Cadw Reveals Halloween Trails and Ghost Stories for Wales 2026

Key Points

• Cadw, the historic environment service of the Welsh government, is offering a Halloween and October half-term programme at historic sites in Wales.
• The event involves family trails, crafts, face-painting, living history, storytelling sessions, and adults-only ghost stories.
• The events will be held mostly between Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, November 1, 2026, but some events are scheduled on other days.
• South Wales’ events include Caerphilly Castle, Castell Coch, Chepstow Castle, Blaenafon Ironworks, Caerleon Roman Baths and Caer-went Barn.
• North Wales venues will include Plas Mawr, Denbigh Castle, Castell Conwy, Beaumaris Castle, Castell Harlech and Castell Caernarfon.
• According to Cadw, some events will require prior booking due to limited capacity.
• A Cadw membership provides free entry to all events and over 130 historic sites around Wales, with children’s free entry for each Cadw membership.
• Details and bookings can be done from Cadw’s website.

Wales (Wales Times) October 14, 2026 — Cadw has unveiled a Halloween half-term programme of trails, ghost stories, theatre and family activities at historic sites across Wales, offering visitors a seasonal mix of folklore, history and hands-on entertainment.

As reported by Wales247, Cadw has announced events at castles and other heritage locations throughout the country, with activities designed for families during the school holidays as well as adults seeking evening storytelling experiences. The programme was also covered by the South Wales Argus and the Denbighshire Free Press, which detailed separate schedules for south and north Wales.

Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, says the events are intended to bring history to life through folklore, legend and seasonal celebration. Its official news page lists the announcement under the headline “Spooky trails, ghost stories and Halloween adventures return at Cadw locations this half term”, published on October 12, 2026.

Which south Wales sites are taking part?

In south Wales, Caerphilly uk/local/swansea/castle/">Castle will host a “chilling children’s quest” from October 24 to November 1, running daily from 11am to 3pm. As reported by the South Wales Argus, visitors can also expect gruesome medieval medicine and spooky crafts on October 24 and 25, while spellbinding bubbles and face painting are planned for the Halloween weekend.

Cadw’s own event listing for Caerphilly Castle confirms that the children’s quest will run for nine days during the school holiday, from Saturday, October 24 to Sunday, November 1, with a surprise prize for participants.

Castell Coch will feature a “not-too-spooky” family quest during the same dates and times. The South Wales Argus reports that face painting and creepy crafts will be added over the Halloween weekend.

Chepstow Castle will invite visitors to decorate mini pumpkins from October 24 to November 1, between 10am and 4pm. Cadw’s event page for mini pumpkin decorating lists the activity across those dates.cadw.gov

For visitors seeking a more atmospheric experience, Chepstow Castle will host an adults-only evening of ghost stories on October 29, with sessions at 6.30pm and 8.30pm. The South Wales Argus says the event will focus on ghost stories and local legends.

Blaenafon Ironworks will continue the storytelling theme from October 29 to 31, with spooky tales and creative crafts available from 11am to 3.30pm each day.

Caerleon Roman Baths will host a mythical-creature hunt for younger visitors from October 24 to November 1, between 10am and 4pm. Adults can attend an evening of ghost stories and Welsh folklore at Caer-went Barn on October 30, from 7pm to 8.30pm.

What is planned in north Wales?

In north Wales, the programme includes daytime family activities and evening performances at six historic sites, according to the Denbighshire Free Press.

At Plas Mawr in Conwy, visitors will be able to meet the Master of Plas Mawr and his household as they prepare for a legendary Halloween party. The Denbighshire Free Press reports that historical characters will share local folklore and explore superstitions in 16th-century Wales through a living-history experience.

Later that evening, the Ceridwen Theatre Company will present The Mystery of the Plas Mawr Murder, an immersive theatrical event set on All Hallows’ Eve in 1585. According to the Denbighshire Free Press, the performance invites guests to question the household, examine rumours of witchcraft and supernatural events, and help uncover the truth behind a murder.

Denbigh Castle will host a Halloween trail featuring creepy crafts, face painting and chocolate prizes. Visitors are encouraged to attend in costume and explore the castle in “spooky style”.

Castell Conwy will offer two separate activities. From Tuesday, October 27 to Friday, October 30, visitors can take part in a live-action experience set in 1283, helping to build the castle through puzzles, medieval missions and encounters with historical characters.

The castle will also run child-friendly “Spooky Halloween Tours” on Monday, October 26 and Tuesday, October 27. Cadw says the tours will last about 30 minutes and begin at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm, introducing visitors to castle secrets, medieval oddities and ghostly tales in a family-friendly format.

Beaumaris Castle will become a “haunted fortress” on Saturday, October 31, with witches, creepy crafts and a Halloween trail through its medieval chambers. Children who complete the challenge will receive a chocolate prize.

Castell Harlech will offer a Halloween trail, seasonal crafts and badge-making activities from 11am to 4pm.

For visitors who prefer history without Halloween scares, Castell Caernarfon will offer guided tours on Thursday, October 29. Custodians will lead 45-minute introductions to the castle’s history and stories at 11am and 3pm.

What has Cadw said about the programme?

