Halloween at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens
Families can explore 100 acres of gardens along a whimsical Halloween trail to help a crash-landed witch find a broomstick among scarecrows and seasonal displays. Outdoor activities include pumpkin picking in the Walled Garden, classic autumn games like conker duels and welly-tossing, and rotating family workshops such as potion-making and wild nature walks. Visitors who upgrade to a castle ticket can tour the State Rooms and gather in the Drawing Room for traditional spooky tales.
See more family-friendly fall activities near Hillsborough
Plan Your Visit
Website / Tickets
When
Tickets
Halloween Garden Trail and the listed outdoor workshops and Armagh Rhymers performances are included in all admission tickets; members go free. Separate add-on tickets are available. Pumpkins cost £5; mask-making costs £3 per child.
Hours
In line with gardens opening hours. Mask-making: 11:00, 12:00, 13:30, 14:30 and 15:30. Nature art workshop: 11:00, 12:00, 13:30 and 14:30.
Ages
All ages
Accessibility
Due to the natural terrain of the gardens, some paths are unsuitable for wheelchair users and those with restricted mobility; manual wheelchairs are available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis.
Going?
Location
Tips & Advice
- Arrive early if taking a castle tour, as the castle entrance is a 20-minute walk from the car park and ticket desk.
- Pumpkin picking and the mask-making workshop require separate add-on tickets, which can be booked alongside admission.
- Free outdoor workshop spaces (such as potion classes and wild walks) are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Special Events & Promotions
- Mask-making workshops take place on 24 and 25 October and require a separate add-on ticket.
- Potion classes run 26–28 October; nature art workshops and Wild Walks run 29–30 October.
- The Armagh Rhymers perform on 31 October and 1 November.
- Members go free. No pre-booking is needed for the included garden trail, listed workshops and performances; members can book pumpkin picking and mask-making on the day.
Links & Contact
Run by Historic Royal Palaces
Halloween Events Near Me is an independent guide, not the organizer of this event. For tickets, entries, vendor spots or questions, contact the organizer directly through their contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are dogs allowed at the event?
Only trained assistance dogs and medical alert dogs are permitted on-site and in the gardens; pets and emotional support animals are not allowed.
Can I bring a stroller or buggy into the castle?
Pushchairs and buggies are welcome in the gardens, but they are not permitted inside the castle. Free lockers are provided nearby for buggy and large bag storage.
Where can visitors park?
Free on-site parking is available via the car park entrance off the A1 (satnav postcode BT26 6TY). The village entrance on The Square is strictly for pedestrians.
Who are the Armagh Rhymers and when do they perform?
The Armagh Rhymers are an Irish folk theatre group performing myths, music, and drama in traditional straw costumes in the Core Learning Centre on 31 October and 01 November.
Browse Halloween in Lisburn
Always check the official website for the most current information.
We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly. Halloween Events Near Me is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with the events we list.