This event is now over. To see pictures, visit our Photos page. To make difference and help us inspire more children with nature, become a Supporter.
The Real Halloween, Bradmoor Woods, near West Acre, Norfolk
28th and 29th October 2023
A unique, magical celebration of nature in autumn
Open 1.30pm – 6.30pm Saturday, 12.30pm – 5.30pm Sunday (clocks go back on Sunday).
Tickets £10 per person.
UPDATE 18 Oct – sold out both days.
Car Park opens hour before the Gate. Parking £1 cash on the day.
Tickets £10 per person for the whole day (under 3s come in for free but are not able to join Workshops or Drop-Ins as those are designed for 3 and up).
Tickets are sold via Eventbrite which charges a processing fee that does not come to the Fairyland Trust.
Last year we sold out, so do not delay in booking your tickets. If we don’t sell out, gate tickets will be £12.50.
** Sold out both days. Sorry but we are limited in capacity and no tickets will be sold on the gate. This year we have sold out earlier than before, due to popularity of this event.
If we had more volunteers and Supporters we could make the event a bit bigger next year – if you’d like to help, do get in touch to ask about volunteering, and/or become a Supporter!).
**
How to get there
Timings
FAQs
Do I have to pay for parking?
Yes. £1 per car on arrival. Please make sure you have your cash ready to prevent delays.
Can I bring my dog?
No. Only assistance dogs are allowed on site.
Do I have to print out my tickets?
No, but please make sure you have found your copy of them on your phone before you get to the entrance gate.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, up to 7 days before the event.
Is there anything for under 3s to do?
Play in the Witches Kitchen amongst the trees and explore the woods, enjoy the music and atmosphere, join in with Musical Toadstools, show off their costume in the Fancy Dress Show, and see the many walkabout characters. All for free.
All the Fairyland Trust workshops and activities are designed specifically for 3 – 8 year olds.
Can I bring my under 3 into a workshop my older child is attending?
No. Under 3s will disturb the workshop for everybody else – these workshops are designed for older children with longer attention spans. There are also small, choking hazard-sized materials used throughout. Please organise for another adult to look after your under 3.
Do I have to accompany my child in the workshops?
If your child is under 6, an adult must come into the workshop with them. If they are over 6, you can stay outside, as long as they know where you are. This is at your own risk though, as the 2 workshop crew cannot leave the tent if your child exits early. The workshops are fun, so please do stay.
What is accessibility like?
The site is flat and comprises wooded glades with mown grass and leafy paths, suitable for robust wheelchairs or buggies.
All workshops can accommodate a wheelchair, but please arrive a little earlier so that the crew can make sure there is plenty of room. Please do not bring buggies to workshops.
If the bookable workshops are sold out what else can we do?
Real Broomsticks, Halloween Lanterns, the Pixie Post Office, Halloween Games, Witches’ Kitchen, the Fairy King & Queen, Musical Toadstools, plus lots of walkabout entertainers, live music, storytellers, Popcorn Wizards & bonfire, The Real Halloween story plus the dusk lantern parade. *update 14 Oct – pre booked workshops resold out on Saturday with some Wizard Shield and Wizard Training remaining for Sunday. *
Can I buy bookable workshops on the day?
Only if we have not sold out (and we often do), so it is best to buy them now to avoid disappointing your child.
I can’t find my tickets? Did you post them?
Tickets are emailed to you as soon as you purchase them. If you have lost the email do not worry, just get in touch with your booking name and we should be able to find them. Please do not leave this to the last minute as we will be in a field in Fairyland by then, with intermittent signal.
When can or should we arrive?
On Saturday 28th the car park opens at 12.30pm and the site opens at 1.30pm. On Sunday 29th the car park opens at 11.30am and the site opens at 12.30pm. If there is something very specific you want to see or do, please try to arrive on site an hour before this, as at busy times queues can build up.
Can I change the day I’ve booked for?
Yes, but first we suggest you book your new tickets and then ask for a full refund for your original tickets. Please note, refunds can only be awarded up to 7 days before the event.
Can I buy entrance tickets on the day?
Yes for £12.50/ person but only if we have not sold out (which we often do).
When do ticket sales close?
At 10pm the night before the event day.
Is there wifi on site?
No.
Is there a cash point on site?
No, but cashback may be available from The Fairyland Trust crew stall and at quieter times from the Good Elf Pub (+fee). Most Traders will have card readers but please bring cash in case.
Can we camp overnight?
Only Fairyland Trust crew can camp on site. If you can volunteer for 3-4 hours for both days of the event, you can camp and enjoy the event for free in your time off. Please email ben@fairylandtrust.org for more details.
Do you need more volunteer crew?
Possibly, it depends when you are reading this and whether we have roles unfilled. Crew have to volunteer on both days for 3- 4 hours. But they get to camp and bring their children for free. Please email ben@fairylandtrust.org for details.
The Parade moves off
Jam Jar Lantern and a Real Broomstick
Mobile music from world-famous Rimski Piano
Set in a woodland glade deep in the Norfolk countryside, The Real Halloween is a true celebration of autumnal magic. It has music, log fires, traditional games, magical nature workshops, storytelling (including our own Story of The Real Halloween at sunset), food and drink, as well as a candle-lit magical animal lantern parade.
Real Broomstick makers
A dad helps out with storytelling in the Wizard Shields Workshop
Making an Owl in Witches’ Owls Workshop
Tips on tree identification and magical powers from a Wizard Trainer
Meeting the Fairy Queen
Ever popular duo Pennyless tuning up for Musical Toadstools
Chatting costumes at the No-New-Plastic Fancy Dress Parade
In the Magic Wands Workshop
Grown ups showing off costumes in the No-New-Plastic Fancy Dress Parade
Mr Pineapple Head – a performance that has to be seen
Some of the Halloween Games – records are broken every year
The Good Elf magical pub
We are pleased to support Norfolk wild animal rescue charity Wild Touch – visit them at the end of the Fairyland Market track
A big thank you to all our crew who volunteer at this event, and special thank you to our Supporters, whose donations heavily subsidise the real cost of the event. The Fairyland Trust is a small Registered Charity. The crew:
A few visitor comments:
“The ‘Real Halloween’ event has very quickly become mine and may family’s favourite event of the year. It is a wonderful, enchanting, engaging, informative, immersive, interactive, sensory experience”
“Would just like to say thank you, we had a magical day on Sunday at the real Halloween, the kids highlights were the story tellers, the lantern parade and the music. x” P J Parker
“fantastic afternoon enjoying a “Real Halloween” with Fairyland Trust – Conkers , Parsnip Skittles , Bat Mobiles , Corvids ( Ravens ) – lantern making, story telling, wand making, crafting but best of all was the wizzard training in the woods with a 700 year old master wizard” P.A. Search
