What's On At The Yorkshire Wildlife Park Halloween Extravaganza 2025?

Right, so the days are getting shorter, there's a bit of a chill in the air, and the shops are suddenly full of pumpkins. That can only mean one thing: Halloween is just around the corner. If you're scratching your head wondering how to keep the family entertained during the half-term break, Yorkshire Wildlife Park might just have the answer.

They're putting on a massive Halloween extravaganza that promises plenty of spooky, but not too scary, family fun. From Saturday, October 25th to Sunday, November 2nd, the park is transforming for its annual Scarefest, and it sounds like a proper day out.

Get ready for a spook-tacular scarefest

Forget just looking at animals for a day; this is a full-blown Halloween event. The Yorkshire Wildlife Park is pulling out all the stops for its Scarefest, an eight-day celebration of all things ghoulish and ghostly. It's an entire park takeover, designed to give everyone a bit of a thrill without causing any sleepless nights. The whole idea is to blend the usual fantastic animal experience with a heap of seasonal entertainment.

Think of it as a Halloween festival wrapped up in a world-class zoo. This isn't just a few plastic skeletons hanging from trees; it's a proper extravaganza with a packed schedule of activities running all day long. So, if you're looking for something more than just knocking on doors for sweets, this could be just the ticket. This Halloween, the park is going all out.

The brand new trick or treat trail

One of the big new things this year is a proper trick or treat trail. And it sounds brilliant. Instead of wandering the streets, kids can hunt for treats in the safety of the park. John Minion, the Yorkshire Wildlife Park CEO, seems pretty excited about it. He said:

"We are looking forward to putting on our annual Halloween event and welcoming new and returning guests to enjoy the entertainment. This year, we have organised a Trick or Treat trail. Five Halloween characters will be hiding in huts round the park. Once they have been found, they will hand out a treat. The children need to collect five treats to complete the trail."

So, the mission is simple: find the five special Halloween characters dotted around the park. It's a great way to get everyone exploring different areas. It does cost an extra £6 per child to take part in the trick or treat trail, but it seems like a fantastic way to add an extra layer of interactive fun to the day. Plus, it guarantees a haul of sweets without any dodgy-looking apples. According to the CEO, John Minion, it's all part of making the event a week of family fun.

Live entertainment and creepy characters

It's not just about sweets, though. There's a whole programme of live shows to keep everyone entertained. No matter what your kids are into, there's probably something for them. The lineup includes:

• Victor's Halloween Adventure
• Red Riding Hood Mini Panto
• Monster Boogie Live

The Red Riding Hood Mini Panto sounds like a classic with a spooky twist, perfect for a bit of audience participation. And Monster Boogie Live is pretty much guaranteed to be a high-energy dance-along where kids can burn off all that sugar. In between the scheduled live shows, there will be costumed characters roaming around, so you'll need to keep your eyes peeled. John Minion added:

"It will definitely be a week filled with the usual family fun, spooky activities and things that go bump in the night. Guests can also explore our walking dead woodlands and selfie spots, whilst looking out for other the creepy characters, who will be roaming round the park and woods."

Those selfie spots are sure to be a hit for capturing some spooky memories from the Halloween extravaganza.

Don't forget the amazing animals

Amidst all the Halloween mayhem, let's not forget what makes Yorkshire Wildlife Park so special all year round - the incredible animals. While you're hunting for costumed characters or heading to the next show, you can also spend some time with some of the world's most amazing endangered species. The park is home to a breathtaking range of animals, and a visit is a chance to see them up close.

You can marvel at the magnificent polar bears, see the graceful giraffes, and try to spot the elusive Amur leopards. These beautiful cats are one of the rarest feline species on the planet, so seeing them is a real privilege. And then there are the powerful black rhinos, another species the park is helping to protect. It's a great reminder that all the fun at the park supports vital conservation work for these endangered species. It's not every day you get to see polar bears and ghosts in the same place.

What you need to know

So, if this sounds like a bit of you, here's the practical stuff. The Scarefest at Yorkshire Wildlife Park runs from Saturday, October 25th, right through to Sunday, November 2nd. The good news is that most of the Halloween entertainment, including all the live shows and the roaming characters, is included in the standard entry price.

The only extras you'll need to budget for are the freaky fairground rides and the new trick or treat trail, which is an additional £6 for each child who wants to join in. For anyone living in or around Hull, it's an easy trip for a fantastic day of family fun. And for those keen to stay on top of what's happening in the area, signing up to the Never Dull in Hull newsletter is a great way to get news about events like this Halloween extravaganza sent directly to your inbox. It's the perfect way to plan your next adventure.