself a free chocolate brownie. Just call in and see the guys at The Bakery.

Whilst tickets for Ely Cathedral’s ‘Gargoyles by Night’ event have sold out don’t worry as they have another treat for primary aged children to enjoy this half term. Come and discover what Harvest was like 700 years ago in the Cathedral. Learn about the jobs the monks had to do during harvest and the winter months that follow. Make a bees wax candle, try your hand at weaving and meet our Herbarian monk. Find out more, including booking details here for the Monastic Harvest Trail.

Moyse Hall in Bury St Edmunds strikes back with their intergalactic exhibition for all ages. The 12^th Annual Sci-fic and Action Exhibition opens on 24^th October when they will be celebrating two special Sci-Fi anniversaries as well as cult-classics from the small and big screens. Come and see some amazing props from eras old and new and meet a real Dalek!

Whilst in Bury St Edmunds go along to the West Stow Anglo Saxon Village, between 24 October and 1 November and you will find some half-term horrors lurking behind corners for unsuspecting visitors. Take part in the Spooky Saxons fun family activities including quizzes and stories and dare you be brave enough to cast the last rune in the Witchy Workshop?

West Stow will also be hosting The Real Middle-Earth Tour on Sunday, 25 October starting at 1.00pm. Find out about the links between Tolkien and the Anglo-Saxon world on a guided tour from a member of the Tolkien Society and a Middle-earth enthusiast.

Remember all these events carry the “We’re Good to Go” standard meaning that the venues have put in place all the necessary procedures to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable time.