Cadw has described the programme as offering something for different types of visitors, from families looking for a day out to adults interested in folklore and ghost stories.

As reported by the South Wales Argus, Cadw stated:

“Whether you’re looking for a fun family day out, a creative activity during half term, or one of our adults-only evenings exploring ghost stories and folklore, there’s something for everyone to enjoy across our network of historic monuments this autumn.”

The Denbighshire Free Press carried the same message in its coverage of the north Wales programme, describing the events as a mix of immersive storytelling, crafts and “creepy fun” at castles, abbeys and landmarks throughout the region.

Cadw has also encouraged families to consider membership. According to the South Wales Argus, a Cadw membership provides free access to these events and more than 130 historic sites across Wales, with children going free on adult memberships.

Do visitors need to book Cadw Halloween events?

Some events require advance booking and have limited capacity, according to Cadw. The South Wales Argus reports that visitors should check the Cadw website for further information and to book places.

Cadw’s website includes a dedicated “Find a Cadw event” section listing Halloween activities, including “Halloween Fun: Spooky Stories and Creative Crafts”, “An Evening of Ghost Stories”, “Halloween at Plas Mawr with Ceridwen Theatre Company” and “An evening of ghost stories and Welsh folklore”.

The organisation advises visitors to check the full programme, booking details for evening events and site opening times during half term through its website.

How does the programme compare across Wales?

Location	Activity	Dates and times
Caerphilly Castle	Children’s quest, medieval medicine, crafts, bubbles and face painting	October 24–November 1, 11am–3pm; some activities on October 24–25 and Halloween weekend cadw.gov
Castell Coch	Family quest, face painting and creepy crafts	October 24–November 1, 11am–3pm; extra activities over Halloween weekend
Chepstow Castle	Mini pumpkin decorating; adults-only ghost stories	Pumpkins: October 24–November 1, 10am–4pm; ghost stories: October 29, 6.30pm and 8.30pm cadw.gov
Blaenafon Ironworks	Spooky tales and creative crafts	October 29–31, 11am–3.30pm
Caerleon Roman Baths	Mythical-creature hunt	October 24–November 1, 10am–4pm
Caer-went Barn	Ghost stories and Welsh folklore	October 30, 7pm–8.30pm
Plas Mawr	Living history and immersive murder-mystery theatre	Halloween programme; evening performance by Ceridwen Theatre Company
Denbigh Castle	Halloween trail, crafts, face painting and chocolate prizes	Half-term programme
Castell Conwy	Live-action castle-building experience; spooky tours	October 27–30; tours on October 26–27 at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm
Beaumaris Castle	Haunted fortress trail, witches and crafts	October 31, 11am–4pm cadw.gov
Castell Harlech	Halloween trail, crafts and badge-making	11am–4pm
Castell Caernarfon	Guided history tours	October 29, 11am and 3pm

Why is Cadw running Halloween events?

Cadw’s Halloween programme forms part of its wider work to encourage visits to Wales’s historic monuments and to present heritage through seasonal, family-oriented activities. The organisation’s news page positions the half-term events as a return of “spooky trails, ghost stories and Halloween adventures” at its locations.cadw.gov

The activities combine several formats: outdoor trails, craft sessions, costumed characters, theatre, guided tours and evening storytelling. According to the Denbighshire Free Press, the aim is to use folklore, legend and seasonal celebration to make history more engaging for visitors.

The programme also reflects Cadw’s broader visitor offer. Its membership scheme covers more than 130 historic sites across Wales, and Cadw says children go free on adult memberships.

Background of the development

Cadw is the Welsh Government’s historic environment service and manages a network of historic monuments and sites across Wales. Its Halloween half-term programme follows previous seasonal event programmes, including Easter and summer family activities listed on its news page during 2026.

The 2026 Halloween schedule brings together sites from both north and south Wales, ranging from major medieval castles such as Caerphilly, Conwy, Beaumaris, Harlech and Caernarfon to smaller heritage locations including Caer-went Barn and Blaenafon Ironworks. The programme was announced by Cadw on October 12, 2026, and subsequently reported by Wales247, the South Wales Argus and the Denbighshire Free Press.

The events are timed around the October school half-term holiday, with most family activities running from October 24 to November 1. Evening ghost-story sessions and theatre performances provide separate, adults-focused options at selected sites.

How could this affect families and local tourism?

For families in Wales, the programme provides a structured range of low-cost and bookable half-term activities at historic locations, with options for younger children, older children and adults. Families planning to attend more than one event may find Cadw membership relevant, as it includes free access to the events and more than 130 historic sites.

For local tourism businesses, the announcement may increase visitor activity around castles and heritage towns during half term, particularly at sites hosting trails, theatre performances and evening events. Visitors attending activities at Caerphilly, Chepstow, Conwy, Beaumaris, Harlech and Caernarfon may also spend time in nearby shops, cafés, accommodation providers and transport services.

For Cadw, the programme could support engagement with historic sites outside the main summer season. The mix of free-flowing family activities and ticketed evening events gives visitors different ways to take part, while the organisation’s advice to book in advance suggests that capacity is limited for some sessions.